POWER ON YOUR PLATE
Travel Tips
Arriving in Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, health (yellow fever vaccination), immigration and customs will be checked. After exiting the Arrivals Hall, please look for a representative holding the “TAV Summit” sign, who can help arrange transport to your hotel.
Visas
All foreigners from non-Commonwealth countries are required to have a valid visa unless their countries have agreements with Tanzania under which the visa requirement is waived. Visas can be obtained at the first point of entry (upon arrival).
Tourist: USD 50-100
Business: USD 250
Time – Power – Phone
Local time
GMT plus 3 hours
Electrical power
220 volts AC, 50 Hz. Plugs are most commonly of the square 3-pin type (British system), The round 2-pin type (European system) fits into the square 3-pin type. Plug adaptors can be useful.
Phone
The international dialing code for Tanzania is +255. The outgoing code is + (do not dial 00 as in some other countries) followed by the relevant country code.
Currency
Tanzania’s official currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). Exchange rate: 1 USD = 2300.14 Tanzanian Shilling. Money can be changed freely at authorized dealers, banks or bureaux de change, but for safety insist on a receipt for the transaction. Foreign currency exchange bureaus operate for longer hours and are open on Sundays. For cash, Euros and US dollars are the most easily changed. Credit cards are accepted at major hotels and restaurants, and travelers’ checks can be exchanged at most banks.
Language
Kiswahili is Tanzania’s primary national language, followed by English.
Weather
Check the forecast for Arusha:
https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/tanzania/arusha/climate
Temperature: January
Average day temperature: 29°C / 74°F.
Average evening temperature: 16°C / 60°F.
Rainfall: January
January is typically the second-wettest month in Arusha. Bring your umbrella!
Health
General advice
A yellow fever vaccination is a requirement for entry to Tanzania if coming from an infected area, but all travelers should be vaccinated against yellow fever as a precaution.
It is also recommended that travelers be vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B.
Arusha and surroundings are in the malarial zone, and prophylactics should be taken as a precaution.
COVID-19
Carry and use hand sanitizer. Wash hands frequently throughout the day. If requested, wear a mask in public places, and follow social distancing. Common areas in the venue will be sanitized several times a day.
Yellow fever vaccination
Country entry requirement: The government of Tanzania requires proof of yellow fever vaccination upon arrival if you are traveling from a country with risk of yellow fever.
Malaria
Talk to your doctor about how to prevent malaria while traveling. You may need to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria.
Recommended chemoprophylaxis: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine
Other routine vaccines
Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. Check the CDC website for more information:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/tanzania
Mosquitoes and tsetse flies
Take measures to avoid mosquito bites, such as using an insect repellent at all times and wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants at night. For those joining a safari: Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants of medium-weight material in neutral colors that blend with the background environment. Tsetse flies are attracted to bright or dark colors (especially dark blue) and can bite through lightweight clothing.
Safety
Walking in Arusha during the day is considered very safe. Visitors are encouraged to keep valuables in the hotel safe, and to carry a copy of their passport at all times.
Plastic
Plastic bags have been banned for environmental reasons in Tanzania since 1 June 2019. Airline passengers will be asked to surrender plastic bags on arrival. The ban does not include “ziplock” bags used as part of airline security procedures.
Attractions
Arusha is famed as the gateway to some of the world’s most famous and largest national parks, which are inhabited by thousands of animals (lions, baboons, monkeys, zebras, elephants, buffalos, giraffes, hippos, leopards, hyenas, and antelopes) and hundreds of bird species. Arusha is the starting point for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru.
Closer to Arusha, Lake Duluti is a very beautiful small crater lake with a long nature trail, where you can spot around 100 different species of animals, birds and butterflies. Watersports are available on the lake.
Other attractions are Arusha National Park, which can be visited in one day or even half a day; the beautiful scenery around Mount Meru; and the Cultural Heritage Center. Don’t forget to go souvenir shopping in the Masaai Market!
Just prior to landing, you will fly past Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest and the world’s highest freestanding mountain.