Tanzania

Spanish citizens need a valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining from the return date and at least three blank pages. They are also subject to obtaining a visa to enter the country. Visas can be obtained online or upon arrival at international airports.

New entry requirement for mainland Tanzania: The Tanzanian Ministry of Finance is implementing a mandatory travel insurance system for visitors to mainland Tanzania. Travel insurance coverage will be provided by the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) or any other insurer registered in partnership with the NIC. The entry travel insurance policy will be valid for a maximum period of ninety-two (92) days from the date of arrival in Tanzania and will allow multiple entries. The entry travel insurance premium will be USD 44, payable through the payment systems enabled by the insurance company, being free for children under 2 years old, 50% for children from 3 to 17, and with discounts of 10% for groups of 10 or more passengers. The premium will not be refundable, except in the case of cancellation or other specific circumstances stipulated in the policy. According to the NIC, the travel insurance system will come into effect on October 1, 2026. Currently, the NIC has enabled the following website to process the insurance, although the Government reports that it will also be possible to process it upon arrival: https://inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz/ Entry Requirement for Zanzibar: The Government of Zanzibar has implemented a MANDATORY Travel Insurance requirement for all foreign travelers visiting the “Spice Islands” of Zanzibar. This travel insurance requirement has been in effect since October 1, 2024, for all foreigners arriving in Zanzibar by air or sea. This MANDATORY insurance must be purchased prior to travel and is only available from The Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC).

The Government of Zanzibar has provided the following links for further information:

Website: www.visitzanzibar.go.tz

Email: inbound@zic.co.tz

Telephone: +255800008005

IMPORTANT NOTE: According to the Government's statement, travelers arriving without a valid ZIC may be denied entry to Zanzibar at immigration controls.

NOTES CLARIFICATIONS:

• Although the "first point of entry" principle applies when determining insurance providers, those who have already purchased Zanzibar insurance and begin their safari in mainland Tanzania will NOT need to obtain new insurance and can present their Zanzibar insurance to enter Tanzania. This applies to those who purchased their Zanzibar insurance before October 1st. Any insurance purchased after October 1st must be for the point of entry into the country.
• Under no circumstances will it be necessary to purchase two insurance policies, even if visiting both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
• Travel insurance can be purchased online or upon arrival. In the latter case, it can be purchased by credit card or cash, in either US dollars or euros, applying the corresponding exchange rate. The cost will be equivalent to approximately USD 44 per person.

Where to obtain insurance for - For passengers beginning their journey in mainland Tanzania: https://inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz

- For passengers beginning their journey in Zanzibar: https://inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz

Swahili is the official language. However, most Tanzanians speak their tribe's own language (in Zanzibar it is Arabic). If the traveler speaks English, they should not have any communication problems with the majority of the population in urban areas and especially with people related to tourism.

Islam is the religion of approximately 40% of the population and predominates especially in coastal cities and Zanzibar. Another 40% of the population is Christian.

Tropical and pleasant on the coast, it moderates on the plateau. It has various regional temperature variations influenced by various factors, including altitude. With around 7⁰C on average at dawn, the hottest and most humid part of the country is on the coast. The time with the most pleasant weather is from June to September and the warmest is from October to March. From April to mid-May the great rains are recorded; and during November and December there are frequent showers of short duration. The north of the country is in ideal conditions throughout the year for a safari, and only in April and May can the experience be uncomfortable due to the rains.

It is advisable to get vaccinated against yellow fever and prophylaxis for Malaria. It is also recommended to drink only water that offers sufficient guarantees or bottled water. Using tap water to brush your teeth does not cause problems. Due to the climate that exists in tropical countries, it is advisable to drink plenty of fluids. They offer greater guarantee and security due to their preparation, soft drinks and bottled drinks and hot drinks, tea or coffee, due to the temperature to which they are subjected.

The official currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS). In the National Parks, most safari agencies and hotels accept dollars that have not been issued before 2009. However, for restaurant bills and any other casual purchase it is recommended to pay in local currency. Euros and dollars can only be exchanged in banks after the government closes the exchange houses. You can get cash at ATMs in cities.

Major credit cards are generally accepted in hotels, restaurants and stores. Some establishments charge a commission of 3 or 5% for payments made by card.

In Tanzania the common voltage is 230 V. The frequency is 50 Hz. The plugs and sockets are type D / G.

Meals must always be well cooked. Diarrhea is the most common disease. You should not eat raw vegetables and pay special attention to salads. Meats and fish should be consumed sufficiently cooked. You should not eat raw mollusks (clams, shellfish, cockles, etc.).

Shopping: in all tourist cities, you can find handicraft items, wooden carvings of animals, batik, jewelry, ceramics and wicker objects; and Maasai handicrafts (shields, bead ornaments, spears, etc.). Haggling is very common everywhere. It is also possible to purchase African cotton garments, such as the brightly colored kikoi that men tie around their waists as a skirt; precious or semi-precious stones such as rubies, sapphires, rhodolite, malachite, tanzanite, and tsavorite; and all kinds of spices. If you buy ebony makonde figures you have to make sure they are authentic, real ebony weighs a lot.

Clothes: both Zanzibar and most of the coast of the Indian Ocean are predominantly Muslim areas. Local traditions and customs must be respected at all times and not offend local sensibilities, especially in matters of clothing. Special care should be taken during the month of Ramadan. Because the safari can vary in intensity and terrain, waterproof shoes are recommended, depending on the itinerary being taken, such as hiking boots or safari shoes for long walks.

There are all kinds of options, from local buses, also called dala-dala, totally overcrowded and suffocating, to private cars.

The sense of time in Africa has nothing to do with that of Europe, you have to be patient, understand their sense of time and let yourself go and enjoy without haste.

Tanzania's time zone is GMT+03:00.