Travel Advisor

We recommend taking euros or USDs in cash as there are no ATMs at some locations. At lodges and tourist related places such as souvenir shops Euros and USD are widely accepted

Once in Tanzania you can change to local currency in order to make the purchase of souvenirs or personal expenses.

We remind you that if you decide to bring American dollars cannot be prior to 2006 as they are not accepted in Tanzania. Watch this because European or American banks do not take it into account when you give the tickets. Check when you pick them up at your bank.

TIPS:

In East Africa, like all Anglo-Saxon countries, the use of tips is widespread and important. Allow $ 20 to $ 40 per day per vehicle for the driver / guide and $ 2 to $ 5 per day in the lodges and / or hotels..

You will need visas for entry to Kenya and Tanzania. Though you can get these in Africa, your travel will go smoother if you get them in advance through the respective embassies.

Make a photocopy or list of the following items:

• Passports (including the page with the visa stamped in them and the pages with photos and data)
• Plane tickets,
• Yellow booklet showing your yellow fever vaccination,
• List of all medications you might require,
• Listing of all travelers’ cheque numbers,
• List of serial numbers for cameras, etc.

Its highly recommended to keep this list someplace apart from where you keep these other items

Keep track of your passport above all. Loss of a passport can destroy your trip and cost considerable money during the time required to replace it.

Please be aware that with immediate effect all international airports have changed the process of issuing visas on arrival.

Guests arriving in Kilimanjaro/Julius K Nyerere /Amaan Abedi Karume without a visa now need to complete the following process:

• Queue for a Government Control Number
• Queue to pay for this at the bank
• Queue for Immigration to check and issue the visa

We would really appreciate your help in letting our guests know about this change, and strongly recommending that those that still have time before they travel apply for their Tanzania visa online at www.immigration.go.tz.

The online process asks for more information than a visa on arrival and are issued within 2 – 3 weeks.

The changes at airport has meant that the visa on arrival process can take in excess of two hours, and we’d really prefer that our guests do not have to go through that.

We’ve been reassured that measures are being put in place to make this quicker, but until that happen, we feel that the above recommendation is our best bet.

We naturally hope you don’t lose your bags, but it does happen. On your international flight, pack as if the airline might lose your bags.

Keep things you will need right away in your carry-on. It seldom happens, and almost always the bags arrive a couple of days later, but this way, if the bags do not arrive with you, you will be able to continue on your safari while the airline finds them.

If your bags do not show up, do the following:

• Report the problem to your air carrier INSIDE THE AIRPORT at the Baggage Claim – before passing the CUSTOM -and fill out the required paperwork.
• Request compensation for your inconvenience (often $50.00 for emergency purchases and a bag with simple toiletries and a tee shirt)
• Ask them when they expect the bag will arrive and tell them where you will be based on your itinerary.
• LEAVE THE KEYS AND/OR COMBINATIONS WITH THE AIRLINE so they can clear the bags through customs.
• Ask the airline to go with you to advise Customs Officer that bags were lost so there will be no problems further in getting your bags cleared when they arrive.
• Tell your safari driver and ask his office work with the airline to get your bags to you at the earliest convenience.

Sometimes baggage may be sent to our office, we can either keep them until your last day for collection or forward them to you. In case there are any costs involved for shipping your bag, we will invoice you the raised charges. Contact also your travel insurance on how to proceed.

Immunization against endemic diseases of the area to be visited should be provided at least 2 months in advance. Specialized medical centers will be the ones that dictate which vaccines should be given and their schedule.  Please contact your nearest center once you decide travelling.

Tetanus and polio need to be included if more than 10 years have elapsed since the last vaccination.

The vaccination card should always accompany you during the trip.  Because vaccination will depend on our prior vaccination status, where you go and especially the time you have between the administration of the vaccines and the start of the trip, the prescription must be made by doctors in international vaccination centers or specialized, after a personalized consultation.

Recommended: Tetanus, polio, diphtheria and hepatitis B, hepatitis A and tuberculosis. In extended stays or trips outside the tourist circuits: rabies and typhoid fever.  It is mandatory to be vaccinated against yellow fever as there are areas infected with this viral disease on mandatory declaration in this region.  Antimalarial treatment for Malaria is also recommended, but not mandatory.

Fist Aid Kit is highly recommended. It’s helpful to have the essential medicines for an emergency cure or for minor diseases that may surprise us. You should include medicines that we are usually using in enough quantity to cover the entire travel period. People with allergic problems should provide appropriate medication to treat an allergic crisis if it occurs. Please note the length of the trip. Take your usual medication in enough quantity.

Hydration: Drink with plenty to avoid dehydration.  Avoid consumption of unbottled beverages.  Drink only drinks that offer enough health guarantees. Depending on the area to visit, avoid using ice cubes or drinking tap water.  It can transmit infectious diseases.  Always drink bottled water and have it opened in front of you or treated. In rural areas it rejects ice cubes that could be prepared with contaminated water.  Wash your teeth with drinking water.

Take care of meals: Avoid strong meals, raw foods, meals from the street sale, paying special attention to the hygienic conditions of the places chosen to eat.  Do not eat raw or semi-cooked foods (salads, meat, fish, vegetables, seafood).  Avoid eating fruit without peeling.  Do not consume milk or derivatives without a hygienic warranty or boil for 15 minutes.  Be careful with pastries and ice cream for its easy contamination.

Travel insurance is essential for any trip to Africa. There are many insurance companies around the world and we strongly recommend looking for the most suitable for your kind of trip.

Comprehensive Travel Insurance is compulsory for everyone booking trips with Admire Tanzania, assuring that covers you for the full duration of your trip both financially and medically.

Before travelling guests will provide information about their travel insurance company, the contact details and policy numbers.

Make sure that Comprehensive insurance will cover you for:

• Trip cancellation and interruption
• Travelling delays
• Loss, theft or damage to baggage and baggage delays
• Medical expenses with emergency medical transportation and medication.
• Robbery and accidents
• Collision damage for rental cars

We recommend you buying your travel insurance within seven days of paying the deposit on your trip.

This way you can get insured for your trip deposit and financial default by airlines and safari operators, as well as preexisting medical conditions. Purchasing travel insurance when you book your trip covers you in case you get sick or injured before the departure date, or if one of the companies you are planning to travel with folds or defaults.

From Admire Tanzania we remind you that comprehensive insurance will cover anything from minor injuries and the flu to more serious accidents that may require time in hospital. In the case of serious injuries an early flight back home may even be required, which is when you really cannot afford to be without comprehensive cover.

Further you can also have unforeseen Travelling Expenses and comprehensive travel insurance will cover you for a wide range of eventualities, ranging from flight and baggage delays to return flights for a close relative’s funeral.

Having travel insurance means that you won’t be stuck with your travel plans if things change or go wrong along the way.

Most travel insurance companies require pre-evacuation authorization, which can be difficult, if not impossible, to arrange when you are in remote bush locations where there are no telephones. Check with the insurance company whether authorization is required before medical evacuation, so that you can find out how to deal with this clause and work around it in a worst-case scenario.

It’s a good idea to sign up with a company that aids with medical evacuations, particularly if you are travelling to remote areas and participating in high risk activities.

Often guests are covered to a certain extent if they book flights with their Credit Cards, but this cover is usually limited. Check with your credit card company the following:

• Comprehensive cover provided
• Duration of the cover
• Any excess amounts that you will have to pay
• Contact in the case of an emergency

Travel insurance does not always cover political conflicts (war-related events) and threats from terrorism, although some policies do. These are incidents that you can ask your tour operator about to check if cancelled trips would be refunded and postponed trips arranged without extra charges. Please also check COVID19 special conditions.

Assuming that you intend on traveling on safari during your stay in Africa, you should make every effort to pack your belongings into one large waterproof duffel bag or backpack and one ‘carry on’ style bag for cameras, valuables and day trips.

Chances are you will have limitations in your safari vehicle and, in some cases, travel on small aircraft (if part of your itinerary) limits you to 15 kgs / 33 pounds. If you plan on doing a lot of souvenir shopping, you might consider carrying another bag tucked in your suitcase to help judge your limits.

Important – For persons crossing the Atlantic Ocean from North America and connecting in Europe to Africa, International air carriers limit carryon bags to one and checked bags to two per passenger.

Persons departing from Europe have weight restrictions on bags as well, varying with the carrier. If you are doing a lot of traveling and need to carry more than the suggested items, keep in mind that you may be required to leave them at the town hotel. Laundry service in Africa is often a bargain.

Advice – The customs and culture of East Africa, especially in coastal areas and Zanzibar are conservative. Revealing or very tight clothing should be avoided.

MEN’S CLOTHING (suggestions):

• 1 pair of comfortable shoes that would be appropriate for a nice restaurant
• 1 pair of sturdy shoes or boots for hiking, preferable waterproof*
• 1 pair of sandals to use when walking to the shower at camps, etc.
• 3-4 pair of socks
• 1 nicer long slacks for use in restaurants (please note that shorts are not appropriate in Zanzibar Town/Pemba)
• 1-2 pair of long casual slacks
• 1-2 pair of shorts
• 1-2 belts
• 1-2 swimming suits
• 3-4 golf/tee shirts
• 2 long sleeve casual shirts
• 1 dress shirt (tie optional depending on if you think you might visit a top restaurant)
• 1 sweater or light jacket
• 1 rain poncho
• 1-2 hats (VERY IMPORTANT FOR SUN PROTECTION) *
• 1 pair sunglasses* Prescription glasses if used with back-up pair suggested (note: contact lenses are difficult to use on safari due to the high amount of dust.)

WOMEN’S CLOTHING (suggestions):

• 1 pair of comfortable shoes that would be appropriate for a nice restaurant
• 1 pair of sturdy shoes or boots for hiking*
• 1 pair of sandals to use when walking to the shower at camps, etc.
• 3-4 pair of socks
• 1-2 pair of panty hose 1 nicer skirt for use in restaurants (please note that shorts are not appropriate in Zanzibar Town/pemba)
• 1-2 pair of long casual slacks
• 1-2 pair of shorts
• 1-2 belts
• 1-2 swimming suit
• 3-4 casual short sleeve blouses
• 2 long sleeve casual blouses
• 1 sweater or light jacket 1 rain poncho
• 1-2 hats (VERY IMPORTANT FOR SUN PROTECTION)*
• 1 pair sunglasses* Prescription glasses if used with back-up pair suggested (note: contact lenses are difficult to use on safari due to the high amount of dust.)

TOILETRIES:

• Tooth brush
• Tooth paste
• Razor
• Shaving cream and other toiletries with you as those available in Africa are expensive and often not of good quality.
• Insect repellent with Deet. *
• Sunscreen with high level of protection*
• Common drugs such as aspirin, cough drops, Pepto Bismol, etc. Vitamins that you might normally take. If you suffer from motion sickness, don’t forget to use your preferred medication – patch or tablets.

ACCESSORIES:

• Binoculars
• Water bottles
• Pens, paper, journal
• A good novel or two
• Zip-Lock type bags to keep the dust and moisture out of stuff and keep your wet swimsuit in
• A couple large plastic trash bags to wrap stuff in should it rain (your bags may travel on racks on top of the vehicle)
• Money belt or similar. The best is a pouch that fits in front inside your shirt or slacks.

1. Buy Local Items.

• Make a positive impact on the lives of the residents in the country you’re visiting is to purchase products that are locally grown / made.
• Think small. The use of local and family-scale goods and services benefits the host community.

2. Give Back.

• Support the local community.

3. Protect the Environment, conserve resources and Watch Your Waste:

• Plastic waste has become an epidemic these days. “Every year, 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans, it’s equivalent to five grocery bags filled with plastic for every foot of coastline”.
• This not only affects nature and beach but also to the wildlife.
• We are going to a non plastic Safari Company and that’s we encourage our guests to use the water fillers and use their own bottles.

4. Leave No Trace.

• Walk On The Path: Unless you are creating new trekking trails in a sustainable way, always stay on the well mark path to avoid damaging any of the flora around you.
• Carry in and Out: Whatever waste you bring into the parks or natural environment, make sure you pack it out with you. This includes toilet paper.
• Leave it Alone: Do not collect stones, sand or plants from the parks and don’t bring any artifacts with you.
• Respect Wildlife: No feeding the animals and keep your distance. Do not scream or play loud music in national parks.
• Don’t Deface Property: Whether manmade or natural, do not carve your name or write anything – anywhere.

5. Be Mindful of Your Carbon Footprint.

• Travel on a direct flight: you’ll reduce the carbon emissions (taking off and landing are the worst).
• If you fly with carry-on luggage, you will be bringing less weight onboard so the plane will use less fuel. Not to mention, you won’t have to pay those hefty checked baggage fees.

6. Respect the Culture, traditions and especially the people.

• People from Tanzania dress conservatively. If you are travelling to Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam, pants are the norm for men and women, and tank tops and uncovered shoulders (especially on women) are taboo. If going to beach areas on your trip, be sure to only wear swimsuits in areas frequented by travelers, and to cover up as soon as you leave the beach.
• Zanzibar population is mainly Muslim, take into account that during Ramadan (June) you have to avoid drink and smoke in public areas or in the street.
• We have a lot of local children along the roads to the parks and on the beach, please do not give them presents, food or candies. Children wait along the roads to get things from tourists and put their life in danger running closely to Safari Cars. Further, African children have little access to dental care. Also, some of these kids may have dietary issues you are not aware of. Think about the impact you can cause with this kind of gestures you can turn kids into beggars and rob them of their self-esteem.
• If you want to give any material, clothes or any donations to local schools or orphanages please let our staff know and we will make sure these supplies are given to the right NGO.
• We do not recommend bringing balloons, plastics or toys for children.

Let us maintain responsible and sustainable tourism.