Essential Information For Tanzania

1) Business Hours
2) Electricity
3) Embassies
4) Public Holidays
5) Internet Access
6) Tipping
7) Time
8) Toilets
9) Radio
10) Tourist Information
11)Women Travellers
12) Quick Facts

Business Hours
While the City of Dar es Salaam continues to work a very traditional Monday to Friday 08.30 to 1700, Saturdays are also worked, normally a half-day between 8:30 – 12pm.

Banks are usually open until 1700, although counter transactions after 1530 are usually not processed until the next working day. Bars and Restaurants have their own individual opening and closing hours.
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Electricity
The standard voltage throughout Tanzania is 230/240V AC, 50Hz. Plugs have three square pins. Adaptors for European, Australasian and American electrical items are available at any electrical store.
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Embassies
It’s important to realize what your own embassy can and cannot do to help you if you get into trouble. Generally, it won’t be much help if the trouble you are in is remotely your own fault.

Remember that while in Tanzania you are bound by Tanzanian law. Your embassy will not be sympathetic if you end up in prison after committing a crime locally, even if such actions are legal in your own country. In genuine emergencies you might get some assistance, but only if other channels have been exhausted.

For example, if you need to get home urgently, a free ticket home is highly unlikely – the embassy would expect you to have insurance. If you have all your money and documents stolen, it might assist with getting a new passport but a loan for onward travel is almost always out of the question.

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Public Holidays

* - Dependent upon sighting of the moon.
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Internet Access
Logging onto the Internet should not be a problem – if you have your own laptop you can go online with ease from most hotels and cafes, and if you do not, you can drop into any Internet café throughout the capital.
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Tipping
Many restaurants add a ‘discretionary’ service charge to your bill, but in places that do not, you are expected to leave a 10% to 15% tip unless the service was unsatisfactory. Waiting staff are often paid derisory wages on the assumption that the money will be supplemented by tips.
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Time
Wherever you are in the world, the time on your watch is measured in relation to the time at Greenwich in London – Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
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Toilets
Public toilets are not numerous in Tanzania and generally the ones you do find, should be avoided at all costs.
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Radio
For a taste of Tanzania on the airwaves, tune into the following stations:

Tourist Information
Dar es Salaam is a major travel centre, so along with information on Dar es Salaam, tourist offices can help with information on safaris and Zanzibar.
Tourist Tourist Board
www.tanzaniatouristboard.com
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Women Travellers
In general you are unlikely to have too many problems provided you take the usual precautions. Women should respect the Tanzanian/Muslim culture, particularly when traveling in Zanzibar, women should show respect and wear clothes that cover the shoulders and avoid wearing mini-skirts and micro-shorts.
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Quick Facts

Official Name: United Republic of Tanzania (Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania)

Capital: Dodoma - population: 320,000 (2002 census)

Head of State: President Jakaya Kikwete

System Of Government: United Republic

Ethnic Groups:
More than 120 ethnic groups are represented in Tanzania. Each of these groups differs, to varying degrees, from other groups in culture, social organization, and language. Only the smallest groups are homogeneous, however. Most groups are characterized by some internal variation in language and culture. The largest ethnic group, the Sukuma, represents nearly 13% of the total population; the remaining large groups represent under 5% each. Ethnicity continues to reflect geographic area. During colonial rule, administrative subdivisions had often been drawn along ethnic lines; this situation has continued after independence despite the government's genuine efforts to downplay ethnic considerations. Less than 1% of Tanzania's population is made up of non-Africans, including Europeans, Asians, and Arabs

Religions: Christian - 66%; indigenous beliefs - 26%; Muslim - 7%; Other - 1%

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