Travel Information
Air travel
Domestic flights
There are daily scheduled flights linking key tourist gateways to various destinations and popular locations in Tanzania, including the game parks and the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia.
Miliwe Tours has agreements with local air transportation companies, operating charter and scheduled flights, to guard against unnecessary price fluctuations.
Most game parks and towns have air strips accessible by smaller planes.
International flights
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), located less than 50 minutes drive from Arusha and Moshi towns in northern Tanzania, is served by international carriers including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines which also fly to Dar es Salaam. Visitors to the southern parks, the beaches and Zanzibar may use a number of international airlines that service Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) formerly Dar es Salaam International Airport.
Zanzibar is now a major destination and is also served by international air carriers. Visitors combining Kenya and Tanzania and arriving via Nairobi may use Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) where there are daily flights connecting to Kilimanjaro (JRO), Dar es Salaam (JNIA) and Zanzibar. And for visitors preferring to travel overland from Nairobi to northern Tanzania game parks, Miliwe Tours and travel would be pleased to arrange a suitable road transfer for them.
Guides to travel
Climate
Situated on the east coast of Africa just south of the Equator, Tanzania enjoys a tropical climate constantly warm throughout the year, humid at the coast, fresh and bracing in the highlands, and tempered by Indian Ocean breezes on the islands.
In the northern highlands around Arusha, Ngorongoro, Mt Kilimanjaro and Usambara, and in the southern highlands around Iringa and Mbeya area, the climate is temperate and cooler between June and September.
The warmest period is between October to February.
Twice yearly rainy seasons, short rains from November to January and long rains between March and May, bring the vital green seasons to the bush and help to maintain the abundant wildlife and big game for which Tanzania is justly world fam.
Clothing
Light tropical clothes, especially cotton slacks, shirts and skirts are most suitable.
Some warm clothing is needed in the higher altitude areas around Usambara, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro,
Arusha and the southern highlands – especially in the evening and early morning. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended on safari and guests are advised to carry some insect repellents and sunscreens.
In Zanzibar visitors are requested to dress modestly; swim suits, mini skirts and other revealing clothing should not be worn outside hotels, beaches and resorts.
Currency
Tanzania Shilling is the official currency of the United Republic of Tanzania.
Visitors can bring with them any amount of foreign currency up to the equivalent of USD 10,000 but amounts above this have to be declared on arrival or departure.
Foreign currency may be exchanged at the commercial banks, authorised dealers, or at the bureaux de change operating at the international airports and major towns.
Your local driver-guide will be in hand to assist. It is illegal to exchange money to individuals who are not authorised dealers.
US dollar bills, Pound Sterling and Euros, as well as Visa and MasterCard are accepted in most hotels and lodges, and in tourist areas.
American Express is not widely accepted even by major hotels.
Cash can be withdrawn from ATMs in major towns using Visa and MasterCard.
Small denomination USD bills are useful for miscellaneous expenses on safari but change will be given in Tanzania Shillings
Luggage and Customs
Personal effects including binoculars, cameras, film, may be imported (temporarily) free of duty. A custom bond may be demanded from visitors bringing in professional video/filming equipment, radios, tape recorders and musical instruments to ensure the goods are re- exported.
Firearms require a special permit that should be obtained in advance. Visitors buying local handicrafts must keep cash sales receipts and ownership certificates for wildlife trophies for presentation to Customs officials on departure.
Safari vehicles and small aircraft provide limited space for luggage.
It is therefore recommended to travel with light soft-sided bags since bulky suitcases will overload and might not be taken on board.
Departures
An airport tax is levied on all visitors departing the country by air. In most instances, this fee is included in passenger’s airline ticket or a tour package.
Baggage is weighed at check-in counters and may be inspected by Customs.
Airport departure tax for domestic flights is also applicable. All taxes are subject to change. There is no departure tax when traveling by road.
Passport and Visa
All visitors to Tanzania require a return or onward ticket and a valid passport with an entry or re-entry visa, duly endorsed. Visas are not required for visitors from some member countries of Commonwealth and other specified countries. Visas can be applied online or obtained from any Tanzania Diplomatic Mission or Consulate abroad, and at main entry points including international airports, sea ports and border posts.
Health
A temporary AMREF Flying Doctors membership is recommended to cover air medical evacuation to Nairobi.
Visitors originating from or transiting through countries endemic with yellow fever are required to produce valid yellow fever vaccination certificates at entry points.
Visitors are advised to take anti-malaria tablets and make use of mosquito nets and insect sprays where provided.
Visitors are also advised to obtain travel insurance that would cover medical expenses among many other things.
Language
The national language is Kiswahili but English is widely spoken and is the language of the tourist trade and other international businesses.
Miliwe Tours, however, boasts of a number of multi-lingual operations staff and driver-guides.
Souvenirs
Tanzania offers a myriad of opportunities for souvenirs, including rare gemstones like Tanzanite.
Tanzanite, the native gemstone of Tanzania, is sold in most gemstone shops alongside other locally mined stones like Ruby, Rhodolite and Tourmaline.
Tanzanite was named after Tanzania, and was first discovered in 1967, in Arusha which, to date, remains the only commercially viable source in the world.
Local curios like the bold Makonde carvings, Tinga Tinga works, batiks and the famous miniature Zanzibar chests are available at very reasonable prices
Electricity
215 – 230 Volts, 50 Cycles AC