The official language in Tanzania is Swahili. English is the second official language and the country’s commercial language. Timon Safaris has staff that is good English speakers, and this simplifies communication with our clients.
Below are some useful Swahili phrases and words that might be helpful in your trip so that you might feel part and parcel of Tanzania’s culture
ENGLISH
SWAHILI
HELLO
JAMBO
THANK YOU
AHSANTE
YES
NDIYO
NO
HAPANA
GOOD
NZURI
YOU’RE WELCOME
KARIBU SANA
OK
SAWA
HOW ARE THINGS (HOW ARE YOU)
MAMBO
I AM GOOD (REPLY TO MAMBO)
POWA
NICE/SAFE TRIP
SAFARI NJEMA
Tanzania’s culture results from combining different cultures, such as Local, European, Arabic, and Indian. More than 100 tribal groups cover our mainland. Tanzanians, especially Timon company, are very friendly to our clients. Politeness, respect, and modesty are highly valued.
There is also a culture of handshaking which is very common in Tanzania. We hope you will learn to make a few Swahili greetings, enabling you to interact with local people and make your trip more enjoyable.