Hi I'm flying in to Dar es Salaam late July. I am looking for recommendations for hotels in the city suitable in terms of safety for a single female traveller. I will be in Tanzania for approximately 5 weeks and apart from definitely wanting to head to Pemba and Zanzibar for the diving I am looking for any recommendations as to the best way to spend my time. Would I be better spending time in Dar es Salaam at the start of my stay or at the end? Would it be a good idea to head northwards to maybe visit one of the parks at the start of my holiday or at the end? Any recommendations tips etc would be appreciated. I have also booked my Yellow Fever vaccination for next week. I understand that it is necessary, is my information correct. Many thanks for any help you can give me Clare
1) I stayed at the Sea Cliff, certainly didn't feel unsafe there. 2) I am not sure how anyone else can tell you whether it is better to stay in Dar at the beginning or the end of your trip, what would be your criteria for deciding? I stayed longer before than after but that was purely a matter of travel arrangements. 3) I would certainly recommend visiting Ngorongoro (and if possible also the Serengeti), but again, it's up to you to work out what works for you in terms of when you do it. It sounds as though the diving is your main aim so you might as well do that first? 4) Yes you do need a yellow fever jab - although I don't know why you would believe the general travelling public rather than a doctor/medical centre! In any case, it lasts 10 years so now you are covered for travel elsewhere in Africa and S. America.
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A friend of mine described Dar as a “Pit”. Get out and stay travelling is my advice. If you need info on Zanzibar, please see my Zanzibar Island and Town pages. They do have a complete electrical blackout for months, but it all still works thanks to generators. Pemba is very very quiet, but a lot of people like that. Tanzania has a lot of wildlife, natural beauty and some of the finest beaches in the world. Dar has zero of these. Have a great time!
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Thanks for the tip! I arrive early evening in Dar so will book somewhere for overnight and look to move out the next day. I am still trying to decide whether to head up towards Arusha first and leave the diving until the latter part or the other way around. I'm looking at a liveaboard in Pemba as I have heard its very quiet so I'm intending to really maximise on the diving there. Did you use the ferry to and from Zanzibar? Clare
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I flew there (Zanzibar) but a friend used the Ferry to/from Dar/Zanzibar/Pemba. Please read my warnings and dangers about the night ferry on my Zanzibar page!
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