Make sure that you have a valid passport whose expiry date is sufficient for you to be allowed to enter Tanzania. (Usually the expiry date must be at least six months from the date of travel, for tourists, and longer for business travelers.) With the exception of those travelling from certain African countries (and a few other countries), all visitors to Tanzania must have a valid visa. It is the responsibility of travelers to arrange this. Visas are best arranged in advance. If you are arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport, without having arranged a visa in advance, please follow the procedure outlined below, to ensure that you get the correct visa and meet up with your driver-guide outside the arrival door:
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Tanzania, although usually with a 3% – 5% surcharge. But note that American Express and Diners’ Club cards are not accepted. In certain places, such as Masai villages, cash will be the only acceptable method of payment for souvenirs etc. Travelers should not rely on traveler schedule, as these are not accepted in Tanzania.
US Dollars are always the best currency to carry and it is important that the banknotes you bring have been printed after the year 2006, as older notes are often not accepted.
Each traveler has different spending habits and therefore different cash requirements when on safari, to cover items such as drinks and souvenirs. You should bring the necessary amount of cash in US Dollars to cover your expected needs. Don’t forget to budget an amount in cash to cover tips (see ‘Tipping,’ below.)
Tipping is of course discretionary, but is an expected part of the way in which business is done in Tanzania. It counts as an expression of gratitude to those who – hopefully – have made your experience an unforgettable one, and enables you to directly reward those people. Our passengers come from all around the world, with different cultural attitudes to tipping, but a tip is of great significance here in Tanzania and will be hugely appreciated by the recipient. We know that the act of giving of a tip can be a bit awkward and we would suggest that the best way to remove this ‘awkwardness’ is for each group member to put their tip anonymously into an envelope and for the envelopes to be presented by the group to the staff member.
As a guideline you should consider tipping at the following level:-
Driver guide: $20 US per day per person when 2 pax travelling together.
Mountain guide: $20 US per day, per group.
Local guides (for example, for a village tour) $10 US per group.
Safari Chef: $10 US per day, per group.
Kilimanjaro chef: $10 US per day, per group.
Mountain Porter: $8 US per porter, per day on mountain.
For hotels/lodges/tented camps, please do not tip individual staff members, but instead use the ‘Tip Box’ which you should find at the reception of your accommodation. For guidance, you should consider tipping between $5-7 US per day, per guest at each accommodation.
All travelers taking trips with us advised to have valid Travel Insurance.
Please ensure that all members of your party are covered by insurance and that it includes medical cover and adequate cover for emergency rescue and repatriation. We would also recommend that your policy covers trip cancellation, personal liability, curtailment and loss of luggage/personal effects. If your travel insurance has been arranged in conjunction with your credit card provider, we will require proof of purchase of the cover. Please contact your bank/credit card provider for details of the participating insurer, together with the level of cover provided and the emergency (24-hour) contact telephone number.
Congema Safaris can arrange ‘Flying Doctor Insurance’ should you require it. Flying Doctor insurance covers the provision of light aircraft with qualified doctors, able to evacuate patients from remote locations to hospital. However, this is not a substitute for your travel insurance and is only available in conjunction with that insurance. If you wish to take out this additional insurance, please let us know. We will need a copy of your passport, plus full details of your travel insurance company, including your policy number and their 24-hour contact telephone number. Bookings for ‘Flying Doctor Insurance’ should be made at the time of booking your trip.
We highly recommend that you consult with your physician or a travel medical doctor for advice in advance of your trip as you may need a series of vaccinations. Please ensure that you indicate that you will be travelling to Tanzania on safari. Your doctor will be able to suggest which vaccinations and medications are advisable. Anti-malarial medication is strongly recommended and should be discussed during your doctor’s visit.
All vaccinations are voluntary for entry into Tanzania with the exception of Yellow Fever vaccination. If you are entering Tanzania from Yellow Fever infected country such as Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, you will be required to show a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate upon arrival in Tanzania. Please ensure you carry this Certificate with your passport. If you are entering Tanzania from Europe, you will not be required to show a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate.
Safety and Security
Safety advice is issued by most national governments and updated regularly and we would suggest that all travelers check the appropriate website for updates both prior to booking, and again prior to traveling.(Traveling to countries against your own government’s advice can adversely affect the validity of certain travel insurance policies.) Congema Safaris is strongly advises all travelers to use a money belt or neck wallet for the safekeeping of cash, passport, airline tickets and any other valuables. Please leave other valuables, such as jewelry, at home. Most accommodations provide safety deposit boxes, an excellent way of storing your valuables. We also advise you to keep a photocopy of your passport, separate from your actual passport, when you travel.
Congema Safaris reserves the right to make changes to, or even cancel, any part of the planned trip if in their opinion safety and security concerns deem this necessary. Your driver–guide will accompany you throughout your safari and it is important that you always follow his instructions, in the interests of safety.
If you spend time in Arusha, you will find that most Tanzanians are friendly and helpful, but as in most cities in any part of the world, you should exercise caution. Carrying expensive cameras or jewelry or waving large amounts of cash around, is always a bad idea and will invariably attract unwanted attention. Be aware of people approaching you and trying to ‘befriend’ you: often these people are con-men and you should be polite but firm in saying ‘no’ to them. We would strongly advise using taxis after dark for trips to restaurants or other nighttime trips and would urge you to keep to the main streets during the daytime. We also advise that you travel in small groups, wherever possible. In the unlikely event that you find yourself in an area where a political protest or demonstration is taking place, we would advise you to leave the area immediately, as these can turn violent or provoke counter-demonstrations or reaction from the police.
Please note that you should use your own judgment when choosing activities or excursions which do not form part of the trip you have booked with us. We can offer your assistance in choosing how to spend your free time, but neither Congema Safaris nor any of its representatives can provide any guarantee about the safety or suitability of any activities or excursions, nor about the operators who organize these. As in all countries, taking photos of police stations, border crossings, immigration controls, army barracks, military personnel or checkpoints, airports or political demonstrations is never a good idea, often illegal, and very likely to land you in trouble with the authorities.
Swimming, snorkeling and other water-based activities are always undertaken at your own risk.
You will spend a great deal of time with your highly-experienced driver-guide during your safari and for most visitors; the success of the safari is greatly enhanced by their interaction with him. At Congema Safaris, we believe that we have the best, most knowledgeable, most professional driver-guides in the business – and we are flattered that much of our travelers’ feedback reflects this opinion. Your driver-guide will ensure that you see as much wildlife as possible, assist in finding you the best photo-opportunities, drive you safely around the safari locations, be available to answer your every query and generally to help you with any difficulties you encounter. We encourage you to use your driver-guide as a ‘walking encyclopedia’: ask him not only about the wildlife, but also about Tanzanian culture, its customs and its people. He will be proud and delighted to share his knowledge with you.
This is Africa and you are on safari, road conditions are sometimes not what you are used to and journeys take longer than they would in your home country. Not every road here is tarmacked and some can be rough. For example, Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha, Arusha to Tarangire, Tarangire to Manyara and the road to Ngorongoro Gate are all on paved roads, but any time spent travelling in the Serengeti will be on rough roads. We can reassure you that our safari vehicles are custom-built, rigorously maintained and regularly serviced. They are the best in the business. Very rarely, as can happen anywhere, vehicles break down but we at Congema Safaris always have a ‘Plan B’ designed to minimize any disruption to your scheduled itinerary. If a vehicle cannot be repaired quickly on the spot, then a replacement vehicle is always made available. All vehicles are equipped with radios.
It’s true: nothing can fully prepare you for the experience of an African safari. But that doesn’t mean you can’t try. I mean, you’ve already got the proper attitude—love for wild things, sense of adventure, risk-taking—but the real question I know you’re asking is: how many pairs of underwear should I pack? Well, we’re not going to advise you on undergarments but we have put together a list of the Top 10 Essential Items to Pack for your Safari. These recommendations come from decades of safari experience, from the experts who guide them and the clients who ride them. Take a look:
Some of our camps and lodges offer a laundry service, for an additional charge. Please note that, where you are arriving at your accommodation in the late afternoon and then leaving the following morning, it can be very difficult to have your laundry washed and dried before your departure. (Washing is by hand and drying relies on sunlight.) It will be best to plan to have your clothes washed at camps/hotels where you are staying for more than one night, to give the staff enough time to do your laundry. Bringing light, quick-drying clothes with you is advisable. Please always keep a list of all items you send to have laundered
When you’re out on safari, all meals (breakfast, picnic-lunchbox and dinner) are included in your trip price and are provided by the relevant safari camp/hotel/safari lodge in which you are staying. Please note, the first night’s accommodation in Arusha is on a bed and breakfast basis and guests must make their own arrangements and pay for any lunches or dinners on their first day. (The simple reason for this is that at the time of you booking your safari. Your Arusha hotel will be able to give you restaurant recommendations although each traveler will have their own budget for this, we would suggest around $20 US per person, excluding drinks.
During your safari, all meals are prepared using the best available local produce, allowing you to enjoy regional specialties at their best. Although all our accommodations cater for vegetarians, any other special dietary requirements can also usually be met, but must be advised to us well in advance. Any bottled drinking water on the trip will be at guests’ own expense.