TRAVEL INFORMATION
VISA: Everyone entering Tanzania has to get his Visa which costs US $50, then to be able to volunteer you need to get volunteering visa which costs US $500.
VACCINES: it is compulsory for you to get Yellow Fewer vaccine with which you will receive a yellow book that you might need while entering Tanzania. There are a range of other vaccinations that may be useful such as Hepatitis, Tetanus and Typhoid, however you need to discuss these with your Doctor.
Malaria is not so common here but it is worthwhile discussing an anti-malarial treatment with your Doctor. The hostel provides a mosquito net on every bed. Insect repellent is also recommended.
HOW TO GET HERE: The best three options of getting here is to fly to Nairobi in Kenya, or Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam airports in Tanzania.
The closest to Moshi is Kilimanjaro Airport, which is approximately 40min drive and it will cost you about 50.000Tsh (25euro or $35). You don’t need to worry, we could arrange it for you.
If you come from Nairobi you will have to take an 8 hours bus ride to Moshi for approx 50.000Tsh (approx 25euro or $35). You could check the shuttle companies: Riverside shuttle or Impala shuttle. But we could also arrange that for you so the bus would let you at the door of Karibu hostel.
The third option is flying to Dar es Salaam and catching an 8 hours bus to Moshi. We could arrange that for you as well.
INSURANCE: We recommend you take out insurance before you come to volunteer just in case. This is something you will need to investigate within your own country.
SAFETY: Tanzania is a safe country, however, it is important to be always aware of your surroundings. You are safe during the day but at night we recommend to use taxis to go for dinner, cinema or a night club. Prices anywhere in town from the hostel shouldn’t be more than 3.000Tsh (1,5euro or $2).
FOOD: You will get breakfast and dinner included during your stay at the Karibu Hostel.
A full breakfast with coffee or tea, seasonal fruits, toast with jam or honey, pancakes... will give you the strength to go to your project. We also offer a large variety of meals and vegetarian dishes for dinner. You can grab lunch at your project or in town for a really cheap price. In Moshi there are good restaurants where you could have Italian, Indian, Chinese cuisine or typical African dishes.
LIVING COST: the life style is reasonably cheap in Tanzania. Here are few examples of prices in Moshi: a taxi ride anywhere in town 3.000Tsh, 1hour internet access 1.000Tsh, bottle of beer from 1.500Tsh, cigarettes from 1.700Tsh, bottle of water (1,5l) 1.000Tsh, food from 500Tsh up to 10.000Tsh in the most expensive restaurants, Dala Dala ride (local bus) 300Tsh anywhere in town, one banana 20Tsh, swimming pool 3.000Tsh, cinema 3.000Tsh, to buy a sim card approx 2.000Tsh and a new telephone approx 35.000Tsh.
WEATHER: there are two main seasons here, the rainy and the dry seasons.
The rain season is between April and May, but it mainly rains at night times so it’s not a big deal. The climate is just perfect as temperatures various between 18 and 30 degrees Celsius most part of the year.
INTERNET: there are few internet cafes with reasonable prices, but it’s safe to bring your own laptop and get wireless internet from one of the mobile companies where a USB stick will cost you approx 40.000Tsh.
ADAPTORS: The Tanzanian electrical plug is the British 3 square prong plug. Most people feel comfortable to bring ipods, phones, laptops etc and use them at the hostel.
WHAT TO BRING: mosquito repellent, sun cream, swimming costume and googles, first aid kit and ear plugs are recommended and the rest is up to you. We can give you some ideas such as sunglasses, head torch, hat, long trousers, fleece, US dollars printed after 2003 etc... Ladies, Tanzania is quite a conservative society so please respect this by not wearing shorts or skirts above the knee or anything too revealing.
