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Zanzibar, Tanzania


5 Tips for Living in Tanzania

By Joshua Wood, LPC

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Summary: Expats living in Tanzania find a wide variety of cultural influences and geography, which is largely dependent upon where in the country they live and what brought them there in the first place.

Expats in Tanzania find this East African country to be a challenge to settle into, but the cultural experiences often make the difficulties worth the work.

Expat Life In Tanzania Moves At A Slower Pace

One expat in Tanzania, when asked about the aspects of the Tanzanian culture she appreciates most, wrote about the "slower pace of life; positive cultural values and ethics," while the most challenging aspects cited were "learning to be more patient; having things not happen as quickly as I am used to."

Expect To Experience Culture Shock

A significant number of expats in Tanzania report that culture shock is something to be expected. One expat in Tanzania wrote that culture shock is "quite significant because frustration levels are high and because getting even basic things done can be hard."

Housing Costs And Cost Of Living In Tanzania

One expat in Arusha, Tanzania reported that the costs of living were "about the same for Texas, cheaper compared to California." In general, the cost of living in Tanzania is about half as expensive as it is to live in New York City.

Tanzanian Culture

Despite the proclivity for culture shock, expats tend to find that the culture of Tanzania has many aspects that they enthusiastically embrace. Its foods are a blend of those enjoyed by the different ethnic groups in the Tanzania, which are also influenced by the varying geography of Tanzania.

Music also blends the different cultural traditions of Tanzania, and this includes both traditional music and modern music styles.

International Schools in Tanzania

Tanzania has several international schools to consider. In Moshi, International School Moshi is available. Isamilo School is a British School in Mwanza, while the International School of Tanganyika is in Dar es Salaam.

About the Author

Joshua Wood Joshua Wood, LPC joined Expat Exchange in 2000 and serves as one of its Co-Presidents. He is also one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. Prior to Expat Exchange, Joshua worked for NBC Cable (MSNBC and CNBC Primetime). Joshua has a BA from Syracuse and a Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Wood is also a licensed counselor and psychotherapist.

Some of Joshua's articles include Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal, 10 Best Places to Live in Ireland and Pros and Cons of Living in Uruguay. Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn.


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Zanzibar, Tanzania

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Flexible solutions allow you to tailor your cover to meet your needs and budget. Use Promocode: LIFE10 and get 10% off your international health insurance for life!
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