Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Before heading to Tanzania, also consider taking out a membership with one of the follow-
ing, both of which operate 24-hour air ambulance services and offer emergency medical
evacuation within Tanzania:
»African Medical & Research Foundation (Amref;
www.amref.org
) Dar es Salaam branch
office ( 022-211 6610, 211 3673; 1019 Ali Hassan Mwinyi Rd just north of Bibi
Titi Mohammed Rd) Nairobi emergency lines ( 254-20-315454/5, 254-20-600 2299,
254-733-639088, 254-722-314239) Nairobi head office ( 254-20-699 3000) A two
month membership costs US$25/50 for evacuations within a 500km/1000km radius of
Nairobi. The 1000km membership encompasses the entire East African region, except for
southernmost Tanzania around Songea, Tunduru and Mtwara.
»First Air Responder (
www.firstairresponder.com
)
Dar es Salaam head office ( 022-276
0087/8, emergency 0754-777073, 0754-777100, 0784-555911; info@firstairre spon-
der.com; Ali Hassan Mwinyi Rd) Arusha branch office ( 0732-972283, emergency
0754-510197; Dodoma Rd) A two week/one month membership costs US$20/35 and en-
titles you to emergency regional evacuation as well as local ground support in the vicinity
of Dar es Salaam, Arusha and several other Tanzanian centres.
Worldwide travel insurance is available at
www.lonelyplanet.com/travel_services
. You can
buy, extend and claim online anytime - even if you're already on the road.
Internet Access
There are many internet cafes in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar, and even smaller
towns often have a connection. Prices average Tsh1000 to Tsh2000 per hour. Speed varies
greatly; truly fast connections are rare. Most business-class hotels and cafes and some sa-
fari lodges have wireless access points, although these can be expensive (Tsh5000 up to
Tsh15,000 for some safari lodge satellite connections). Connections are possible at some,
but not all safari camps. If you will be in Tanzania for a while, consider buying a USB stick
from one of the main mobile providers (US$50 to US$75), which you can then load with
airtime (about Tsh15,000 for 1GB, valid for seven days) and plug into your laptop.
Language Courses
Tanzania is the best place in East Africa to learn Swahili. Some schools can arrange home
stays.
ELCT Language & Orientation School
(
www.studyswahili.com
;
Lutheran Junior Sem-
inary, Morogoro)
Institute of Swahili & Foreign Languages
( 024-223 0724, 223 3337;
www.suza.ac.tz/
Institues/IKFL.htm
; Vuga Rd, Zanzibar Town)
