Frequently Asked Questions

Our standard packages include: airport transfers, all Tanzania National Parks and conservation fees, accommodation (lodge or tented camp), all meals during the safari, a 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof and an experienced guide-driver, and bottled water. They do not include: international flights, Tanzania visa fees (~$50), personal travel insurance, gratuities for guides and staff, alcoholic beverages, or optional extras like balloon safaris. Every package page shows exact inclusions and exclusions.

On a private safari, your vehicle and guide are exclusively yours. You set the pace, choose where to stop, and don't share the experience with strangers. Private safaris cost more but give you complete flexibility. Group joining safaris put you in a vehicle with up to 5 other travelers on fixed departure dates — they cost significantly less per person and are a good option for solo travelers or couples on a budget. We offer both options across all our safari packages.

Tanzania's northern circuit — Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara — offers some of the most reliable Big Five sightings on the continent. Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino are all present. The Serengeti hosts the largest lion population in Africa. Ngorongoro Crater has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife per square kilometre anywhere. Tarangire is exceptional for elephants and baobab landscapes. With experienced guides, sightings of predator hunts and kills are not uncommon.

Kilimanjaro requires no technical climbing — no ropes, harnesses, or ice axes. The challenge is altitude. At 5,895m, the air contains roughly half the oxygen it does at sea level. We recommend 3–6 months of aerobic training before your climb. Our guides use a deliberate slow pace (pole pole in Swahili) and monitor your blood oxygen levels twice daily with a pulse oximeter. The 7-day Machame or 8-day Lemosho routes provide the best acclimatization and consistently achieve our highest summit success rates of 85–90%. Read our complete Kilimanjaro preparation guide.

The best route depends on your budget, available time, and preferred experience. The 7-day Machame route is our most popular — scenic, well-paced, and excellent for acclimatization. The 8-day Lemosho offers even better acclimatization and starts in a more remote, quieter part of the mountain. The 6-day Marangu is the only route with hut accommodation instead of camping, making it more comfortable but with a lower success rate due to faster ascent. The 9-day Northern Circuit is the longest and most comprehensive route with the highest summit rate. See all Kilimanjaro packages.

Mild altitude symptoms — headache, fatigue, reduced appetite — are common above 3,000m and don't necessarily require stopping. Our guides monitor your oxygen saturation twice daily with pulse oximeters. If serious symptoms appear — confusion, extreme breathlessness at rest, loss of coordination — descent is the only effective treatment. We carry supplemental oxygen and a Gamow bag for emergencies on summit day. Our guides are trained in wilderness first aid and have clear protocols for medical decisions on the mountain. Your safety always comes before reaching the summit.

January to mid-March and late June to October are the most reliable months. January–February is the short dry season — warm and relatively clear with fresh snow on the summit. June–October is the main dry season — cooler temperatures, drier trails, clearest skies. Avoid April, May, and November–December which are Tanzania's main rainy seasons; trails become very muddy and summit views are often obscured.

The quickest option is a short domestic flight — about 20 minutes from Dar es Salaam, or 90 minutes from Kilimanjaro International Airport via Arusha. Several airlines including Coastal Aviation and Auric Air operate these routes daily. A high-speed ferry from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar's Stone Town takes about 90 minutes and is a cheaper alternative. We arrange all transfers between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar as part of your combined safari and Zanzibar package.

Zanzibar has two dry seasons: December to February (hot, good snorkeling) and June to October (cooler, lower humidity, calm sea conditions — best for diving and kite surfing). The long rains run from mid-March to May; the short rains in November. Zanzibar is visitable year-round, but April and May see the most sustained rainfall. The period from July to October combines well with a Serengeti safari during peak Migration season.

Most nationalities require a visa. You can apply online via the Tanzania e-visa portal at immigration.go.tz, or obtain a visa on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR). Visa fees are approximately $50 USD for most nationalities. Some East African Community passport holders enter visa-free. Check the official Tanzania Immigration Services website for current requirements for your passport nationality.

Tanzania is generally a safe and politically stable country with a long, strong track record of welcoming international tourists. The national parks, safari camps, and tourist areas are well-patrolled and secure. Standard travel precautions apply — keep valuables in your accommodation safe, avoid displaying expensive equipment in crowded areas, and follow your guide's advice in the field. We have operated tours here for years without serious security incidents. Check your own government's current travel advisory before departure for the most up-to-date guidance.

Yellow fever vaccination is required if you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic (much of sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South America), and is strongly recommended regardless. Routine vaccinations should be up to date. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended for all areas of mainland Tanzania — consult your doctor or a travel health clinic at least 4–6 weeks before departure. Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations are also commonly recommended. Your travel health clinic will advise based on your specific itinerary.

For travel during peak season (July–October), we recommend booking 4–6 months in advance. Luxury lodges and tented camps have limited beds and fill up well ahead. For Kilimanjaro, the same applies — popular routes like Machame fill up months in advance during peak climbing months. For travel outside peak season, 6–8 weeks is usually sufficient, though earlier is always better. Last-minute bookings are sometimes possible but accommodation choice will be limited.

Tips are not included in package prices and form a meaningful part of your crew's income. For safaris, a widely used guideline is $10–15 per day for your guide-driver, shared among the group. For Kilimanjaro, the recommended amounts are: $20–25 per day for the lead guide, $15–20 for the assistant guide, $10–15 for the cook, and $5–8 per day per porter. For a 7-day Machame climb with a group of two, this typically totals $300–450 distributed at the end of the descent. Tips are given in USD or Tanzanian shillings.