To enter Tanzania it is necessary to have an entry visa, for tourism, to be requested at the Embassy of Tanzania in Rome or the Consulate in Milan (consult the website to see the opening hours). :
- original passport (valid for no less than 6 months);
-2 color passport photos taken recently;
- Completed and signed entry visa application form;
- Euro 65.00 in cash or credit card;
The entry visa is issued on the spot and allows entry into the country for 90 days.
In Tanzania, about 50% of the population is Muslim.
Keep in mind that in Tanzania there are no night buses and therefore you are forced to always travel during the day.
There is a time zone forward, with respect to Burundi and therefore also with respect to Italy.
Bear in mind that there are a lot of roadblocks in Tanzania.
From the center of Kabanga, Tanzania, a few minibuses leave daily to Kahama. The ride costs 15,000 TSH. You pay after you get on the bus. The journey takes about 8 hours and 30 minutes. The first 4 hours of travel take place on a very bad road with gigantic holes.
If you can't find a minibus in Kabanga, you have to go to Ngara, 28 km away, by taxi or minibus. In Ngara there is a bank to change money. From this city there are several hotels and also buses leave more frequently to Kahama and one bus a day to Mwanza, at 6 in the morning.
In Kahama, I slept at the Royal Palace Lodge at the price of 20,000 TSH per night, located on the outskirts, but which offers free transportation to and from the city center, where there is the Bus Station, included in the price.
From Kahama, there are several buses a day to the capital Dodoma. The first leaves at 6.00 in the morning. The ride with the Prince Ahmed Company costs 30,000 TSH. You pay at the desk and get the ticket even the day before if you want. The journey takes approximately 10 hours.
In Dodoma, keep in mind that banks and exchange offices close before 5.00 pm.
Dodoma, you can easily get around on foot. Be careful not to photograph public offices. It's forbidden.
From Dodoma, there are several buses a day to Arusha. The first leaves at 6.00 in the morning, the last at 20.00. The ride costs TSH 25,000, with the Arusha Express Company. You pay at the desk and get the ticket even the day before if you want. The journey takes approximately 6 hours.
From the Arusha Bus Station, a motor taxi ride costs 2,000 TSH, during the day and 3,000 TSH, at night.
In Arusha I slept at Kitundu Guesthouse, not far from the Bus Station, at the price of 25,000 TSH per night for a double room (there is no single), including breakfast.
Arusha is safe during the day a little less after sunset.
Arusha is the Safari Capital and is therefore the best place to organize a safari by joining a group if you are alone.
There are hundreds of agencies in the city that organize safaris for all budgets. To find the right one but low cost, I entrusted the Kitundu Guesthouse, which made me come to the hotel the manager of the agency Wanyama African Safari Co. Ltd. based in Arusha, Tel + 255757580417 / + 255787337875, E_mail: info@wanyamaafricansafari.com, Web: www.wanyamaafricansafari.com. This agency offers 2, 3 and 4 day safaris to the following parks:
2 days: Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater or Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater;
3 days: Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater;
4 days: Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti;
The cost is USD 170 per day for 2 and 3 day safaris and USD 165 per day for 4 day safaris. The fee includes everything: 3 meals a day, bottled water at will, accommodation in tented camps or lodges, usually outside the parks to save money, park entrances, driver, guide, Off-road with raised roof. The only thing excluded is the tip (5 USD per day) to the driver and the guide who are often a unique person who plays both roles.
I booked the Safari at 8.00 in the morning with departure at 9.00 on the same day.
Once the Safari is complete, they will take you back to Arusha to the Hotel of your choice for free. For the occasion I chose the Arusha Backpackers Hotel, located in the center of Sokoine Road, just 400 meters away. from the Bus Station. Cost per night 25,400 TSH. They also accept Dollars.
If you want to go on an excursion to Mount Kilimanjaro mt. 5,896, the highest mountain in Africa, or if you just want to see it you need to go to the City of Moshi. Keep in mind that an excursion to the Summit takes about 5 days and a lot of effort as well as an expense of approximately USD 1,500 per person including, permits, accommodation, over USD 300 tip for porters.
From the Bus Station of Arusha, when they are full, from 6.00 to 21.00 with excellent frequency, Minibus for Moschi. The ticket costs 3,000 TSH and is purchased after getting on. The ride takes about 2 hours.
Moschi turns very well on foot.
If you want to reach Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania, keep in mind that there are departures from 6.00 in the morning until 11.00 in the morning. You can opt for the buses that depart from the Bus Station, which cost less, but the comfort is less and the journey is much longer because they make a myriad of stops unlike the Kilimanjaro Express, Dar Express and Mtei Express companies, which depart all near Boma Road, all cost about 30,000 TSH and take a scant 11 hours to reach their destination.
In Dar es Salaam, the Buses coming from Moshi finish the race at the Ubundo Bus Station (or in dedicated stations not far away for Kilimanjaro Express for example), located about 8 km northwest of the city center, which can be reached with a Regular bus, minibus, taxi or motorbike taxi. The latter I paid 8,000 TSH, bargaining heavily.
The cheapest accommodations in the center of Dar es Salaam are the YWCA hostel, which offers a bed in a dormitory, including breakfast for 12,000 TSH per night, while for a single without bathroom you have to spend 20,000 TSH, and the YMCA hostel which offers a bed in dormitory including breakfast for TSH 15,000 per night, while TSH 30,000 for a single room without bathroom. Both are located on Azikiwe Street, near St Alban's Church, 50m away. away from each other and both are now and gladly sold out, at least for the accommodation in the dormitory.
Dar es Salaam, is a very large city and appears quite safe at least during the day while after sunset it is highly advisable to move by taxi (4,000 TSH for a short ride to the center).
If you want to reach Kilwa Masoko, located on the southern coast of Tanzania, the most convenient solution is to go, with a minibus (450 TSH) departing from the New post stop in Azikiwe Street Dar es Salaam, or with a motorcycle taxi ( 10.000 TSH), at the Bus Station of Mbagala Rangi Tatu, located 10 km, approximately south of the capital, where 2 buses of the Mashaallah Company depart every day for Kilwa Masoko, one early in the morning and the other at 11.30. Tickets (13,000 TSH) can be purchased at the desk before boarding. The bus makes numerous stops, including the last one in Kilwa Kivinje and the ride takes about 5 hours.
Another solution is to go to the Ubundo Bus Station and take one of the many Buds headed to Mtwara and get off at the Nangurukuru intersection, where you can take a local transport to Kilwa Masoko (TSH 2500, 35 Km).
Kilwa Masoko bus station, is about 1.5 km from Kilwa Bandari Lodge which is the most beautiful accommodation in the city and is located on the main road at 200 meters. about from the Port. It can be reached on foot or by motorcycle taxi (1,000 TSH). The cost per night for a single room is 49,000 TSH or 25 USD, including breakfast.
If you are interested in visiting the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani Island, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, keep in mind that it is necessary to communicate your decision to Kilwa Bandari Lodge and in a few minutes a Local Guide (mandatory) will arrive at the Hotel. will offer to get you the obligatory permit (for this purpose he will have to make a photocopy of the passport), to get you a boat to reach the island and to accompany you on the visit of the ruins which lasts about 3 hours, at a cost of 25 USD (if you are at least in 3 if not if you are alone 40 USD). To this it is necessary to add 27,000 TSH, for entry to the site. I asked him for a discount and paid a total of 70,000 TSH (I joined a young Dutch couple). Keep in mind that if there is low tide it is necessary to put your feet in the water when getting on and off the boat and that you need to walk for about 3 km to visit all the sites of Kilwa Kisiwani.
The excursion usually starts at 8.00 and ends before noon and therefore there is a high probability of taking the last bus of the Mashaallah Company, which leaves every day at 12.30 P.M., for Dar es Salaam. The first one leaves at 6 am (13,000 TSH, 5 hours).
If you want to reach Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam, keep in mind that 4 Azam catamarans operated by “Kilimanjaro” depart every day from the ferry terminal: at 7.00, 9.30, 12.30 and 15.30. The times are the same also for catamarans departing from Zanzibar. Keep in mind that for foreigners the ticket costs twice as much as for residents and precisely 35 USD, one way in economy class and 50 USD in VIP class or equivalent in TSH. Consider the fact that at certain times of the year, economy class tickets sell out early and therefore it is advisable to buy them the day before. The trip takes about 2 hours and if the sea is rough it can be troubled. Before boarding, they check your luggage with the scanner.
Please note that there are several daily flights connecting Dar es Salaam WITH Zanzibar at a cost of USD 70, one way.
Once in Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar, it is necessary to fill out an entry form, show the yellow fever certificate if required and obtain the entry stamp to Zanzibar even if it is still Tanzania.
The population of Zanzibar is 95% Muslim and therefore respectful behavior must be maintained.
Stone Town is a beautiful city full of alleys and it is not for nothing that it has been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
In Creek Road in Stone Town, there are direct minibuses to all parts of the island and they leave when they are full even if the route in which the frequency of the same is highest is that for Nungwi, a town, located on the northern tip. The ride costs 2,000 TSH and takes approximately 1 hour and a half. You pay after getting on.
In Nungwi, to reach the beach it is necessary to walk from the bus stop for about 1 km, along a dirt road heading north west.
However, keep in mind that the most beautiful beaches are on the east coast of Zanzibar, which is also the one where there is less rainfall.
If from Dar es Salaam you want to reach Malawi by land, you need to know that from the Ubundu Bus Station (you pay 300 TSH to access it) every morning between 6.00 and 7.00 numerous buses leave for Mbeya. I took the one from the BN Safari company, paying the 48 TSH ticket, purchased 10 minutes before leaving. The ride lasts approximately 15 hours (approximately 830 km).
In Mbeya, the Buses coming from Dar es Salaam end their journey at the Bus Station, located in the south-east area of the city. Around it there are several cheap guesthouses that cost between 15,000 and 20,000 TSH, including the New Millennium Inn, but often they are often fully booked. I slept in the only hotel available in the area, namely the Nkwenzulu Motel, paying for a double room (there are no singles), without breakfast 25,000 TSH.
If you want to reach Kasumulu, the city on the border with Malawi, the fastest solution is to take, from the Bus Station, a local bus direct to the x minibus stand located east of Mbeya (15 minutes - 600 TSH). From here, take a direct minibus to Kasumulu Bus Station (located in the city center), which makes numerous stops including the one in Tutuyu City. The ride costs 5,000 TSH and lasts 3 abundant. You pay after getting on.
From Kasumulu Bus Station, to reach the border post with Malawi, you have to walk for about 1 km. On this stretch of the road there will be many people who will propose to change money. It is also possible to take a motorcycle taxi.
Once at the border, go to the Desk to obtain the exit stamp from Tanzania. Then it is necessary to walk for 300 meters. approximately, crossing the Songwe River Bridge and thus reaching the Malawi border point. On this stretch of the road there will be many people who will offer you to change money (1 Euro = 840 MK). There is also an exchange office and a bank that change money but offer significantly more disadvantageous rates (1 Euro = 840 MK). Even in the city it is inappropriate to exchange money in a bank or exchange office.
My complete travel report
with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:
http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2018/02/viaggio-in-rwanda-burundi-tanzania-e.html
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