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A
Accommodation
Tanzania has a wide range of accommodation to suit every kind of traveller. There are superb luxury lodges at one end, dingy, cockroach-infested dives at the other, and a growing number of options in between. These include campsites, mostly located within national parks, B&Bs (known locally as ‘board and lodgings’, often offshoots of local bars), and traditional wooden bandas (chalets), found mainly on the coast and in the mountains. Travellers on a budget will also find a handful of hostels with a shared kitchen and dormitories. Zanzibar has by far the widest choice of places to stay, and prices for every budget. Note that camping is not allowed on the islands.
Hotel visitors in Tanzania pay 18 percent VAT: check this is included in the rate quoted when you reserve your room. During high season (June to September), room rates are hiked up, so be sure to confirm the price for the time of year you intend to visit. Most large and medium-sized establishments accept credit cards; cash is required for smaller, budget hotels.
Admission charges
entrance fees are charged for all national parks and other reserves. These are usually valid for a 24-hour period, and non-citizen rates are steep by international standards: US$100 per person for Gombe Stream, US$80 for Mahale Mountains, US$70 for Kilimanjaro, US$75 for Selous, US$60 for Serengeti, US$45 for Arusha, Lake Manyara or Tarangire, and US$30 for most other parks. Non-resident children and students (5–15 years) pay US$10–20, depending on the park, while citizen rates amount to around US$2–4 per day. Fees are regularly increased so check the website (www.tanzaniaparks.go.tz) for the latest details. As of 2020, an 18 percent VAT is added to park fees, as well as to other tourist services (guides, accommodation, etc.).
Park entrance fees are normally included in the price of an organised safari. However, independent and self-drive travellers will need to pay them directly. For most national parks, they can be paid with a Visa or MasterCard, or with a TANAPA smartcard, but not with cash.
For the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), the charge is US$60 per person per 24 hours, plus a service fee of US$295 per vehicle every time you visit the Ngorongoro Crater. This can be paid only with a preloaded NCA smartcard, which can be issued and loaded with cash at any bank in Arusha or Karatu. Independent travellers will need to calculate their fees carefully (see www.ngorongorocratertanzania.org or www.ngorongorocrater.org for full details), as they will be refused entry if the card is not loaded with enough cash, but will not get a refund on any excess.
Admission charges into archaeological sites and museums run by the Department of Antiquities are quoted and payable in local currency, but typically work out at US$3–20 per person. Many locally run establishments ask for a donation, and what the average tourist would consider a small contribution is often very much appreciated.
B
Budgeting for your trip
Budgeting for your visit to Tanzania very much depends on the sort of experience you are looking to have. Whether you are a backpacker or a luxury client, it is a relatively expensive country, one that seldom offers the shoestring prices of Asia. The key in regard to budgeting is thorough research: find out as much as you can about all the options. Tour operators can book your entire trip right down to the last detail and this makes budgeting a whole lot easier.
It is imperative that you put aside extra funds in case of emergencies. Communication, technology and health-care facilities are nowhere near Western standards in most parts of Tanzania. The best cover you can have in any sticky situation is the means to pay your way out. This, coupled with good travel insurance, should allow you the peace of mind to enjoy your trip no matter what happens.
There are two price brackets for almost all accommodation: resident rates (includes Tanzanians and expatriates) and non-resident rates (everyone else). Non-resident rates are generally quoted in US dollars but payable in Tanzanian shillings. Resident rates are quoted in local currency and always lower. Many establishments catering to tourists have strong seasonal variations in price, with peak season generally regarded as falling from June to early January, so be sure to confirm the price for the time of year you intend to visit.
Prices for accommodation cover the whole gamut. Budget hotels and guesthouses with basic amenities start at around US$20 for a simple room. Luxury five-star lodgings range from several hundred to sometimes thousands of dollars per night. Lower to mid-range hotels fall somewhere in between, depending on facilities and level of comfort. Generally, accommodation in the national parks is far pricier than in towns or on beaches. Zanzibar is more expensive than resorts on the mainland.
Safari vehicle with African elephant, Tarangire National Park.
If you are willing to do as the locals do, you can eat heartily for a pittance. African staples such as ugali (maize) with fish or meat stew, chipsi mayai (chip omelette) or even the more lavish pilau rice can be purchased for a couple of bucks. International cuisine, served at most high-end hotels, is substantially more expensive than local food.
It is never advisable to drink the tap wa...
