General Travel Information
How to get to Tanzania
If you arrive at Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam Airport, we will meet you there to transfer you to your hotel in Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Dar es Salaam or to proceed directly onto your safari. We can also advise you about how to arrange flights between Zanzibar, Nairobi and Mombasa.
Passport
Your passport must be valid for at least six months on the day you depart from your home country.
Visa
Although it is possible to buy a tourist visa upon arrival at the airports of Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, we recommend that you apply for a visa in your home country prior to your trip. It is important to know that you have to pay for the visa in USD dollars and that they only take cash payments.
Medical documentation
If you use prescription medication or if you suffer from a medical condition that requires special consideration, we advise you to consult your physician and inform the aircraft company before flying. You may require a medication passport to show authorities abroad and flight attendants that you need certain medication. In the event that you lose your medication or require additional supplies abroad, the medication passport will allow you to refill your prescription. In addition, you will usually need a doctor’s certificate in the form of a Schengen medical certificate or a medical certificate written or translated into English. The same may apply to travelling with medical equipment. Enquiring about these things may take weeks, so it is best to start well in advance.
Insurance
Travel insurance is the traveller’s own responsibility. We recommend that you take out travel insurance in your home country that will cover, for instance, loss, damage or theft of luggage, money and other valuables, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, etcetera. Consider also any additional cover you may need, such as for extreme, specialist or high-risk sports.
Vaccinations
For vaccination services, you can go to the Regional Health Service or the tropical medicine clinic of a hospital. The following vaccinations are recommended for travellers going to Tanzania: yellow fever, Hepatitis A and a combined tetanus, diphtheria and inactivated polio vaccine (Td/IPV). Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination is required if you are travelling to Tanzania from countries that have Yellow Fever Endemic or travellers who transit in Yellow Fever Endemic Areas, only if the transit period at the airport is 12 hours or more. Other diseases that occur in Tanzania are: abdominal typhus, Hepatitis B, tuberculosis, rabies and meningococcal disease. It is best to consult a qualified travel medical specialist on whether immunization is relevant in your case.
Malaria
There is no vaccine available against malaria. We recommend the use of anti-malarial medication, but again, it is best to take this up with a travel medical specialist. Malaria is an infectious disease that is caused by a parasite. You get it from the bite of a mosquito that carries the parasite. These parasites multiply first in the liver cells and then in the red cells of the blood. The symptoms include shaking chills, followed by fever, usually preceded by flu-like illness. To protect yourself against mosquito bites, you can spray yourself with insect repellent containing DEET and make sure to cover your body properly if you are outside after sunset.
Climate
Situated in the Eastern part of the African continent, bordering on the Indian Ocean, Tanzania enjoys mostly warm weather all year round. The climate varies considerably in this large country, but a tropical wet and dry climate, or tropical savanna climate, predominates. The Eastern portion of Tanzania has more periods of rainfall and droughts, while Central Tanzania is predominantly very dry. The main rainy season, or ‘long rains’ in Tanzania lasts from April until June. This is the time when everything turns vibrant green – a great time to see wildlife! Then, between June and August, it is drier and cooler in Tanzania. The beginning of October marks the start of the period of ‘short rains’ during the daytime, with warm summer temperatures. January, February and March are the driest summer months of the year. As your tour will take you to various altitudes, ranging from mountainous regions to lower coastal areas, temperatures will differ. In view of the different seasons and the fact that it can get a little chilly at night, it is advisable to pack clothes that you can layer easily.
Safety
Tanzania is one of the safest countries in Africa and East Africa. We do, however, recommend that you engage the services of a guide if you want to explore the country, the city or the market, whether during the day or in the evening. They know their way around, they know the country, they speak the language and they can help you when you want to buy souvenirs or other items of your interest. Walking the streets alone at night is not recommended. On any tour, it is always wise to listen to your inner voice, your intuition. Theft does happen in Tanzania. It is therefore advisable to protect your valuables at all times by using common sense precautions.
Respect
In view of their religious beliefs and culture, Tanzanian people always dress modestly. In the privacy of your accommodation or at the beach, you need not concern yourself with any dress code, but if you mix with the local population, it is appropriate to wear clothes that cover the body, especially shoulders and legs. This is a simple courtesy that shows respect for the local population.