Tanzania

  • Combine diving with safaris
  • Whale shark season from November to March
  • Perfect for divers and non-divers alike

Tanzania in East Africa is perhaps best known for Mount Kilimanjaro and safaris in the Serengeti. And the paradise island of Zanzibar. But the truth is that Tanzania has much more to offer than that. This is a large country with a population of close to 60 million people and a total area of ​​over 945 km203. Here is Africa's highest mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro, which reaches almost 2 meters above sea level. The country is also home to three large lakes, Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika (in which you can actually dive) and Lake Nyasa. In addition to Serengeti National Park, the country has another 6.000 national parks at the time of writing. Ngorongoro Crater, Nyerere, Ruaha and Arosha are some of the more famous and best.

Tanzania is an amazingly beautiful country with a rich nature and a great biological diversity. Some of the most famous animal species include elephants, lions, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, cheetahs, leopards, bugles, zebras, wild dogs, giraffes, rhinoceroses and various kinds of monkeys. Tanzania also has a rich bird life.


The diving

When you go on a diving holiday to Tanzania, it's the offshore islands that count. Here in Indian Ocean do you have access to good snorkelling, diving, sun, swimming and culture. It is easy to combine your diving holiday with a safari on the mainland of Tanzania. During parts of the year, there are plenty of whale sharks along the coast. The reefs around the islands of Pemba, Mafia and Zanzibar have plenty of fish, moray eels, various crustaceans and in season it is also common to see different species of shark. Even hammerhead sharks come in here then. Here you can also see different types of coats, including the majestic manta or devil's coat.

Even whales sometimes pass by here, especially humpback whales and sperm whales you can see here. More common, however, are pods of dolphins that you can see regularly. There are also turtles, barracuda, sailfish and golden mackerel that can sometimes be seen out of the blue at times so keep your eyes open. It has happened in the past liveaboard here too, but unfortunately they haven't done so well, so it's land-based diving that applies. Regardless of how you want to set up your diving trip, we'll help you tailor your adventure in Tanzania.

Zanzibar in Tanzania has good diving all year round. Book your diving trip with us at Scuba Travel. We are the leader in diving trips.

Travel information Tanzania

  • Time zone: GMT +3
  • Currency: (TZS) Tanzanian Shilling
  • Language: Swahili (Kiswahili) is the official language of Tanzania. English is used in higher education and spoken in many places. In Zanzibar and Pemba they speak Arabic.
  • Water: Avoid drinking tap water and ice made from tap water. Buy bottled water instead
  • Visa: Tourist visa is purchased at the airport on arrival (Applies to mainland Tanzania plus its islands)
  • Health: Contact your nearest vaccination clinic for advice
  • Pressure Chamber: Located in Nairobi
  • Country code: +255
  • Electricity: 220 volts. British sockets are used and an adapter is needed.
  • Weather: Tropical climate, two rainy seasons (March-May) and (Nov-Dec, the coolest months are June to October and the warmest are December to March.
  • Current water temperature and average sea temperature per month
  • Tip: About 10% of the bill is usual. In Tanzania it is customary to tip guides, waiters and other service personnel. There is an expectation of tipping, but it's up to you how much you want to tip.
  • Clothing recommendations: Women should avoid wearing short shorts and sleeveless shirts in the cities and villages, and men should not go shirtless. On the beach it works well with only swimwear, but note that it is forbidden to sunbathe topless. Otherwise, we recommend cool clothes and a cap/hat against the strong sun.