Flights & Visas

From the Rest of Africa
Tanzania and Kenya are served by Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Egypt Air, Air Malawi, South African Airways, and others.

Domestic Flights
Precision Air, Coastal Aviation and Air Tanzania offer a range of scheduled flights between Zanzibar and Tanzania's main cities.
Kenya Airways and Air Kenya offer a range of scheduled flights between Kenya's main cities.

Tanzania High Commissions with websites are listed below:

Australia   http://www.tanzaniaconsul.com/
Germany    http://tanzania-gov.de/
Japan       http://www.tanzaniaembassy.or.jp/
Italy        http://www.tanzania-gov.it/
South Africa   http://www.tanzania.org.za/visas.htm
United Kingdom   http://www.tanzania-online.gov.uk/visa/visa.html
USA   http://www.tanzaniaembassy-usorg/

Kenya High Commissions with websites are listed below:
Check the Kenya Government website http://www.immigration.go.ke/visa.php for contact details of your nearest Kenyan High Commission and up to date information on visa requirements.

Australia  http://www.kenya.asn.au
Canada     http://www.kenyahighcommission.ca
United Kingdom  http://www.kenyahighcommission.net/visas.html
USA  http://www.kenyaembassy.com/visa.html

Medical & Insurance

The British High Commission recommends that all visitors are vaccinated against Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid.  Anti-malarial tablets are also recommended, with courses usually commencing two weeks prior to travel.  Please seek further medical advice from your General Practitioner or Travel Medical Centre.

Divers: Due to the remote nature of the dive safari, you are required to have specific dive insurance that covers diving emergencies including evacuation and recompression chamber costs.

What to Pack

The following will give you an idea of some of the things you will need to bring.

Clothing
Day - light clothing (long pants for walking in bush), sturdy walking or hiking shoes, wide brimmed hat, sunglasses.  Avoid brightly coloured clothes on safari as these may alarm animals – natural colours are preferable.

Night - casual wear with a light jacket for cool evenings (and mornings!), particularly at higher elevations.

Other - swimsuit for lounging by the pool or on the beach.

Equipment
Camera, film (if you use it), binoculars, battery chargers (110 to 240V transformer if required), flashlight.

Sundries
Sun block, sunglasses, sun hat, insect repellent, anti-malaria tablets, day pack (small backpack).

Need to Know

Currency 

Basic Unit of currency in Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling and in Kenya is the Kenyan shilling

Exchange Rates in September 2008

Latest currency rates here

Major credit cards are accepted in larger hotels.  However, it is advisable to carry cash (both local Tanzanian or Kenyan Shillings and American Dollars) as most places do not take credit cards.  Major convertible currencies and traveller’s cheques can be exchanged in commercial banks or Foreign Exchange bureaus at international airports and major towns. 

Visitors may take any amount of foreign currency into the country but it is illegal to import or export Tanzanian or Kenyan currency.

Electricity
British style 3 square pin plug - 220/240 volts AC, 50 Hz.

General Security Matters
Tanzania is generally a safe and peaceful country.  However, as in any city, exercise caution when traveling around.  Avoid wearing flashy, expensive clothing and jewellery.

Languages
Swahili is the national language, with English being the second national language.  Most Tanzanians in major towns and areas frequented by visitors can converse in English.

To call Tanzania ...
1.  Dial your international access code
2.  Dial country code: 255
3.  Dial relevant city code: Dar es Salaam - 51   /   Arusha - 57   /   Zanzibar - 54
4.  Dial relevant phone number

To call Kenya ...
1.  Dial your international access code
2.  Dial country code: 254
3.  Dial relevant city code: Nairobi - 20    /   Mombasa - 11
4.  Dial relevant phone number

Note: Connections can take a while to go through so please be patient.... however you might hang up and try again after 1 min of silence!!