Travel Tips !

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

British airlines fly direct to Dar es salaam from Heathrow three times weekly. Flying time is 9 hours 40 minutes from London. Other carriers operate to Tanzania via Europe .

KLM from Amsterdam to Dar es salaam and Kilimanjaro. Swiss from Zurich to Dar es salaam, Air India fly to Dar es salaam via Mumbai, Emirates via Dubai. Gulf air /Oman air fly to Dar es salaam and Zanzibar via Muscat.

Regional carriers into Tanzania include: Air Tanzania, Air Kenya, Kenya Airways, Precision Air, and South African Airways.

Domestic carriers include:- Air Tanzania, Coastal Aviation Services, Precision Air, Regional Air Services, and Zan Air. All of these link the major cities, tourist attractions and game parks in Tanzania. Precision Air, Coastal Aviation and Zan Air fly between the mainland and Zanzibar.

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

International flights serve Dar es salaam (DAR) 8 miles from the city centre and Kilimanjaro (JRO) 31 miles from Arusha town and Zanzibar (ZNZ) airport 5 miles from Kisauni.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

Most visitors require visas with the exception of citizens of certain countries of the Commonwealth. It is advisable to obtain them in advance from Embassies and High Commissions as several airlines insist on them prior to departure.

They can also be obtained on arrival at Dar es salaam and Kilimanjaro International airports, and at the Namanga gate on the Tanzania/ Kenya border.

Requirements may change so you are advised to contact the appropriate diplomatic or consular authority before finalizing your travel arrangements.

Although part of the Union of Tanzania, Zanzibar remains Independent, so visas are required even for a days visit.

IMMUNISATION AND HEALTH

Visitors from countries infected with cholera and yellow fever must produce International certificates of Vaccination, this is particularly relevant for those traveling from neighboring African countries. The IK Department of Health recommends vaccinations against Hepatitis A, polio and typhoid.

It is recommended visitors to take a course of anti-malaria tablets, commencing two weeks before travel.

Modern medical services are available in Dar es salaam and other major centres. There are only a limited number of chemists in the country, so visitors are advised to bring their own medication with them.

WHAT TO TAKE

Don`t forget the camera, camcorder and binoculars and take a torch for finding you way around the camp at night. Stock up with replacement batteries for all these goods. Take sun glasses, hat, sun lotion, lip balm and some insect repellent. It is better not to get stung even if you are taking anti-malaria tablets.

It is better to take any medication required for the duration of the visit. A spare pair of glasses or contact lenses is also a good idea. Take plenty of film, it is difficult to obtain outside the main centres. While traveler`s cheques can be exchanged in cities and towns, banking facilities in remote areas are restricted, so take enough cash.

TRAVEL LIGHT

Some Safaris or Air charters limit baggage to a 10-15 kgs maximum.

LANGUAGE

English is widely spoken but a few words of Swahili are always appreciated.

CURRENCY

The unit of currency is the Tanzania shilling, which is divided into 100 cents.

Visitors can take in any amount of foreign currency, no currency declaration is required, but import and export of Tanzania currency is "Illegal". Most major currencies – particularly US Dollars and Traveller`s Cheques are accepted and convertible at banks and bureaux de change in the main towns and tourist areas.

Credit cards are not widely accepted and carry poor exchange rates.

Visitors will probably be expected to pay park fees in foreign currency. DON`T change money in the street however favorable the rate appears.

ON SAFARI

Distances in Tanzania are vast and travel by road can be tiring. It is wise to spend more time in fewer parks. You will see more and won`t return home exhausted.

Keep your distance from animals and be quiet to avoid distressing them. Always follow the instructions of your ranger or guide. Don`t leave your vehicle in the parks except in designated places. Keep to recognized tracks to avoid damaging vegetation.

WHAT TO WEAR

It never gets really cold in Tanzania, so light weight clothing is normal. On safari avoid brightly coloured clothes, they may alarm the animals. Brown, beiges and Khaki are preferred. Short-sleeve shirts/blouses and shorts are ideal but pack a sweater. It can be chilly in the early mornings and evenings. Wear a hat to avoid sun stroke and don`t forget a swimsuit.

Shoes should be sensible – walking through the bush is not like strolling through the park and for climbing Kilimanjaro, take thermal underwear, a rain jacket, good socks and sturdy boots.

Shorts for women are accepted, but not too short.

Women should carry a wrap to cover their legs in towns or villages, as revealing clothes can cause offence, especially in Zanzibar and other muslim areas.

On the beach and within the confines of beach hotels normal swimwear is accepted but nudity certainly is not.

TIPPING

Not normally obligatory but a tip for exceptional services, about 10% is greatly appreciated.

If possible, allow 10-15 USD per day for drivers or guides.

AIRPORT TAX

An airport Tax of 30 USD may or may not be included in the price of your ticket.

I am interested in a Safari? What is my next step?
You can book a suggested Itinerary from our website. These trips offer the convenience of a pre-set itinerary and a fixed price, with flexible scheduling. Travel dates are up to you.

We only organize private Safaris. That means that only you and your travel partner(s) will be on the tour. There will be only you on the transfers, the Safari vehicle and the tours. This gives you much flexibility on where to stop and tracing your favourite animals.

Or you can start from scratch and work with us to develop a totally customized itinerary and schedule. We are enthusiastically open to side trips, detours, special needs and special plans. For a booking we need an advance payment of 30% of the tour price, the remaining balance you can pay here at arrival. Please note that we don't accept US$ notes issued before Jan 1980!

The advance payment you need to wire to our account in Tanzania. We do not encourage using credit card payments at present since we had some problems with frauds in the past. We do not consider it safe at present and do therefore, prefer payment by bank transfer. After receiving your advance payment (or the proof of payment by e-mail) we will start to book all services to you. After confirming all services we come back to you with the confirmation voucher.

What does the trip price include?
• Full board lodging (3 meals a day) on Safari, whether in hotels, lodges, tented camps, mobile tented camps, or bush camps as specified in your itinerary
• Half board (2 meals a day on Zanzibar)
• All your park and game reserves fees, including conservation fees
• Unlimited game drives in our safari vehicles-window seat guaranteed.
• All in-country transportation as specified in your itinerary, whether by vehicle or bush plane
• One of our experienced in-country safari guides.
• Excursions, as specified in your itinerary
• Unlimited bottled water in our safari vehicles

What is not included in the trip price?
• International airfare
• Any expenses incurred in conjunction with this trip while in your home country.
• Cost of obtaining required passports or visas: Tanzania US$50pp, Kenya US$50pp. You will get the Visa at your arrival point; your passport needs to be valid at least half a year. American citizens need to pay 100 US$, and get only a multiple entry visa (since September 2007)
• Airport departure taxes: Tanzania/Zanzibar domestic departure tax US$5pp one way, Tanzania/Zanzibar international departure tax US$25pp - payable direct in cash on departure If it is not yet included in your ticket).

There is a new 'security fee', for domestic flights being 1 US$ per person, for international flights 8 US$.
• Travel Insurance. Please make sure that you obtain convenient travel insurance in your home country
• Excess baggage fees. Note: Baggage is restricted to 33lbs/15kgs for domestic flights, per person in a soft-sided bag on all charter flights.
• Medical expenses, meals or activities not specified or indicated as optional;
• Gratuities to drivers/guides/tour leaders. Note: Tipping is discretionary based on services provided; Tipping guidelines are: $10 per day for professional safari guides/tour leaders; $3-$5 per day for camp staff, e.g. waiters, housekeepers, which is a communal tip that is shared among the staff); porters - $1; driver/guides - $2-$5); restaurant waiters/waitresses - 10% of bill; hotel housekeeping - $2 per day.

How does our pricing work?
Our trips use tiered pricing based on logistics. Getting people into remote areas where the best game viewing exists is more costly when there are only two people in the Land Rover, rather than four or five. Economies of scale result in lower pricing for four or five people traveling together, as opposed to pricing for a couple traveling alone. As well, the logistics of moving gear around for a walking safari with numerous bush camps is more complicated and costly than a trip that involves simply staying at a lodge. Our pricing structure is tiered so you pay for the costs of your safari and don't subsidize other groups. Our trips have no hidden costs. We don't quote you a low price and then tell you that, in addition you have to pay your park fees or that in-country transportation is extra. When we quote you a trip price it includes almost everything while you are in-country. The few items not included like gratuities, passport and visa fees, and beverages are set forth above.
Our trip prices range over a wide scale. The price depends on:
• The number of people traveling in the group
• Whether your in-country transportation is by bush plane or Land Rover
• Whether you choose to stay in lodges or smaller tented camps
• How remote you want to go
• Whether you want to view game from a mobile tented camp
• Whether you want to participate in walking safaris that involve remote bush camps
We can work with you to bring your safari within your budget range. Most of our trips are Suggested Itineraries, but you can vary them as you want. Let us know what your budget is and we will do our best to design a trip that gives you the experiences you want within the budget you set.

How far in advance to I need to book?
There is no cutoff. However, flights into Kenya and Tanzania are limited and we find that there can be problems getting seats on British Airways or KLM if you try to schedule less than two months ahead of time. Peak seasons also book up as far as nine months ahead of time. Mid to late December is a busy time in both Kenya and Tanzania. Outside of peak seasons, you should have no trouble booking if you schedule your safari at least six to eight months in advance.

When is the best time of year to visit Tanzania?
Let's start with when it's raining season: November, April and May. During those month Safaris are possible, and it is by far not raining every day. Even if, then only for a few hours. But it can get hard if you want to visit remote places.
The mass migration moves from Kenya into the Serengeti in Tanzania in December, January, February, and March. That can be a spectacular time to travel in Tanzania. Climate changes are triggering some changes in the timing of the migration, so check with us if you are interested in traveling on the edges of the normal migratory months. This doesn't mean that there isn't great game viewing at other times. Off-peak season can be a very relaxing time. The lodges are less crowded and the game reserves not involved in the migratory pathways have as much game as normal. It's all a matter of what you want. Check with us if you have specific time frames in mind for your travel and we can help you plan where to be so you get the best possible game viewing experiences.

What kind of weather can I expect on Safari?
Most of East Africa is savannah, comparable to the high plateau, semi-desert areas of Colorado or New Mexico. Altitude ranges from 3,000 to 7,000 feet. (Obviously Kilimanjaro climbers will experience much higher altitudes.) Temperatures during the day range from 75 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Nights are cool with temperatures dipping as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas (Ngorongoro Crater, for example). Even though you will be traveling near the equator, please take our packing recommendations seriously and take along a light jacket or sweatshirt, sweater, and a fleece pullover. Additionally, bring something warm to sleep in at night. Humidity is low. If you don't travel near the rainy season, it usually doesn't rain.

What kind of shape do I need to be in?

You get to choose the activity level of your safari. Traditional Land Rover safaris require little or no physical activity, although you can add all kinds of active adventures to your safari, including an afternoon walking safari, a morning horseback ride, or a boating adventure.
Our Walking Safari, and Kilimanjaro Climb, is quite active. These trips include 8 to 10 walking days. Each walking day involves 3 to 6 hours on foot, with a Land Rover shadowing the group so you can walk as much of that time as you want and ride the rest of the way. On these trips, you also spend some time in a traditional Land Rover safari, but these safaris are definitely for people who want to be more active.

Clothing
We recommend that you bring light casual clothes, (please bring khaki clothing, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat and insect repellent if you go on safari). In the evenings it can get rather chilly, especially in the desert areas and in the months of May-August, so bring a sweater and a windbreaker. Certain 5-star hotels require a smart dress code for dinner.

Electricity
Tanzania uses 220 Volt, but you will need adapters. Most hotels have adapters available.
On our Safari cars you can recharge your phone and cameras with the cigarette lighter. We also have small transformers in combination with the cigarette lighters (producing 220 Volt), please let us know in advance if you would need this. Especially on camping Safaris there is no other way to charge than the cars electricity.

Food & Drinks
Food is excellent and you will find a good mix of African, European and
International cuisine. Fresh vegetables, seafood and meats make it an exceptional culinary experience to travel here. South African wines are sold everywhere, and are excellent. Tap water is not drinkable in most areas; only bottled water should be consumed.
Prices of beverages (depending on hotel/location):
Bottled water 1.5 l: 1 - 2 US$
Soft drinks: 1 US$
Beer: 1.5 - 2.5 US$
Glass of wine: 3 - 4 US$
Bottle South African wine: 15 - 25 US$

What kind of medical care do I need before I go to Tanzania?
Before you leave for an international destination you should consult your physician. You will also need to decide on a malaria prevention medication. It is advised to take malaria prophylaxis.
Yellow Fever vaccination since 1.1.08
If you traveled before arrival to Tanzania in yellow fever endemic zone, then vaccination for Yellow Fever is since 1.1.08 obligatory again. Yellow Fever Endemic Zone in Africa includes Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Chad, Central African Republic, Togo, Benin, Sao Tome, and Principe, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, United Republic of Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Somali, Sudan and Equatorial Guinea.
Yellow Fever Endemic Zone in America includes Panama, Venezuela, Colombia,
Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Bolivia.
For all travelers coming directly from Europe to Kilimanjaro (JRO) e.g. on KLM flight, such that they did not cross an endemic country they will not need Yellow Fever Vaccination.
For all travelers coming from Europe via or transited through an endemic country e.g.:
a) On ET flight via Addis and Nairobi they will need Yellow Fever vaccination card.
b) On any international flight to Nairobi e.g. SN, BA, Swiss, KQ etc. to NBO, then boarding or KQ/PW flight to JRO will need Yellow Fever vaccination.
YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION ON ARRIVAL AT JRO is provided at JRO (Kilimanjaro Airport Arusha) at a cost of 50 US$ per pax.
Other vaccinations like hepatitis, tetanus are recommended.

Visa
Visitors from most countries require a visa in order to enter Tanzania. All visitors can purchase a visa at the point of entry. You need a passport valid at least half a year, and to pay 50 US$ cash. It is most of the time only a 30 minutes procedure but can take longer if there are several arrivals at a time.
American citizens need to pay 100 US$, and get only a multiple entry visa (since September 2007)
If you intend to fly to Nairobi and then travel on to Tanzania, remember that you may also require a multiple entry visa to enter Kenya, even if it is only for a few hours. The Visa for Kenya and Tanzania is 50 US$ per person for each country (except of American citizens, see above).

Photography
Some of the happiest travelers I have met are those that don't take a camera with them and just enjoy what they see, but most people want a record of some of the fantastic sights along the way. You will get fairly close to a lot of the wildlife, but a good 35mm camera (with a 75-300mm zoom lens) will certainly help you take some great shots. It is always best to buy your film before you travel, because film here is expensive and not as fresh. 100 - 200 ASA is a good speed for general photography here. Though it can get bright, you might want to be able to get some action shots and the higher speed film will be helpful. Some people also like to use 400 ASA for fast moving animals and evening shots. A beanbag is much better than a tripod for photos from the car. (The safari vehicle should have a pop-up or removable roof to make photography easier.) A cable release is useful to get shots without camera motion. Also, a flash can help with indoor and campfire shots. Remember to bring extra batteries for your camera equipment. Most people find they take 2 to 3 rolls of film per day whilst on safari.
If you bring a video camera, don't forget the tapes (very expensive here) and the recharging accessories. You can generally recharge the camera at lodges and from the vehicle.

Tipping on Safari
Our general recommendation is to tip moderately - in accordance with the level and quality of service provided. The following guidelines are generally accepted practice (per person): Safari guide(s) - US $10 per day; Cook 7 US$, Camp staff - US $3 - $5 per day, as a pooled tip to be shared among the housekeepers, waiters, bartender, etc. For porters and waiters at hotels and for taxi drivers in cities, the customary tip is approximately 1 US$. (Tipping in US$1 bills for porters and waiters is greatly appreciated). The traditional gratuity to safari guides or camp staff is not included in the price of your tour but is completely discretionary. Beware of unscrupulous people who try to exhort extra payment from unwary passengers just for shuffling their bags around.

Money Matters
The unit of local currency is the Tanzania Shilling (TSh). American dollars in cash or traveler’s cheques are acceptable in many places around town (note: AMEX Traveler’s cheques are often not accepted). Credit cards are accepted only in big hotels, and if you do manage to find a place to use them there will usually be a surcharge of at least 10%. Please note not to bring US$ notes issued before 1980, as they are not accepted here! In Arusha, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar there are ATM's where you can get local currency with your Visa or MasterCard.