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Visit Tanzania

A Tanzania visa is necessary fo all Canadian citizens and permanent residents who want to travel to Tanzania. However, Canadian citizens are eligible to apply for a visa at one of the country's 3 busiest airports, or at select border crossings. We do not recommend this, as the lines may be long and there is always the potential of not satisfying the visa requirements.

Climate of Tanzania

Tanzania is in the tropics, but its weather varies due to differnces in elevation, which affect temperature, and differences in rainfall.

Most of the country experiences warm to hot temperatures year round: warm between May and August and hot the rest of the year. The highlands can see temperatures are low as 10 C in the cold season (May to August).

The north and east parts of Tanzania experience two distinct wet seasons, one from October to December ("Vuli") and one wetter season from March to May ("Masika"). The south and west parts of the country have one long wet season from October to April or May.

Below is the climate data for the capital Dar es Salaam (on the coast, in the east of the country):

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Yearly Average or Total
Average High (°C)	31	31	31	30	29	29	28	28	28	29	30	31	29.6
Average Rainfall (mm)	66	66	130	290	188	33	31	25	31	41	74	91	1,066
Average rainy days	8	6	12	19	15	6	6	7	7	7	9	11	113
Mean monthly sunshine hours	248	196	217	150	217	210	217	279	270	279	240	248	2,771

Culture of Tanzania

Though Tanzania is one of the most popoulous countries in Africa, it is only about average density compared to the continent.
Though there are still indigenous people in Tanzania, many Tanzanians are descended from tribes that migrated to Tanzania 4,000 and 500 years ago
Indian merchants and traders from the Persian Gulf have been visiting Tanzania for approximately 2,000 years

Ethnicity in Tanzania

There are more than 120 different tribes in Tanzania. The largest group is the Sukuma.

Language in Tanzania

There are more languages than distinct ethnic groups in Tanzania, as 126 languages are spoken. The two languages that are most common are English and Swahili. Most people speak their native language, plus Swahili or English. However, English was only taught in high schools and universities, and only used in certain areas of government, so it is not as common as Swahili. In 2015, Tanzania discontinued the teaching of English.

Religion in Tanzania

The Tanzanian government eliminated religion from the census back in 1967, so there is no accurate data on religious observance in Tanzania.

The CIA World Factbook estimates the religious groups as the following:

Islam: 35%
Various Indigenous: 35%
Christian: 30%

However, many people disagree with percentages, especially with the popularity of indigenous beliefs. An independent survey in 2010 found the following:

Christian (all sects): 61.4%
Muslim: 35.2%
Indigenous: 1.8%
Hindi: 0.1%
Atheist and Unaffiliated: 1.4%

Visa to Tanzania

Canadian citizens are allowed to apply for a visa at the following ports of entry:

Airports

Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam)
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (Zanzibar)
Kilimanjaro International Airport
Mwanza Airport

These are the four busiest airports in the country.

Border Crossings:

Holili (border with Kenya, near Kilimanjaro)
Horohoro
Kabanga (border with Burundi)
Kigoma (port on Lake Tanganyika)
Masuguru (border with Mozambique)
Msimbati (port on the Indian Ocean)
Mutukula (border with Uganda)
Namanga (border with Kenya)
Rusumo (border with Rwanda)
Sirari (port on Lake Victoria)
Tunduma (border with Zambia)

Please Note: If you try to enter Tanzania at any other point, you will need to have applied for a visa before hand.

We still recommend you get your visa before you travel, to avoid delays.

How to Apply for a Tanzanian Visa within Canada

You can apply by completing this application form.

If applying by yourself, you must submit the application form to the High Commission of Tanzania in Canada plus the following :

a valid passport, valid for at least 6 months past your planned date of exit;
1 passport photograph;
single-entry visa application fee of CAD$80 payable by cash or money order only (unless you are applying in person, then debit is available);
invitation or business letter (business travellers only);
pre-paid self-addressed courier envelope (no manual waybills accepted).

If you want a multiple entry visa, the cost ranges from CAD$120-$150.

If you are able to submit your application in person, the hours are Monday to Friday, 9Am-4PM.

Processing Times and Validity Information

Usually, it takes the high commission 5 business days to process your application from the date they receive it.

Your visa becomes valid the day it is issued. It cannot be used once it expires and if you travel to Tanzania after it expires, you will have to apply fora new visa at the port of entry.

Single entry visas are valid for 3 months only.

High Commission of Tanzania in Canada

50 Range Rd. Ottawa,
Ontario Kin 8J4, Canada

Tel: +1 613 232 1500 / 1509
Fax: +1 613 232 5184
Telex: (021) 533569

Website: https://www.tanzaniahighcommission.ca

Vaccine and Health Information for Tanzania

The availability of healthcare in Tanzania varies by region. The urban areas have more resources and, if you have money, you can get access to the best treatment.

Tanzania is currently in the middle of an HIV epidemic.

Vaccination or Disease	Recommendations or Requirements for Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Routine	Required if you are not up-to-date with routine shots, such as measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine, etc.
Hepatitis A	Highly recommended for all unvaccinated travellers, as you can get it at restaurants or hotels
Hepatitis B	Recommended for all unvaccinated travellers who will have sex, get a tattoo or receive medical care while in Tanzania
Rabies	Recommended if you will be camping or doing other adventure travel outdoors; you will be working with animals; you plan to stay in Tanzania a long time; you are a child.
Typhoid	Highly recommended for all unvaccinated travellers, as you can get it at restaurants and hotels. It is particularly recommended if you plan to travel to smaller or rural communities, or if you think of yourself as an adventurous eater.
Yellow Fever	Only recommended if you plan on staying in Tanzania a long time or if you are expecting to spend a lot of time in mosquito-infested areas. Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination is mandatory for citizens of most tropical countries in order to gain entry to Tanzania.

Travel Alerts for Tanzania

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Calling Tanzania

The country code for Tanzania is 255.

To call a landline in Tanzania from Canada, dial:

011-255-two digit area code-local number (7 digits)
011-255-xx-xxx-xxxx

Area Codes

Arusha	27	Lindi	23	Ruvuma	25
Coast Region	23	Mara	28	Shinyanga	28
Dar es Salaam	22	Mbeya	25	Singida	26
Iringa	26	Morogoro	23	Tabora	26
Kagera	28	Mtwara	23	Tanga	27
Kigoma	28	Mwanza	28	Zanzibar	24
Kilimanjaro	27	Rukwa	25

To call a cell phone in Tanzania, dial

011-255-6x or 7x (mobile code)-local number (7 digits)
011-255-6x-xxx-xxxx OR
011-255-7x-xxx-xxxx

Time Difference

Tanzania is on East Africa Time which is UTC+3. They do not observe Daylight Savings. So, for example, in the winter Tanzania is 8 hours ahead of Toronto and 7 hours ahead in the summer.

Tanzanian Currency

Tanzania uses the Tanzanian Shilling.

Amount:
From:
To:

Currency conversion powered by coinmill.com

Prices in Tanzania

Please not that the prices below are crowd sourced and are averages used to represent Tanzanian prices as a whole. Actual prices vary widely. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

Oranges (1kg)

Restaurants	Average	Price Range
Meal at cheap restaurant	$6.33	$3.11-$8.69
3-Course Meal for 2 people at a normal restaurant	$35.47	$20.28-$53.90
Combo at Fast Food Restaurant	$11.05	$7.41-$16.17
Domestic Beer (pint)	$1.72	$1.49-$2.80
Imported Beer (330ml bottler)	$3.23	$2.07-$4.04
$2.66	$2.02-$3.37
Coke/Pepsi (330ml can)	$0.81	$0.50-$1.35
Water (33ml bottle)	$0.61	$0.39-$1.01
Markets	Average	Price Range
1% Milk (1 litre)	$1.59	$0.81-$2.43
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)	$0.93	$0.67-$1.35
Rice (1kg)	$1.45	$1.17-$1.87
Dozen Eggs	$3.16	$2.46-$4.04
Local Cheese (1kg)	$14.56	$12.43-$19.99
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (1kg)	$9.41	$5.00-$13.47
Ground Beef (1kg)	$4.92	$3.72-$6.74
Apples (1kg)	$4.71	$2.61-$6.22
Bananas (1kg)	$1.28	$0.67-$2.15
$1.87	$0.81-$3.91
Tomatos (1kg)	$1.69	$1.01-$3.10
Potatoes (1kg)	$1.26	$0.80-$1.86
Onions (1kg)	$1.32	$1.21-$1.45
Head of Lettuce	$1.03	$0.40-$1.35
Water (1.5 litre bottle)	$1.08	$0.78-$1.25
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	$12.13	$8.34-$16.17
Domestic Beer (pint bottle)	$1.85	$1.49-$2.44
Imported Beer (330ml bottle)	$2.82	$2.07-$3.77
Pack of Cigarettes	$2.80	$2.10-$3.26
Transportation	Average	Price Range
One-way Ticket (Local Transit)	$0.32	$0.29-$0.54
Monthly Transit Pass (Regular Price)	$32.59	$24.04-$55.99
Taxi Start (Normal Fare)	$4.04	$2.42-$5.16
Taxi 1km (Normal Fare)	$1.77	$1.35-$2.53
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Fare)	$6.06	$3.62-$20.97
Gas (1 litre)	$1.47	$1.35-$1.75
New Car (Sedan)	$21,560.00	$16,651.22-$24,255.00
Utilities (Monthly)	Average	Price Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment	$124.64	$67.38-$216.52
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Calling (No Discounts or Plans)	$0.23	$0.16-$0.34
Internet (10 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	$153.44	$28.23-$202.12
Sports And Leisure	Average	Price Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	$97.90	$49.64-$134.75
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	$11.87	$6.33-$15.51
Movie Ticket	$8.13	$5.81-$11.69
Clothing And Shoes	Avgerage	Price Range
Pair of Jeans	$49.13	$31.02-$80.85
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store	$62.08	$31.11-$93.55
Pair of Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	$79.67	$47.16-$123.11
Pair of Men's Leather Shoes	$85.34	$63.32-$107.80
Rent Per Month	Average	Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	$807.43	$325.87-$1,202.05
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	$576.09	$143.58-$943.25
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	$1,793.25	$949.75-$2,404.10
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	$1,435.44	$290.14-$2,695.00
Condo Price	Average	Price Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Condo in City Centre	$1,617.00	$1,617.00-$1,617.00
Price per Square Meter to Buy Condo Outside of Centre	$854.79	$543.11-$1,212.75
Salaries And Financing	Average	Range
Average Monthly Disposable Salary (After Tax)	$946.99	$606.38-$2,021.25
Mortgage Interest Rate (%) Yearly	12.57	$10.78-$23.45

Source

Using Electricity in Tanzania

Tanzania uses plugs of the style used in the UK or the style used in South Africa. You need to buy a travel adapter to use either of these sockets.

However, please note that if your device or appliance is not built to handle 220-2204 volts, you will need a voltage converter as well. Always check your devices before plugging them into an adapter and the socket.

Emergency Assistance for Canadian Travellers while in Tanzania

High Commission of Canada in Dar Es Salaam

38 Mirambo Street
Corner Garden Avenue
Dar Es Salaam Tanzania

Telephone: 255(22)216-3300
Fax: 255(22)211-6897
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:tanzania.gc.ca

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Calling Canada from Tanzania

The international code is 00
The country code for Canada is 1
Dial 00 – 1 – area code – local number

Area Codes in Canada

Province	Code	Province	Code
Alberta	403 / 587 (southern Alberta) 587 / 780 (central and northern Alberta)	Nunavut	867
BC	236 / 250 / 778 (majority of BC) 236 / 604 / 778 (Metro Vancouver)	Ontario	226 / 519 (southwestern Ontario) 249 / 705 (northeastern Ontario) 289 / 365 / 905 (Greater Toronto Area) 343 / 613 (eastern Ontario) 416 / 647 (Toronto) 807 (northwestern Ontario)
Manitoba	204 / 431	PEI	782 / 902
New Brunswick	506	Quebec	418 / 581 (eastern Quebec) 438 / 514 (Montreal) 450 / 579 (Greater Montreal) 819 / 873 (remainder of Quebec)
Newfoundland and Labrador	709	Saskatchewan	306 / 639
Northwest Territories	867	Yukon	867
Nova Scotia	782 / 902

Maps of Tanzania

Topographic Map of Tanzania [Public Domain]

Transportation map of Tanzania by MapMaster / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Driving in Tanzania

In Tanzania, people drive on the left side of the road (right side of the car) as they do in the UK.

Driving in Tanzania is not recommended. If you must rent a card, many rental agencies will not allow you to take the car out of the city without hiring a driver as well. Hiring a driver is affordable so you may be better off to hire a driver and a car, instead of renting a car first.

If you do rent a car, rent an SUV- or jeep-style vehicle with 4 wheel driver and a high clearance. Sedans will get stuck on the roads. A driver is recommended as they are familiar with making repairs in the bush and can speak Swahili, the most common language in the country.

There are no road signs outside of major roads and there are only a few major highways.

Transportation in Tanzania

If you decide you cannot handle driving in Tanzania, the main options for travel are rail, ferry and plane.

Air

There are 25 airports within Tanzanian and, if you can afford it, flying within the country is the fastest way around.

Ferries

If you are traveling along the Indian Ocean coast or along one of Tanzania's two major lakes, there are ferries that can be used as alternatives to the road.s

Rail

The 10 biggest cities in Tanzania are linked by rail routes.

Internet in Tanzania

Internet access has been improving by leaps and bounds in Tanzania in the last half decade or so. Wireless is becoming more prevalent than wired. Check with your hotel about their internet connection. You cannot expect any internet access outside of major cities.