Tanzania Tanzania has a large number of different tribes each with separate languages, traditions and culture but what brings them together in on accord is the harmonious national culture, based on a subtle but strong social code of courtesy and respect. Tanzania’s climate is predominantly tropical. For the whole country, the hottest months are from December to February. The long rains are from mid March to late May, and the short rains from November till the beginning of December, however with climate change the rains can also be a little unpredictable. The coolest months are June to August when the nights and early morning can be cold. In high altitude areas such as Kilimanjaro, Karatu Highlands and the Ngorongoro Crater, temperatures can fall close to freezing.
On Safari
Clothing List:
Sun hat with rim all round or peak
Sunglasses
Cotton scarf to protect your neck from sun burn
Light cotton shirts: short and long sleeve. Avoid dark colors like blue & black as tsetse flies are attracted to these, neutral bush colours are only required if doing walking safaris.
Medium weight fleece for evenings and early mornings
Light weight rain jacket
Light weight trousers, the ones with zip of legs making them into shorts are convenient
Casual smart clothing for the evening when staying in lodges and/or tented camps
Footwear: sensible walking shoes or trainers, sport sandals. Hiking boots are not required unless trekking on Mt Meru or Mt Kilimanjaro or doing a multiday walking safari
Torch or head torch with spare batteries
Face masks for covid protection
Medical:
Headache tablets
Diarrhea tablets
Re-hydration salts
Stretch bandage
Band aids / plasters
30+ sun cream and lip protection
Moisturizing cream (sun and wind can catch you unaware when game viewing)
Malaria tablets / prophylaxis (Consult your doctor)
Yellow fever vaccination (Consult your doctor)
Anti-histamine tablets and cream for bites and stings
Wet wipes
Alcoholic type sterilizing gel / hand cleanser
Prescribed or personal medication
(Important: please advise us of any medical history/condition that we should know about either on safari or if climbing Kilimanjaro or Mt Meru. It is important that our driver guides and Mountain guides are informed accordingly if using prescribed or personal medication)
Personal Equipment:
Light weight day sack or sports bag
Toiletries, depending on the standard of accommodation some lodges will supply mini soaps, shampoos and conditioners
Camera / memory cards / spare batteries or charging devices. All our 4x4 vehicles have British standard (three pin) sockets fittings for charging camera/video batteries or phones. This will only be possible whilst the vehicle is moving so it is advisable to come with a spare battery whilst one is in use the other is on charge. All lodges/tented camps will have charging facilities, most lodges will have sockets in your rooms, in tented camps the charging is done in the dinning or reception area. Remote properties will be run on generator or solar, so electric will only be available when those are running.
Multi plugs for charging
Wallet/purse for carrying day spending money only
Binoculars (one pair per person is recommended)
On The Beach
Sun cream
Sun hat
Sunglasses
Reef shoes
Snorkeling equipment (optional, it can be hired at most places)
Swim wear
Insect repellent
Light scarf/wrap for modesty (for ladies)
Please note that most beach areas in Tanzania are Muslim areas, although wearing swim suites in the hotels or beaches directly outside the hotel is normal, when visiting villages or towns please cover up. Shoulders and legs above the knee should be covered for men and women.
Plastic Bag Ban:
All plastic bags of any thickness or size are banned in Tanzania, you can not bring any or use any while in the country, including carrier bags, bin liners and rubbish bags. There is one exception – you are permitted to carry your hand luggage toiletries in one small ziplock bag as per airline regulations providing you also exit the country with it.
Luggage:
Please make sure to lock all of your bags when traveling and to obtain travel insurance prior to your departure.
It is recommended that you travel with a set of clothes and essential items in your carry-on bags in case of luggage being lost.
Security measures at the airport check in are the same as international airports. Do no carry lighters, pen knives, nail scissors in carry-on luggage as it will be removed and destroyed.
Bush 2 Beach has secure storage rooms/safes where luggage/valuables can be left for a certain part of a safari if returning to Arusha.
Soft sport type bag(s) are handy when on safari as suitcases are large and do not pack well in the vehicles. On most small aircraft there is a strict luggage allowance of 15kgs and if your luggage is over these weight allowances, smaller airlines will enforce a payment for excess baggage. Big suitcases do not always fit in the luggage compartment under the smaller planes.
Money:
At present there is only a limited number of Bureau de Change in Arusha district (banks only during banking hours), please bring USD, EURO or GBP notes and if you require TSH you can withdraw from the ATM machines.
Lodges accept all major currencies (USD, GBP and Euro). If using USD, please make sure to bring new notes (2016 or newer) as East African countries do not accept old notes.
ATM machines offers local currency only – limits per day ranging from Tsh 200,000 to Tsh 800,000 per 24 hour period. There are no facilities to withdrawn cash in US Dollars from ATM machines.
Only a few shops and lodges/tented camps are able to accept Credit Cards (Visa or Mastercard). Use of Credit Cards incur a bank handling fee of 4-5%.
Tipping:
Tipping is a sensitive issue for most European countries but common in East Africa in the tourist industry, the below mentioned are guidelines for your attention:
Driver guides:
$10 per guest sharing the safari vehicle (ie 4 persons x4 days @ $10 per day = $160)
Hotels and Lodges:
rather than tipping individual people like waiters or porters we encourage you to use the communal tip box normally located in reception or at the bar. Tips in these boxes are divided between all hotel/lodge staff, ones you see and ones that you do not see like cleaners, gardeners, kitchen helps. We recommend around $5-$7 per person per night
Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru climbs are slightly different as the crew size will vary as to how many people are in your group, also it depends how many days you are climbing. The below are guidelines based on a 7 day climb of Kilimanjaro, obviously you can tip higher which becomes easier the more people sharing the climb
Head guide $80-$100
Assistant guide $60-$80
Mountain Chef $50-$70
Porters $25-$40
Documents
Visa (apply on line via https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/)
Passport, should be valid for at least 6 months
Emergency phone numbers
Insurance policy
Your itinerary
Addresses/Mobile numbers for postcards/emails/texts
Any vaccination certificates (Yellow Fever or Covid)
Health form to be filled out 24 hours before arrival https://afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz/#/home
Covid
On arrival to the international airport you must present your Public Health Surveillance form. https://afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz/#/home
You will also be asked to present your PCR negative test certificate dated no older than 96 hours before boarding your flight to Tanzania
You will then head to the NMB bank within the arrivals area to pay the $10 for your rapid test (unless you have already paid for this on line via https://afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz/#/home )
After payment you join the queue for the Covid rapid tent. Once tested you will then wait for your name to be called and then you will be given your results
On receiving a negative result you will then proceed to immigration and customs before exiting the airport and meeting your transfer driver
In case tested positive on arrival (by the airport Rapid Test) you will be given a choice of quarantine hotels and these are at your own expense. You will remain in quarantine until your test results come back negative
A PCR test may need to be done before departure depending on your airline and return country regulations. The cost of the PRC test in Tanzania is $50 plus hospital/clinic fee depending on where the test is done and results are normally available within 24-48hrs. If departing internationally from JRO airport we will assist with the registration, booking and payment of tests and we will collect the test payment from you on arrival to Tanzania. If departing from Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam you need to personally register online and make payment by credit card.
Zanzibar covid test link: https://zanzibarcovidtesting.co.tz/app/home
AMREF Emergency Evacuation Cover
Is a mandatory Emergency Evacuation Cover that we build into all wildlife/climbs/beach safaris. We sincerely hope that you take out a comprehensive cover depending on what activities (Climbing/Diving) you want to include in your safari itinerary prior to traveling. How AMREF works is in conjunction to you own travel insurance is that in case of any unforeseen incident the emergency services will act upon a simple phone call from us or anyone on the scene, this bridges the gap and essential time that can be lost whilst your own insurance is notified and for them to take action. Here in Tanzania there are NO public emergency services that will jump into action without seeing a visa card or payment waved in front of their eyes. Both air and land rescue units are available and in case of medical rescue being required you will be taken to the nearest medical facility depending on the severity of incident either in Tanzania, Kenya or South Africa.