Travel Guide.

Packing for safari often feels like a puzzle. To make it simple and smart, here is the comprehensive checklist we send every guest.

• Convertible safari pants (e.g. REI or Columbia).
• Long and short sleeve convertible shirts.
• Medium or heavy weight fleece jacket for chilly mornings.
• A couple of pants or shorts and a windbreaker.
• Enough pairs of socks and underwear.
• A pair of walking shoes or sneakers.
• Sunglasses and a pair of glasses or contact lenses.
• A copy of your passport in case the original gets lost.
• A travel pillow for back or neck issues and bumpy roads.
• Pajamas, and a sports bra for ladies on bumpy roads.
• Hat, light gloves, and a bandana or scarf for higher elevation and bumpy roads.
• Passport and other documents: plane tickets, safari itinerary and emergency contacts, visa.
• Small or mini flashlight, sunscreen, and lip balm.
• Insect repellent and contact lens solution.
• Antibacterial gel, hand wipes, and hand sanitizer.
• Camera, extra batteries, and charger or adapter.
• Notebook, a pen, and a couple of novels you wish to read after game drive hours.
• Ziplock bags for raw items (wet clothes, camera equipment, snacks) and trash bags.

• Benadryl — itch relief stick for itches and rashes.
• Ciprofloxacin — broad-range antibacterial for traveler’s diarrhea.
• Pepto-Bismol — stomach ache medicine.
• Neosporin — antibiotic ointment.
• Imodium — diarrhea medicine.
• Antihistamine, multivitamins, cold and allergy medicine, dehydration mix powder, anti-malaria pills, pain killers.
• Tylenol or Advil, band aids.

Most important: any medication prescribed by your doctor. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is needed if travelling to or from Kenya, Rwanda or Uganda. Packing cubes are also a great option to keep everything organized.

We recommend clothes in natural colours rather than bright ones, to avoid drawing the attention of wild or shy animals. Green, brown, khaki, olive and beige are perfect for daytime game drives.

Black and dark blue should be avoided in the day because they tend to attract stubborn and biting flies such as tse-tse. At night these colours are fine; the flies are asleep or inactive.

Lightweight clothes are recommended for the warm and humid daytime temperatures, and they dry faster — an extra advantage on a moving safari.

At night, and during dusk or dawn, wear long sleeves, pants, socks and shoes to protect against mosquitoes, alongside the use of bug repellent. Some treat their safari clothes against bugs in advance — if you have a chance to do that, take it.

After sunset, any colour is fine. It’s your time to shine and enjoy your safari with us.

Most bush planes in Tanzania that fly to and from the national parks carry 12 passengers or more, with a strict combined weight limit on luggage (bags, purses, backpacks). Extra charges of about $5 per 2.2 lb (1 kg) apply for excess weight, accommodated on the same flight only if space allows.

For heavy gear (cameras for serious photographers, or any other safari equipment), earlier arrangements can be made with our offices ahead of booking, with a maximum of 70 kg of excess luggage on an arranged fee basis. Please don’t hesitate to communicate with us early for pricing and recommendations.

A lightweight soft-sided rolling bag is recommended for bush flights. Hard-sided suitcases are allowed with dimensions not exceeding 15 by 27 inches — the cargo pod measurements for bush planes.

For international flights, please check the rules and equipment on the airline websites and adhere to what is on the tickets.

Our paramount objective is to keep you healthy and safe at all times so you can fully enjoy your safari in Africa and what it offers.

It is important to be current on any required vaccines, or to take your doctor’s advice on polio, typhoid, cholera, MMR, DTP, hepatitis A and B, tetanus, pertussis, chicken pox, and others like yellow fever for countries where it is required (Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda).

• Hepatitis A or B.
• Anti-malaria drugs — Tanzania is a malaria zone, with the island of Zanzibar and the coastal regions at higher risk.

Recommendations.

Visit www.cdc.gov/travel, go to the For Travelers section and select Tanzania for detailed info including vaccines and medicine, travel health notices, and a health and packing list to stay healthy and safe during and after your trip.

Protect yourself against mosquito bites, especially in the evening, at night, when sleeping, and outdoors. Wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers, socks and shoes, and use permethrin treated clothes (not used directly on skin), which last after several washes. Apply insect or mosquito repellent such as DEET (20% or more) on ankles, legs and other exposed parts of the body.

Stomach upsets or aches ranging from mild discomfort to diarrhea may be common due to changes in food, water, climate and long travelling. The best response is to use a doctor-recommended drug (Imodium), or if mild, let it cleanse your system.

To avoid dehydration, drink a lot of water and choose a proper diet to recover. Do not drink or brush with water from the tap. Wash your hands with soap and water, use antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer, and don’t touch your mouth, eyes or nose with dirty hands.

For diabetics (Type I or II), it is better to share your important information from your doctor with us so we can look after your condition closely:

• The type of food and meals you enjoy.
• Insulin packs and syringes.
• Insulin pump and its batteries.
• Hard candy or glucose tablets in your day pack at all times on safari.

For food allergies or dietary conditions, please help us keep you healthy by filling out our safari profile form. We assure you all the information is communicated to every property you will stay in, even before your arrival. If you have a soft drink preference (diet, juices), let us know in advance so we can stock-pile.

Most properties have well-trained chefs whose kitchens can prepare and serve different types of meals for all allergies and dietary requirements: vegetarian (lacto, ovo), vegan, gluten-free, or those with celiac disease who need extra attention to avoid cross-contamination.

CPAP breathing machines or portable concentrator devices on safari run well at all lodges and camps, since 24-hour electricity is provided at a universal voltage (120v–240v). That said, 24-hour power is not guaranteed without outages in Tanzania, so a rechargeable battery for your device is highly recommended as backup. If your PAP machine uses distilled water (instead of bottled) due to unsterilized supply in the bush, please let us know in advance so we can arrange supply.

Tanzania is one of the top safari destinations in Africa because it has been peaceful and politically stable since independence in 1961. It is among the safest tourist destinations on the continent compared to its neighbours. Still — always check travel warning indexes from your embassy accordingly.

Adhere to all warnings and briefing safety instructions when checking in to lodges and camps in the bush, during game drives, and from your guide about wild animals and the do’s and don’ts. Day and night. Animals in the park are not in zoos; they are wild. Your attention is needed at all times, especially when travelling with minors or children.

Keep your money and important documents (passport, wallet) with you at all times, in a money belt under your clothes, and carry a photocopy of your passport. Don’t expose your valuables or leave them in your tent or room as it may draw temptation. Some properties offer the use of safety boxes.

Travel insurance is significant in case of any event involving risk during travel or on safari. We suggest all of our clients purchase a comprehensive travel insurance that covers lost items, baggage delays, trip cancellation, delay or interruption, emergency and accidents, illness and evacuation, 24-hour medical assistance, and traveler assistance.

Travel to Tanzania often comes with the joy of bringing something home as a souvenir of an unforgettable trip. Many unique items represent Africa beautifully: wood carvings in African ebony (the second-best wood in the world), African masks, local paintings, picture frames, hand-woven baskets, and Maasai arts and crafts (bead works, shields, spears, and jewelry).

Tanzanite — a bluish-purple gemstone — is the most unique and rare gemstone found only in Tanzania, mined south of Kilimanjaro Airport in an area called Mirerani. Other gemstones are also sold — tourmaline, ruby, green tsavorite, sapphire — but tanzanite is the most popular. Shops run from Kilimanjaro Airport all along the way to Arusha and toward Ngorongoro Gate, with mini gift shops in most lodges and camps. We particularly recommend Cultural Heritage and Arts Galleria for their range, quality, and fair pricing.

Tipping.

Tipping is one way to say thank you and appreciate excellent service. In the Tanzanian tourism industry, tipping has become integral and customary. Our guidelines for our guests:

• Porterage / baggage handling — $1 per person.
• Meet & greet team — $40 per group.
• Lodge or camp staff tip box — $10 per person per night.
• Driver guide — $50 to $100 per vehicle per day.

Bring some extra cash for tipping, with the newest crisp bills not older than 2015. Older bills won’t be accepted by any banks or money-exchange shops in Tanzania for counterfeit reasons.

You can also use credit cards. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in most places, but we suggest you refrain from using cards for small bills. For large bills, inform your bank and pre-approve any credit-card charges. We trust the two shops mentioned above and can follow up with them in the rare case of fraudulent activity.

Karibu sana. We look forward to welcoming you to Tanzania and ensuring your safari is as smooth as it is unforgettable.