Situated in East Africa, just south of the equator, mainland Tanzania lies between the area of the great lakes; Victoria, Tanganyika and Malawi – with the Indian Ocean on its’ coastline to the east. It has land borders with Uganda and Kenya to the north, Mozambique and Malawi to the south, Zambia to the southwest and Zaire, Burundi and Rwanda to the west.

The country lies at an altitude of over 1,000ft, apart from a coastal strip varying in width from 10 to 40 miles. The greater part of the country is made up of plateau averaging 3,000 to 4,500ft in height. Mountains are grouped in various section. The Pare and Usambara ranges are in the northeast and the Livingstone Mountains in the southwest. Kilimanjaro (19,340ft) in the north is the highest mountain in Africa.

On the borders are three large lakes; Victoria, the second-largest freshwater lake in the world, Tanganyika, second only to Lake Baykal as the deepest in the world; and Lake Malawi. Lakes within Tanzania include Natron, Eyasi, Manyara and Rukwa.

Even though three great African rivers; the Nile, the Zaire and the Zambezi, have their origins in Tanzania, the country has few permanent rivers. During half the year, the central plateau has no running water, but in the rainy season flooding presents a problem.

Lowest Point:   Indian Ocean 0m Highest Point:  Kilimanjaro 5,895m

There are three main climatic areas in Tanzania; the coastal area and immediate hinterland, where conditions are tropical with temperatures averaging 26.6°C (80°), rainfall varying from, 40 to 76 inches and high in humidity; the central plateau, which is hot and dry (rainfall 20 to 30 inches), although with considerable daily and seasonal temperature variations and the third region is the semi-temperate highland areas, where the climate is healthy and cool. There is seasonal variation in the Lake Victoria area. The eastern sections average only 30 to 40 inches of rain, while the western parts receive up to 90 inches. A small area north of Lake Malawi receive 100 inches of rain. There are two rainy seasons; from November to December and from April to mid-June.

All visitors wishing to enter United Republic of Tanzania must OBTAIN AN APPROPRIATE VISA that will enable him\her to enter the country, except nationals of the listed countries below, (who though may need entry permit clearance, they do not need visa) provided they are travelling on national passport of any of the following countries: – Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Brunei, Cyprus, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malawi, Malta, Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Sao Tome & Principe Island, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Island, Swaziland, Tuvalu, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Nationals of the East African Community need neither visa nor entry permit to enter United Republic of Tanzania.

Visa requirements are likely to change so please check with your local embassy or representative.

Passport must be valid for at leave six months.

Mastercard, Access and Diners Club have a limited acceptance. Travellers cheques can be exchanged with authorised deals and bureaux de change and are best taken in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Many hotels and national parks require you make payment in foreign currency either in cash or by Travellers Cheque.

Sea: There is a daily speed boat service to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam which takes approximately 3 hours. Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria have a steamer service.

Bus:Most the roads in Tanzania are in poor condition and pot-holed. All towns are connected by bus services and on long haul routes there is a choice between luxury or ordinary service. You may need to book in advance on long haul journeys. Cross border Bus Service between Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia

Self-Drive / Car Hire:The Africa Guide’s recommended Map Globetrotter Travel Map of Tanzania   (Maps Worldwide) Published by New Holland Publishers – Series Globetrotter Travel Maps This map allows the traveler to locate cities, towns, major roads and scenic routes. It also features airports, holiday resorts, parks, nature reserves and other places of interest. City plans of the major centres highlight historical monuments, key buildings and areas of special interest

Driving is on the left-hand side and an International Driving License is required and before hiring a car, most establishment require that these are endorsed by the police. Self-drive car hire is expensive but most companies offer car with driver.

If you need medical care whilst in Tanzania, it is best to be aware that medical providers may not accept payment through your insurance company. In these circumstances you will have to pay in full after your treatment and file a claim with your insurance company for reimbursement. Therefore, you should have access to cash, either from a credit card or by wire transfer. If you need assistance contact the country’s local embassy or representative.

To be compensated you must be treated by licensed medical personnel and provide your insurance company with proper documentation and receipts.

It is advisable to always ensure you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy which covers you for repatriation to your home country.