The mainland of the country has some distinct geographical variations which also conveniently divide it up into tourism and adventure hubs. For the tropical holiday seeker there are the plains along the coast which run between 16 and 64 kilometres in width - this region is almost always verdant with tropical forests and plants.

The famous Steppe region of the Masai lies to the north and the average height above mean sea level here can vary between 213 and 1067 metres (698 and 3500 feet). The third region is the plateau of the south that borders Lake Malawi (Nyasa) and is closer to Zambia. The bush and Savannah make up the majority of Tanzania's land, with a desert-like region forming another significant section.

Despite its large arid spaces Tanzania is not without its beautiful lakes and inland water bodies. In fact as much as 53,000 sq km of the country is covered with inland water. Most lakes are found in the vicinity of the Rift Valley.

Off the mainland are the beautiful islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, which lie approximately 45 kilometres off the north eastern coastline.

The official languages of Tanzania are English and the indigenous Kiswahili. Kiswahili evolved along the coastal region of the country. The language comes from the Bantu group and has several words in common to Arabic.  Besides Kiswahili, people also speak other languages like Bantu and some that have Khoisan or Nilo-Hamitic origin.

Kiswahili and Swahili

You probably know Kiswahili as Swahili - they're both used to describe the same language of the people of Tanzania.  If you'd like to be accurate though, Swahili is actually the name for the people of the region while Kiswahili is the language that they speak.

Useful Phrases

Jambo - Good day
Jambo - Hello
Ulale salama - Goodnight
Hujambo? - How do you do?
Sijambo - It is well with me
Hali ngani? - How are you?
Njema - I am well
Habari ngani? - What is your news?
Habari njema - Good news
Kwa heri - Goodbye
Jina lako nani? - What is your name?
Jina langu ni (name) - My name is (name)

Handshakes - It is convention across the country, in both towns and villages, to greet people as well as part ways with a friendly handshake. Do take care to use only your right hand. The use of the left hand is to be avoided for any social interaction - whether it's a handshake or passing someone something at the table or in an interaction or even to receive something from someone.

Say jambo! - Tanzanians greet each other with a ‘Jambo,' an all-purpose greeting for an individual and it's also the reply you give if someone says ‘Jambo' to you. If you want to greet a group of people then say ‘Hamjambo'. Speaking a little Kiswahili can open up the doors of communication and you'll soon have the locals warming up to you if you use their favourite greeting.

Other norms - As far as hospitality goes, be yourself and follow universal norms of politeness and manners; there aren't any special local ones. You would do well to dress smartly though, as appearances do matter here. A well tailored suit worn with a tie, or a safari suit will do well for men while women can wear a smart dress.

Smoking - If you see an ashtray it means smoking is allowed; if you don't see one, don't ask for one. Smoking is strictly banned on public transport and in cinema houses.

Most visitors entering Tanzania will require a visa. Visitors can obtain a visa on arrival at either Dar-es-Salaam or Zanzibar airports for US$50, which is payable in cash. All visitors also require some proof of sufficient funds, as well as evidence of their return or onward journey. Passports must have validity of at least six months from the date of entry. Those arriving from an infected country must hold a yellow fever vaccination certificate. 

It is advisable to check this information with your relevant embassy prior to travel.

The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling. 1 shilling is 100 cents and the local currency comes in units of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10000. Coins valued at 5 cents, 10 cents, 50 cents and coins of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 shillings are also widely used. Current exchange rates can be found at OANDA.com.

You can change your foreign currency at authorized money changers, the bureaux de change as well as banks. Retain a copy of the receipt after you change your money and keep this until you leave Tanzania.

Credit/Debit cards and ATMs

Bigger hotels accept all major credit cards, with some ATMs offering a cash withdrawal facility on cards issued by Mastercard or Visa.

Traveller's cheques

You can encash your traveller's cheques at bureaux de change or authorized money changers. Try and bring your cheques as USD or Pounds Sterling so that you don't have to fork out extra on the exchange rate charge.

Currency Restrictions

Tanzanian currency cannot be exported or imported by law. You can, however, bring in as much foreign currency as you like, but remember to declare it on entry. Failure to correctly declare the foreign currency you are bringing in may get you in trouble when you leave - you'll only be allowed to take out an amount less or equal to as much as you declared when you entered the country.

Bank Operating Hours

8.30am-12.30pm (although some banks stay open until 4pm) from Monday to Friday. Banks close only at 1pm on Saturdays and stay closed all of Sunday.

Weather in Tanzania is, as you'd expect, warm and tropical. The coastal belt gets very humid and hot, so be prepared. The rains kick in around March and the wet weather lasts all the way to June. The plateau region in central Tanzania is hot and dry for most of the year while the highlands in the north-west are pleasant and cool. The rains arrive in the highland area around November and December and then again in February lasting until May.

The current weather in Tanzania can be found by clicking here.

Recommended Clothing

Since it is warm and humid for the better part of the year, dress for the tropics. For cooler and wetter weather, carry a light jacket and a sweater. You'll need these for evenings out.

Telephone

Tanzania's country code is +255. If you need to make an international phone call you can use a public phone booth in a post office and other locations around the cities and towns. In smaller towns and villages, making an international call requires an operator to connect you.

Mobile telephone

International mobile phones do work here under collaborative agreements to offer roaming services. However, you will find coverage rather limited, with access restricted to bigger towns and cities.

Internet

Most cities and larger towns in Tanzania have internet cafes where you can check your mail and access the internet.

Post

Post takes about a week to get to mainland Europe by air. If you are in a hurry, you'd be better off using a courier service; it may cost you more but will have your package or letter delivered in under a day.

To view a list of Tanzanian embassies around the world, as well as foreign embassies in Tanzania, go to EmbassyWorld.com.

For travellers who believe that it is the people who make a place, Tanzania is a goldmine. With 120 ethnic tribal groups, diversity is synonymous with the country. The people of Tanzania have embraced their differences. The chance to experience life in this multicultural society and to visit traditional tribal settlements has become a wonderful detour for tourists here on safari getaways. Of all the tribes, the group that remains enduringly popular with overseas visitors is the Masaai tribe. Living to the north of the country, Masaai village life focuses around cattle rearing in the fertile grassy lands where they live.

The Swahili people are an eclectic mix of Bantu, Arab and Indian and have developed their occupations around the trade along the spice route of the Indian Ocean. A primarily Islamic area, the coastal belt and the Spice Islands (Mafia, Zanzibar and Pemba) have some intriguing palaces made of coral and mosques dating back centuries. The Dhow or old fashioned sailing boat was the lifeline of this region. Fishing villages get their income from the fresh catch from the sea, as well from the spice trade and coconut exports.