Cometoafrica general information

Visa

A visa is required for entry into Tanzania. Visa can be easily obtained from your country or at Kilimanjaro airport, Dar Es Salaam airport. The visa fee depends on your citizenship. Please ensure that your passport is valid for a minimum of six months from your date. As a volunteer, you should obtain a Class C volunteer work permit fee USD$200. This permit fee is in addition to the tourist visa fee and is valid for up to 90 days.

Disease Prevention

It is recommended for you to purchase medical insurance prior to your departure so that you are protected.Frequent vaccinations volunteers receive at home before coming to Tanzania are for yellow fever, typhoid, and hepatitis A & B. Also bring medicine for headaches, colds, diarrhoea and any other regular medicationAnti-malarial tablets.

Accommodations

Volunteers with Come to Africa will be staying at the host family or hostel. Your accommodation has running water and electricity. The volunteers stay in shared rooms that have bunk beds with an ensuite bathroom that has a toilet, sink and shower. Pillows, sheets, and mosquito nets

Electricity.

Power sockets are of the British 3-pin square pronged variety, so volunteers from other countries should bring converters to use their own electric devices. The voltage is 240, so keep that in mind when deciding which electronics to bring with you. Outlets here normally accept 2 types of plugs: Three round pins arranged in a triangle Two parallel flat pins with ground pin.

Language and Culture

Come to Africa Director and staffs speak English fluently, Swahili is the official language of Tanzania. People tend to dress very conservatively in Tanzania. It is a sign of respect if you dress the same. Women should try not to dress short skirts and shorts or revealing tops. Tanzanian women very rarely show their knees. Local men rarely wear shorts or sleeveless shirts Tanzania people are typically very friendly

Food and Shopping

The staple foods in Tanzania are ugali, rice, French fries/Chips, chapatti (Indian Naan bread) green vegetable, beans, lentils, and occasionally meat like chicken, fish, or beef. Meal will be accompanied by fruit such as oranges, avocadoes, or bananas.

Money

Tanzanian currency is shilling generally cannot be bought and sold outside of the country. Credit and debit cards are not generally accepted in shops. The easiest way to access money while in Arusha is to use the ATM terminals. You will need an ATM card that has VISA access, MasterCard and Cirrus access.

Weather in Arusha

The climate is very mild. Arusha is in a mountainous area and thus the temperatures are much cooler than stereotypical Africa. It is typically hot from 12 pm to 6 pm when the sun is out, but can get rather chilly in the mornings and evenings when the sun is down. The temperatures range from about 10-15C at night to 27C during the day. Rainy season can be very rainy, so bringing a rain coat, rain boots and umbrella is recommended if you are here from November to MaySuggested Items to Pack

Camera

Mobile phone if it has a SIM card

Sleeping bag & travel pillow

Insect repellents with at least 30% DEET

General medicine (headache, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhoea, malaria pills)

Flash light with spare batteries

Electricity adapter/converter • Footwear (for work and travel)

Seasonal clothes, towel

Hand disinfectant and cleansing wipes

First-aid kit

Sun-block