Currency in Tanzania Art and Courier Services

When buying from the art markets and  the small galleries, in the main towns of Tanzania, it is expected that you pay in hard currency for your paintings, fabrics and carvings. The city center shops and galleries and curio outlets should have credit card facilities and also have a courier service on the premises.

There are plenty of courier services in the town center that are able to transport your art home,although they tend to be expensive. I usually use the Post Office service [EMS]to courier art. Every main post office in every town will have one. Boma Street in Arusha and the New Post Office, Kibo Street in Dar es Salaam for example have the EMS office immediately next to the main building. The staff are able to speak English, they are friendly, efficient and a cheaper option to transport your artifacts home.

Having said this I also carry a lot of art in my luggage. If you go down this route check the monetary allowance from the customs office. Most tourists will be well within the limit but if you have purchased some valuable painting or any artifact that is over 50 years old then you need paper work to ‘import’ the art.  

Most art will be priced in U$ dollars, however if you feel more at home in Euros or GB Pounds then negotiations can be done in local currency the Tanzanian Shilling. Negotiation is an accepted part of life in Tanzania and art is not the exception. Remember however this is not a competitive sport to buy art, to get a painting at the lowest price possible. These artists are trying to earn a living and commissions have to be paid to the shop/gallery owner - new canvases and paints to be bought - pay a fair price for your art. The fact that most currencies do well against the Tanzanian Shilling put you the buyer of art at an advantage. A good painting from a talented your artists can be bought for as little as US$30 to US$120.

Cash is king in the art markets and it is a good idea to have cash when intending to buy art. Local currency or US dollars are the currency of choice. When brining money into Tanzania I usually have only US$100 and US$50 notes as these get a better exchange rate with US$20/10 getter a poorer rate of exchange and US$5/1 getting the worst exchange rate. Travelers checks usually get a poor rate of exchange.  

Banks can offer at times the best exchange rates depending on where you are - although the process is long winded in a bank and you may have to persevere with a long queue. The buero de change have good rates of exchange but you have to shop around as the rates can vary by quite a margin. Some of the buero de change that give a poor exchange rate will pay commissions to driver-guides to bring tourists - so shop around. The bueros provide calculators for you to check your rates and the money you receive so use it. Check money received as mistakes will not be rectified once you have moved away from the counter. In 12 years I have never known a buero de change to make a mistake, however, I have heard of mistakes being made.