Tanzania FAQS

IMPORTANT:

The Health Authorities in Tanzania (including Zanzibar) have reintroduced the requirement for all visitors to have valid Yellow Fever innoculations. This is primarily intended for visitors that are arriving from or have visited any Yellow Fever listed countries (including those in transit through Kenya)

All travellers to Tanzania andZanzibar, regardless of their Country of origin, should carry their Yellow Fever Certificates as this will help to avoid any confusion and arguments at the point of entry.

Read more about activities in Tanzania here.

When is the best time to visit Tanzania?

For game viewing, the best time to visit Tanzania depends on your priorities. Much of Katavi National Park is accessible only during the dry season (June to mid-October), and this is also the best time to visit Tarangire. In the Serengeti, the wet season is the best time to see the enormous herds of wildebeest, though the migration patterns vary and are difficult to predict. The dry season is best for seeing predators.

The best months for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro are from August to October and from January to March.

Tanzania is a year-round birding destination boasting over 1000 species, but it is particularly good at the height of the northern hemisphere's winter (December to February), when some 160 species of migratory birds make their way south.

What is the weather like in Tanzania?

The Tanzanian climate is tropical on the coast, on the islands, and in Selous. It is temperate inland and in the other parks. Tanzania has two distinct annual rainfall patterns, which prevail in different areas of the country: in the south, west, south-west and central regions of Tanzania the rainfall is unimodal - there is one rainy season, which occurs between December and April. In the northern and eastern regions of the country the rainfall is bimodal, with two rainy seasons. It can be difficult to predict, but the 'short rains' or Vuli usually occur from October to December, and the 'long rains' or Masika usually last from about March to May.

The warm Tanzanian summer lasts from mid-December till March, roughly corresponding with the rainy period of the south, west, and central region of the country. During this time the humidity builds and is at its most humid in March.

Winter, from June to October, is dry and cold across the country. Tanzania's mountains are notable exceptions to its complex but otherwise regular climate. Temperatures on Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru drop below freezing.

How do we get there?

The main entry point into Tanzania is Kilimanjaro Airport to which there are direct flights from Amsterdam and several easily connecting flights from other points in Europe. Another common route to Kilimanjaro is to fly direct from Europe into Nairobi in Kenya, and from there into Kilimanjaro.

Click here for more information.

How do we get around Tanzania once we get to Kilimanjaro?

Once you have arrived, you can either travel around by road or by light aircraft transfers. All safari circuits (whether done by road or by light aircraft charter flights) generally start from Arusha which is about a 1 hour drive from Kilimanjaro Airport. If you fly direct into Kilimanjaro your safari will usually begin with an overnight in Arusha.

The air transfers around Tanzania (while slightly more costly) are highly recommended because they are a much faster and easy way to get around. Road conditions are poor and rain sometimes makes the roads very hard to travel on: a very short distance in Tanzania can take you much longer than it would in a country with better infrastructure.

What are the luggage restrictions in Tanzania?

Most scheduled flights have a luggage restriction of 20kg which is standard in Africa. Luggage on charter flights is restricted to 15kg per person and must be carried in soft bags only. Excess luggage can often be stored with our suppliers at their offices in Arusha.

Does Tanzania have the Big Five?

Yes, although it can be hard at times to see rhino, given their scarce status and shy nature. Click here for more information about Tanzania's wildlife.

Will our guide carry a rifle with them?

The rangers on safari walks in the private parks will carry a firearm. However, these are only used in the utmost of extreme circumstances, if in the unlikely event, safety comes into question. Guides and driver guides in the national parks do generally not carry rifles with them.

Can I bring my children on safari in Tanzania?

Yes. Many lodges in Tanzania do accept children and children of virtually any age are welcome on game drives because in East Africa all of the game drives in the national parks are done in closed vehicles with pop-up roofs (as opposed to open vehicles in Southern Africa). We do recommend if you are traveling with children that you travel by air as opposed to by road because distances by road are long, the conditions bumpy and the whole experience is quite trying when travelling with young ones.

Click here for more information about family safaris.

Is it safe to drink the water?

No. We recommend that you drink bottled water which is readily available at all of the lodges and hotels.

Will there be electricity for me to charge my camera? What kind of plug will I need?

Apart from a few of the bush camps and mobile safaris, all accommodation has some form of permanent electricity (solar power or generator), albeit sometimes erratic. The supply is generally 220-240v and plugs are three-pin square or round. If you have a video or digital camera, make sure your battery charger is of the same voltage.

What is the local currency and how should we manage carrying our money?

The unit of currency is the Tanzanian Shilling, but we recommend instead of exchanging your money that you rather carry small denominations of US Dollar cash with you. Ensure that any US currency you bring over is post-1996: pre-1996 US Dollars are often not accepted due to a large number of counterfeit notes in circulation worldwide.

Plan to carry enough money to cover your expected expenses, plus a small reserve - most people carry between $50 & $100 per person per day for all expenses.

Major credit cards are accepted at many of the larger lodges and hotels, but should only be used as a back up plan because power failures or credit card machine errors are not uncommon.

Is it rude to barter or haggle at the local markets?

No. Haggling is not rude and is often expected. Find out what there is to buy in Tanzania.

What is the standard tipping procedure?

Tipping in Tanzania and east Africa is entirely at your discretion. However, we suggest the following as a reference guide:

• Game rangers, specialist guides - US $5-10 per guest per day • Trackers - US $5 per guest per day • Game lodge, hotel staff - US $5 per guest per day placed in the communal tipping box to be distributed equally • Tour guides - US $5 half day, US $10 per person full day. • Transfers - US $2 per person • Restaurants - 10% good service, up to 15% for exceptional service

What is the standard of accommodation like in Tanzania?

The Kenyan accommodation that we sell ranges from 3 - 5 star accommodation. However, accommodation in East Africa has lower quality standards than lodges in Southern Africa and internationally. A 5 star in East Africa is often similar to a 4 star in Southern Africa. Click here for more information on accommodation in Tanzania.

What can one expect to pay for accommodation in Tanzania?

This varies drastically depending on where you are staying and the level of luxury and exclusivity you are looking for. For lodge accommodation, one can expect to pay anything from $250 (US Dollars) per person per night upwards. The upper limit for extremely up-market accommodation in Tanzania stretches up to $1200 per person per night. The cost of accommodation generally includes all meals. At certain lodges it will include various activities and certain drinks as well.

Is there a dress code?

There is no set dress code on safari in Tanzania. However, it is a conservative culture and at most lodges you will want to at least wear long trousers to dinner. Very revealing clothing is not recommended.

What kind of activities can one do in Tanzania?

This varies greatly depending on where you are traveling. In the national parks, one goes on game drives during the day in closed vehicles with pop-up roofs, but no night drives or walking are permitted for safety reasons. In the private conservancies, many lodges offer both day and night drives as well as safari walks. Game drives in the private reserves are also sometimes in open vehicles.

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