DRINK:

MONEY:
The currency of Tanzania is known as the Tanzanian Shilling (TSH, /=). There are 5 notes and 6 coins:

• Notes - 10000 (Red), 5000 (Violet), 2000 (Brown), 1000 (Blue) and 500 (Green) denominations.
• Coins - 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 denominations.

Notes and coins vary in size and colour. 10000 is the largest note and 500 the smallest. The other notes vary in size in descending order. Coins don't follow this standard. As of February 2007, one US dollar is worth about 1300 Tsh.  Note that Tanzanian currency exchanges usually have a different exchange rate for different US$ denominations, larger and newer bills having a better exchange rate than older and smaller bills. The difference in exchange rate between $1/$5 bills and $50/$100 bills can be more than ten percent. Be also advised that if you withdraw a large amount of money, anything of $400 US, you'll have to carry over 50 notes around.

In general stores, restaurants, and hotels in Tanzania expect payment in Tsh. Exceptions include visa payment and fees for national parks (which must be paid in US dollars), and payments for safaris and Kilimanjaro treks, which are generally priced in US dollars (though payment will be accepted in other currencies). On Zanzibar prices are generally in US dollars (including the ferry from Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar), and foreigners are required to pay for hotels with foreign currency (although the hotel will change Tsh for you).

Most hotels will change US dollars, Euros and British Pounds. Other currencies, such as Canadian or Australian dollars, may be accepted but at rates far below the going rate. ATMs are mostly located in the city center and on the Msasani Peninsula. In general, Barclay's, Standard Charter and NBC ATMs work with PLUS and Cirrus compatible cards.

10000 and 5000 notes can be difficult to break when shopping in small shops a.k.a. Dukas. In Tanzania, it's usually the responsibility of the customer to provide exact change. If they do agree to provide change, you could be left with several 1000 and 500 notes of very poor quality. You won't have these problems in large hotels and restaurants that cater to foreigners.

Traveler's Checks:
Cashing Traveler's Checks can be hit and miss in Tanzania. On some days banks will accept them and other days they won't. Some days they may charge a fee and other days they won't. It really depends on the teller. Hotels will always accept them but at a far lesser rate than hard currency.

Credit Cards:
can only be used in large hotels, resorts and with certain travel agents. Tanzania is basically still a cash society. However, if you have a PIN code for your credit card you can withdraw money from almost any ATM in Tanzania, even from the local financial institutions, such as Exim Bank, which don't accept foreign bank debit cards.

ILLNESS & DISEASE:
As in most African countries, the AIDS/HIV infection rate is high. Tanzania's HIV/AIDS infection rate was 9% at the end of 2003 UNAIDS. This figure is deceiving, however, since many subpopulations such as artisanal miners, itinerant fisherman, truck drivers and sex workers, have HIV infection rates significantly higher than the national average. Do not have unprotected sex in Tanzania or anywhere.

For most tourists to Tanzania, Malaria will be your greatest concern. Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes and is endemic to Tanzania. You are at risk in almost every part of the country, although this risk is somewhat diminished when at altitudes above 2000m. Care should always be taken between sunset and sunrise, especially during the rainy season. Always sleep under a treated net, wear trousers and closed footwear, and use an effective repellent. It's amazing but many large hotels don’t automatically install mosquito nets in their rooms. However, a call to the reception requesting one is seldom ignored. Before you leave for Tanzania, you may also wish to consult a physician about taking some form of anti-malarial medication, before, during and after your trip. If in spite of your best efforts you do contract Malaria, it is usually easily treated with medication that is readily available throughout most of the country. If you plan on being in more isolated locations, you may wish to drop by one of the clinics and purchase a batch. Note that symptoms associated with Malaria can take up to two weeks to manifest themselves. The rule of thumb for ex-pats living in Tanzania, is that any fever that last more than a day is a cause for concern and requires an urgent trip to the clinic for a malaria test. Notify your doctor that you’ve been to a malaria infected country if you start to run a fever shortly after returning from Tanzania.

Other major illnesses to avoid include typhoid and cholera. In theory, typhoid can be avoided by carefully selecting food and drink, and avoiding consumption of anything unclean. Typhoid infection, according to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is marked by 'persistent, high fevers...headache, malaise, anorexia, splenomegaly, and relative bradycardia.'

Cholera infection is marked by vomiting and sudden, uncontrollable bowel movements which can dehydrate and ultimately kill the sufferer within 48 hours. It is important to seek medical attention as quickly as possible. Cholera is more or less a seasonal phenomenon in Zanzibar, where outbreaks frequently occur during the rainy seasons. Vaccines and/or oral prevention are available for both typhoid and cholera.

Yellow Fever: Yellow fever is an acute viral disease transmitted through the bite of a particular mosquito. Although not as common as Malaria, it is nonetheless a serious disease and travelers to Africa should consult a physician about being vaccinated against it. Additionally, if you plan on traveling to other countries after your stay in Tanzania, be advised that some countries, such as South Africa, may require proof that you’ve been vaccinated against Yellow Fever before allowing you to enter the country. If you aren’t or can’t prove it, you will be offered two options: 1) receive the Yellow Fever vaccination at the airport, 2) immediately leave the country. WARNING: The Yellow Fever vaccine can have serious side affects for some people. Therefore, you may wish to get the vaccine in your home country under controlled conditions. Most physicians will not administer the Yellow Fever vaccine to children under the age of 1 year, a letter from a physician explaining this will ensure your infant child is not forced to receive it at the airport.

Gastrointestinal Distress: A.k.a. traveler’s diarrhea is the result of one, some or all the following reasons: unhygienic food preparation, changes in diet, fatigue, dehydration and excessive alcohol consumption. Prevention is your best defense. Only eat raw vegetables and fruits you can peel and which have been washed in clean water. Avoid street or restaurant food that appears to have been left in the open for extended periods of time. Only eat freshly fried or steamed food. You should only drink bottled water which is available throughout the country. You should even brush your teeth with it. If you must drink the tap or well water, boil it for a minimum of 10 minutes or use a high quality filter.

Rift Valley Fever: In January 2007, there was an outbreak of RFV in the Kilimanjaro area. Consumption of unpasteurized milk and improperly cooked meat from infected cows led to a number of deaths in the area. Following the deaths, the sale of beef dropped sharply all over the country, despite the limited scope of the infection. In general, meat served in upscale restaurants is of superior quality, however, care should be taken when indulging in street foods or when in more remote areas.

STAY SAFE:
By African standards, Tanzania remains a relatively safe destination, but like many impoverished countries caution should always be exercised in touristic areas such as Arusha, Stone Town (Zanzibar) and Dar es Salaam. Violent crime against foreigners in very uncommon, but pickpockets and con artists aren't. Pickpockets work crowded markets like Kariakoo and bus stations. Don't be fooled by small children who are often forced into a life of crime by older kids or parents. So never carry anything of value in your pockets and don't have expensive camera equipment dangling from your neck.