Directory A–Z - Tanzania - page 655

Business Hours
Business hours are as follows, with major deviations noted in the individual listings.
» Banks 8am to 3pm Monday to Friday
» Forex Bureaus 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 9am to noon Saturday
» Government Offices 8am to 3pm Monday to Friday
» Shops 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm Saturday. Many shops and offices
close for one to two hours between noon and 2pm and, especially in coastal areas, on Friday
afternoons for mosque services. Supermarkets in major cities are often open on Saturday
afternoon and Sunday for a few hours around midday.
Children
Tanzanians tend to be very friendly towards children, and travelling here with young ones
is unlikely to present any major problems. The main concerns are the presence of malaria,
the scarcity of decent medical facilities outside major towns, the length and safety risks in-
volved in many road journeys, and the difficulty of finding clean, decent bathrooms outside
midrange and top-end hotels.
PRACTICALITIES
»Travel with a blanket to spread out and use as a makeshift nappy changing area.
»Processed baby foods, powdered infant milk, disposable nappies and similar items are
available in major towns. Elsewhere, carry your own wipes and food (avoid feeding your
children street food).
»Informal childcare is easy to arrange; try asking at your hotel.
»Child seats for hire cars and safari vehicles are generally not available unless arranged in
advance.
»Many wildlife lodges and upmarket coastal retreats have restrictions on accommodating
children under 12; otherwise, most hotels are family friendly. Most places, including all
national parks, offer significant discounts for children on entry fees and accommodation or
camping rates although you'll need to specifically request these, especially when booking
through tour operators.
»Children under two or three years of age often stay free, and for those up to 12 years old
sharing their parents' room you'll pay about 50% of the adult rate. In hotels without special
rates, triple rooms are commonly available for not too much more than a double room.
»Midrange and top-end places often have pools, or grassy areas where children can play,
and any of the coastal beach areas are likely to win points with young travellers.
»In beach areas, keep in mind the risks of hookworm infestation in populated areas, and
watch out for sea urchins.
»Take care about bilharzia infection in lakes, and thorns and the like in the brush.