Tanzania People & Culture

Arusha is not a good place to go without a car and a guide driving it, really dangerous, people there aren't nice and you might get robbed if you don't pay attention!

Dar es Salaam is a bustling East African metropolis with friendly people all around. You will be haggled with a lot and charletans are all around so be warned. Do not walk alone on any of the beaches especially if you're a lady. Make sure you take a day excursion to Mbudya island - Its got some of the best snorkeling seen. A historical walk through the CBD is interresting and opens you up to this mostly Muslim world.

Don't miss going to Club Billicanas in the downtown area, Mambo Club is located in Oysterbay area close to Karibu Hotel, Slipway, California Dreamer(CD), and Sugar Rays is the nice Sports bar.The pic shows Slipway where Live Bands and Dancing blazing till down. People are so nice and you would love them.

Arusha is a city of approximately 400,000 people in northern Tanzania , East Africa . It is regarded as the gateway to the popular Northern Safari Circuit.

Drink Arusha has many interesting bars and restaurants. As a rule the best food is Indian, thanks to the large sub-continental community in the city. Ngalawa in Njiro and Big Bite on the Swahili Road are among the most popular Indian restaurants. For 'Nyama Choma', or Tanzanian roast meat, Nick Bar in Njiro is also popular. There are uncountable local bars which are generally welcoming to adventurous foreigners. The less adventurous visitors stick to Via Via, in the grounds of the old German fort, which is an interesting cultural center and part of an NGO which trains locals in the hospitality industry. There are plenty of options for bars and restaurants for those who for some reason seem to wish to avoid locals altogether but these places are very easy to find and hardly worth listing here. For nightclubs, the Colobus Club , Maasai Camp, Triple A, 777 and Polygon Triangle are popular with locals and foreigners alike. They start late and finish very, very late (or early). Pickpockets have been known to operate and all these bars are popular with the local sex workers so the usual discretion should be applied.

When visiting Stone Town, try to stay in one of the smaller hotels in the old city near the fortress. The city is safe during the day, but avoid walking around alone in the night. People are friendly and of course trying to sell you everything.. 
For the best sun set, go to the Afrika House and enjoy the view with a nice drink. 
For food: there are many nice places to eat; go at least once to the small beach to have dinner. Overall, the food is inexpensive and of a good quality.
There are only a few banks in the old town and that's where you have to get/exchange money. There are no ATM's in the town other than in the bank. 
When visiting during Ramadan, take the customs into account (dress modest, no eating and drinking on the street during the day) and you will receive lots of respect from the local population.

Arusha is a city of approximately 400,000 people in northern Tanzania , East Africa . It is regarded as the gateway to the popular Northern Safari Circuit.

Drink Arusha has many interesting bars and restaurants. As a rule the best food is Indian, thanks to the large sub-continental community in the city. Ngalawa in Njiro and Big Bite on the Swahili Road are among the most popular Indian restaurants. For 'Nyama Choma', or Tanzanian roast meat, Nick Bar in Njiro is also popular. There are uncountable local bars which are generally welcoming to adventurous foreigners. The less adventurous visitors stick to Via Via, in the grounds of the old German fort, which is an interesting cultural center and part of an NGO which trains locals in the hospitality industry. There are plenty of options for bars and restaurants for those who for some reason seem to wish to avoid locals altogether but these places are very easy to find and hardly worth listing here. For nightclubs, the Colobus Club , Maasai Camp, Triple A, 777 and Polygon Triangle are popular with locals and foreigners alike. They start late and finish very, very late (or early). Pickpockets have been known to operate and all these bars are popular with the local sex workers so the usual discretion should be applied.

There is so much already in the travel guides that you might hardly find a more useful tip here. My tip would be - dress modestly. This is not your country and you are not there to change culture and traditions in your one trip. Nice and respectful people. You respect them - they respect you!

There's super hiking opportunities in Bumbuli. The Usambaras are Beautiful! Women, make sure you cover your knees. This is rural Tanzania - it's good to respect the culture and cover up.

try a cultural tour. I did the one in Moshi. it is afforable and good for the local people. have fun in moshi

Head to the North Shore for the awesome beaches. Stonetown is where the shopping is at and is more cultural.

Mto-wa-Mbu has some pretty hard-sell dukas, but if you can handle it, dive in on the south (Lake Manyara) side of the road. there used to be a couple of guys who had huge selections of African music tapes and CD's.

Great people,food and music

Dar es Salaam is a bustling East African metropolis with friendly people all around. You will be haggled with a lot and charletans are all around so be warned. Do not walk alone on any of the beaches especially if you're a lady. Make sure you take a day excursion to Mbudya island - Its got some of the best snorkeling seen. A historical walk through the CBD is interresting and opens you up to this mostly Muslim world.

Don't miss going to Club Billicanas in the downtown area, Mambo Club is located in Oysterbay area close to Karibu Hotel, Slipway, California Dreamer(CD), and Sugar Rays is the nice Sports bar.The pic shows Slipway where Live Bands and Dancing blazing till down. People are so nice and you would love them.

Pemba island is northenmost, out of the archipelago that makes up Zanzibar.
Unlike Unguja, its more undulating, more green and with far less tourists. Though in season, many of its resorts are in business, often catering to those that come in for the snorkelling, scuba diving and water sports. The waters around Pemba are ideal for these activities...

We had plans to stay a few days. However, things didnt quite go to plan, and we left pretty soon.
At times like this, i really feel the urge to be there as a tourist/ traveller, rather than on work. Wish i had more time to take in the sights and explore... The sights as we were coming in to land were awesome. Lots of forest cover and a stunning shade of ocean blue... All looked extremely tempting. We could see the different shades of blue and the channels that the ocean-rivers-streams created on the ground below...

Kigoma is a nice town at the shore of Lake Tanganyika. You can taste the world's best tilapya (fish) in Kigoma. I have not been there since year 2001; not sure if Hiltop Hotel is still the best option for accommodation and whether you still cannot have alcohol while staying there.

There's super hiking opportunities in Bumbuli. The Usambaras are Beautiful! Women, make sure you cover your knees. This is rural Tanzania - it's good to respect the culture and cover up.

If you want to relax at a beautiful, quiet beach without any tourists, go to Matemwe. It is marvellous and a Place where I'd like to go on Honeymoon ;)

If you know to avoid the papasi (touts) - a lot better to do in the rainy season- Stonetown can be a wonderfully relaxed town, with small streets, beautifully delapitated buildings and great, great food. For the latter, check out the food market that starts every night around 7, currently in a little streat near the Fortress. Maybe not the best place to eat lobster (though still not bad at all), but certainly the most atmospheric one!

Arusha is not a good place to go without a car and a guide driving it, really dangerous, people there aren't nice and you might get robbed if you don't pay attention!

When you arrive in Stonetown off the ferry, don't pay any attention to the guys who tell you the hotel you want to stay in is full. Just ignore them and keep going to wherever your destination was. Most of them are trying to get commission.

Stay at L'Oasis Lodge. Management and staff are fantastic. It's like a home away from home.

Travel tips, car hire,safari information and kilimanjaro climbing in Tanzania. tanzanitesafaris.com-http://www.kili-tanzanitesafaris.com
Travel tips and wildlife safari information

(A) Travel, vacation holidays to Tanzania. The most stunning tourist attractions in Tanzania are those natural resources available in Tanzania which are unique and found only in Tanzania.
(i) Mount Kilimanjaro National Park: The highest mountain in Africa 5895m/19340ft, with its peak covered with snow throughout the year. It is a volcanic mountain and easier mountain for normal people (without technical expert) can climb successful. There are six routes named Marangu, Rongai, Machame, Shira, Umbwe, Londrosi/Lemosho. You can climb through one of the routes to the Summit.
(ii) Serengeti National Park, with the Great Wildebeest Migration, Kopjes (where cats hide there), Great Rivers like Grumeti (where crocodiles survive), and large plain.
(iii) Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Ngorongoro Crater). – NCA: NCA is often called ‘African Eden’ and the ‘Eight Wonder of the Natural World’, Man and Biosphere Reserve.
(iv) Zanzibar spice Island (Unguja and Pemba).
(v) Selous Game Reserve. There are more details on selected Most Top Tourist destinations, go on reading.
(B) Adventure Activities to be done in Tanzania. -Safaris, wildlife safaris. This is a tour to National parks and Game reserves to view wild animals, plants and geographical features like Rivers, Lakes and so on. -Climbing, trekking, and mountaineering. Mountains Kilimanjaro, Meru and Oldonyo Lengai -Walking Safaris, birdwatching and ecotourism. Nature lovers would like also to go deep to come close to nature. -Night game drives safaris, canoeing safaris. This is another optional safari in Tanzania. -Beach holidays. Tour to areas with beach for swimming,snorkeling, scuba diving, dolphin tour, fishing and water sports. Zanzibar island, Mafia island, Dare salaam and Pangani Tanga coasts. Also Lake Victoria coast. -Cultural Tourism: to learn their custom and tradition and interfere with local people. Example Maasai in Ngorongoro Crater and Chagga near Mount Kilimanjaro.
- (C) Helpful travel Tips and information about Tanzania. Exclusive, new dimension helpful info-travel tips for tourists moving to Tanzania. Currently many people from abroad/overseas are seeking information about Tanzania.These people are Tourists/Travelers, Investors, Business people, Researchers, Students, and other group of people.
How to get in to Tanzania; Several major Airlines get into Tanzania; KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines),Condor Airlines and Ethiopian Airways get into lands at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA/JRO) and Dar es salaam International Airport (DIA) daily. British Airways and Swiss Airlines lands at DIA at least twice a week. Other Airlines are South African Airlines (SAA), Emirates, YEMENAIR,Oman Air, Qatar Airways, and Kenya Airways. We have domestic flights network covering all tourists’ destinations in East Africa.Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Zan Air, Coastal Aviation, Regional Air and other small charters.
Hint: Have you heard of Tanzanite Gemstone/jewel? Undoubtfuly you have heard. Tanzanite is a famous and most beautiful blue gemstone found in one place and only in Tanzania. Tanzanite jewel is found sold many places in most countries in the World. When a Traveler get chance to visit Tanzania is high time you have a good luck to purchase Tanzanite in relatively low prices. Just consult your Tour Operator to help you find registered Gemstone Dealers or Jewel Agents.
Immigration: An onward ticket and sufficient funds are required when entering Tanzania. Visas required by all visitors except citizens of the Commonwealth, Scandinavian countries and the Republic of Ireland. It is very easy to get a visa at any Tanzanian embassy abroad. The visa fee depends on the type of passport held. A visitor’s pass is required for all travelers. This can be obtained free from any Tanzanian diplomatic mission or point of entry. It is advisable to get one before you leave home.
When to Visit; Tanzania has a Tropical climate. The central plateau is dry and arid with hot days and cool nights, while the north-west highlands are cool and temperate. June to September is the cooler season. There is no winter here. Temperatures in northern Tanzania range between 60 – 70 degree Fahrenheit during the day and 40 -50 degree Fahrenheit at night from May to October. From November to March, the day –time temperatures varies from70-90 degree Fahrenheit and from 60 – 75 degree Fahrenheit at night.The ‘long rains’ are from March to May and the ‘short rains’ are between October and December. The hottest months are between October and February. On the coast, it rains in November and December. From March to May, Coastal areas are hot and humid although sea breezes cool the area pleasantly between June and September.
Safari Dress; in wildlife lodges and country hotels, the emphasis is on comfort and informality. For ladies light, easy to wash, drip –dry blouses, skirts dresses, light khaki trousers and bush jackets go well. For evenings, light dresses or trouser suits are suitable. For men, drip –dry casual shirts, short khaki trousers and bush jackets are ideal. Evening attire in towns can consist of light suits or long sleeved shirt and tie.Bright colours should be avoided while viewing wildlife. Visitors to Ngorongoro are advised to carry a pullover as it can be chilly after sunset. A bush hat or a scarf for protection against the sun and dust is a must. It is very useful to carry a pair of sunglasses, insect repellent, suntan lotion and a flashlight.
Photographing; It is advisable to ask a permission before photographic any event relating to certain tribes like Maasai, Hadzables, Datoga. These tribes are very conservative and have maintained their original traditional customs. They still do primitive pastoralism, wild fruits gathering and wearing local made materials covering part or half of body. Some Government Institutions and Organizations don’t allow any photographic action to them or near to them. These are Military Camps and Bank of Tanzania just for security purpose.
When on the road and hear traffic hail don’t continue driving or walking, if you have the car park aside or if walking step aside. This is the signal that the top Government Leader is passing like President, Vice President and Prime Minister. Mountain Climbing-Kilimanjaro, Meru and Africa safari packages- Price fluctuations;Park fees entrance to National Parks and Ngorongoro Crater fees has increased but still there is only slight change of price for Travel Packages.
Health: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is essential if arriving from yellow fever infected areas. Anti-malaria tablets are recommended. Take prescribed drugs a few days prior to arrival, during your stay, and for a short period after returning. Boil or sterilize drinking water and milk. Cook or peel vegetables. Private health insurance is recommended.
Currency; There is no restriction on the importation of foreign currency. Foreign currency can be changed at the bureau de change which offer better rate than the banks. Insurance; you are strongly advised to have your own insurance cover to cover baggage, personal accident and medical expenses.
Tipping; Tipping is not obligatory. Tipping is at the discretion of the visitor and the following should only be used a guideline.
PORTERAGE: US $ 1.00 per bag.
DINING ROOM STAFF: US $ 5.00 per person.
Driver Guide; US $ 15.00 per day.
Mountain climb Guide; US $ 15.00 per day. For outstanding personal service, you may decide to give a higher tip.
Helpful travel tips; Tanzanians are generally very friendly people.
We would like you enjoy your stay in this country therefore : i- Don’t change money in the streets even if you are given a good rate as you might be cheated. Go to bureau change.
ii- Don’t go to too cheaper Tour Operator the services might be too disappointing or vehicles used can broke in the middle of safari, or poor accommodation or any mishap pens like any cheating. Just try to compare prices, and choose, accept the standard prices.
iii- Always ride in registered taxis
iv- Don’t take fastest buses.
v- Never walk unaccompanied at night in poorly –lit streets or along deserted streets.
vi- When shopping in streets bazaars, always bargain. However some prices e.g in restaurants are fixed and you might be mistaken for miser if you start bargaining.
vii- Always choose a guest house or lodge that has a working telephone. I hope above information will give you hint on how to ask specific questions