Most hotels serve local Tanzanian food while the major hotels offer Western and other international food.

Things to know: Table service is normal in restaurants. Bars generally have counter service. Tanzania is a secular state and alcohol is not prohibited. Zanzibar’s population is predominantly Muslim. Alcohol is available in some tourist hotels and restaurants, but should not be drunk in public.

National specialities:
• Seafood such as prawns and lobsters.
• Tropical fruit such as coconuts, pawpaws, mangoes, pineapples and bananas.

National drinks:
• A good lager, Safari, is produced locally.
• Konyagi is a popular gin.
• A chocolate and coconut liqueur called Afrikoko.
• A wine called Dodoma, which comes in red or rosé.

Tipping: Not generally encouraged, though waiters in tourist hotels and restaurants may expect to be tipped.

In Dar es Salaam, there are several nightclubs, cabarets and cinemas. Generally, the nightlife centres are in the top tourist hotels and restaurants.

The city and town centres usually have markets which sell curios such as African drums, old brass and copper, carved chess sets, jewellery, and a speciality, large wooden salad bowls carved from a single piece of teak, mninga or ebony. Haggling is accepted, indeed often expected.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1200 and 1400-1800, Sat 0830-1230. Some shops open on Sunday.