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Tanzania from Cruising Information Community

https://forum.oceancruisingclub.org/Topic2536.aspx

By George.Curtis2 - 30 Oct 2015



THESE REPORTS HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE THEY WERE SUBMITTED IN 1996.

MARINERS MUST TAKE THEIR OWN DECISION ON WHETHER THESE WATERS ARE SAFE FROM PIRACY

Dar es Salaam – 06°49.00'S, 39°18.00'E
Tanga – 05°00.00'S, 39°00.00

Dar es Salaam
1) INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY Mark Scott & Liz Hammick - Lone Rival OCC Port Officer, Peter Best - Shemali Blue

2) DATE 1996

3) HARBOUR OR AREA COVERED Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 060 49’S 390 18’E

4) SUITABILITY AND ATTRACTION FOR YACHTS Apart from being off the beaten track, a pleasant port of call. Local cruising is excellent, including the islands of Mafia, Zanzibar and Pemba. There are seasonal monsoon winds, southerly from April to October, north easterly from December to March

. 5) MARINAS, BERTHING OR ANCHORAGE No marina. Anchoring at Y.C. or Slipway, in Dar harbour east of ferry quay but security bad there. Anchor off the Customs jetty, a low red roofed building in front of a large, light green church. The Zanzibar ferries use this jetty so remain about 300 yds to the NE of the jetty. Dinghy ashore and all officials are in the red roofed building. Do not stay the night off the Customs jetty as all boats within the last 15 years have been boarded at night, sometimes unpleasantly, so time your arrival to clear in and make it out to Msasani Bay before dark. All visiting yachts must clear Customs, Immigration and Port health in the main port which now takes approx one hour. Obtain a C13 form from the Customs Officer, which allows you to proceed out the harbour. Double check with both Customs and Immigration that your paperwork is correct as the rules tend to change according to who is on duty and whether he has a hangover.

6) ENTRY PORTS Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Zanzibar & Mtwara.

7) FORMAL REQUIREMENTS FOR YACHTS ENTERING/DEPARTING

a) from/to same country Port Clearance & Customs Transire from previous port.

b) from/to abroad As above, plus Crew Declaration, Health Certificates and various other forms dependent on the officer on duty.

c) visa requirements Not for UK citizens entering by sea, yet! A visitor’s pass can be obtained on arrival from Port Immigration office, any fee being paid then.

8) LOCATION/EXISTENCE OF

a) harbour master In main port

b) customs/immigration Behind ferry wharf, form C13 required before moving to Y.C.

c) health authorities In main port

d) police Harbour Police in main port.

9) CONTROL OF FOREIGN YACHTS Length of stay without Import duty is nominally one year, but therearemany local boats, registered abroad, that have been in Dar for years and not been charged.

10) ATTITUDE OF OFFICIALS TO VISITING YACHTSMEN In general, friendly & helpful, if a little long winded at times. The proffering of a ‘gift’ is not necessary, unless you are trying it on!

11) REPAIR/HAULING FACILITIES The slipway at the Navy yard can take up to 300 tons, but it is very expensive. Up to 10 tons can be hauled out at the Y.C. but only if the club trolley is available and sometimes it takes months for it to be available. Up to 5 tons at Msasani Slipway by crane is possible of lay alongside wall if draft is less than 1.6m. Msasani Slipway can do woodwork & engine repairs. Volvo dealers.

12) SAILING DIRECTIONS OR CHARTS BA chart 674. Imray’s E. Africa Pilot coming soon - will be excellent

13) PORT RADIO SERVICES On arrival call Dar es Salaam Signal Station on VHF Ch 12 to ask permission to enter..

14) WEATHER FORECASTS Non existent.

15) YACHT CLUB(S) Dar es Salaam Y.C. Excellent facilities, two nights free then $30 per person per week. Launch service.

16) OTHER FACILITIES -

a) drinking water At Y.C. or Slipway but not good quality

b) fuel At Y.C.

c) gas (propane)/gaz/ BP station on Mafuta Rd, take own tools & fittings & go early.

d) chandlers Excellent one at Slipway -Fax (051) 25551 40180

e) bank Plenty in town but no Credit cards accepted so no cash advances on credit cards, take lots of $US.

f) shops/market Half mile walk from Y.C. or Slipway. Good fruit, vegetables & usual stores at ‘container’ shops at Chole Rd cross-roads, 20 mins walk. Taxis available there.

g) restaurants/hotels Plenty. Good European style in the tourist hotels but expensive; the local eating houses tend towards cheap but one can also get Dar tummy from them.

h) post office/telephones Sub PO at Haile Selassie Rd, Main PO in Dar, Fax (051) 865692/66309. Phones hopeless in Tanzania. Mail fairly reliable to and from Europe in 4-5 days.

i) best mailing address c/o Dar es Salaam Yacht Club, PO Box 1280, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

j) showers Y.C. and the Slipway

k) laundry Do it yourself

l) transport/air services) Daily connections to Europe with all major airlines. Good bi-weekly connections to S. Africa with onward connections to Australia. Locally, long distance buses are more reliable than Air Tanzania. Airport near city.

m) hospital Yes.

n) anything else Dar es Salaam is the only place to get gas bottle filled.

17) FIRST HAND RECOMMENDATIONS OR WARNINGS Anchorage & facilities at Slipway free - good value! Dinghy pier, water, showers, cafés, excellent chandlery, security no problem while we were there but lock everything. Outboards are prime targets.

Tanga
1) INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY Mark Scott & Liz Hammick - Lone Rival

2) DATE 1996

3) HARBOUR OR AREA COVERED Tanga, Tanzania. 05°S 39°E

4) SUITABILITY AND ATTRACTION FOR YACHTS Yes! Got lots going for it!

5) MARINAS, BERTHING OR ANCHORAGE Anchorage - good holding in mud.

6) ENTRY PORTS Tanga, Dar es Salaam & Mtwara

7) FORMAL REQUIREMENTS FOR YACHTS ENTERING/DEPARTING

a) from/to same country Yes - to Pemba & Zanzibar; no, elsewhere

b) from/to abroad Customs & Immigration

c) visa requirements Not for UK citizens by sea, at the moment, small payment for others

8) LOCATION/EXISTENCE OF

a) harbour master At the port

b) customs/immigration At the port

c) health authorities No, but entry to Zanzibar requires yellow fever certificate.

d) police No

9) CONTROL OF FOREIGN YACHTS Not a problem

10) ATTITUDE OF OFFICIALS TO VISITING YACHTSMEN Friendly & helpful.

11) REPAIR/HAULING FACILITIES Not really. Cranes at port a possibility

12) SAILING DIRECTIONS OR CHARTS BA 866, new East Africa Pilot book from Imrays expected soon.

13) PORT RADIO SERVICES No

14) WEATHER FORECASTS No

15) YACHT CLUB(S) Tanga Yacht Club, small payment per week, per yacht, to use club facilities.

16) OTHER FACILITIES -

a) drinking water At club, usually needs treating/boiling.

b) fuel Jerry cans from fuel station in town.

c) gas (propane)/gaz/ Bottles sent to Dar es Salaam. Unreliable.

d) chandlers No.

e) bank Bank of Commerce in town

f) shops/market Good market & small grocery stores in town.

g) restaurants/hotels Various. Meals at Yacht Club inexpensive.

h) post office/telephones Phone & fax in town

i) best mailing address c/o Tanga Y.C., PO Box 346, Tanga, Tanzania. j) showers At club.

k) laundry No, tap at club.

l) transport/air services) Long bus ride to airports.

m) hospital Yes

n) anything else Very friendly, attractive Yacht Club. Lots of expats and children. Ideal for cruising families.

17) FIRST HAND RECOMMENDATIONS OR WARNINGS Visiting children can attend the International School (ages 3-12). Tanga is a peaceful, inexpensive, beautiful harbour, ideal for an extended stay. No plastic money accepted! Bring lots of £, $ or travellers’ cheques to Tanzania.