Weather & When to go
Tanzania has a generally comfortable, tropical climate all year round and can be visited during all seasons.
- Late June to September: coolest and driest.
- July and August: Hotels are at their fullest.
- October and November: fewer crowds and a slowly greening-up landscape as the short rains begin.
- Late December to February: temperatures are high, but not oppressive.
- March to May: long rainy season, save on accommodation costs, enjoy green and full of life landscapes, some secondary roads may be impassable.
Customs & Culture
- About 40-45% of Tanzania’s population is Christian, 35-40% are Muslim (most of which live along the coast and Zanzibar and the other islands), a small number follow traditional religions and there are some Asian communities including Sikhs and Hindus.
- Shaking hands is the customary form of greeting.
- It is customary to use the right hand, not the left, to shake hands or pass or receive anything.
- The standard greeting of ‘hello’ is ‘jambo’, people are delighted if visitors can greet them in Kiswahili.
- Dress is on the whole casual but a smart appearance for formal occasions such as a business meeting or upmarket restaurant is always appreciated.
- Due to its Muslim influence, the coast is a little more conservative, and away from the beach it is advised to dress respectably and cover up bare arms and legs.
- Alcohol is only available in the tourist areas on Zanzibar.
Money matters
- Tanzania’s currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS).
- Best currency to bring is US dollars, however notes should not be older than 2006 and should look new.
- ATMs are widespread in major towns: Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Moshi, Zanzibar.
- ATMs allow you to withdraw Shillings with a Visa or MasterCard (maximum Tsh 400,000 per transaction, Visa is by far the most useful) and with an EC card – pin number is needed!
- US Dollars, followed by Euros, get the best rates at Foreign Exchange Bureaus (USD 50 and USD 100 note bills get better rates than smaller denominations).
- Credit Cards are frequently not accepted, where they are accepted, it’s often only with high commissions averaging from 5% to 10%.
- Travellers Cheques exchange rates are lower than for cash, and most hotels and safari operators won’t accept them as direct payment.
Tip recommondation
Despite receiving good salaries, paying tips as a way of saying “thank you” for a service is a common practice expected in East Africa. Naturally, as this is a “tip”, these recommendations can be altered.
| On safari per group per day | USD |
| Driver guide | 15–20 |
| Cook (only camping safaris) | 12 |
| On the mountain per group per day | USD |
| Mountain guide | 15–20 |
| Assistang guide | 10–15 |
| Ranger (only Mount Meru) | 15 |
| Cook | 9–12 |
| Porter | 5 |