When exchanging currency, keep in mind that small denominations (less than $20) in foreign currency are usually accepted at a lower rate. Street money changers, constantly pestering tourists in the areas of banks, markets and exchange offices, are usually elementary scammers. It is not recommended to use their services. Foreigners are often required to pay for hotel and airfare in hard currency only. It is not recommended to visit Tanzania from March to May, when heavy rains at high air temperatures create very uncomfortable conditions for Europeans. In addition, during this period, the risk of malaria and gastrointestinal diseases increases sharply. The security situation in the country is rather ambiguous. Tanzanians are generally very friendly and sociable people, but there are a lot of refugees from neighboring countries in the country, and the standard of living is low, so cases of fraud and petty theft are quite widespread. There are also a lot of pickpockets in tourist areas. Well-armed gangs of poachers are operating in the areas of the reserves, with whom there is a constant struggle. Drug-related crimes are quite widespread in Zanzibar and in the provincial areas. Expensive photo and video equipment, valuables or documents should not be shown. It is not recommended to walk alone at night through the streets. Do not leave things unattended. You should always carry a photocopy of your passport with you, and keep your passport, money and air ticket in a safe place (safe in the hotel). If the thief is caught, then even before the arrival of the police, he can be stoned to death, therefore, local thieves are very resourceful. In the event of a robbery, you must immediately report it to the nearest police station. Foreigners are the object of constant and overly intrusive attention. Do not give in to the offers of local residents to help with something. This usually ends in problems. Prices for any goods and services for tourists are usually overstated at times.
According to Weddinginfashion, attempts of outright deceit and fraud are widespread. It is not recommended to take pictures of local residents without their permission and to visit the dwellings of local residents on your own (without a guide or a representative of a travel agency). In some places you need to pay for photography, but you should not do this everywhere and always – many natives try to beg for money in this way. Smoking is prohibited in cinemas and on public transport. Ashtrays are usually a sign of permission to smoke in a given place. Environmental legislation in Zanzibar prohibits the use of plastic bags for packaging goods in stores. Anyone found guilty of manufacturing, importing or selling plastic bags can be fined up to $2,000 or go to jail for up to a year. It is also not recommended to use and especially throw away already existing plastic bags. When traveling in national parks, you should not drive too close to animals and prevent them from hunting. It is not recommended to drive off the road and get out of the car without the permission of the guide. This can only be done in designated areas. Feeding animals in national parks is strictly prohibited – any attempt of this kind is punishable by a huge fine, as well as dumping garbage in the park. It is forbidden to go outside the places of residence without being accompanied by guards. You should carefully monitor the condition of mosquito nets in all places of residence. Being on the territory of the country’s National Parks is mostly paid. For every day spent in the Kilimanjaro National Park, for example, you will have to pay $60 for each adult and $10 for a child from 10 to 16 years old, in the Serengeti – $50 and $10, and in Gobwa – $100, respectively. In addition, there is an additional fee for spending the night in campsites (on the territory of Kilimanjaro, for example, $ 50 per night) and a one-time fee for rescue work – $ 20. In the case of trekking or long hiking excursions, you should carefully prepare your clothes and equipment. All wearable items should be packed in plastic bags, repellents and protective nets should be prepared, and pick up clothes as closed as possible, if possible – thick. A certain danger is represented by small schistosome helminths living in the water of local lakes and rivers, as well as poisonous snakes, mosquitoes (especially the malarial mosquito “Anopheles”, common on the coastal plains of the east coast), tsetse flies, crocodiles, hippos and other wild animals. Repellents and wide-brimmed hats are strongly recommended, as well as tall shoes with good ankle support. Since the level of insolation is very high, it is recommended to use sunscreen (especially in the first 2-3 days of your stay in the country and in the mountains), as well as drink more water (preferably mineral water). Supplying cities and towns with clean water is a big problem in Tanzania. Very few settlements have their own water sources, in most cases, rainwater is collected in large tanks, which are only enough for drinking.
Those villages that have their own wells often suffer from power outages, as a result of which water pumps are de-energized. Therefore, with some sanitary and hygienic procedures, problems may arise. Accordingly, there are problems with lighting, so in many hotels kerosene lamps can be found as backup light sources. In clothing, a fairly informal, but not sporty, style is adopted. Light “tropical” clothing will be appropriate for almost all occasions, except for formal receptions. But shorts, miniskirts and overly revealing clothing should be avoided – this can cause inappropriate behavior of local residents, especially in Muslim areas. Public kissing and other public courtesies should be avoided, as this violates the norms of the conservative part of the Muslim community, especially in Zanzibar. The local population and Muslim organizations also oppose the increase in the number of restaurants and bars, hoping that tourists will respect their religious feelings (although the sale of alcohol is not prohibited in the country). The mains voltage is 220/240 V., 50 Hz, but options are possible, and sometimes the electricity is simply turned off without any warning. English standard sockets – three-pin flat or two-pin round. Most lodges get electricity from diesel generators and solar panels, so they turn it off at night (at 22.30-23.00, there are candles or kerosene lamps in the rooms for night lighting). Tips are best given in local currency. In restaurants, they make up 10% of the total order value. Most hotels automatically include a 10% service charge on your bill. If a service fee is not included in the fare, a tip of 20 shillings will be considered quite sufficient, while in most small establishments it is not provided at all. Tips for rangers, drivers and other service personnel on a safari are usually the equivalent of 3-5 US dollars. If the service is carried out by a group of staff, the tip should be given to the head of the group, otherwise additional claims on the size of the tip and their distribution may arise. The country produces unique Tanzanian green tourmalines, sapphires, garnets, rubies, emeralds and diamonds, as well as the mineral tanzanite, found exclusively in Tanzania in the volcanic deposits of Mount Kilimanjaro. All this splendor of the gifts of the earth’s bowels can be purchased in the markets and in private jewelry stores, although, unfortunately, most of the high-quality gems mined in Tanzania are not available in the country, but are freely sold in the markets of neighboring Kenya. A license is required to take them out of the country.