Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is the best and most convenient way to get to Moshi /Arusha. It is approximately 45km (60 min) to Arusha city centre and 35km (45min) to Moshi Town.
The airport served by airlines like KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Kenya Airways. It is also possible flying to Nairobi or Dar es Salaam but this option will be required to catch a bus or local flight to Kilimanjaro, Moshi or Arusha.
The following vaccinations are normally recommended for Tanzania: Yellow Fever, a Certificate of Covid 19 and take prophylaxis pills for Malaria (Tanzania Ministry Of Health)
You should visit either your personal physician or a travel health clinic about 3 months before departure. Ask your doctor about vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis.
Please check with the relevant Embassy in your country for up to date visa and passport information. Make sure your passport is not going to expire within six months of your trip (i.e. if your trip is in September make sure your passport is valid until at least March of the following year) and that it has at least 3 clear pages.
You can obtain your visa online https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/, or at the point of entry (border / airport).
The time taken to clear immigration is roughly the same, regardless of whether you already have your visa. The cost of most tourist visas is U$D 50 per person and U$D 100 for American citizens, to be paid in cash.
Our Company ask for a 15% (non-refundable) deposit in order to secure the booking. The final balance is due 30 days before departure. Payment can be made in a variety of ways:
https://payments.pesapal.com/kilitwende
a surcharge of 3.5 % should be added to any amount transferred to the beneficiaries account unless DPO X-pay is utilized.
Yes, your payment is secure. We use our bank’s online payment portal. This uses the latest payment security standards including encryption of your data. They also use a security standard called SSL.
We would recommend bringing U$D (United States Dollars) with you and withdrawing Tanzanian Shillings once you arrive. There are many ATMs in towns. Most places that you will visit accept U$D but it is always a good idea to have some local currency. US Dollar ($) notes dated, issued and printed from the year 2006 and onwards. Cash notes dated, issued and printed before 2006 are not accepted anywhere in Tanzania. front of the note).
The weather varies greatly, depending on where you are. Whatever time of year you visit, please bring some warm clothes! It gets really cold in some places because of the high altitude, especially in June, July and August. It can also get very hot. We advise dressing in layers. Typically, the long rains are March, April and May. The short rains are in November / early December.
Luggage:
Choose a duffel bag or soft-sided bag. Ideally, the fabric should be hardy and waterproof and the bag should be lockable. These are ideal for packing into the vehicle, hard suitcases can be often difficult to fit into the vehicles.
Put anything that is of any value in a separate day pack such as a backpack. Anything of real sentimental or monetary value should ideally be left at home.
Clothes:
Pack for hot days and cool nights. Tanzania can be hot and dusty by day but it is often cool and crisp by night. Layers are ideal for safari days. Pack clothing that is able to keep you cool but protect you from the sun and biting insects. Choose mid-tone colours and avoid white or bright colours that may distract the animals and dark colours like black and blue as these can attract tsetse flies.
The best colours are the safari classics: olive, green and khaki. For evenings at lodges you can stay in your casual gear as even the luxury lodges do not expect smart wear out in the bush. Check the temperature before you travel to make sure you have clothing that is warm enough for the season. It is always a good idea to bring a waterproof coat, whatever the season.
Shoes:
As you want to be careful not to over pack, you need to think carefully about what shoes to take. As long as you are not going on a safari that requires a lot of walking, you will be fine with some light hiking boots and some sports sandals (sandals are also great for walking around the camp at night). You may also like to take flip flops for the showers
Yes. We recommend bringing a basic First Aid Kit. This is a suggested list of supplies: Sun Screen, Antihistamine cream & tablets, Nurofen or equivalent painkiller, Eye-drops, Anti-diarrhoea treatment, A couple of bandages, Medication for personal allergies/asthma etc., Insect repellent containing Deet, Rehydration sachets / vitamin tablets, Assorted plasters.
Many people worry about wild animals on safari. Your Guide will make sure that you always keep a safe distance. If the animal feels safe, it is extremely unlikely that it will attack you. If an animal feels threatened, however, the situation can become dangerous. You should never shout or disturb the animals with loud noises. Do not try to approach or touch them, and do not throw any objects at them. This may sound like the most obvious advice, but many accidents happen because people behave in the wrong way.
Many people also worry that an animal may come and attack them at night, especially if they are sleeping in a tent. This fear is understandable, but it is also unfounded. Again, an animal is most likely to attack when provoked. You are over a hundred times more likely to be injured or killed in a car accident on your way to work. Even though you may hear a lion or a hyena somewhere in the distance, they most certainly will not try to chew their way into your tent, unless you are keeping a big piece of ham next to your bed. Keeping open and loose food stuff in the tent is not recommended and most likely it will attract monkeys.
Officially, you can bring children of any age on safari. That said, we would not normally recommend safaris for children under the age of 5. There will be some long hours in the vehicle and constant animal sightings are not guaranteed. It can be hot and dusty and the roads may be bumpy, which is tiring even for adults.
Sometimes, the best idea is to remain in one and the same spot for an hour or more, waiting quietly in the car until the cheetah goes hunting, or until the wildebeest cross the river.
Accommodation on Mid-range & Luxury safaris is lodges and/or tented camps. Accommodation on Budget camping safaris is tents on the ground in public campsites.
Are full service facilities with private rooms or cottages with private bathroom and have restaurants and lounges. Some have swimming pools. Many lodges are architecturally stunning made with local materials and inspired by local designs and the environment. Some lodges can accommodate up to 200 guests.
Are permanent or semi-permanent camps sited in areas of excellent game viewing. These provide many of the comforts of a lodge within private spacious canvas tents on a solid permanent base with beds and private baths, and high-quality meals. Tented camps are more intimate than lodges as they generally accommodate 12 to 20 guests.
On a basic camping safari guests sleep in private tents in designated campsites in or near national parks. Our safari crew sets up the camp and prepares all the meals. Washroom facilities are basic and are shared with other guests.
At the camps and tented lodges, chefs prepare fresh soups, breads, entrees and desserts daily, in most lodges, meals are served buffet-style. The food is often prepared with Western palates in mind (some local dishes are included). On a camping safari, you will have your own private Chef who will prepare all your meals. Your Chef will be able to cater for different tastes e.g. Western, Local, or a mixture.
Depends with the itinerary and park, for Serengeti it is better because Serengeti is big and far from Moshi/Arusha. It is also far from the other accommodations in Karatu and Mto wa Mbu Township.
Accommodation inside on the rim of the crater (Ngorongoro Conservation Area) is limited and is significantly more expensive than staying outside. Many of the hotels and lodges are on the Crater rim and have spectacular views.
Please note that you will be also able to experience this view from one of the view-points, so you will not miss out on this if you stay outside.
Most lodges and tented camps have Wi-Fi. Most public camp-sites do not have Wi-Fi. In all places, the signal strength is variable and is often weak. It is possible to buy a SIM card with data that can be used. If you want to use it in your phone, you will need to make sure it is unlocked. There are Vodacom and Airtel shops in Moshi/Arusha that will be able to help / advise with this.
All our safari vehicles have power / charging points. Please bring travel adaptors to ensure they are suitable for your appliances / devices. The vehicles and most accommodation in Tanzania use UK sockets.
Our Safari vehicles are Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4s (with pop-up roofs for the animals viewing). The vehicles are serviced and maintained to a very high standard before, during and after every safari. The age of the vehicles in our fleet varies but most were built between 2008 and 2013.
Depends with the situations, if your vehicle does break down and it cannot be fixed on the road, we will request a rescue jeep which will come for you so that you can continue your safari with minimum impact. Whilst every effort is made to prevent this from happening, the driving is rough and the vehicles do take quite a pounding!
Yes, in Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Arusha National park, these are the place you will be able to do a walking safari. Another walking safari will be at Mto wa Mbu Township outside Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks.
It is possible to visit one of several Maasai villages during your safari. However, these villages are close to the main roads and whilst you will meet many Maasai, have a tour around their village and have an opportunity to learn about their culture, some clients have fed back that the experience felt a little uncomfortable. It costs $50 per vehicle and during the visit; you will be encouraged to buy some of their jewellery / craft (this is by no means compulsory).
It is inevitable that over time, the experience has become less authentic and we are in the process of sourcing alternative options for our clients. You are very welcome to visit, but we wanted to be open and transparent about the kind of experience you can currently expect.
There are binoculars in all our Safari vehicles, but the regular exposure to dust means that the condition of the equipment is not as good as when new, we advise if possible bring your own.
There is a well- established culture of tipping in Tanzania,
Guides: If you feel you have received good service, a typical tip is from U$D 15-20 per person, per day. The guides work extremely long hours and tips supplement their income significantly. Anything you can afford is appreciated.
Tipping in accommodation is also discretionary. Most accommodation will have a tip box in Reception. We would recommend putting something in at the end of your stay, rather than giving individuals money. Depending on the level of service, we recommend $10 per day (for a group of 2).