FAQs
1. How can I pay in Tanzania?
The official currency of Tanzania is the Tanzania Shilling (TZS). There are usually 50, 100, 200 and 500 as coins and 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 as banknotes. In the non-tourist sectors, payment is usually made in local currency.
Foreign currency can be exchanged in banks and bureaux de change in every major city. It is also possible to withdraw shillings from ATMs; euros or dollars cannot be withdrawn.
2. where can I safely store luggage that I do not need during the safari or mountain hike?
In our office we have a lockable storage room for the luggage of our guests. Despite all precautions, we cannot accept any liability for valuables.
3. What vaccinations do I need?
Hepatitis A and B, polio and tetanus vaccinations are recommended for travel to Tanzania. For travel to Zanzibar, a yellow fever vaccination is required. In addition to vaccinations, the use of malaraiaprophylaxis tablets is recommended. Experience has shown that the drug "Malarone" is best tolerated. More detailed information can be obtained from a tropical doctor.
4. what clothing is appropriate?
Due to the culture of the country, women should definitely cover their shoulders and wear pants or skirts that reach the knee. Also, the exchange of affection is not welcome. Please respect the local culture.
5. what is the best way to travel to Tanzania?
Tanzania has 29 airports. The four largest airports are: Kilimanjaro Intl. Airport, Dar es Salaam Intl. Airport, Dodoma Intl. Airport and Zanzibar Intl. Airport.
If you plan to start your trip in Arusha, it is recommended to fly directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport. The airport is served daily by KLM and Ethiopian Airlines. Other carriers include Turkish Airlines, Swiss and Qatar Airways. Lufthansa's subsidiary, Condor, offers a direct flight from Frankfurt every week, landing at Kilimanjaro Airport on Wednesday mornings.
There is also the option of flying to Kenya (Nairobi Intl. Airport) or to the Tanzanian coast at Dar es Salaam. From there, you will continue to Arusha either by domestic flight or by bus.
If you are planning a Northern Safari/Kilimanjaro climb followed by a beach vacation, we recommend you book an open jaw flight. Either land at Kilimanjaro Airport (45 minutes drive from Arusha) and fly from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar back home, or vice versa.
As a reliable and cheap flight portal we recommend www.flug.idealo.de.
6. How safe is Tanzania?
Tanzania is one of the safest countries in East Africa. Unlike Kenya, there is no need to worry about politically or religiously oriented acts. However, valuables such as watches or jewelry should be left at home or in the hotel or should not be shown openly. Tourists are advised, however, for their own safety, not to walk after 8 pm.
7. Can I use my German sim card?
German phone providers usually offer reception in Tanzania, but it is very expensive to call or write messages. If you want to be reachable in Tanzania, you should get a local sim-card (costs about 2,50€ incl. credit), with which mobile internet can be used and international calls can be made. However, the network coverage in the national parks is not always given. We are happy to help you to buy a sim card.
8. What language is spoken in Tanzania?
The national language in Tanzania is Swahili. However, due to the numerous indigenous tribes, there are a total of 130 different languages and dialects. A large part of the population also speaks English.
9. how is the electricity supply in Tanzania?
The voltage in Tanzania is usually 230 volts, although there may be voltage fluctuations from time to time. Usually type G sockets, as known from England, are used.
Since power outages can occur from time to time, you should charge your electrical devices whenever you have the opportunity.
10. which insurances should I take out for the trip?
We recommend in any case a travel cancellation insurance and an international health insurance. These can be booked with various providers. From experience we can recommend the products of TravelSecure and Europäischen Reiseversicherung. Depending on your needs, you can also add luggage insurance and travel accident insurance.
11. Do I need a visa to enter Tanzania?
Generally speaking, travelers to Tanzania require a visa. There are two ways to apply for a visa.
Firstly, a visa can be applied for through the Tanzanian embassy of a respective country. This application must be made at least four weeks before departure and costs about 70 euros. An application form, a recent passport photo, the passport and a copy of the return flight must be sent to the embassy.The second option is to apply for the visa upon entering Tanzania. Since many travelers choose this option, there can sometimes be long queues.
12. Can I drink the tap water?
It is not recommended to drink the tap water in Tanzania. Please always use water from sealed bottles, also for brushing your teeth. Before you start your safari you will have the opportunity to buy enough water.
13. What is the weather like in Tanzania?
All year round in Tanzania it is tropically warm and well bearable. In contrast to the highlands, there can be high humidity on the coast.
Tanzania has two rainy seasons, the big one between mid-March and May and the small one in November to December, rarely until January. Often the showers occur in the morning and after sunset. Thus, it is mostly sunny during the day and it should not discourage anyone to travel Tanzania during the rainy season.
The average temperature is 28°C. During the Tanzanian winter, in June and July, the average temperature drops to 22°C. In Arusha and especially at the Ngorongoro Crater, the temperature can cool down to 12°C during this time.
14. What do I need for a camping safari?
We will provide you with everything you need to survive and spend the night, from blankets to dinner to a tent. You only need to bring your personal clothes, towels, hygienic items, etc.. It is always important to bring as little as possible, as the storage space is limited, especially with a fully booked vehicle.
15. Is it possible to bring a drone?
There are probably certain laws regarding drone flying here in Tanzania, which are given by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (=TCAA) or in German Zivilluftfahrtbehörde. I'll list them briefly:
In Tanzania, only drones weighing 7 kilograms or less are allowed to be flown.
In order to fly a drone in Tanzania, permission must first be obtained from the TCAA. There is a specific form for this, which must be filled out and submitted (I've attached it for you).
To be able to fly a drone in Tanzania for any purpose (be it recreational or commercial), you need to have a certificate issued by the country of origin confirming your ability to fly a drone.
In order to obtain a permit from the TCAA to fly a drone in Tanzania as a foreigner, one must also obtain a permit from the Ministry of Defense.
16. What vehicles are used on safari?
We use normal and extended four-wheel drive Land Rover and Toyota vehicles. Our vehicles are maintained in our own workshop and all have a hinged roof hatch for all-round visibility. Every passenger is guaranteed a window seat. None of our vehicles are air conditioned.
17. Can I borrow binoculars from you?
Yes, you can borrow binoculars from our office for 2,50 Euro.
18. Is it possible to go on safari with children?
A safari with children is possible and does not involve any special risks. Our guides are experienced in dealing with children, so that everyone has a lot of fun on our safaris.
19. What clothes are suitable?
Light cotton or linen clothes to compensate for the temperatures, as well as headgear and sunglasses should not be forgotten. In the evening, long clothes should be worn to protect against mosquitoes. Depending on the season, it can also be cool in the evenings and rainy during the day, so warm clothing and/or a rain jacket may be necessary. It is recommended to wear sturdy shoes, for example comfortable walking shoes or sneakers. It is always important to take as little as possible, as storage space is limited, especially with a fully booked vehicle.
20. Can we get a travel insurance certificate from you?
You asked us for a travel guarantee certificate: Unfortunately, we cannot offer you one, as our company is registered here in Tanzania. Travel insurance certificates can only be issued by travel agencies that are located or registered in Germany. This is a kind of insurance, but the costs are passed on to you as a customer, so in the end you pay for this travel insurance certificate yourself. You simply have to trust us, as many guests before you have done, for whom we have organized Kilimanjaro climbs, wildlife tours, beach vacations, etc. We have very good references on the internet. We have very good references on the internet and are also a member of TATO (Tanzania Association of Touroperators). Their homepage is http://www.tatotz.org and if you like you can ask there about our company.
21. Is there electricity on safari?
This depends on the accommodation type of your safari: Electricity is available in all lodges, on some campsites and in some of our vehicles. It is an advantage to bring an external battery if you rely on your electronic devices. We try to provide electricity for every 2nd day.
22. How much should I tip the cook and guide on safari?
Normal is a tip of $20 a day for the guide and slightly less for the cook, but from the group, not each individual. So, for example, if there are 4 guests in the car, each pays $5 per day. The tip is usually paid in dollars, but if the guests run out of cash dollars, they can pay it in shillings according to the exchange rate. But of course you can decide for yourself how much you want to give.
Hotel employees who carry your luggage you can give 1-2 dollars. When you go to a restaurant you can tip 5-10 dollars.
23. Can I do laundry on the way?
You can ask the staff of the lodge or the cook on your camping safari to wash your clothes for a small fee.
24. What equipment do I need for a mountain climb?
The right equipment can determine the success of a mountain climb. Above all, the great differences in temperature make variable and multifaceted equipment indispensable. While it can sometimes be tropically warm at the foot of the mountain, arctic temperatures await you at the summit.
Normally, you will carry the bare essentials in a daypack. The main luggage is carried by a porter. Due to the high humidity, we recommend that you pack the contents of your luggage in plastic bags.
If you have trekking backpacks, that's ok, they will be carried up by porters, so you don't need to drag yourself with them. If you have only crushable travel bags, it is also possible, because they are carried by the porters on the head. However, it must not exceed 15 kilos, better would be only 10 kilos, so please pack weight-reduced and leave out everything that does not necessarily have to be in the backpack.
As for camping equipment, we have tents and thicker sleeping pads, so you don't need to bring those. However, if you prefer to sleep on a self-inflating mat, you would need to bring that. Equipment such as sleeping bags, warm jackets, trekking poles, etc. you need to borrow, but that would not be a problem, the guides know where you can borrow them and the rental fee is ok.
25. What is the procedure for transporting the main luggage?
The transport of your main luggage varies from porter to porter. Some are happy to get a backpack with a good belly strap to carry it up, others are used to carrying the main luggage on their head (because of the body's center of gravity) and find it more comfortable to have your stuff packed in a duffel or travel bag. So I think it doesn't really matter what you pack your main luggage in: even the porters who prefer to carry things on their heads can do the same with your backpack, i.e. tie the straps to the backpack a bit so they don't jumble around somewhere in front of the porter's eyes, so they can sort of balance the backpack on their head like a duffel bag or a travel bag. So it's up to you what you have and what you want to take with you, because it's also the most comfortable for you, so you don't have to buy anything extra. Our people will adapt to what you bring. But whether it's a backpack or a travel bag/duffel bag, please bring a protective cover against the rain, because sometimes there can be a short shower and your stuff might get wet.
26. What are the best clothes to wear on Kilimanjaro?
It is best to dress according to the onion system, so wrap up well warm in the morning and reduce the layers of clothing more and more in the course of the day.
27. What should I pack for the day?
During the climb you will carry a small daypack (about 20 l) in which you will put your drinking water (in a side pocket), your lunch box, sunscreen, sunglasses, rain poncho, toilet paper, flashlight or headlamp, energy bar, camera, cell phone.
28. Do we need to bring a thermos on Kili or Meru?
Thermos bottles can be brought by the guests, but they don't need them when doing a Kili or Meru climb, the mountain guide has them with him and always pours some for the guests.
Important: Neither on Meru nor on Kili the guests are allowed to take plastic bottles because of environmental pollution. And if they do so out of ignorance or carry them up in their daypacks, they have to pay a fine to the national park administration. The water must be transferred from plastic bottles into aluminum drinking bottles, thermos bottles, etc.
29. How are the temperatures on Kilimanjaro?
The temperatures on top of Kibo vary from day to day, sometimes they go down to minus 15 degrees at night (maximum but rather rarely to minus 20 degrees), sometimes only to minus 5 degrees. You can say that for every 1000 meters of altitude it gets about 5 to 6 degrees colder at night. During the day, when the sun is shining, the temperatures are around 20 degrees, but we are very close to the equator, so the sunlight on the mountain is very intense, so you must apply a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor.
30. How much should we tip when climbing Kilimanjaro?
Your escort team on Mt. Meru and Kilimanjaro expects a quasi obligatory tip from you after the trekking tour. The guides and porters work very hard to make the climb a successful and memorable experience for you. The amount of the tip is up to you and their satisfaction. You may refer to Kilimanjaro Porters guidelines for guidance:
Paraphrase above:
20 USD for the guide
18 USD for the assistant guide
15 USD for the cook
10 USD per porter
Of course, the daily rate applies to the entire group.So, for example, if there are four of you, you will each pay $5 per day per guide. The tip is usually paid in dollars, but if guests run out of cash dollars, they can pay it in shillings according to the exchange rate.
For the Machame route, expect 2 to 3 porters per climber because it is a tent route; for the Marangu route, fewer porters go per climber, only 1 to 2, because it is a hut route. For the toilet tent, one porter is enough.
31. What should I pay attention to in Zanzibar and on the Tanzanian coast?
Nude bathing is strictly prohibited and the exchange of affection is not welcome. Please respect the local culture.
32. what is appropriate attire for a beach vacation on the coast?
In most Western countries, there is a rather liberal and casual attitude towards clothing. Beach attire is subject to Islam's more conservative minimum dress code for men and women.
