Tanzania Safari FAQs
You will require a passport valid for at least six months after your date of entry. If you are arriving from a country in which Yellow Fever is endemic (such as Kenya), you will require an immunization certificate or health card.Citizens of the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, and most countries in the EU, need a tourist visa to enter Tanzania. Application details and forms can be found on Tanzanian Embassy web sites.
Tanzania is a safe country to travel in. Tanzanians are warm-hearted and generous people and are eager to help and assist visitors. As in all countries, a little common sense goes a long way and reasonable precautions should still be taken, such as locking valuables in the hotel safe, do not carry a lot of camera equipment especially in the major cities, do not wear too much jewellery, do not carry large amounts of cash on your person etc. Guides will monitor your safety in cities and in the game areas. From time to time generalized travel statements are issued concerning travel conditions in the area. For current Department of State announcements and Consular information see https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html.
It is best to drink bottled water when traveling through Tanzania – numerous brands are widely available and served in all restaurants and lodges. Steer clear of ice, raw vegetables, and salads when eating at street restaurants. High-end lodges and restaurants will clean their produce in antiseptic solution, but to be on the safe side, fruit and vegetables should always be washed and peeled. Try to avoid eating in empty restaurants – the food may have been sitting out for some time – and order your meat well done. On the coast, seafood and fish are usually fresh, but make sure everything is well-cooked.
The food served in the safari camps/lodges varies, but is tasty and delicious. Gourmet cooks bake fresh breads, and produce soups, salads, and entrees that could easily grace tables at the top restaurants around the world. Meals are international in flavour with soups, salads, cold meats, pasta dishes, meat and fish dishes, and breads. Your day normally starts with tea and biscuits before your morning activity. Returning to your lodge or camp late morning, brunch is enjoyed – cereals, fruit, bacon, eggs, sausage, and toast. Buffet lunches are typical with a warm dish such as stew served with salads, quiches and cold meats. Dinner consists of an appetizer followed by meat, fish and pasta dishes served with assorted vegetables and sauces. Dinner is followed by coffee/ tea, cheeses, and stunning desserts. In Tanzania’s towns and villages, the food is usually simpler. Plain grilled meat, nyama choma, is very popular, and often served with sauce, rice, chips, or ugali (cornmeal). Indian cuisine is also wide spread. The locally brewed beer is good, including Serengeti, Safari, Kilimanjaro, mbege (homebrew from the Chagga people) and banana beer; imported beers (e.g. Tusker from Kenya) and wine are also excellent.
The official unit of currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS), divided into 100 cents. Notes are issued as TSh10,000; 5000; 1000; 500; 200 and 100. Coins are issued as TSh100; 50; 20; 10, 5 and 1. The tourism industry prices everything in US Dollars and they are the preferred unit of currency. Major currencies can be exchanged in the larger towns. Foreign exchange bureaux in the main towns usually offer a better rate on traveller’s cheques than do the banks. ATMs are available in major cities only. Major lodges, some hotels and travel agents in urban areas accept credit cards, but these should not be relied on and can incur a 10% surcharge.
We can genuinely say that you can have an incredible Tanzania Safari Tours at any time of year – truly! We have numerous upbeat customers going with us amid the “long rains” of April and May, and the “short rains” of November. Try not to be put off voyaging at that point. It surely does not rain each day, frequently the precipitation is around evening time, and you can at present observe some stunning natural life. Additionally, housing are less expensive, lodges are less full, and there are less different autos in the national parks. It can get somewhat troublesome in the event that you need to make a trip to extremely remote regions amid blustery season, anyway the streets between Arusha, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti are great and all around kept up, and still particularly tolerable notwithstanding amid the downpours. Whatever is left of the year is commonly dry, however June can likewise be somewhat wet.
The Great Migration, in Tanzania and Kenya, would one say one is of nature’s most noteworthy occasions, however how would you know where and when to go to really observe it? The immense Serengeti fields and the slopes of Kenya’s Masai Mara are the setting for the world’s most prominent untamed life exhibition, the 1.5 million creature ungulate (wildebeest) relocation. Over 1.4 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra and gazelle, constantly followed by Africa’s extraordinary predators, move in a clockwise style more than 1,800 miles every year looking for greener grass. Once the ‘short downpours’ fall in November and December (some of the time as ahead of schedule as October) the relocation moves from Kenya’s Maasai Mara down through the eastern side of Tanzania’s Serengeti into its sweet and prolific southern-grass fields. Here, the wildebeest and different ungulates settle among January and April. In April and May the ‘long’ downpours set in and the relocation begins moving from the exhausted southern fields north to the long grass fields in the western passage. Extensive stream intersections on the Grumeti and Mara Rivers happen as the relocation heads once again into Kenya’s Maasai Mara – the season dries out and crisp touching and water can be found in the far north. The Masaai Mara is more often than not taking care of business in August, September and October.
This is your safari trip, your experience! You choose how you need to invest your energy in this excursion. In the event that you might want to spend an entire day on safari, you are certainly invited to do as such. Safari Infinity does not confine your mileage, fuel or how much time you need to be on safari. While some days you may choose set out by dawn, different days you can have a slower paced breakfast before begin your everyday investigation. Just take a seat with your manual for plan your day and dinners the prior night. Your guide will have a lot of proposals, obviously the choice is yours.
A Safari (“trip” in Swahili – the lingua franca of Eastern and Central Africa) is generally a tour of the wilds of the National Parks, usually using customized 4x4 vehicles. Our safaris start in either Moshi or Arusha in the North of Tanzania with a 2-3 hour drive to one of the National Parks. This is followed by a game drive in the Park, where you can see the multitudes of wild animals of this part of Africa in their natural habitat. The most popular and well-known of the Parks are Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Arusha and Lake Manyara. There also are a number of less-known, but no less fascinating Parks, such as: Rubondo, Mkomazi, Saadani, etc. Tanzania safaris in the latter parks are organized individually. Game drives generally end around 5 in the evening. The group then drives to the lodge booked for that night.
Lodges are small hotels usually situated in or near a National Park. Lodges offer greater privacy and a sense of exclusivity by having detached bungalows or tents set amidst the African nature. The exterior of many of the lodges mirror the traditional local architecture while providing great comfort.
We recommend comfortable light clothing for the day and something warmer for the evenings, which can be chilly in the northern highlands. Comfortable walking shoes are a must for those planning on walking in the parks (must be booked in advance). You will further need a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
You can find a more detailed list of items to take in our article "What to take on Tanzania safari?"
There are no age restrictions for Park visitors. That said, one should be prepared to spend a considerable amount of time in a vehicle. Game drives usually take most of the day, beginning in the morning and ending just before the Park gates close at 6 PM, which could tax younger travellers. Therefore, we do not recommend taking children younger than 2 on safari. On the other hand, game drives can be tailored to suit any client’s personal preferences in terms of duration. There also are picnic spots, which give one an opportunity to stretch and enjoy the tranquility of the African bush.
The joint Safari Bookings and National Geographic ratings for 2015-2016 placed Tanzania first in the list of countries for African Safaris. There are two factors that make Tanzania exceptional: hunting is strictly prohibited in all the National Parks, which makes for one of the highest densities of wildlife on the continent; and higher Park fees keep the number of visitors relatively low, making for a more exclusive experience. Moreover, unlike other countries, where one often finds small family cars on the road, all safaris in Tanzania are conducted using off-road vehicles, which enhances the sense of being in the wild.
The duration of any safari depends solely upon the client’s wishes. One can have a day’s game drive in one of the closer Parks, or opt for an extensive tour of several Parks, which could take 2 weeks or more. A day’s game drive usually lasts between 4 and 8 hours, with the rest of the day being spent at the lodge, all of which provide comfortable accommodation with Wi-Fi (although one should not expect to always have a fast connection), good food, and – in most cases – a swimming pool.
We recommend leaving the lodge as early as possible (6:30-7AM). There are a number of reasons for this: mornings tend to be cooler, which is more comfortable for you and brings you to the bush when the animals are most active; you have a chance of getting to the Park ahead of other tourists; all the park fees in Tanzania are paid by the day, regardless of the time spent within the Park, with 6PM being closing time, so getting there early gives you more time to enjoy the wilds of Africa before you have to return to your lodge. That said, the above is but a recommendation. Our guides’ foremost concern is client satisfaction, and they will adjust all the schedules according to your wishes.
Kilibound Adventures safari vehicles consists of customized Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 vehicles. All the vehicles have ergonomic seats, fridges for cold drinks and snacks, electrical outlets for device charging, binoculars and first-aid kits. Pop-up roofs, which allow you to stand up and observe and take photos in greater comfort, are also part of the package.
The Parks of the North of Tanzania lie relatively close to each other, making for 2 to 4-hour drives in-between.
Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) regulations strictly prohibit leaving the vehicle within the Parks, both for the safety of the visitor and that of the fragile local ecosystem. However, this does not mean that you should expect to be cooped up in the car for a whole day. All the Parks are equipped with rest/picnic spots, where you can take a stroll and enjoy lunch in the shade.
This depends solely on the type of the tour that you choose to book. Joined safaris are cheaper, as some of the costs are spread out between the members of the group. This also means that you will be spending time with people you have not met before the safari. If you opt for an exclusive tour, the only person other than those you bring with you – be it family or friends – who will be in the vehicle with you is your English-speaking safari driver/guide.
Your driver during any safari with Kilibound Adventures is responsible for your safety and comfort for the duration of the tour. All our drivers are also professional wilderness guides, who will gladly share their knowledge of the Tanzanian bush and its flora and fauna .
According to National Park regulations, all photo and video recording is allowed without the use of specialized equipment such as drone. This means that you may use any photo and video cameras. Permits must be obtained for any recording that may later be used commercially. This does not apply to images and videos that may later be used in social media. Drones can only be used with permits, which must be obtained in advance. The procedure for this is rather involved and the permits only issued for projects of high social value. Make sure to inform your Tour Manager of the need for such a permit well in advance in order to give us sufficient time for formalities.
Bringing children on safari is not only safe, but also highly educational and lots of fun for them. Seeing wild animals in their natural habitat, as opposed to a Zoo, is an experience that they shall carry with them through the rest of their lives. Just keep in mind that spending hours in a safari vehicle may be hard on children younger than 2.
One of the most memorable adventures to undertake while on safari is a balloon flight over the Serengeti plains. The flight is about an hour, during which you get a birds-eye view of the famed Serengeti. The Parks that enclose lakes will usually offer canoeing. Those interested in panoramic views of the African bush have the option of chartering single-engine planes for flights over the Parks. Do contact our Tour Managers for further information on these and other activities.
Airstrips are available at or near all of Tanzania’s National Parks. Flying between the Parks – especially when going to one or more of the southern Parks – saves a lot of time, Contact our Tour Managers for further details
All hotels and lodges have Wi-Fi and Internet access. However, one should get used to the idea that the speed may be slower.
Tipping is highly recommended in Tanzania. We recommend not less than $10 per every day of the safari per car, provided you are satisfied with the service.Its not Mandatory!
Our standard rates do not include the cost of international flights. Our clients include travellers from all over the world, which makes establishing a universal rate including international air travel impossible. However, our Manager organizing your individual tour can always help with choosing and booking your air tickets if you will need our help.
Yes, pre-payment is expected in order to facilitate hotel bookings and expedition logistics. Classic tours incur a 30% advance payment, while Luxury and Premium require 50%. Although advanced payment can be arranged between our client and his tour organizer in any means and payment settlement plan that can be favorable to both of you. Flights within Tanzania as well as accommodation and excursions in Zanzibar require advance payments in full. Generally, advance payments are made no later than 60 days before the commencement of the tour. However, if you intend to visit Tanzania in high season (around Christmas holidays and July through August) hotels are best booked well in advance, as the demand for quality tourist accommodation in Tanzania far outstrips the supply. Therefore, your Tour Manager may request that payments for tours falling on those periods be made 4-6 months in advance, especially if a photographic safari is part of the package. When booking larger corporate groups (upwards of 20 pax), payments should be made 6-8 months in advance. This ensures our being able to book your accommodation in quality hotels where the number of rooms available is limited, especially in the run-up to the tourist season.
Yes, full advance payments can be made to our Tanzanian bank accounts. Please, keep in mind that transfers generally take 3-5 days. All transfer commissions and charges are payable by the client.
Your tour price does not include the following: Visa fees;
Alcohol at hotels, unless specifically stated under all-inclusive rates;
Tips for climb crews and safari driver/guides. Crew tips for a Kilimanjaro climb average USD 250 per client. At minimum of USD 10 per vehicle per day are the accepted norm for wildlife safari.
Our cancellation policy is as follows: Cancellations made no later than 30 days before the starting date- refund in full, minus cost of hotel booking cancellation and bank charges.
Cancellations made no later than 15 days before the starting date- 75% refund, less cost of hotel booking cancellation and bank charges.
Cancellation no later than 7 days before the starting date- 50% refund, minus cost of hotel cancellation and bank charges.
Cancellation within 7 days of the starting date- 25% refund, less cost of hotel booking cancellation and bank charges.
Citizens of the EU and USA can acquire entry visas at international airports in Tanzania as well as other border crossings. It is also possible to apply for the visa online through the Tanzania immigration website. Visa costs: generally USD 50 (USD 100 for citizens of the USA)
There are 3 International Airports in Tanzania: Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro. Your Tour Kilibound Adventures will recommend the most convenient of these depending on your itinerary.
If your comfort during what could be a rather lengthy flight with either tight connections or long layovers outweighs cost considerations, then we recommend that you consult the ratings in the World’s Top 100 Airlines 2017. Otherwise, pick what seems to be the most convenient of the airlines in your price range. Turkish, Emirates, Fly Dubai, KLM, Ethiopian are among the airlines with regular flights to Tanzania.
One of our drivers will meet you with a sign bearing your/your group’s name at your airport of arrival regardless of the time of day.
Yes, you can choose any hotel of your preference and your tour manager will help you for booking availability and all reservation processes.
All tourist hotels adapt their menus to suit European tastes, while also including some local dishes. You should have no problems when it comes to food so long as you make your dietary preferences (vegetarian, allergic, etc.) clear to your Tour Manager when booking.
There have been no recorded cases of yellow fever in the country’s tourist regions (most of the country actually) in the last twenty years. However, when planning to visit the less-visited parts, it may be recommended that you get yellow fever vaccination two weeks before your planned travel date. This vaccination is effective for ten years. You may read more about Tanzania vaccination requirements in our article. The problem of malaria in Tanzania is greatly exaggerated. Not all species of mosquito carry malaria to begin with, and contracting malaria is unlikely in most parts of the country. However, if planning on visiting more remote parts of the country, we would recommend that you read our article about malaria prevention
No, you do not need to arrange for your transfer on arrival at the airport as our driver will be ready to host you at the airport. Apart from this, you will be provided with an experienced safari guides from Kilibound Adventures you will provide you with the best information about Tanzania and about the wildlife in the country. Other domestic transfers will also be arranged for you to fro from the national parks to your accommodations and stays.
At a reasonable price Kilibound create very unique and personalized travel experiences with exceptional level of guest services.We provides high quality ,tailor-made luxury travels to East Africa in Countries like Tanzania ,Rwanda ,Uganda and Kenya .We provide the best Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing program and experience to the summit of the highest Mount in Africa ,the Kilimanjaro Mountain ,the best wildlife safari in the best destinations such as the legendary Serengeti National Park for wildebeest migrations and calving season in southern Serengeti and northern Ngorongoro ,Ngorongoro Crater where you can spot the big 5 animals ,Nyerere National Park the largest national park in Africa and many more wildlife areas in Tanzania from Northern Circuit to Southern Circuit , Uganda Gorrilla Trekking ,Rwanda Gorrilla Trekking and in Kenya’s best places such as Maasai Mara and many others. Tour Planning & Management: Kilibound Adventures specialists provide a wealth of knowledge and their expertise in planning ,implementing and organizing the very luxurious safari ,mid-range safari and private budget safari,we also provide Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing experience to the summit of the highest mountain in Africa,and as we speak we have 100 % success rate for all our climbers ! Travel Management : Kilibound Adventures network combines local expertise and specialist knowledge ,with wide reaching global capability to deliver top value services and tailor made solution to our clients.We are very capable of handling booking in multiple languages and respond them on time in a way that our client will be 100% satisfied . Safari and Climbing : Planing for holidays? Planing for Holidays in Africa ?Thinking of bringing your dear ones close to you ?Kilibound Adventures will provide the right products and services for your suiting your needs and exceeding your expectation .We have a lot of packages prepared for you and can be customized to suit our client needs:
Kilibound Adventures is a tour operator company with two offices one is based in Arusha, Tanzania and another office in St.Agustine ,Florida USA .Kilibound Adventures was founded a decade ago by passionate Tanzanian professional climber guide Mr Gidion Phanuel Mollel and his longtime friend from USA Mr.James McCunne who is also a mountain climber and loves to explore the nature a lot.
Our Safari Company Kilibound Adventures with our Accommodation affiliates endeavors to provide discerning hospitality to guests by offering quality service and unmatched experiences in some of the most exotic destinations in East Africa and Tanzania in Particular. We have a long-standing tradition of maintaining the highest hygiene standards of our guest rooms, public spaces and back of house operations. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have added to our already rigorous cleaning and safety protocols the appropriate recommendations and compliance measures according to the guidelines and regulations issued by local and international health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control (CDC). Our health and safety protocols have been duly updated to reflect the highest standards of care and the vigilant adoption of safety measures – such as social distancing, wearing of masks, and sanitization, along with thorough training and awareness building sessions for our staff. As always, we place the safety and wellbeing of our guests, staff and partners at the center of everything that we do. Travel safety during COVID-19 What you can expect during your stay All linens sanitized in high-temperature wash
Face masks required for staff in public areas
Floors marked for social distancing
Hand sanitizer available to guests & staff
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Staff required to regularly wash hands
Daily temperature and symptom checks for staff
Contact-less check-in
Contact-less check-out
Individually wrapped toiletries