Travel Tips
General Things To Know about tz
Tanzania is a country located on the eastern coast of the African continent. With a population of roughly 58 million, Tanzania is one of Africa’s fastest growing economies.
The capital city, Dodoma, lies right at the heart of Tanzania in the middle of the country. Dar es Salaam was the previous capital until they shifted it to Dodoma in 1996.
Samia Suluhu Hassan is the 6th president of Tanzania. Sworn in on March 19th, 2021 after the death of President John P. Magufuli on March 17th, 2021. A native of Zanzibar, Suluhu served as a minister in the semi-autonomous region during the administration of President Amani Karume.
The official languages of Tanzania are Kiswahili and English, although I find English to be concentrated in certain pockets around the country. Mainly those with the highest tourist populations.
The major religions in Tanzania are Muslim, and Christian. There are tribes who still practice their indigenous religions and spirituality, but it’s not prominent.
Safety while traveling as an African diasporan
1 • We may have the same skin color & hair texture, but we are foreigners in their country.
This may be disheartening for some to hear, but the truth is the truth, Although there is a sense of brotherhood/sisterhood amongst our people, we could still be easily labeled as a target because foreigners = $$$ to some.
2 • Only use notable taxis, Ubers, or Bolts.
There have been a few occasions throughout my travels on the continent where I’ve heard of sketchy taxi drivers being physically aggressive towards African Diasporans because they think we have a lot of money. This is more avoidable if you take a taxi that the hotel recommends, or an Uber, where the driver must be verified to drive.
3 • There may be micro- aggressions.
Depending on where you’re traveling in the world, there may be even less of us than you expect. You may very well be in a position where you are the only African descendant at the restaurant, bar, or even on the plane. I’ve been given the wildest looks, stares, and asked the most preposterous questions by non Blacks. As if to ask “Why are you here? Blacks don’t travel.” Not saying this happens all of the time, but it is something you may encounter. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself in these types of situations.
4 • Try to arrive at your destination before dark.
When traveling across the world, some things are unavoidable, but arriving to your destination during the daytime can eliminate a lot of situations where you can become a potential target. You’re new to the place, and don’t know exactly where you’re going yet. Just try and avoid this unnecessary risk.
5 • General Safety
Some things that you can do to help ensure your safety are having a check- in system every few days with friends or family outside of the country and register with the embassy of your home country. If something were to go wrong, these steps can make it easier for someone to find you or help assist you.
Cultural Norms
Tanzania has a generally conservative culture compared to many countries in the west. It is normal to see many women moving around with their heads and faces covered, or in a hijab, due to the high Muslim population.
Depending on where you are, you won’t see any local women wearing shorts or short skirts that are more than a couple inches above their knees, but it is perfectly normal for men to wear shorts. Women will be fine wearing shorts ouside of local markets, government buildings, and some local establishments.
In the Tanzanian culture, respect for elders is a cornerstone of their traditions. Greetings like “Shikamoo”, and “Marahaba”, are a requirement when greeting elders.
Bartering at the markets is also a cultural norm. Since Tanzania is a Swahili speaking country, it will serve you well to at least learn the numbers and how to count money.
You can find handbooks with general Kiswahili phrases at almost any bookstore around town.
Your electronics
Here in Tanzania, they use the same power sockets that are in the UK, as pictured above. All power sockets in Tanzania provide a standard voltage of 230V with a standard frequency of 50Hz.
If you are traveling with larger appliances such as blenders or even gaming systems, it would serve you well to get a step up, or step down transformer (depending on the electrical rating of your items) so that you can use them without any problems. Smaller items like cell phones, laptops, and portable speakers should do just fine with a simple power adapter, but still check your ratings just to be sure.
There are some areas in Tanzania which are remote and don’t have access to power. Always travel with a power bank in these instances.
Planning your big adventure
Here are a few things to keep in mind weather making the big move, or just visiting:
Travel Light
Many people tend to over- pack and bring unnecessary items with them when coming out. Almost everything that you will find in your home country is available here in Tanzania, especially if you’re visiting Dar es Salaam. Just make sure you bring the necessities like medicines you may need, electronics & chargers for your trip, and small items that will make you comfortable.
Keep an Open Mind
This should be a given, but we are in a whole new country. Even though as African Diasporans, we may even pass for continental Africans, we still have a lot to learn about the culture and customs. Don’t come with a chip on your shoulder. Come to learn. But most of all, come to have fun.
Have A Loose Plan, At Best
It helps to have an idea of the places you’d like to visit and things you want to do. Click below to see some different activities around Tanzania.
What To Pack
Most of us have a tendency to over- pack. We fill our 2 free check - ons to the brim and make sure we utilize every singe kilogram allowed ... I’m super guilty of this. To avoid having to buy another suitcase, we can bring the minimum, and get some of the things we need on our travels.
Make sure you bring:
• Extra charging cords to you phones and laptops if possible. Sometimes if can be difficult and pricey to find quality chargers when traveling.
• Power banks. There are some areas in Tanzania which are remote and don’t have access to power. Always travel with a power bank in these instances.
• Extra cash is a must when traveling. Specifically USD, GBP, or Euros which you can easily exchange or barter with to get you out of a bind.
• Hiking/ walking shoes. Even though they have plenty out here in Tanzania, it still wouldn’t hurt to brig some from your home country.
• Painkillers, cold medicine, alergey medicine, and other random meds. Tanzania has these stores called Duka La Dawa which is basically a pharmacy. All of the things mentioned are available at the duka la dawa, but some of them tend to close early. If you are in a situation, you could supplement with your stock until you get to an actual duka la dawa.