Border Crossing from Malawi to Tanzania:

We crossed at the town of Songwe

At the Malawi border gate I filled out a book, name etc. The guys indicated some money but it was not official so I ignored their request.

Parked up, and in the old brick building filled out an immigration exit card, passports stamped.

At the customs counter they signed off the carnet. Easy !

There are plenty of black market money changes but just forward of the immigration building is an official Bureau de Change which is better. here I changed my remaining Malawi Kwacha.

Cross bridge into Tanzania

Went through the barricade and parked up on the left, and ‘signed in’ a book in the small yellow building on left.

On the right, about 30 metres is a CRDB Bank and an ATM to change/get Tanzanian Shilling ( TZS )

Drove to the big white building on the left after the barricade for Immigration & Customs.

Immigration US$50 each for visa payable in US$ only.

Customs need the carnet, photocopy of drivers license, and passport of the driver.

You also need to write your telephone number on one of the photocopies as the computer needs a phone number - any number !

Road Toll- US$5 for 1 week, US$20 for one month

Fuel Levy -US$5

All to be paid in Tanzanian Shilling.

The US$5 in TZS11,725.00 ( to be paid at the bank, back across the road ( see above)

and the US$20 in TZS 44,176.25 to be paid in the same building.

In our case the the bank would not accept the money - Computer said NO! So there was some confusion with customs how to pay this, after 1/2 hour I paid Customs the Road Toll and fuel levy.

They will not take US$ and they did have a credit card machine but it did not work !

Vehicle was then inspected.

DO NOT CALL it a TRUCK ( Goods carrying vehicle) - road toll is much higher at US$120. We always call it “Our Home’

Vehicle Import and 3rd Party Insurance:

All this time above we were kindly directed by an insurance guy.

I then went with him to his ‘office’. He works for COMESA Insurance. Well recognised in this region.

Tanzania for 1 month US$70

ALL countries north to Egypt for 6 months US$170. I took the latter, payable in US$

Time taken totally - 2 1/2 hours.

Travel in Tanzania:

Driving:

In and out of most towns are police stops. We found that the closer to the border crossings the more vigilant they were and the more times we were pulled over. As we approached Dar es Salaam we were almost always waved on.

We were never fined, but I hear the US Government gave Tanzania police 600 speed guns and they are seriously using them to the full extent. In towns/villages the speed limit in 50 KPH and open road 80KPH. There is ‘normally’ a sign as you head into town but rarely a sign that the speed limit is finished so often you are driving at 50KPH in open country just wondering ???

At the many police stops my approach was, and before they could say a word..

“Good Morning, How are you today?”

That seemed to win them over.

They will always ask “Where do you come from?” Really they mean the last town but I always answer Australia. That leads into a conversation how we love Tanzania etc etc.

They again will always ask where are you going, so make sure you know the final destination for the day.

Once I was asked ( again near the borders) to show my fire extinguisher and once the warning triangles.

The main roads vary from very good to seriously potholed.

The speed bumps and rumble strips into and out of town vary considerably. Most you can handle at 25-30KPH some MUCH slower.

You can estimate your average speed at 50KPH for all major roads and much less for minor roads.

Spot lights are not allowed, so I taped over ours and I noticed all the transport vehicles had  covers on their spot lights.

Camping & Park Entry:

The most expensive in Africa !

For a vehicle over 3,000Kg you can count on US$200/day + park entry around US$30 to 45/day EACH, and camping at US$30-48/day EACH PERSON/night.

The National Park camping facilities are atrocious. Cold showers, if they have one that works and the taps not missing. Toilets generally unclean and in very poor condition.

Private camp grounds much better quality and vary from US$5 to US$ 10/night or per person/night.

Food:

Supermarkets as westerners know them do not exist other than in Oyster Bay in Dar.

Here you can get most items but it is expensive. Perhaps equal to Australian + prices.

Butcher shops you can find but they only ‘hack’ the meat off the recently killed animal. I do not think it has been cured.

Small local supermarkets sell only processed food, canned products etc. UHT milk is easy to get.

Road side stalls and markets sell good quality fruit and vegetables depending on the season and are well priced.

Fuel:

Seems to get less as we approach Dar es Salaam.

At the border KZS1990/litre ( diesel) about A$1.16/Lt or US$0.89/Lt

In Dar it is KZS1900/litre

There are plenty of fuel stations but none accept credit cards and none to date seem to have ATM’s so must pay cash.

Water:

We managed to get for some camp grounds.

Internet:

This was a challenge in Myeba. After 2 hours we have an Airtel sim card and 4Gb for TZS 15,000 about A$7.50.

For our actual Travel Diary through Tanzania see: GoannaTracks Tanzania

Return to: DIY Kit For Overland Travel