From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Tanzania Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Mon, 1 Dec 1997 14:46:10 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1555 Path: world!bzs Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199712010948_MC2-2A3B-75C6@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: Wally Doerge <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 121 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Tanzania ============================================================ Tanzania - Consular Information Sheet February 26, 1997 Country Description: Tanzania is a developing east African nation. Tourist facilities are adequate in major cities, but limited in remote areas. Entry Requirements: Entry information may be obtained from the Tanzanian Embassy at 2139 R Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 939-6125 or the Tanzanian Permanent Mission to the U.N. at 205 East 42nd Street, 13th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10017, telephone (212) 972-9160. Overseas, inquiries may be made at the nearest Tanzanian embassy or consulate. Areas of Instability: Political tension remains high on the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, following closely contested elections in 1995. Travelers should avoid political rallies and gatherings. After hundreds of thousands of refugees from Rwanda and Burundi entered northwestern Tanzania in 1993-1994, Tanzania formally closed its border to new refugees from those countries and deployed military forces in the Kigoma and Kagera regions. Although most Rwandans have now departed, Zairian, Burundian, and some Rwandan refugees continue to enter Tanzania. Many of these people are shunning refugee facilities and, along with some local residents, are engaging in criminal and violent activities. Travelers without specific business in this region should avoid these areas. Medical Facilities: Medical facilities are limited. Some medicines are in short supply or unavailable. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. Not all U.S. medical insurance is valid outside the United States. Travelers have found supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including provision for medical evacuation, to be useful. Information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559, Internet: http://www.cdc.gov. Information on Crime: Crime, particularly against foreigners, appears to be on the increase in both urban and rural areas. Incidents include attempted rapes, muggings, vehicle thefts, and residential break-ins. Thieves on buses and trains may steal valuables from inattentive riders. Visitors driving in game parks are at risk. In recent years, there has been an increase in acts of armed banditry in parks and reserves frequented by tourists. A recent attack in Serengeti National Park resulted in the death of an American citizen. The Tanzanian government has taken steps to increase security in the national parks, albeit with limited results to date. Assaults in Zanzibar and along public beaches in Dar es Salaam are becoming common, and police, particularly in Zanzibar, are at times inattentive to the problem. Crime and hazardous road conditions make travel by night dangerous. Car-jacking has occurred in both rural and urban areas. Travelers are urged not to stop between populated areas, and to travel in convoys whenever possible. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The pamphlets "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa" provide useful information on personal security while traveling abroad and on travel in the region in general. Both are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: Drivers should exercise caution and avoid intercity travel at night. Roads are often poorly maintained and lack shoulders; many are passable only with four-wheel-drive vehicles during the rainy season. Excessive speed, unpredictable driving habits, and the lack of basic safety equipment on many vehicles are additional hazards. Drivers frequently have unexpected encounters with cyclists, pedestrians, livestock, and wild animals. Emergency service and first aid are unavailable outside major cities and tourist areas. Use of Credit Cards: Credit cards are increasingly accepted at major hotels, but advances in the form of travelers' checks or cash (only in local currency) are available from just two locations, both in Dar es Salaam. Visitors should bring sufficient cash or travelers' checks for their trip. Photography Restrictions: Photography of military installations is forbidden. Individuals have been detained and/or had their cameras and film confiscated for taking pictures of hospitals, schools, bridges, industrial sites and airports. Arrest or Detention of Americans: Tanzanian police and prison officials, especially in rural areas, have consistently failed to inform the U.S. Embassy of the arrest or detention of American citizens. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Registration/Embassy Location: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Tanzania. The U.S. Embassy is located at 36 Laibon Road (off Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road) in the capital city of Dar es Salaam. The mailing address is P.O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; the telephone number is (255-51) 666-010 through 5, and the fax is 666-701. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No. 97-033 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated September 25, 1996 to update the section on areas of instability, information on crime, use of credit cards, and U.S. Embassy telephone numbers. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. 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