Tanzania is a country renowned for its wildlife and landscape. The incredible Serengeti national park is abundant with wildlife all year round, however, the annual great migration is the most spectacular time to visit and witness millions of animals trekking through the plains with some incredible views of Kilimanjaro rising above the Serengeti park. Tanzania has some incredible beaches and a semi-autonomous region consisting of the Zanzibar archipelago which is one of the most popular destinations in East Africa. Tanzania has all of these and much more to offer however there are certain hazards and valuable information all visitors should beware of.

Traveling info

All tourists traveling to Tanzania are required to have a valid passport. Tanzania exempts a few countries from the requirement of obtaining a visa. (list in sources) Those who are required to obtain such document may do so at any Tanzanian consulate or embassy. The document is issued usually within one business day. A tourist visa may be obtained at any one of these 4 points in Tanzania. Dar es Salaam International Airport, Zanzibar International Airport, Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) or the Namanga Entry Point (Tanzania-Kenya border point) however to avoid complications it is safer to obtain such document prior to the trip. Tourists who decide to drive in Tanzania will be required to have both their domestic driving license and their international driving permit. An IDP may only be obtained in the tourists country of origin. The holders of driving permits from Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda are exempt from the requirements of obtaining an IDP.

Traveling hazards

Road conditions in Tanzania are somewhat poor. Main intercity highways are usually paved however maintenance on these roads can be quite erratic and their quality greatly deteriorates during the wet season. Secondary roads if paved, are usually riddled with potholes and lack signage or road markings and will usually require a vehicle with high clearance to get through. Some secondary roads and rural roads during the wet season may be impassable or will require a solid 4×4 to get through. While driving it is important to watch out for the local drivers which often drive aggressively and are reluctant to stop even on crossings with traffic lights. For safety, it is advised to avoid driving at night due to crime. (see more crime section). It is advised to keep doors locked at all times and to keep valuables out of sight when inside the car.

Environmental hazards

Tanzania boasts a variety of wildlife including some of the most dangerous land and water roaming creatures on earth. Lions inhabit large swaths of land in Tanzania more commonly attack human settlements. Most common attacks on humans take place in tribal villages out in the rural areas. Due to the push of the locals into the bushlands, encounters with such animals are more common. Elephants although usually docile, can be extremely dangerous. Young males erupt with anger when reaching high levels of testosterone trampling everything in their way. These unstoppable giants may cause serious harm and are responsible for over 200 deaths in Africa each year. Although rather not intimidating by looks and herbivorous in their diet, hippopotamuses are some of the most fierce animals in Africa. Do not let their appearance sway you, as these territorial animals attack any intruders and are responsible for taking over 3 thousand African lives yearly. Another water inhabiting territorial animal is the most fierce of the crocodilians known as the Nile crocodile. This animal kills more humans than any other of its species. They inhabit rivers, lakes and murky waters around Tanzania. Venomous snakes are a problem in the country, both puff adder and the black mamba are very deadly. Although an antivenom against the puff adder is available, it is usually not applied in time. 30 thousand people die every year bitten by puff adders. There is no antivenom against the black mamba. This snake although killing fewer people than the puff adder is the most feared on the continent. Sadly the black mamba bites have a 100% mortality rate. None of these animals, however, can be found in the area of Zanzibar. The islands are completely free of any of these animals. Waters of both Tanzania and the Zanzibar archipelago are generally safe. Sharks are present however attacks are almost unheard of. Stonefish and lionfish are much more common danger, these will not attack anyone however coming into contact with them by stepping on them or touching them will result in an extremely painful sting, often resulting in temporary paralysis which may have deadly consequences if alone in the water. Sea urchins are common along the coast and in the Zanzibar area. These can give a very nasty sting to anyone who steps on them. In such a case, it is advised to seek medical help and not to remove the spike as it will shatter into many pieces.
Tanzania does not suffer from earthquakes nor does it have any active volcanoes however the population and the animals of Tanzania are often struck by severe droughts which often deplete small water sources and ruin any crop growth. Floods during the wet season are also quite severe often impeding travel between certain parts of the country.

Health hazards

There is currently a risk of becoming infected with yellow fever in Tanzania. The government requires all travelers coming from the countries with a risk of yellow fever to have a yellow fever vaccination proof. Those nationals who are not required to be vaccinated, are recommended to do so. There is also a risk of malaria and Zika virus within the country and no vaccination against the either is available. There is medicine on prescription against malaria which should be available to anyone after consulting their local general practitioner. Pregnant women are advised to avoid travel as the virus causes severe birth defects. Zika is mainly contracted through infected mosquitoes, therefore, wearing long-sleeved clothes and using bug repellants is the most effective way to avoid contracting the virus. There are several other vaccinations which are not required but recommended. These are the routine vaccines, typhoid, hepatitis A and B and rabies vaccine. Public healthcare in Tanzania is struggling, although the service is free to all citizens, Tanzania faces many challenges to overcome such as the HIV/AIDS virus which is prevalent in the country. Private hospitals, however, can provide a superior service compared to those of the public sector. These hospitals are usually available only in Dodoma, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar. If taking prescribed medicine it is advised to get a supply before traveling to Tanzania as it might not be readily available on the spot. To ensure proper service in case of an emergency it is advised to make sure that the health insurance policy covers medical evacuation to South Africa.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Safety varies across the country. The Zanzibar area is relatively safe although petty crime such as bag snatching, scams and pickpocketing are common. Mainland differs a lot. Violent crime is on the rise although it mostly affects the locals. Tourists, however, are generally targeted for their valuables. Criminals often choose their victims by their rough estimate of wealth. It is advised to avoid self-driving while in Tanzania. Rental cars, especially after dark, are often targeted for robberies. These happen particularly on red lights, some drivers choose not to stop on them and drive on carefully. It is important to keep the doors locked at all times and to keep bags and valuables out of sight in the car. Banditry is particularly common in Dar es Salaam, bag snatching is usually a group operation where if an unarmed assailant does not manage to steal the valuables an armed one steps in. Tourists have been killed in such occurrences before. It is best to use registered taxis to get around the city. It is best to rent a place to stay in a guarded resort. Budget resorts are broken into and robber however even guarded resorts have witnessed such instances due to lack of training of the security. Although it is difficult to stay low key in Tanzania as most tourists stand out from the crowd, it is advised to avoid carrying any valuables such as phones or cameras out in the open. Shiny jewelry also attracts potential thieves. Traveling at night is greatly discouraged due to the danger of banditry. All kinds of drugs are illegal in Tanzania and Zanzibar. Those found with narcotics will be severely punished by lengthy jail sentences.

Summary

Tanzania is a hotspot for safaris. Besides these Zanzibar offers a unique experience of a mixture of Arabic, Indian and African mashup. These spice islands offer the experience of old architecture and white sandy beaches with turquoise waters. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
http://www.tanzaniaconsul.com/visa.html
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/tanzania
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2018/infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/yellow-fever#5291