July 2011
Visa
On entry single entry USD 50. Tanzania is part of the East African Community (EAC) which allows returning to Tanzania on the same single entry visa within the validity period provided travel is undertaken only to other EAC countries (which is currently Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi)
ENTRY
Entry point (from Kenya): Namanga
Time taken: 45mins
Costs
USD 20 for 1 month road tax plus USD 5 per vehicle fee for each entry into the country
Money change
None needed at border
Process
Straightforward. At immigration show passport and take invoice for visa fee, payable in USD, to bank. Return with receipt, and collect stamp. Yellow fever certificate needed, but not asked.
EXIT
Exit point: Mtambaswala at Unity Bridge (to Mozambique): GPS S 11.406869, E 38.489506 just before the boon in front of the bridge. Process straightforward
Time taken: 30mins
Costs
None
Money
NBC, Barclays have ATMs that accept international VISA cards. NMB does not.
Fuel
With exchange rate at 1610TZS = 1 USD
Dar Es Salaam: Diesel 2060TZS/litre ($1.28) , Petrol 2080TZS/litre ($1.29)
Camping
Lindi: Hotel Oceanic Lindi at GPS: S 9.996034, E 39.718374 allows camping in their car park
Car workshops
Mwanza: Patel Trading – Toyota & Yamaha: GPS: S 2.536380, E 32.905907. Good quality work. Helpful and friendly owner Paresh.
Iringa: Neel auto repairs: GPS: S 7.782360, E 35.681035. For small jobs. Helpful owner, Raju.
Dodoma: Action Auto Garages – Toyota. On the road from Singida. Not recommended – poor quality work despite helpful owner. Took multiple attempts to fix basic issues.
Communications
Vodacom has good coverage with internet at TZS500/day for 20MB. 30 day packages available. Internet settings are:
APN: wap
username: guest
password: guest
Useful GPS
On the Dar Es Salaam – Arusha road: Just north of Kiwe on A14, south of Segera junction, radar speed checks in 30kph zone appears to be semi-permanent. GPS: S 5.417780, E 38.520338. Also at GPS: S 5.500438, E 38.477788
Roads
Dodoma to Iringa: the direct road is rough and takes approximately 7 hours, which is time-wise comparable to longer all tar route via Morogoro. Due to be sealed in the next 3 years. Scenery not a compensation for the pain inflicted on car.
Tanga to Kenya border at Lunga Lunga: road being upgraded but many deviations in the meantime. 2 hours.
Masasi to Unity Bridge border with Mozambique dirt road not on T4A v10.05 but is on Google Maps):
Masasi to turn off at Nangomba (left turn at GPS: S 10.903990, E 38.517142) – mostly tar but with road works; approx 32km; 30 minutes.
Nangomba to Chitowe – dirt road; approx 17km; 20 mins
Chitowe to Nanyumbu, take right fork in road at GPS: S 11.124013, E 38.502038
At Nanyumbu, carry on straight (road merges in from right) GPS: S 11.140267, E 38.493293
Chitowe to Sengwa approx 19km; 20 mins. At Sengwa, carry straight on at GPS: S 11.194003, E38.454358
Left turn towards Masuguru – GPS: S 11.342328, E 38.392548. Sengwa to left turn – approx 16km; 20 mins
Left turn to border – approx 16km; 20 mins
Dirt road to tar on approach to Unity Bridge at GPS: S 11.376457, E 38.465825