General Information about Tanga
Tanga is a large place in the region of Tanga in Tanzania with a population of approximately 224,876 people and is one of the largest places in Tanzania. Find all facts and information about Tanga.
Facts and figures on Tanga at a glance
– Name: Tanga (Tanga)
– Status: Large place and regional capital
– Population: 224,876 people
– Region name (Level 1): Tanga
– Country: Tanzania
– Continent: Africa
Tanga is located in the region of Tanga and is also the regional capital of this region. The distance from Tanga to Tanzania’s Capital Dodoma (Dodoma) is approximately 392 km / 243 mi (as the crow flies).
Travellers Information
VACCINATIONS:
Yellow fever required if traveling from a yellow fever endemic country
CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY:
Travelers are required to declare international currency valuing more than $10,000 on both entrance and exit from Tanzania. Non-residents (except Kenyans and Ugandans) may not import or export Tanzanian Shillings (TZS)
CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR EXIT:
Non-residents (except Kenyans and Ugandans) may not import or export Tanzanian Shillings (TZS)
Infrastructures in Tanga Region
Roads
Railway Line
Port/Harbour
Airport
Telecommunications
Financial
Power Supply
Water Supply/
Roads
The city and the region is interconnected with a good road network of 840kms giving easy access within and to areas outside. A large part of the urban road system, about 93kms is tarmac. The highways to the neighboring regions of Dar-es-salaam, Kilimanjaro and Arusha are also tarmac. The main road connecting Tanga and Kenya is tarmac and passable throughout the year. Similar improvements are being planned to link Tanga to Dar along the coastal highway through Pangani, Saadani and Bagamoyo.These developments will open up more markets and business opportunities, especially in goods and tourism. |  |
Railway Line
The city is the eastern terminal of the railway line connecting it to Moshi (Kilimanjaro) and Arusha in the Northern Tanzania. A branch (Ruvu- Mnyusi) links this northern system to the central railway from Dar es salaam across the country to Kigoma on lake Tanganyika. Tanga- Arusha railway also has a connestion to the link between Mombasa and Uganda through Moshi- Taveta- Voi branch line. This facilitates the transportation of bulk goods and people to various parts of Tanzania, and to neighboring Kenya and Uganda as well as to land-locked Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. |  |
Port/Harbour
Tanga is the second largest seaport in Tanzania with a handling capacity of 500,000tons of cargo a year and experienced a tremendous growth in traffic in recent years. It handled more than twice the traffic in 2003- 2006, as compared to 1999-2001.The port is handling more cargo in the form of copper concentrates of Kahama mines, bulk wheat for pembe flour mills,tanga Cement, Rhino Cement, Tanga Fish fillets/Octopus and skins from Moshi. Sisal and coffee are also exported to European and Asian markets. There are container handling and cold storage facilities as well. The already great importance of Tanga harbor for the local employment is expected to grow with the further development of the harbor capacities. The existing habour is to be rehabilitated and new and powerfully harbor is planned. |  |
Airport
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The city of Tanga has airport facilities capable of handling passenger planes such as Fokker Friendship and CESSNA 206.It situated 4kms from the city centre along the Tanga- Dar- Arusha highway road. The asphalt runway is 1.268 meters long and 31 meters wide. Smaller aircrafts are also used in charter flights to and from Dar salaam, Zanzibar, Pemba, Mombasa, Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Mafia ferrying passengers and their luggage. |
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Telecommunications
| The city is well served with a telecommunication network to the rest of the world. Tanzania Telecommunication Company Limited (TTCL) offers more than 6,000 lines and 8000 wireless loop line system which can be also used for wireless internet connections in all offices in the city area and the whole regional at large, even on the beach. There are cellurar phone system operated by AIR TELL, TIGO, VODACOM, ZANTEL, Internet cafes, fax cable and postal services are also available. |
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Financial
There are more commercial banks, National Bank of Commerce (NBC) Barclays Bank, CRDB, EXIM BANK, DIAMOND TRUST BANK. Automated Machine services are available for all major credit cards and also for normal maestro banking cards. The ATMs are working 24 hours seven days a week. There are also NGOs which provide micro- finance services like SEA, PRIDE, FINCA, FAIDIKA, B BLUE, SACCOS and others. |  |
Power Supply
Tanga City/Regional is well served by the national electricity grid and consumes around 25megawatta (MW) about a third of the 66MW supplied to the Region. The Pangani river is the main source of hydro electricity with stations at Mwakinyumbi. Pangani Falls and Hale and their combined generating capacity is about 17,500 and 21,000KW.The grid also links to other hydro-electricity system such as from Nyumba ya Mungu (on Pangani River) and Mtera (on Ruaha River). Tanga has the potential for sufficient power supply for additional industrial and other demands, but there is also room for improvement to meet these demands. A large potential also exists for developing solar and wind generated electric supplies at various scales, for example for individual households to institutions like hospitals. |  |
Water Supply/
Tanga Region has abundant water sources. Water from the Ziggi River is diverted to Mabayani dam and pumped to a treatment plant. The water then flows for use in the town by gravitational force. The maximum processing capacity is 42,000m cubic per day daily demand is about 26,000m cubic.It is estimated that the currently installed capacity will meet the increasing demands for water until the year 2012. The urban Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (UWSA) Water Disposable System: Tanga has started to develop an effective and sustainable waste disposal system. The system has been developed to handled waste and sewage from household waste and sewage from households and industries. |  |
Other Important Information
Women Travelers: Hire only legitimate tour guides, preferably arranged by a known travel agency or hotel. Be wary of offers of sightseeing from new contacts and avoid being alone with strangers who propose special, customized sightseeing trips. Practice common sense and remain vigilant regarding your surroundings.
Travel and Transportation Road Conditions and Safety: Road travel in Tanzania can be extremely dangerous, especially at night. Traffic in Tanzania moves on the left. Drivers and pedestrians alike must maintain vigilance. Although a number of inter-city highways are periodically repaved and maintained, maintenance schedules are erratic and even good roads may deteriorate quickly due to weather conditions.
Traffic Laws: Tanzanian law requires all motor vehicle operators to be in possession of a valid driver’s license. Persons staying in Tanzania for fewer than six months may use a valid U.S. driver’s license after validation by local traffic authorities, or an international driver’s license. Persons intending to remain in Tanzania for more than six months are required to obtain a Tanzanian driver’s license. All vehicles are required to carry third-party liability insurance and to post the decal in the front window.
Tanga Region Map
More Tanga Travel Ideas:
Planning your trip? Whether you’re looking for things to do in Tanga such as events and attractions, key traveller information to make your Tanga visit run smoothly or are planning where to stay in Tanga, you’ll find everything you need for your Tanga holiday on Our Website. Tanga City Travel guide has the information about latest events not to miss while you visit Tanga – there’s always something going on, so don’t miss out on the latest exhibitions, shows and more on your trip to Tanga.
Discover the best day trips from Tanga or try one of the best tours Tanga and nearby regions. If you’re here as a family, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Tanga with kids and find suitable accommodation such as Tanga holiday apartments. Whether you’re looking for the best weekend breaks in Tanga or planning a longer holiday in Tanga, you can be sure you’ll find all the information you need.
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