Zanzibar Travel Information
Time Zone
The Zanzibar Islands are1 hour ahead of South Africa.
Language
Official language is Swahili, however English is widely spoken, especially by all the staff within the tourism industry.
Currency & Tipping
Tanzanian currency (Tanzanian Shilling – Tsh) is used and operates on a decimal system. The Notes are available in
the following denominations 200, 500, 1000, 5000 and 10 000. Coins are 10, 20, 50 and 100. MasterCard, Visa and
American express have only limited acceptance at present and visitors should not be dependent on using them We
recommend that you travel with US Dollars as these are accepted all over the island. Where no service charge is
included, 10% is adequate.
Safety
Keep a note of your traveller’s cheques, passport and air ticket numbers in a separate place in case you should lose
them. Having a record of these numbers saves time if you need replacement documents. Always carry these items
on your person and beware of pickpockets while in crowded places. Most hotels have safe deposit boxes in the
bedrooms, making it easier to access your money or documents. Thompsons highly recommend the use of the hotel
safe (extra charge is minimal) to ensure your belongings are secure. A good idea is to Photostat the pages of your
passport which have your details. As with any other city worldwide, Zanzibar is not crime free and we recommend
that you keep all your personal belongings locked away.
Health Requirements
It’s important to take malaria precautions before you depart for Zanzibar and that you continue with the course. A
Yellow Fever vaccination is also compulsory for your return into South Africa and must be obtained a minimum of
10 days prior to travel. Vaccinations against Hepatitis A and B and cholera are also recommended. Applying
mosquito repellent and wearing trousers and long sleeved shirts at night are advised. Drinking tap water is not
recommended.
Visas
Visas are no longer required by S.A passport holders when visiting Zanzibar.
Travel Tips
It is advisable that all passengers traveling Internationally ensure that they have adequate travel insurance.
Clothing
Light but decent clothes are recommended year round, although sometimes it does get cool enough to wear a light
sweater at night. Being a predominantly Muslim society, scantily clad tourists in town and in the villages are an insult
to the local population. At the individual hotels & resorts beach clothing is fully acceptable.
Electricity
The current on the Islands is 220 - 240 V AC, 50 Hz
Photography
Ask permission first before taking photographs of people, they may refuse or may request payment for the photo to
be taken. It is illegal to photograph any military installations and there are normally signs indicating the same in these
areas.
Export of Fauna and Flora
The Zanzibar authorities restrict the export of live shells, fish, tortoise and birds.
How to get around
The local taxis, known as Dala Dalas link all the local towns in Zanzibar. Taxis are also readily available and you can
negotiate with a taxi driver on price to your destination.
What to Visit
Zanzibar has many attractions available to all travellers.
Stone Town is a town of many Historical buildings of which most are within walking distance from each other. Jozani
Forest is a protected forest where the red Colobus monkey is indigenous to the area. Spice tours can be arranged
where visitors are shown how the spices are grown and harvested. No trip to Zanzibar would be complete without
a dolphin safari where you can view dolphins at play.
Departure Tax
A departure tax of USD 40.00 per person is payable upon departure from Zanzibar
All information was correct at the time of going to print (July 2013) and should only be used as a guideline
Johannesburg:
Tel: (27) (11) 770 7700
Durban:
Tel: (27) (31) 275 3500
Cape Town:
Tel: (27) (21) 408 9500
www.thompsons.co.za