Traveler etiquette: clothing, behavior, language
Tanzanians are very hospitable and tolerant of tourists, but it is worth knowing and taking into account some rules of good behavior.
How to dress for a nature park safari
When going on a safari to nature parks, it is
recommended to wear light clothes, but the main condition is thin, light
fabric clothing. It is mandatory to bring a hat that covers the ears
and neck and sunglasses. Sunscreen will also come in handy, as the sun
catches even when riding in a safari jeep and you can burn quickly.
It will be most comfortable to wear shorts and flip-flops during the safari trip. However, if you plan to do more than just ride in safari jeeps and go on a hike in nature, then more serious footwear, such as hiking boots, will be needed.
A warmer jacket will be useful in the evening hours.
On a
safari, a tourist can safely look like a tourist, because the locals,
when they see a safari vehicle, understand that people are tourists and
are therefore tolerant and not critical of clothing.
How to dress for walking around the city
When walking around the city, it is advisable to respect local traditions. It should be noted that Dar es Salaam is a cosmopolitan metropolis where people of different races and religions coexist amicably, and the atmosphere of the city is relatively relaxed, including in terms of clothing and religious traditions. However, the situation is different deeper inland, as well as on the islands, where local residents tend to be more conservative and less tolerant of tourist nudity.
For women walking around the city, it is preferable to wear clothing that covers the shoulders and knees. We recommend purchasing a local African-style kanga dress, which is a loose, bag-shaped dress made of soft, thin cotton. The fabric flutters in the wind, making it cool and comfortable to wear. Simple kangas cost between 5 and 8 euros (though some may ask for 25 euros). They come in bright colors with various patterns. When buying, it’s important to check the quality of the seams, as they are not always sewn to a high standard. A woman will feel comfortable in such a dress, and it can also serve as a souvenir from the trip. Additionally, local residents will feel honored to see a foreign woman wearing traditional African attire and will consider her a respectable individual.
For men, it is recommended to choose long pants made of thin fabric instead of shorts when walking around the city, as this aligns with local norms of politeness.
Beachwear typically consists of a swimsuit. However, it is better to wear a beach robe or a headscarf when in the beach hotel area. If traveling from the beach hotel to a nearby village, it is advisable to dress appropriately.
At least some words in Swahili
Tanzanians will appreciate it if you speak at least a few words in Swahili.
To say hello in a simple, chomper style, "jumbo" will do. If you want to be not rude, but polite, it is better to use a dialogue form of greeting, which includes an address and a response. Similar to English, the greeting dialogue is "How are you?" to which should be answered with "Fine" / "Nice", then in Swahili this dialogue will be "Habari yako" (how are you) with the answer "Nzuri" (good) or "Nzuri sana" (very good) .
"Thank you" in Swahili is "asante" and "thank you very much" is "asante sana".
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