| Dear
readers/visitors
If you have a question about Mwanza - to/from, about the climate, visa formalities, health related questions, the culture, the food, traveller’s security and/or other relevant for a tourist - feel free to ask your question at: If you need more information about our Mwanza Hotels, safaris, car hire - please contact: Thank you very much Hans Kristoffersen |
|
|
Question: |
Answer from Mwanza Guide ‘online’ |
| Could
you tell me if I can get the visa for TZ at the Mwanza airport?
Thank you Ashley Marcus |
Dear
Ashley,
Today Mr. Joseph got a message from the Immigration Officer in Mwanza
Airport - it IS possible to have a visa issued on arrival. You need
your passport, yourself and 50 US$. Regards Hans Kristoffersen |
| I
am planning to visit Mwanza at the end of October 2005 for 9 days. I am
travelling from London, England. What is the cheapest flight out, which
airline would you recommend? Thank you for your attention. Cleo Letts |
Dear
Cleo,
Thanks for your mail to qanda@mwanza-guide.com and your interest in Mwanza. It’s easy to go from UK (London) to Tanzania - and very cheap too. The cheapest and fastest route is: From London Heathrow to Nairobi with British Airways. According to our search at: is the fare as low as £255 (+ tax) for a return flight from London to Nairobi in October. Please perform your own search. But calculate with a night stop in Nairobi, because your flight will arrive at 8:45 PM and the bus will depart 45 minutes later (Downtown Nairobi). The time is too tight in this case. A taxi from the airport to the city centre is about 10 US$ and a decent hotel another 20 - 25 US$. Book a taxi in advance from Junepar Tours & Travel at e-mail: junepard@yahoo.com - ask for a confirmation. From Nairobi catch a Scandinavia Express Bus to Mwanza: Find your bus at: NOTE: Luxury Class (SD-class) busses with A/C, passenger’s seat-belts,
on-board toilet, TV and video are now operating on the route FROM Nairobi
to Mwanza, but Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays only. Book your seat(s) in advance via the website (ASK for a confirmation). The fare is 17£ +/- something (one way). While you are in Nairobi during the day - visit the Scandinavia Express Bus terminal and finish the business with your ticket. The central Nairobi bus stand is quite hectic after dark. The terminal is located at: River Road in Nairobi. Phone: (+254) 20 242523. Feel free to mail us if you have further questions e.g. details for hotels in Nairobi - and Mwanza as well. Kind regards Hans Kristoffersen |
| Hi,
I'm a climber interested in coming to Mwanza purely for the rock, but
I am I would like to have more info on the rocks surrounding Mwanza. I would be interested if finding out if other climbers have been there? How extensive is the area with the boulders? Would it be feasible to get from one to the other on foot without to
many Are the rocks mostly in Mwanza or are there further away from the town? I would like to come for a month or two, but only if there are enough
rocks Please give me as much information as possible. Thank you for your help! Stephen Hadik |
Hi Stephan,
The surroundings are full of boulders - but not many are more than 50 - 75 meters and often built-up with small (residential) houses and huts for this and that. We don’t have any information and we don’t know if other climbers have been here recently. I don’t think the rocky surroundings of Mwanza will be something for a mountaineer like you - look for challenges e.g. at Mount Meru or Mount Kilimanjaro (Arusha District, Tanzania). Regards Hans Kristoffersen |
| From Jazzdiv
in Australia:
I think you may be incorrect in describing the lake as the second biggest in the world. Lake Baikal in Siberia is the biggest....................If memory serves me right. A great site Ken Matthews |
Hi Jazzdiv,
Thank you very much for your mail - and your comment on Lake Victoria contra Lake Baikal. The surface area of Lake Baikal is 31.500 km2 - against ‘our lake’ that covers 68.800 km2 We agree, that a discussion is possible on what are the lakes real covering or not covering, but according to all (except you) - Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater lake in this World. But not the deepest - IT IS DEFINITELY LAKE BAIKAL! Thanks a lot for your comments. Hans Kristoffersen |
| Hi,
My apologies! In area I have no doubt, but as far as volume is concerned
- I Thanks for your prompt reply. Ken Matthews |
Hi Ken,
Thanks for your mail - and DON’T apologize. We love mails from observant readers of our site. Concerning the volume of Lake Baikal - it is without any doubt the biggest. I have been counting a bit this morning and the volume is approximately 53.460 cubic KILOMETERS!! AND - it will take ALL the rivers in the entire world a whole YEAR to fill it up again - if it dries out. I don't have the volume of Lake Victoria - yet. We have to measure it - cup by cup. Thank you again for visiting our website Hans Kristoffersen |
| Hello,
Could you possibly give me some information about flying from Mwanza to Canada? A friend of mine in Mwanza wants to come to Canada for a visit, but I cannot find any flight information. Thank you Rob Schuman Thank you very much!! Asante |
Hi Rob,
Thanks a lot for your mail. The airport in Mwanza is for domestic and some regional flights only.
When your friend in Mwanza is going to Canada - look for a flight from
Nairobi (Kenya) to e.g. Toronto. Search for a cheap ticket at www.opodo.co.uk
- and avoid flights in weekends. Prepare you for a long (and somehow
expensive) trip and there are no non-stop flights. It is possible to buy and pay a ticket in e.g. Toronto and have the ticket issued and printed out in Nairobi Airport. (But DON'T do it the day before the flights - then you are asking for problems.) From Mwanza to Nairobi your friend can fly with Precisionair (203 US$ - one way) or take a Scandinavia Express Bus. Take a look at our Scandinavia Express page: www.mwanza-guide.com/howtoget/Scandinavia_express.htm The route to Nairobi is well known in Mwanza and departs every day. The busses are reliable and comfortable - and very cheap compared to Precisionair. NOTE: Luxury Class (SD-class) busses with A/C, passenger’s seat-belts,
on-board toilet, TV and video are now operating on the route FROM Mwanza
to Nairobi, but Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only. The Semi-luxury
class (SL-class) busses continue to operate daily as usual in each direction.
Kind regards Hans Kristoffersen |
| Hello,
I have a few questions: Thanks very much Thema Willette |
Hallo Thema,
Thanks for your mail - it is forwarded to Mr. Joseph Laurent in Mwanza. You are able to find information about the train from Mwanza to Dodoma at: www.mwanza-guide.com/howtoget/train.htm On the page you will find the web address to TRC and the mail address - they use to answer mails promptly. You are able to contact Mr. Joseph (our director in Mwanza) on: Regards Hans Kristoffersen |
| Hi,
What's the going rate for taxi rides in Dar? More specifically, how much should I expect to pay to get from the airport to my hotel? I'm not interested in bargaining the absolute lowest fare but I'd like to know what a reasonable fare should be. Thanks Jory |
Hi Jory,
The 'muzungu' price from Dar es Salaam International Airport to downtown
Dar es Salaam is 10 US$ or 10.000/= TSH. The average price for a taxi ride in town is 1.000/= TSH - or 1.500/= for a bit longer ride. I will certainly NOT recommend a mini-bus (Dalla-dalla, fifty-fifty - or shared whatever) from the airport to town late at night - they will probably drop you somewhere in the middle of town, maybe only 500 meters from your hotel on a very busy African bus stand - including all your gear, laptop computer, Nikon cameras and bags full of clean socks. You will in no time be surrounded by very helping hands - some good and honest hands, but maybe also some not so . . . . . . (finish yourself). Take a taxi from the airport! Have a nice stay Hans Kristoffersen |
| Hi,
The Tanzanian Embassy in The Netherlands says I have to purchase a visa beforehand. Can't really imagine that but don't want to play my odds, too. So: does anybody know if visas can be obtained at Arusha/Kilimanjaro Airport I know, it's possible at a land border. Greetings! Lottie |
Hi Lottie,
It is not a problem for a Dutch citizen to have a visa issued at Kilimanjaro International Airport ON ARRIVAL. You only have to fill out some forms and have 50 US$ ready IN CASH for the immigration officer in charge. Every time you ask a consulate abroad that question - you will have
this answer: 'You need to have your visa before you go' - because issuing
a visa is a part of their business. By the way - Arusha Airport and Kilimanjaro International Airport are two different airports. Arusha Airport is a tiny airstrip not far from town. Kilimanjaro International Airport - is what it says, the International Airport in the centre of Tanzania. Have a nice stay Hans Kristoffersen |
| Hi, Hope someone can help me!! I’m going to Africa for the first time ever and spending two weeks in Tanzania, I’ve heard that on arrival at Dar es Salaam, touts known as flycatchers can be very intimidating. I’m travelling up to Arusha to join a prebooked safari for the following day, was thinking of getting a bus up there but now wonder would I be better flying, does anyone know any cheap airlines or could give me some advice in this regard. ALSO I’d love if someone could recommend places to stay, mid-range, I'd like some luxury for a reasonable price that’s quiet but not too quiet. Think an innocent wee Irish girl travelling to Africa from co Donegal Ireland should know on her maiden voyage!! Any tips appreciated. Thanks |
Hi Aldessa,
Choose Scandinavia Express from Dar es Salaam - find Scandinavia Express here. Next - I use to stay at Starlight Hotel in Dar. It is nice a mid-range hotel in the centre - it is not very busy and no alcohol is served, but you will find a lot of bars close to the gate. Fares: 42 - 50 US$ - depending on room size. Starlight Hotel e-mail - phone +255 2119387 and +255 2119388. Fax +255 2119389 and +255 2119391. Taxi from the airport to town: SMS this driver at +255 744 369151 and make an arrangement. He is my personal taxi driver in Dar es Salaam. Back to the transport from Dar to Arusha: Why spending 100 US$ plus something on a flight (+ taxi to/from the airports)? Book a Luxury Class Scandinavia Express bus with A/C, passenger’s seat-belts, on-board toilet, TV and video for 24 US$. The trip to Arusha is very beautiful and it takes only eight hours. Buy your ticket a day in advance - and ONLY at the Scandinavia Express office. If you need a place to stay in Arusha - try Outpost Lodge - a very nice and charming lodge in the outskirt of town. Have a nice stay in Tanzania Hans Kristoffersen |
| Thank you very
much, Hans - that was really really helpful of you!! I’ve taken note of your taxi drivers number too, might be handy on arrival. I think we’re going to fly to Arusha and get the bus with Scandinavia Express back. THANKS AGAIN Aldessa Skye |
You’re most welcome
Hans Kristoffersen |
| Hi, I have a question regarding my travel plans and visa's. I will fly into Kenya then catch a bus down to Tanzania for a safari, after safari catch the bus back into Kenya then begin an overland trip into Uganda to see the gorillas which brings me back into Kenya after seeing the gorilla's then back down to Tanzania and from Tanzania I head south down to Cape Town on overland trip. My question is: Can I get some sort of multiple visa entry from Kenya that allows me to visit both Tanzania and Uganda for the one price of the Kenya visa. I tried to ring in my home country of Australia but they were hopeless and could only give me prices for Kenya visas only. I read somewhere in the Kenya Lonely Planet book about a visa that allowed you to go to Tanzania and Uganda. Any details on visa's that allow me to do what I am doing above and the approx cost of the visa would be great. Regards |
Hi Joanne,
A shared visa for East Africa does not yet exist, but crossing borders in East Africa are not longer a big deal - except for the visa issue. It is a fat milking cow - which gives millions of US$ every year. And it seems - that the cow isn’t ready for the butcher. All visitors to Tanzania except for very few countries require entry visas. Visas can be obtained from Tanzanian Embassies aboard and for some nationals only, at the point of entry (Mwanza Airport, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar International Airport, Namanga border post among others, but it is still recommended to get it beforehand - just in case. Tourist (also called: single entry visa) visas last for three months (normally) from the date of issue and fees range from US$ 20 to US$ 80 depending on nationality. A single entry visa for Australian passport holders costs US$ 50. For as long as the Tanzanian visa remains valid, you can visit either Kenya or Uganda and return to Tanzania without having to apply for another Tanzanian visa when re-entering. BUT - you need of course a visa for entering Kenya and another one for entering Uganda as well. Multiple visas to Tanzania will NO LONGER be issued at embassies and
consulates abroad, but requests have to be sent directly to Immigration
Services in Dar es Salaam. Have a nice safari Hans Kristoffersen NB: The Lonely Planet ‘Travel Guides’ are often telling yesterday’s news. |