Time Difference
Tanzania is 3 hours ahead of GMT and observes Eastern Africa Time (EAT) all year round, so there is no daylight savings time. Therefore in our summer, they are only two hours ahead.
Money
The currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). Most hotels and lodges accept credit cards and can exchange other currencies for you. However it can be difficult to pay by credit card, and a commission of five or 10% may be added onto your payment if you do. So, if possible, we would recommend paying with cash.
Banks are usually open between 09:00 and 14:00 and are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. It is worth noting that US dollars dated prior to 2006 will not be accepted.
Electricity and Plugs
220 and 230 volts, and the plug types are D and G. You should be able to use your usual UK plugs, but it’s worth brining an adaptor in case. It is also worth noting that power cuts are frequent throughout the country.
Local Amenities
Shops are open from 09:00 to 17:30, Monday to Friday and from 09:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays.
Media
In Tanzania, the language used by the media is Swahili so national radio and private stations broadcast in that language throughout the day.
The press, which has grown significantly since 1993, also uses Swahili. Two daily English newspapers are available, The Guardian and The Daily News.
Post
Post offices are usually open from 08:00 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, and from 08:30 to 12:00 on Saturdays. You can buy stamps in hotels and, of course, in post offices. It can take ten days to deliver post to Europe.
Phone
To call Tanzania from the UK, dial 00 255 followed by the area code (without the 0) then the number you are dialling. It can be quite difficult to make calls from your hotel, and even more challenging in the bush. But in an emergency, lodges will be able to radio for help. The cost of international phone calls is high, around four to five US dollars per minute. It is worth contacting your service provider before you travel for more information.
Internet and Mobile Coverage
Most hotels and lodges have WiFi available, some are free of charge, but some do come with a small fee. There are also many internet cafes in big cities, usually at a cost of between 300 and 500 TZS for half an hour. Mobile coverage is widespread (except it can be patchy in the Serengeti). For more information, we would suggest contacting your service provider before leaving.
Currency
TZS
