What makes Tanzania the best safari destination in Africa is its astounding landscapes and extremely abundant and diverse wildlife. The allure for this East African country among adventure-seeking travellers of all ages is just amazing! Blessed with an incredible wealth of natural wonders, Tanzania has something to offer for everyone.
That said, most travellers have many questions before embarking on a journey to Tanzania. Thus, we have attempted to answer some of the most Frequently Asked Questions in the list below.
If by any chance you don’t find the information you are looking for, please don’t hesitate to submit your questions directly to us via the “Get In Touch” form on our “About” page.
General information
Entry requirements
The documents required to enter Tanzania are as follows:
- A passport that is still valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date
- Two blank passport pages
- A tourist visa
For more information, please visit the official website of the Tanzanian government: https://www.immigration.go.tz/index.php/entry-requirements
Visa
A tourist visa is required to enter Tanzania and costs $50 for all non-US residents. It can be obtained online before your trip, or directly at the airport upon your arrival. The tourist visa price for US citizens is $100.
Carry your passport and visa with you at all times while travelling in Tanzania.
Covid-19
You are not required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 nor to wear a face mask while travelling in Tanzania. Nonetheless, you will need a negative PCR test in order to enter the country. You will also have to undergo a quick PCR test upon arrival at the airport before going through immigration.
Please be sure to verify all Covid-related information several days before leaving your country, as rules and restrictions may change without notice.
Vaccinations
No vaccinations are required for entry into Tanzania with the exception of yellow fever, but only if you are travelling to Tanzania from a yellow fever endemic country such as Kenya. If this is the case, you will be asked to show your proof of vaccination upon entry.
Taking other vaccinations is entirely up to you and should be discussed with your health care provider before travelling. Please make sure you are well informed about any health risks before entering Tanzania.
Time zone
Tanzania is on East Africa Time (EAT), which is three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+3). We do not operate daylight savings time here, so there is no time difference between the summer and winter months.
International phone calls
The international dialling code for Tanzania is +255, followed by the applicable area codes (e.g. 22 for Dar es Salaam, or 27 for Arusha). To call long distance from within Tanzania, you should dial 00 plus the relevant country code (e.g. 44 for the UK or 1 for the USA).
Safety
Tanzania is a safe country to travel in and Tanzanians are warm-hearted and friendly people, eager to help and assist travellers. However, a little common sense is still required, as with travel in any foreign country. Some precautions to take are locking your valuables in your hotel safe, not wearing extravagant clothing or jewellery, being discreet when carrying expensive camera equipment, mobile phones, etc., especially in big cities, not carrying large amounts of cash on your person, and always paying attention to where you leave your bags and other items you are holding or carrying with you.
Food & water
It is best to drink bottled water when travelling through Tanzania. Bottled water is easily found in all supermarkets as well as restaurants and lodges. You will be provided with bottled water while on safari.
Avoid raw vegetables, and salads when ordering food from street vendors and only order meat if it is well cooked. High-end lodges and restaurants will clean their produce in an antiseptic solution, but to be on the safe side, fruits and vegetables should always be washed and peeled. Avoid eating in empty restaurants whenever possible as the food may have been sitting out for some time. Always order your meat and fish well done, even in restaurants for tourists.
Currency
The official currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS), divided into 100 cents. Notes are issued as TSh10,000; 5000; 1000; 500; 200 and 100. Coins are issued as TSh100; 50; 20; 10, 5 and 1.
The tourism industry prices everything in US Dollars and they are the preferred unit of currency. Major currencies can be exchanged in the larger towns. Foreign exchange bureaux in the main towns usually offer a better rate on traveller’s cheques than do the banks. ATMs are available in major cities only. Major lodges, some hotels and travel agents in urban areas accept credit cards, but these should not be relied on and can incur a 10% surcharge.
What to expect on safari & precautions to consider
Your safari guide
You will be accompanied by a local safari guide throughout your journey. Our guides are all well-informed and very knowledgeable about Tanzania’s national parks, its flora and fauna, and its culture and customs.
Safari Joh Tours offers both English and French speaking guides with our tours. Please specify your preference at the time of booking.
Your safari vehicle
You will be transported in a 4WD Land Cruiser with 7 passenger seats in which everyone will have a window seat. The vehicles have pop-up roofs that will be open all day for ultimate game viewing.
Non game-viewing travel time
Travel time between national parks can be very long at times – between 2 and 6 hours depending on your itinerary. But rest assured, you will have many things to see along the way to make your travel time interesting.
Road conditions
Roads are very bumpy inside the national parks and can be very dusty during the dry season. If you have a back condition or other physical condition, please take the required precautions such as a back brace or pillow, or whatever you think you require to make your journey more comfortable.
Protect yourself from the dust by rolling up the windows when needed and be sure to protect your electronic devices.
Insects
You will not encounter many insects while inside your safari vehicle during the day, with the exception of Tarangire National Park where there are many tsetse flies. Make sure you have the proper insect repellent with you to keep them at bay. Another important point about tsetse flies is that they are attracted to the colours blue and black. It is therefore highly recommended that you choose clothing of other colours while visiting Tarangire.
While on walking safaris, wear hiking boots/shoes as well as long trousers and long-sleeved shirts to protect yourself from mosquitos and other insects.
It is also a good idea to have insect repellent and proper protective clothing at night when staying at campsites and bush lodges.
Weather
Due to the closeness to the equator, a seasonal fluctuation of temperature is observed in Tanzania. The weather is generally warm to hot however, the temperatures can drop significantly during and after rain and at night. The coastal region is hot and humid throughout the year.
Tanzania’s proximity to the equator also makes the sun very strong, which can easily cause sunburns and sunstroke. The roof of your safari vehicle will be open most of the day. The sun will not be coming in from the roof but rather from the side openings. You will therefore not be directly exposed to the sun all day long, but it is still a good idea to have sun glasses and a hat with you, and definitely wear sunblock with a high SPF factor.
Food & drinks
Your cook will accompany you throughout your safari and will provide you with warm, “home-cooked” meals every day at lunchtime. Packed box lunches are only used on certain occasions, depending on your itinerary for the day.
You will be stopping at picnic areas within the national parks for lunch while on safari. When travelling from one park to another on regular roads, you will stop for lunch along the way in suitable areas.
Your breakfast and dinner will also be provided by your cook if you are on a camping safari. On the other hand, if you are staying in lodges, your breakfast and dinner will be provided at your accommodation.
You will be provided with 1.5 litres of bottled water each day while on safari, and there is a small fridge inside the vehicle to keep it cool.
Toilets
There are public bathroom facilities at the entrance of all the national parks as well as inside the parks. Nonetheless, if you have to use the toilet on safari and the nearest public toilet is too far away, your guide will stop in a suitable area where it will be possible for you to relieve yourself outside, in a safe and private place (aka bush toilets).
Electronics
You will be able to charge your smartphones and cameras inside the safari vehicle during the day and at your accommodation at night. We do however suggest that you bring a fully-charged power bank with you in case of any charging issues along the way.
Luggage
Do not bring very large suitcases on safari, especially if you are travelling in a group, as there will not be enough storage space in the safari vehicle for everyone’s luggage. A small travel bag is recommended and for easier stowing, one that does not have a rigid outer shell if possible (unless the size is very small such as a cabin suitcase).
Medication
It is very important that you have a first aid kit with essential medicines while on safari, as no medication will be provided by your guide. It will also be impossible to buy medication while inside the national parks.
Your personal first aid kit should contain all the necessary medicines that you take regularly. We suggest that you also bring basics such as paracetamol, antihistamine for reactions to insect bites, diarrhoea medication and cough drops.
Other safari related information
Special dietary requirements while on safari
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free meals can be provided on the condition that you have asked for them BEFORE your safari. You will be travelling in very remote places where special foods are not always available on demand. There are no markets or supermarkets inside the national parks, therefore special requests will be virtually impossible to cater to at the last minute.
Please give your guide and cook sufficient time to prepare your menu by giving them all the required information about your dietary restrictions and/or allergies at least 1 week before your arrival date.
Injury or sickness while on safari
Any health or medical emergencies will be attended to. If your condition requires hospitalization, you will be evacuated to the nearest hospital immediately. It is highly recommended that you purchase travel and health insurance before travelling to Tanzania.
How much spending money is needed on safari
You will need very little spending money on your safari as meals, accommodation and activities are included in your package. However, if you wish to consume alcohol or other drinks aside from the bottled water included in your package, you will need extra money to pay for that, as well as for any souvenirs or personal items you wish to acquire along the way.
You will also need some cash if you wish to tip your guide and cook at the end of your safari.
Credit cards are not accepted in any small towns through which you will pass while on safari and ATM machines are very rare along the way (and inexistent inside the national parks). It is therefore best to have Tanzanian schillings with you for small purchases such as souvenirs and drinks.
USD$ cash is also acceptable in tourist areas, hotels and lodges, and can also be used for tipping.
Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory but it is certainly recommended on safari. Your tip will depend on your level of satisfaction with the services provided by your guide and cook. The guidelines are as follows:
- Safari guide: US $20 per day per vehicle
- Cook: US $10 per day per vehicle
What to wear on safari
Casual clothing is best in Tanzania and especially on safari. Loose-fitting and lightweight clothes are your best choice from a comfort standpoint. Quick-drying clothes are also good to have if you wish to hand wash some items in the evenings, especially when camping.
Carry a warm sweater or jacket for the chilly morning game drives as well as for evenings. You should have some long sleeve wear and trousers for nights, even though there will be a campfire in most places to keep you warm.
Only take essential items with you, as storage space is limited inside the safari vehicles.
Best time of year to go on safari
It is possible to go on safari in all seasons and the national parks are open to travellers year round. However, the best time for safari or mountain trekking in Tanzania is the dry season (late June to October) as the climatic conditions are excellent with clear skies and very little rain and humidity.
Children & safari
Children are welcome on safari but please be aware that there are age restrictions in some of the national parks and lodges, ranging between 4 and 12 years of age. Not all safari activities are adaptable to children such as gorilla trekking and white-water rafting where the minimum age requirement is 15 years. Walking safaris are another activity where age restrictions are enforced due to the presence of dangerous wildlife. You may need to exercise your parental discretion when it comes to activities like walking and canoeing. This is an area of personal preference.
In terms of pricing, most safari camps and lodges consider anyone over 12 years of age to be an adult. However, please do not confuse this with age restrictions that may apply for specific activities.
Children over 12 years of age generally pay adult fare. Very few safari camps/lodges offer discounts to children over 12 years, and even children under 12 years need to be sharing with an adult to receive a discounted rate.
Why Tanzania is more expensive than other African safari destinations
Tanzania is a more expensive destination because of its lack of infrastructure in many regions, making it much more difficult to get items of convenience and necessity to the national parks and other remote areas.
The government also imposes high fees to travellers entering the parks in order to fund various nature conservation and animal protection projects.
