Administrative capital
Dodoma
Commercial capital
Dar es Salaam
Climate
Tanzania’s climate is predominately tropical.
Coastal areas are usually hot and humid, but
on the beaches a sea breeze cools the air
considerably. The average day temperature
is 30°C. Tanzania has two rainy seasons
– the long rains from late March to June and
the short rains from November to January.
The long rains fall in heavy downpours, often
accompanied by violent storms, but the short
rains tend to be much less severe. The hottest
time of the year is from December to March,
before the long rains begin. The coolest months
are June, July and August, when the weather
is often overcast. In high-altitude areas
such as Kilimanjaro and the Ngorongoro Highlands,
temperatures can fall below freezing.
Entry requirements
A valid passport. Most visitors to Tanzania
require a visa to enter the country. Three-month
single-entry tourist visas are available at
Tanzanian embassies in your country, price
subject to nationality. Contact your local
embassy or visit www.tanzaniatouristboard.com
for further details.
Airport tax
Departure tax from mainland Tanzania is included
in the price of your ticket, however in Zanzibar
there is a departure tax of US $30 payable
at the airport. There is a TSH 5,000 (approx
US $5) tax levied on passengers within Tanzania.
Official languages
Kiswahili and English
Currency
The Tanzania shilling (Tsh or TZS), divided
into 100 cents, is the national currency.
Banking
Banks and bureau de change are available at
airports and in all major towns. Banking hours
are from Monday - Friday 8.30 am - 3.00 pm,
Saturdays 8.30 am - 1.30 pm. A few branches
in the major towns are open until 4.00 pm.
Please note that banks are closed on Sundays.
Credit cards and travellers’ cheques
Credit cards (Access, MasterCard, Visa, American
-Express, and Eurocard) are accepted only
at major lodges, hotels, and travel agents.
A surcharge may be added for this service.
ATM and 24-hour cash machines are available
in branches of major banks. Travellers’ cheques
in pounds sterling or US dollars are recommended,
though it may be difficult to exchange them
outside the main cities.
