What to bring on a safari
Good equipment is extremely important for your success, safety, enjoyment, and comfort during your trip. Please, read the following carefully about what to bring to your safari. Feel free to contact us if you have questions or just for advice.
For your safari and trekking, we recommend you to travel light. Your clothes should be comfortable and casual. Opt for neutral colors. Remember that you will be in the wild so your clothes will most probably get dusty, which means you will be less conspicuous on neutral colors. Do not bring a lot of extra changing clothes because you can easily get your clothes washed without having to carry extra luggage. Bring polar clothing and jackets because during the mornings and evenings the weather can get cold (The temperature can go down to 15 degrees Celsius).
Bring long sleeves and pants because they will prevent you from getting insect bites. We recommend you bring a light cloth scarf to wear around your neck to protect your face from dust. Bring a swimsuit, some lodges having pools. Walking shoes or hiking boots are essential for hiking and safari walking. Also bring sandals or open shoes for evening hours. Finally, bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sunhat to protect you from the intense sun of the equator.
In Arusha and Zanzibar, know that the population is predominantly Muslim, so please be open minded about your presentation. Avoid short clothes (skirts extending beyond knee length) and also dress to cover your shoulders but do not worry as swimwear is allowed on the beach!
We recommend packing in a travel bag made of soft material or a backpack that can be compressed in the car. Do not bring any rigid suitcase. Take into consideration that many of the domestic flights limit the weight of the luggage to 20 kg in the hold and 5 kg in the cabin.
Other essentials: binoculars for wildlife observation, a camera to immortalize magic moments, a British type adapter, a solar battery charger, a flashlight or headlight, sunscreen SPF 60, a protective balm for the lips, an insect repellent (DEET 25% minimum), your toiletries, and antibacterial towels individually wrapped for general hygiene.
Best time to go on safari
Northern parks: In Northern parks, it is always hot, but since most of the parks are at 1,500m altitude on average, you will enjoy pleasant and cool temparatures in the evening. In Arusha, the safari capital, temperatures range from 14 ° C (night) to 28 ° C (daytime). January, February and March are the hottest months of the year. April is the rainiest month, and August is the driest month.
The Southern parks: The Southern parks are a true paradise for the amateurs of the wild nature. Explore Selous, one of the largest protected areas in the world, or take a safari in one of many other national parks such as Ruaha, Mikumi or Udzungwa Mountains.
Zanzibar and the Tanzanian Coast: The Tanzanian Coast and Zanzibar have an equatorial climate with high humidity. The hottest months run from December to March, with temperatures reaching 27 ° C during the day. It rains most often from November to December and from March to May.
Formalities
To enter the Tanzanian territory, you must have a valid passport. Your passport will be considered valid up to 6 months prior to expiry date. Along with passports, visas are also required. The tourist visa application can be done from the Tanzanian Embassy in your country of residence. However, in circumstances where the traveler cannot apply for a visa before departure, he/she may obtain the visa at certain border posts: at the international airports of Dar Es Salaam, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro and Kigoma.
Vaccinations
In 2011, the Tanzanian government aborted its regulations regarding vaccination against yellow fever. In theory, the vaccination is now only required for people coming from a country where this fever is endemic, or for people who have spent more than 12 hours in one of the countries. In practice, however, this regulation is sometimes followed differently and proof of vaccination is demanded indistinctly. With that being said, you are advised to arrive in Tanzania vaccinated and ready to present proof of your yellow fever vaccination at the airport you will arrive to.
Other recommended vaccinations before your departure are: Meningitis A and C, Viral Hepatitis A and B, Rabies, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis and Typhoid. Since the region is classified as a zone 3 for malaria (endemic disease, especially on the coast and in Zanzibar) mefloquine preventive treatment is required before your departure. For more information, please contact a doctor or contact us in advance.
Top 3 Exceptional Activities
Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti Plain is a 60,000 km² natural Savannah straddling Tanzania and Kenya. The word “Serengeti” is derived from the Maasai language and it means “endless plains”. Serengeti Plain’s herbivore population plays a major role in the conservation of the open environment which is controlled by several thousand large, carnivorous predators. Serengeti’s most common species are: black wildebeest, gazelle, zebra, and the African buffalo. The Serengeti ecosystem is the annual theater of the great migration. The migration happens in the southern region of Ndutu / Olduvai and is participated by about 3,000,000 large mammals. In the green season, from January to April, when the rains of November make the great plains revive. In these green plains, migration is rarely immobile, the rains lead wildebeest and zebra in permanent movements. In May and June, when soils dry quickly, wildebeest then form huge columns, sometimes up to 40 km long, and return to the woodlands of the west and north of Serengeti. In the dry season, from July to October, migration finds refuge in the more wooded and irrigated areas of the north and is more difficult to see. The first rains of November again attract wildebeest and zebra to the plains.
Preparation guide – Check-list
– Passport
– Visa
– Money (US currency)
– Medical insurance and local vaccination
– Medication (malaria)
– Carnet or proof of vaccination
– Sun hat
– Bandeau / bandana
– Sunglasses
– Lightweight shirts (two or more)
– Sweater or sports shirt
– Jacket
– Bathing suit
– Underwear
– Hiking shorts
– Pants (two)
– Socks
– Walking shoes or hiking boots
– Flip flops or rubber sandals
– Water bottle
– Binoculars
– Camera and extra batteries
– Adapter
– Sports bag and/or camping backpack
– Toothbrush and toothpaste
– Comb
– Shampoo
– Feminine hygiene products
– Foot powder, hand cream, laundry soap, etc.
– Sunscreen SPF 30
– Lip Balm SPF 30 or more
– Flashlight or headlight
– Pocket knife
– Hygienic clothes
– Contacts or glasses, spare glasses
– Insect repellent
General Recommendations
Tipping
Tipping is optional, but it is well accepted by the team as an appreciation of the service you have received to your level of quality and satisfaction. It should be given at the end of the trip only.
Here’s a suggestion of what the customer usually gives, but this is not a mandatory or limited standard.
For the driver-guide, 5-9 USD per person per day.
If you also want to give to other people, such as local guides, we suggest $ 2-3 per person per day.
Porter in hotels $ 0.50 per luggage and $ 1 to $ 2 in the tip box of the hotel.
There is no obligation on your part.