Country Information
Country Info Tanzania
Rising from the sandy shores of Lake Tanganyika, the forested Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks vie with each other as the best place in the world to track wild chimpanzees. Closer to the coast, the isolated massifs of the underpublicised Eastern Arc Mountains have been dubbed the ‘African Galapagos’ in recognition of their wealth of endemic plants and animals. And Tanzania’s daunting natural variety is mirrored by a cultural diversity embracing 120 distinct tribes: from the iconic Maasai pastoralists of the Rift Valley, to the Arab-influenced Swahili of the coast, to the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers of Lake Eyasi.
So, how to define the experience offered by a country with highlights as unique and diverse as Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, Lake Tanganyika, Serengeti and Selous? An experience that might for some entail long days hiking in sub-zero conditions on the upper slopes of Africa’s most alluring peaks; for others a once-in-a-lifetime safari followed by a sojourn on an idyllic Indian Ocean beach; for others still the thrill of eyeballing habituated chimpanzees, or diving in the spectacular offshore reefs around Mafia, or backpacking through the time-warped ports and crumbling ruins of the half-forgotten south coast?
How to define the Tanzanian experience? Surprisingly easy, really. It can be encapsulated in a single word, one that visitors will hear a dozen times daily, no matter where they travel in Tanzania, or how they go about it: the smiling, heartfelt Swahili greeting of “Karibu!” – Welcome!
National Parks
Regions/National Parks in Tanzania
Katavi National Park
Tanzania's third largest national park, it lies in the remote southwest of the country, within a truncated arm of the Rift Valley that terminates in the shallow, brooding expanse of Lake Rukwa.
Lake Manyara Nationalpark
Stretching for 50 km along the base of the rusty-gold 600 m high Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara is a scenic gem, with a setting extolled by Ernest Hemingway as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”. The compact game-viewing circuit through Manyara offers a virtual microcosm of the Tanzanian safari experience.
Mahale Mountain Nationalpark
Silky white coves hem in the azure waters of Lake Tanganyika, overshadowed by a chain of wild, jungle-draped peaks towering almost 2 km above the shore: the remote and mysterious Mahale Mountains.
Ngorongoro Crater
A world cultural heritage centre lies within the Ngorongoro Conservation area. The crater was formed when a giant volcanoe exploded and collapsed on itself some two to three million years ago.
Ruaha Nationalpark
This is one of Tanzania's least accessible parks, and as result it is totally untouched and remains one of the most exciting game reserves (almost as large as the Serengeti). Ruaha sprawls within and along the Great Rift Valley, covering a unique transition zone where the eastern and southern species of both fauna and flora meet against a dramatic topographical backdrop.
Zanzibar
The spice island is rich in history and has wonderful, white sandy beaches which invite you to take a refreshing swim or just relax in the sun.
Selous Game Reserve
This is one of the biggest nature reserves of the world covering an area of about 55.000 km².
Serengeti N.P.
Tanzania's oldest and most popular national park, the Serengeti is famed for its annual migration, when some six million hooves pound the open plains, as more than 200.000 zebra and 300.000 Thomson's gazelle join the wildebeest’s trek for fresh grazing.
Tarangire National Park
This park is famous for its Baobab trees which are scattered through the bush like a standing army, guarding the ancient Tarangire terrain.
Travel Videos
Travel Videos
Tanzania, truly, is a safari destination without peer.
General Videos
Camp-/Lodgevideos
Entry requirements:
All visitors have to apply for a visa before entering the country. Applications can be found here: www.tanzania-gov.de
Currency:
Tanzanian shilling (US-$ is widely accepted, e.g. for park fees or at lodges)http://www.bankenverband.de/waehrungsrechner/index-xi.asp
Documents:
International driver´s licence
Money:
You can use cash or traveller´s cheques (fees for cashing in traveller´s cheques can be quite high though), credit cards are accepted for US-$ amounts, in some cases even for Euro transactions.
Health:
At present there are no requirements for immunization (unless you are travelling to areas with yellow fever), although it is recommended to be vaccinated against polio, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis and for travellers to the northern parts of Tanzania , malaria prophilactics should be considered after consulting your doctor.
Language:
The native language is Swahili; the official language of Tanzania though is English.
When to go:
Tanzania is an all year-round destination, however the warmest climate you will experience during December - March, if you rather prefer colder climate then the best travel season would be from June to October. Low rainy season with partial showers will be beginning of November until mid December, between mid March and the end of April the main raining season will influence the weather, depending on the areas where you travel to.
IMPORTANT:
You should carry all important documents as photocopies with you!