Travelling Information
Best time to travel
Owing to the tropical climate, with one rainy and one dry season, it is advisable to travel to Ifakara between May and September. During the rainy season it is nearly unbearably hot and sultry. In addition, roads are at that time in a bad condition and sometimes even impassable.
Health care
The Kilombero Valley is an area with a high risk of Malaria. Malaria prophylaxis is therefore a must. Lariam and Malarone have proved to be the appropriate medicaments, whereas Doxycyclin has only a limited effect. Insect repellents ought to be carried along as well. Mosquito-nets are available in guesthouses or can be bought in Ifakara at quite a low price.
Vaccinations: The Tanzanian Health Authority demands only vaccination against Yellow Fever. But it is recommended to get vaccinated against Meningitis, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A and B and Poliomyelitis. Precise guidelines can be found in:
Journey
Tanzania has two International Airports: Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro Airport near Arusha. Both of them offer daily services of several international airlines (KLM, Emirates, Swiss, Qatar Air, British Airways).
Travelling from Dar es Salaam to Ifakara is possible on long distance coaches, on the hospital cars or on Tazara Railway. Bus- and railway tickets have to be booked in advance. The Austrian Honorary Consul in Dar es Salaam, Helmut Suitner, offers support in the organisation of the journey.
His E-mail address:
St. Francis Hospital, guesthouse
Accommodation in Ifakara
In its guesthouse, St. Francis Hospital offers guests several renovated, clean single and double rooms. The price for full board is USD 25.—per day. Reduction for students is possible and can be negotiated with the administration of the hospital..
St. Andrew Parish offers cheap food and accommodation in modest single rooms.
On inquiry, Ifakara-Centre, lying close to the hospital, rents comfortable, but more expensive rooms and apartments.
E-mail:
A teacher from Liechtenstein, Meik Baumeler, owns a one-storey, comfortable house with a spacious atrium on the ground floor and a terrace on the first floor, about 2 km away from the city centre. He rents rooms to a moderate price.
Tazara Station Ifakara, Meik´s house
In the city there are several guesthouses. Accommodation is quite cheap, but comfort is
comparatively modest.
In 2008, in Kibaoni, in a distance of 7 km from Ifakara centre, a modern Hotel Resort has been opened:
Kilombero Mbega Resort
It offers modern comfort, nice rooms, and excellent food with moderate costs.
Its website is still under construction.
Contact:
