Travel Questions

WE KNOW TANZANIA

A safari is a once in a lifetime journey and planning it is part of the process. Although challenging at first, you will have all the support and dedication from our team of sales consultants. We will make sure that the preparation of your tour is as smooth, pleasurable and stress-free as possible.

Feel free to ask any question by email or phone. We will reply in hours or minutes! Our clear price structure and presentation will help you make all your decisions but it is normal for questions to come up. In this section we have summarised some of the most common ones. Reading our FAQ is always an excellent idea as there might be some details you haven't yet thought about.

Frequently asked questions

  1. What do you include in your tours?
    All our safaris include excellent Toyota LandCruisers adapted for the best safari experience with pop-up roof with unlimited mileage, all national parks entrances, camping fees and permits, unlimited water during the safaris, donations to the local communities and accommodation as agreed (on full board or all inclusive basis).
  2. What about the exclusions?

    We do not include the country visas, and items of personal interest like souvenirs or extra services/tours not agreed beforehand. Tips are not included (the industry recommends a guideline of $20 USD per person per day). Also, if after you book your tour, the government decides to apply increases in park fees, camping fees, concession fees or others, these shall be added to your contract as well.

    If applicable, local infrastructure taxes in Zanzibar are not included as they must be paid on-site by the traveler.
  3. Do you have a cancellation Policy?
    Yes, we do apply a penalty of 10% if you cancel more than 60 days before your tour, a 20% penalty if you cancel between 30 and 60 days earlier, a penalty of 50% if you cancel with 15 to 30 days notice, a 75% penalty if you cancel with 7 to 14 days notice, and a penalty of 100% if you cancel with less than a week notice.
  4. What payment methods do you accept?

    We welcome payments via wire transfer, money transfer and credit card. Credit card transactions are processed through Pesapal (please note that there is a service fee for this payment method).

  5. Where should I fly to?
    If you do an overland safari, they start from Arusha, so you can use either the domestic Arusha Airport or the international Kilimanjaro airport. If you do a fly in safari, then you can start from any point in the country.
  6. Any visa requirements?

    It is possible to issue your visa online (visa.immigration.go.tz) or On Arrival. The latter is very straightforward and simpler.

    Do note the e-visa can take up to 3 weeks to be processed so if you will arrive soon we recommend getting it on arrival. Also, if entry is an overland transfer between Maasai Mara and Serengeti (Isebania or Tarime border) it is also preferable to get the visa ON ARRIVAL.

    The visa costs $50 USD per person except for U.S Citizens who pay $100 USD per person.

    Some countries do require a referral VISA in advance, there are also countries whose nationals do not require VISA. Please check list here: https://visa.immigration.go.tz/guidelines

    In any case, please do keep in mind your passport needs to have at least 6 months of validity.

  7. What about vaccination?

    It is very important to set an appointment with a travel doctor in your home country before you come. Depending on the situation, you might take vaccine for yellow fever and may take prophylaxis pills to protect you against Malaria. If you go to Zanzibar or come (or have a transit) in an endemic yellow fever country, proof of vaccination against yellow fever may be required at the airport.

  8. Is accommodation in Arusha required before and after the safari?

    Well, we always recommend it because we like to start our safaris early in the morning and on the last day we like to avoid having to worry about reaching the airport on time. But, of course, we are flexible and we can start the safari when you arrive at the airport and can finish any safari with a drop off at the airport. However, in those cases, we always recommend flights arriving in the morning of the first day and flights leaving in the evening of the last day.

  9. What do you recommend bringing on a safari?

    - All necessary documents: passport, vaccine certificate and others that might apply;
    - Any medication you might need: This should include medication for possible common situations like headaches or diarrhea;
    - Sunblock, sunglasses, hat, lip balm and moisturizer;
    - Your camera: we recommend bringing a wide lens (about 17-55mm) for those scenery pictures, and a telephoto lens (in the 200-400mm range) to catch animals at a distance;
    - Binoculars: We do provide a pair of top notch binoculars per vehicle but feel free to bring your own which you may be more used to. Binoculars really make a big difference on a safari;
    - Clothes: Comfortable and casual clothing, with khaki, beige or green colours. You should pack T-shirts, shirts with long sleeves, jeans, a sweater and a jacket (for the cold mornings), swimwear (if the accommodation you selected has pool or if you do a beach extension) and comfortable hiking shoes;
    - Insect repellent;

    - adaptor for G Type Plugs.

  10. What about allergies or dietary restrictions?

    This is something we take very seriously. Upon booking us, we will send you a form in which you will be able to indicate any dietary preference or restriction or any specific request you might have. We will then provide that information in advance to all the hotels.

  11. Can I take plastic bags?

    As for Tanzania, from 1st June 2019, all plastic carrier bags regardless of their thickness will be prohibited from being used in mainland Tanzania. However, plastics carrier items known as “Ziploc bags” that are specifically used to carry toiletries will be permitted as they are expected to remain in the permanent possession of visitors and are not expected to be disposed in the country. 

    Regarding Kenya, please see additional information on this link regarding the government decision to ban the plastic bags in Kenya: https://www.nema.go.ke/images/featured/FAQS_on_plastics_ban.pdf.

     

  12. Zanzibar - Mandatory Travel Insurance

    Beginning October 1 2024, all foreign visitors to Zanzibar are required to have insurance issued by The Zanzibar Insurance Corporation.
    The cost of this insurance policy is $44 USD per visitor.

    For registration and detailed, up-to-date information, please visit: https://visitzanzibar.go.tz/

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