Living In Tanzania Expat Guide – part 1

Living In Tanzania Expat Guide – that will be the topic of today’s article.

Before introducing this article, if you are interested in our core services which are expat financial, insurance and mortgages, you can contact me here. 

The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.

Introduction

First of all, you need to understand the culture if you are moving to Tanzania. The best place for this is Dar es Salaam which has almost everything that Nairobi has plus more. It has better malls (including Shoprite and Nakumatt), and nightclubs (such as Tao). Do you really know why you want to relocate?

Well, many people travel without having a deep knowledge about where they’re going. However, whatever it may be, living in Tanzania could contribute to your best decision ever. This East African country is widely known as home to several of the largest and best parks you’ll ever see in Africa today.

Aside from this fact, the country presents the famous Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, and many other various wildlife-related adventures. Also, if you’re planning to live in Tanzania as an expat, there are many things to put into consideration. Besides, Tanzania has become a popular African destination for tourists, and for good reason.

Not only is that, but the landscapes here are stunning, the culture is heart-warming, and the people are nothing short of charming. That’s why the country remains an amazing place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. Have you been surfing the web to get a glimpse of what living here entails?

Of course, worry less as you’ve landed on the right platform. In fact, we have compiled this article to meet your requirements. Here, we will walk you through the pros and cons of living in Tanzania as an expat. In addition, we’ve highlighted the ultimate tips, and interesting facts about living in this country. We’re sure you won’t want to miss what we’ve compiled, right? Now, check the ultimate guide below.

Top 9 Tips to Relocate to Tanzania Today

Living in Tanzania as an expat is wonderful. The country has a lot to offer and the people are extremely friendly. There are many reasons why one would want to move here, including work or retirement. But regardless of your reasons, there are some things you should know before moving to the country. Without further ado, here are nine tips to help someone who is thinking about moving to Tanzania.

1.       Know the Culture

Tanzania is made up of many different cultures, so do yourself a favour and learn about them before you come down. There are certain things that are considered rude in one culture but may be perfectly acceptable in another.

For example, touching another person’s head originally meant to destroy the bad spirits that were believed to be in the head. In addition, some people may not want you to eat with your left hand because that’s the hand used for cleaning yourself after going to the bathroom. This is a cultural thing and shouldn’t be taken as an insult if someone tells you this.

2.       Learn about the Tanzanian Currency

Tanzania has its own currency (the Tanzanian Shilling), which is loosely tied to the US dollar. That means, if the USD is worth 1500 Tsh, then it’s roughly worth that much in USD. The only issue with this, however, is that different stores will sell their items for different prices.

That being said, sticking with big chains is your best bet, as they tend to have consistent prices. Furthermore, always make sure that you figure out how much something is before you buy it. This might even reduce your expenditure while living in the country as an expat.

3.       Prepare for the Expense of Living Here

Retirement in Tanzania can be a great experience for those who are looking forward to traveling and exploring without having a full-time job. However, do remember that there are many hidden costs associated with living here, which you may not have to deal with back home.

For example, if your utilities are included in your rent at home then this is not the case when you move to Tanzania. Have a decent savings account for emergencies and do some research on what other daily expenditures will cost so you aren’t caught off guard.

4.       Wildlife in Tanzania

Do not expect to see lots of large wildlife when you’re in the city. However, if you’re just visiting for a short time or are staying in Arusha, chances are that you won’t see any wildlife at all unless you go into the bush. Tanzania has lots of large wildlife including lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes, baboons, and many other things that you might be used to seeing at home.

5.       Don’t Walk At Night

If you’re out walking around at night time here in the city, be prepared for people honking their horns and not stopping when you try to cross the street. Sometimes cars don’t even see you or stop for you so be careful! More so, it’s always a better decision to go with someone you know to avoid touching story.

6.       Be Open Minded

People in Tanzania are very friendly and love to meet new people from all over the world. They’re also great hosts, so if they invite you into their home then make sure to accept the offer. And this is because; they will make you feel like part of the family.

Aside from this fact, Tanzania is a wonderful place to be and has many things for its visitors to do and see. So, whenever you might yourself in any state of emergency, try to speak up and be open minded. Besides, if you’re planning on traveling here, enjoy yourself because there’s so much beauty all around you.

7.       The Climate in Tanzania

The climate in Tanzania varies depending on the geographical location. The east coast tends to have a tropical climate, with temperatures ranging from 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the night and 95-100 F during the day. In fact, it’s not unusual for the east coast to be extremely hot throughout the year.

Meanwhile, the west side of Tanzania is usually very dry since rainfall isn’t present here most of the year. That being said, the central and southern regions of Tanzania experience a more temperate climate with rains. And this comes in between October and April, so this is the best time to visit if you want to go on safari.

8.       Water Availability

Just like any other country, there are times during the year when water availability fluctuates (high and low seasons). You should be aware that there can be a water shortage at different times of the year, so this may affect how clean the beaches are. Usually, though, the coastal regions always have seawater since they face the Indian Ocean.

9.       The Best Time to Visit Tanzania

According to the locals, the best time to visit this country is between March and May or September through November. Therefore, if you want to go on safari when it’s warmer, then you should travel in June-August since most of the animals are in the Serengeti during this time.

Other Important Things to Know About Tanzania

• It’s usually best to get vaccinated before traveling here since there are some diseases that are present in the country (such as malaria, yellow fever, cholera and rabies)
• Make sure you bring cash when traveling here because it’s easier and more convenient to use than a credit card.
• If you want to make the most of your trip, try and learn at least some basic words in Kiswahili (this is the language that most people speak here).
• Most stores close around 5:30 PM or 6:00 PM; if you’re interested in buying souvenirs, make sure you do this before the sun sets.
• Many people living here are Muslim, so be careful about how much skin you show since it’s against their religion to expose too much skin.
• While there are plenty of places to eat out at, remember that the hours for restaurants tend to change depending on the owners’ schedules (most close early).
• If you plan on spending more than 1 month in Tanzania, make sure you get an out pass since it’s quite expensive to travel between areas if you stay for this long.
• You can easily buy local beers here like Kilimanjaro (an amber lager) and Serengeti (a darker lager), but just remember that alcoholic beverages are forbidden in most parts of this country.
• There are some safety precautions you should take when traveling out to the east side since there has been an increase in crime on this side of Tanzania (because of its proximity to Zanzibar). Make sure you go with someone who can speak Kiswahili.