Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is approximately 60km (60 min) from Arusha city centre. Kilimanjaro International Airport is the closest International Airport to Arusha. Arusha Municipal Airport (ARK) is on the outskirts of Arusha but only operates domestic flights (Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Serengeti). Other options include flying to Dar es Salaam and then catching a domestic flight to Kilmanjaro or Arusha. You can also fly to Nairobi (Kenya). International flights to this destination are often cheaper. You can then fly from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro or take a bus from Nairobi Airport to Arusha (approximately 7 hours).
You will require vaccinations for your trip. All travellers should visit either their personal physician or a travel health clinic about 3 months before departure. Ask your doctor about vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis. The following vaccinations are normally recommended for Tanzania: Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Rabies, Yellow Fever, Malaria (prophylaxis)
Please check with the relevant Embassy in your country for up to date visa and passport information. Make sure your passport is not going to expire within six months of your trip (i.e. if your trip is in September make sure your passport is valid until at least March of the following year) and that it has at least 3 clear pages. You can obtain your visa online https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/, or at the point of entry (border / airport). The time taken to clear immigration is roughly the same, regardless of whether you already have your visa. The cost of most tourist visas is U$D 50 per person and U$D 100 for American citizens, to be paid in cash.
We ask for a 15% (non-refundable) deposit in order to secure the booking. The final balance is due 6 weeks before departure. Payment can be made in a variety of ways:
Yes, your payment is secure. We use our bankโs online payment portal (CRDB). This uses the latest payment security standards including encryption of your data. They also use a security standard called SSL.
The weather varies greatly, depending on where you are. Whatever time of year you come, please bring some warm clothes! It gets really cold in some places because of the high altitude, especially in June, July and August. It can also get very hot. We advise dressing in layers. Typically, the long rains are March, April and May. The short rains are in November / early December.
We would recommend bringing U$D (United States Dollars) with you and withdrawing Tanzanian Shillings once you arrive. There are many ATMs in Arusha. Most places that you will visit accept U$D but it is always a good idea to have some local currency. Please note: Tanzania does not accept U$D printed before 2006 (this information is printed on the front of the note).
Choose a duffel bag or soft-sided bag. Ideally, the fabric should be hardy and waterproof and the bag should be lockable. Put anything that is of any value in a separate day pack such as a backpack. Anything of real sentimental or monetary value should ideally be left at home.
Many people worry about wild animals on safari. Your Guide will make sure that you always keep a safe distance. If the animal feels safe, it is extremely unlikely that it will attack you. If an animal feels threatened, however, the situation can become dangerous. You should never shout or disturb the animals with loud noises. Do not try to approach or touch them, and do not throw any objects at them. This may sound like the most obvious advice, but many accidents happen because people behave in the wrong way. Many people also worry that an animal may come and attack them at night, especially if they are sleeping in a tent. This fear is understandable, but it is also unfounded. Again, an animal is most likely to attack when provoked. You are over a hundred times more likely to be injured or killed in a car accident on your way to work. Even though you may hear a lion or a hyena somewhere in the distance, they most certainly will not try to chew their way into your tent, unless you are keeping a big piece of ham next to your bed. Keeping open and loose food stuff in the tent is not recommended and most likely it will attract monkeys.
Officially, you can bring children of any age on safari. That said, we would not normally recommend safaris for children under the age of 5. There will be some long hours in the vehicle and constant animal sightings are not guaranteed. It can be hot and dusty and the roads may be bumpy, which is tiring even for adults. Sometimes, the best idea is to remain in one and the same spot for an hour or more, waiting quietly in the car until the cheetah goes hunting, or until the wildebeest cross the river.
Accommodation on Mid-range & Luxury safaris is lodges and/or tented camps. Accommodation on Budget camping safaris is tents on the ground in public campsites.
Accommodation inside NCA is limited and is significantly more expensive than staying outside. Many of the hotels and lodges are on the Crater rim and have spectacular views. Please note that you will be also able to experience this view from one of the view-points, so you will not miss out on this if you stay outside.
Most lodges and tented camps have Wi-Fi. Most public camp-sites do not have Wi-Fi. In all places, the signal strength is variable and is often weak. It is possible to buy a SIM card with data that can be used (in Arusha). If you want to use it in your phone, you will need to make sure it is unlocked. There are Vodacom and Airtel shops in Arusha that will be able to help / advise with this.
All our safari vehicles have power / charging points. Please bring travel adaptors to ensure they are suitable for your appliances / devices. The vehicles and most accommodation in Tanzania uses UK sockets.
It is possible to visit one of several Maasai villages during your safari. However, these villages are close to the main roads and whilst you will meet many Maasai, have a tour around their village and have an opportunity to learn about their culture, some clients have fed back that the experience felt a little uncomfortable. It costs $50 per vehicle and during the visit, you will be encouraged to buy some of their jewellery / craft (this is by no means compulsory). It is inevitable that over time, the experience has become less authentic and we are in the process of sourcing alternative options for our clients. You are very welcome to visit, but we wanted to be open and transparent about the kind of experience you can currently expect.
