Traveling In Tanzania

Tanzania’s currency is called a Shilling. It can’t be imported into the country. so if you’re planning on traveling to Tanzania on safari, you need to bring foreign currency with you. Right now, US dollars are the best currency with the Euro and the Great British Pound coming in second and third. With US dollars, it’s best to carry larger notes like $50 or $100 dollar bills, because you get a better rate of exchange. When you carry the lower denominations like the US $1 dollar, they are difficult to get rid of, except when you use them as a tip. If you plan to pay for safari with cash, try to use large dominations whenever possible to avoid any penalties.

You might want to remember that travelers’ checks are only accepted by banks and travel bureaus. They also bring a lower rate of exchange, and you can run into somewhat of a hassle dealing with them. It is better to keep travelers checks to a minimum or avoid them altogether. MasterCard and Visa are now widely accepted, whereas five years ago, you might have had a problem. So, if you have plastic, you can use it as much is you want. Just remember, if you want to get a cash advance against your credit card, you want to do this at the bank because many hotels charge a heavy fee for the privilege.

Of course, you will be traveling with the passport. However, in Tanzania, you need to get a visa as well. You can get a visa in advance from the Tanzanian embassy, or you can purchase them at border posts and airports. Be aware that there is a departure tax when you leave by air, but it may be included in your ticket price. In either case, you will want to check ahead of time.

Kilimanjaro airport can be expensive to fly into especially during peak season. It’s usually cheaper to go to Nairobi airport, then transfer countries by taking buses and shuttles that will travel to Arusha near the Namanga border post. You can get a transit visa at Nairobi airport, and it will last either 5 or 7 days. If you get visas upon arrival in Kenya and Tanzania they must be paid in US dollars in cash. Be sure and have the correct amount ready, so you’re going to want to call ahead to find out what that amount is. It’s called the Tanzania holiday visa, and it varies in price depending upon your nationality.

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