Flights to Tanzania

If your safari is in the North of Tanzania (Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro,) the most convenient airport to fly to is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Currently the best option to get there is with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines through Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Depending on the US airport of departure the flight duration is roughly 9 hours US to Schiphol and a further 9 hours Schiphol to Kilimanjaro. With layovers etc the journey will take roughly 24 hours. 

KLM flights arrive into Kilimanjaro in the evening an after clearing customs and immigration one of our drivers will be there to welcome you and transport you to your hotel in Arusha - roughly a one hour drive.

 

There are other airlines that also fly to Kilimanjaro - Turkish, Ethiopean, Quatar which are always worth checking but tend to have longer overall travel times.

American Airlines/British Airways operate flights to Nairobi, Kenya and it is possible to get a one-hour shuttle flight from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro on Precision Air/Kenya Airways.

 

 

Passports/Visas

A passport valid for 6 months from date of travel is required.

A visitor/tourist visa is required to enter Tanzania. This can be obtained upon entry at Kilimanjaro airport. Cost $100 per person payable in cash. If you would prefer to prepare this in advance visa forms and information are available from your nearest Tanzanian Embassy. You can also print out the visa form here and have it completed ready for arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport.

Tourist Tanzania Visa Form

 

Immunizations

Required:      Yellow Fever if coming from an endemic country.

Recommended:       Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid (oral)

 

Malaria

Consult your doctor regarding prophylaxis for Malaria.

Malarone and Doxicycline are generally recognized as the best on the market

Mefloquine (Larium) should be avoided due to adverse side effects.

 

 

Travel Insurance

Clients should arrange travel insurance to cover costs in case of emergency cancellations, delays, lost luggage etc.

Medical Travel Insurance must also be purchased by the client. All people travelling are automatically covered for emergency medical evacuation to the nearest hospital by AmRef (Flying Doctors) but additional medical cost and repatriation medical insurance must be purchased by client.

Time
Tanzania is GMT + 3hours which equates to 8 hours ahead of US Central Time There is no daylight saving time, and since it is quite close to the equator, there is not a great variance in hours of daylight during the year.

Currency & Cards
The local currency is the Tanzania Shilling but the US$ is universally accepted throughout safari areas. Please make sure all bills are newer than 2009. Credit cards are accepted at larger hotels and lodges.

Electricity
Tanzania works on 240volt mains power with a 3 square-prong plug. Most safari vehicles and camps have charging facilities with multi-use outlets and no need for converters. In many remote camps and lodges, there may not be mains power in each tent or room, but there are normally facilities to charge cameras and laptops. Many remote camps will not be able to cater for hairdryers as they rely on solar power or small generators to charge battery banks and these systems can’t handle the load.
 

Communication
There are a number of cell phone networks in Tanzania, the most common being Vodacom and Airtel. Distribution is patchy across the country so you may not always be able to connect. In most camps, WiFi or internet access is available in the communal areas but is not guaranteed.

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Culture & Language

The name "Tanzania" is derived from the names of the two states, Tanganyika and Zanzibar,that united in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which laterthe same year was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania. The population of Tanzaniacomprises 120 ethnic groups, and 80% of the population is rural.The official language is Kiswahili although many people may only speak their tribal language. English is not as widely spoken or understood as in neighboring Kenya although inthe areas frequented by tourists, it is becoming more common.Tanzania is a mixture of religious affiliations and traditional belief, however the coastalareas and Zanzibar are predominantly Muslim.

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Safari etiquette
The conservation of Africa’s wild places relies heavily on tourism, but it’s vital that we do our bit to ensure that we conduct ourselves responsibly, take only pictures and leave only footprints. Our guides are well trained and respectful of the environment and we ask youto respect the boundaries that they lay down in terms of appropriate behavior while on safari. To ensure everyone’s enjoyment of these areas both on your safari, and for future guests, we’d ask that you follow these basic guidelines:
 

Protect the environment
Please do not litter, even cigarette butts
Please do not collect bones, stones or plants - they are all mini eco-systems
Please do not buy bones, stones, feather displays or plants
 

On game drives, walks, boating and fly-camping activities
Please listen to your guide who is trained to work in the bush and understand the risks and best course of action in case of a problem
Please do not interfere with animal behaviour
No more than 4 vehicles around any animal at one time (please accept the decision of your guide to leave an animal if he feels it is becoming overcrowded)
Please do not get too close to the animals, this may distress them
Please do not get out of the vehicle without consulting your guide
Please try to be as quiet as possible when viewing wildlife close up - your guide will turn off the vehicle’s engine whenever possible
On boat trips, life jackets are provided for your safety but the onus is on you to wear them without being prompted. In some places it is unsafe to swim in lakes or rivers. Please ensure you check with the managers or in-camp information before you do so.
 

Cultural encounters
Please do not take photographs of the local people without asking permission first
Please do not encourage trade or give personal items away to local people (begging
is not a long-term solution and we feel it should not be encouraged)
If you have brought gifts to give to the local people, please give them to your camp manager for proper distribution

Phones & music
One of the little luxuries that a safari offers is the chance to escape the “outsideworld” and disconnect yourself for a few short days. However, phone signal is increasingly available even in the most remote areas. We feel that phones can be a menace on safari and that wherever possible, they should be turned off or at least silenced. We think you and the people around you will enjoy your experience more
if you allow yourself the luxury of being in the moment.
The sounds of the ‘bush’ are special, unique and memorable, we advise against music, but if you can’t do without, please use headphones and be considerate of your fellow travelers.


Lost luggage
From time to time, your luggage may not arrive with you. Inconvenient as this is, there are a couple of things that you can do. Make sure you take one or two changes of clothes and some basic toiletries in your hand luggage (including any medication you can’t do without) so that you can survive until your bags catch up. If you are heading to a remote area at the start of your safari, it may take 3-4 days for your luggage to reach you, although we’ll do all we can to get it to you as soon as possible. Report it immediately at the airport and then let us know so that we can help to follow up and reunite you with your things.
 

Tipping guidelines
You should only tip if you genuinely feel that the service you have received warrants it. Tips for camp staff are normally handed to the manager who distributes them equally at the end of the month. We’re often asked for a guideline and while this depends very much on how you feel, we’d suggest around US$10 per guest per night at each camp. It is quite normal to tip your guide or ranger separately using the same guidelines (around US$10 per person per night). Equally it’s not unusual for families to pitch it slightly below this figure given they’re travelling as a group and these amounts can quickly add up. This is entirely discretionary, different cultures approach this issue in varying ways so please don’t feel pressured to contribute more than you’re comfortable with.
 

Photography
Please be careful when photographing public buildings, airports, bridges, the national flag and people in uniform. If you do not get permission then do not take a picture. If in doubt,don’t photograph it!
Please make sure permission has been sought before photographing local people, and their villages. They may charge for pictures to be taken. Please check with your guide.