Most lodges include DBB, and selected activities. The prices that we have included are based on the range from low season to peak/high season, and are on a per person per night sharing basis.
Notice 1
Please note - we consider every enquiry seriously and as a potential booking. We have some schedule safari trips to offer, but we find the majority of our clients prefer an itinerary customised to their dates and budget. Such trips take longer to plan and quote and so we generally will exchange a number of emails with you, before we can quote anything. We are a small company offering a personal service, with the 'wheels operation' based in Arusha, Tanzania.
Geography
Tanzania the land of the world famous Serengeti National Park, Selous Game Reserve and the astounding annual migration of the wildebeest, of the unique animal paradise of Ngorongoro Crater and legendary Mount Kilimanjaro, of exotic spice drenched Zanzibar and Mafia Island. The proud colourful Maasai of white sands and turquoise sea, of palace ruins and pirate tales. Nowhere else in Africa will you see such wildlife, experience such a fascinating mix of cultures, meet such friendly people or discover such hauntingly beautiful scenery. Tanzania has two official languages, which are Kiswahili and English. The country’s population stands at 32 million people. Which is almost the number of people who live in California. Although Tanzania is twice the size of California, Tanzania is almost 1,000,000 square kilometres. In other words it’s 4 times the size of Germany and half the size of Western Europe.
Visa's
Most visitors to Tanzania require a visa to enter the country. Three-month single entry tourist visa are available at Tanzanian embassies in your country, price subject to nationality. Although you can purchase a visa at the airport and at border crossings, it is advisable to obtain one prior to arrival. If you leave the country to travel to Kenya or Uganda during the three-month period, you do not have to buy another visa. These regulations might change. So consult your closed Tanzanian embassy, yourself. We cannot assist with visas or regulations pertaining to them.
Tanzania is located in a tropical climate with different bacteria, flora and fauna than most visitors are accustomed to, so it is advisable to take a few health precautions when travelling to make sure that you trip goes as comfortably and smoothly as possible.
Malaria, this usually top on the list of visitors worries and prevention goes along way towards keeping you protected. Although it is believed that the anopholes mosquito (the species that carries malaria) hunts only at night, make sure that all exposed areas are well slathered in insect repellent at all times. Sleep under a net, there are some very good travelling mosquito nets available now, but budget travellers are well advised to bring their own since the nets at most low end guesthouses have holes or are invariably too small. If you’re sleeping in a tent that doesn’t have a net, spray insect repellent inside tent and leave for a few minutes. Although middle and up market lodges have great mosquito nets, fans and air conditioners.
Make sure to visit your doctor to get a prescription for the antimalarial drugs that best suit your health and condition – there are some very good ones available on the market now, but tell your doctor of any symptoms that you may have, for example headaches, hot flushes, or a fever whether during your trip or up to two weeks afterwards, visit your doctor to be tested for malaria. Malaria test only takes 15 minutes and is available worldwide. We personally do not recommend Larium.
VACCINATIONS
The yellow fever vaccination is no longer officially required when entering Tanzania, yet because the disease is endemic many doctors will recommend it as a precaution. Other vaccinations that might be considered before you travel include typhoid, hepatitis A and B, meningitis and tetanus. Consult your doctor for more information. If middle and up market establishments follow good hygiene health practices, your chances are very slim of contracting diseases.
FOOD & WATER
It’s best to drink bottled water when travelling 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 with antiseptic solutions, but should you feel wary about anything on your plate, leave it. 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 again, make sure everything is well cooked. While on holiday, it’s always better to err on the side of caution.
Getting Around in Tanzania
Travelling in Tanzania is a rewarding and remarkable experience. Driving through villages and grasslands on your way to game parks and nature reserves will be one of the most memorable parts of your trip -- the smiling faces of young Maasai herding cattle, the piles of mangos and fresh greens set out in piles in a village market. Driving through the country, although it takes more time, is an ideal way to witness the daily lives of Tanzanians and take in more of the scenery around you. Some of the roads become passable, or very rough in rainy seasons.
Flying is another way of seeing the country, the microsm of its villages and fields suddenly appear larger than life against the striking sky. Flying is quicker and comfortable, although it costs more. From the window of a plane, Mount Kilimanjaro and the crater of Mt. Meru become clear and visible, the undulations of the Eastern Arc mountains ancient and vast, and the glistening sea with its aquamarine reefs and scattered green islands promises refreshment, even from afar.
Ferries offer a glimpse of local culture at a slower, more relaxed pace, and Tanzania’s rapidly developing rail network allows you to see the country from the romance of a boxcar, its iron rails twisting across the African plains. Though we do not recommend or book clients on such services. There are many ways to get around in Tanzania, and the option you choose will depend upon your time constraints and your budget. Travelling by road is the most accessible and probably the cheapest way to travel, and public transport connects all major locations, and ventures far off the beaten track. Tanzania’s infrastructure is quite developed, especially around major tourist attractions in the north and along the Swahili Coast. Public transport vehicles crisscross the country and connect larger towns to out-of-the-way locations.
Currency
The Tanzania shilling (Tsh or TZS), divided into 100 cents, is the national currency. Credit cards (Access, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Eurocard, and Diners) are accepted by large tourist hotels and around the country. Traveller’s cheques in Pounds Sterling or US Dollars are recommended, although Euros are also accepted. US Dollars ($) is also accepted at many establishments, but they will convert to TZS at there exchange rate.
BANKING
Banks and Forex bureaux are available at airports and in all major towns.
