The majority of visitors travelling to Tanzania require a visa to enter Tanzania. There are certain exceptions to that rule. Visitors can either obtain a visa on arrival or get a visa prior to travel from the Tanzania Consulate in their country of residence. Some visitors (from specific countries) may not require a Tanzanian visa at all. Refer to Tanzania Immigration website for the complete list of visa-exempt countries. You can also refer to the same page for Referral Visa Cases, as it provides a list of countries that can acquire a visa on arrival. There are numerous types of visa, but visitors who want to travel to Tanzania for leisure require a Single Entry or an ordinary Visa. In addition make sure your passport has at least six months validity.

For all travel to the USA. Please visit US Embassy in your country

Immunizations

Arrange to get your vaccinations started six weeks before you leave, so that you’ll have adequate time to get them all in. Check with the travel clinic at a local hospital about what vaccinations are recommended for travel to Tanzania. This information can also be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov). At the very least, make sure that your tetanus is up to date, and that you have a Yellow Fever immunization (required for entry into Tanzania).

In order for non-residents to enter Tanzania for a short-term (classified as up to 3 months) the Tanzanian government requires that you have a tourist visa. The tourist visa can be obtained in your home country OR easily at the airport/border in Tanzania for approximately 50 - 100 USD (depending on your country of origin). If you do apply for this in your home country bear in mind that the date of issue is the date the visa will start.

We recommend that you make 3 photocopies of each of the below documents; you should scan them and email them to yourself as well.

• Passport (valid for at least 6 months after your intended return date)

• Tanzania Tourist Visa (you can also get this at the airport in Tanzania)

• Flight Tickets or print out of e-ticket (please also email these to TAMRI International so we can keep copies together on your file)

• Travel insurance details (again please email to TAMRI International)

• Check/Debit/Credit Card

• Vaccination records/certificates

We recommend that you make 3 photocopies of each of the above documents; you should scan them and email them to yourself as well. On your journey to Africa, you should keep one copy in your backpack, one in your day-bag and give one set to your parents or a friend back home (in case you need to contact them in case of an emergency). To be extra safe you should also bring with you photocopies of the following:

• Driver’s license from your home, and international license if you have one

• Your embassy phone number in the countries you will be visiting

• Serial number on valuables e.g. cameras

• Credit card numbers & emergency numbers to report theft

In addition to the above, we would recommend that visitors take the following into consideration:

In some cities and towns in Tanzania, expensive-looking clothing, jewelry, and electronics could put you at an unnecessary risk for robbery or worse. Individuals with electronic equipment such as laptops, cameras, and music players are asked to use them discreetly.

It is recommended that you do not photograph Tanzanians without their express permission. However, you will find that many people enjoy having their pictures taken especially if they can see the instant results of a digital image. If individuals do refuse to be photographed, please respect this decision.

Tipping is not a common practice in Tanzania, with exception of the tourism industry. It is customary for visitors climbing Kilimanjaro or going on Safari to tip the guides and crew. This is discretionary and should depend on the level of service you received and be a mirror of your satisfaction of the professionalism of the team.

We strongly feel this should not depend on whether or not you reached the top. Whilst discretionary, many of our guests ask us for a guideline so we suggest the following percentages:

Kilimanjaro Expeditions:     10-15% of total sum shared across the crew
Safaris:                                    5-7% of total sum shared across the crew
Local Excursions:                 10% of total sum shared across the crew

From the postcard-perfect beaches and large open skies to the majestic animals and spectacular wilderness, Tanzania offers children mesmerising sights and wildlife adventures. Tanzania is a family-friendly safari destination, but before you hop on to the plane, you’ll need to do some research.

There are some safari lodges and camps that have age restrictions for children. When you book a safari tour, discuss this with your tour operator and find out details about the restrictions; it might be a lodge or camp which only accepts children over a certain age, or it could be some of the activities where there are age restrictions such as walking safaris or game drives. Some camps offer children-specific activities for families. In terms of safety, it is quite safe to take your kids on a safari, just ensure that they listen to the guide at all times.

The official languages of Tanzania are English and Swahili.

Even though Swahili, a Bantu language, is the official language of Tanzania and majority of the population speak it, not everyone in Tanzania speaks it. They might speak a variation of the Bantu languages as there are quite a few Bantu and Nilotic languages spoken throughout Tanzania. English is the second official language, spoken by a large number of Tanzanians – a remnant of colonial rule (formerly known as the Tanganyika territory).

• Pack comfortable clothing suitable for sitting in safari vehicles and other safari activities.
• Don’t pack bright colours (or camouflage patterns); stick to neutral brown, beige, khaki and white.
• Bring light-weight cotton clothes which can be layered up in cooler weather. Pack long sleeve shirts and trousers to wear from dusk to prevent mosquito bites. During the winter months, mornings and evenings can be very cold so pack a fleece, hats and gloves.
• Pack sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and swimwear for both safaris and beach holidays.
• If you plan to visit mountain areas such as Mount Kilimanjaro, you need to pack a fleece, rain jacket, and walking boots or shoes.
• Additional items which are good to take on safari include binoculars, torch and adapter, and of course don’t forget your camera! 
• In Muslim communities like Zanzibar, respect their culture. Women should not expose their breasts and their dress/skirt/shorts should go below the knees.

Usually, safari tours and packages are prepaid which includes airfares, meals, vehicles, lodges, camps and some or all activities. Once this is settled before you depart from home, on safari you’ll will need money to tip the guides and accommodation staff, buy any souvenirs, drinks and optional activities. Some of these can be paid for with credit cards, some you will need cash for. Around 50-100 pounds or dollars is probably the most you’ll need to spend per day in Tanzania, plus you can carry traveller cheques and credit cards.

The food in safari lodges and camps should be really good as meals are a huge part of the safari experience; relaxing over brunch after an early morning game drive, enjoying a delicious dinner at the end of an active day. Avoid drinking tap water and stick to bottled water provided by your safari guide and accommodation. If you are being more independent, choose any restaurants you visit wisely, and eat only at places that have good reviews and come highly recommended.

To reach emergency services in Tanzania dial 112 and ask for the required service.

Arusha National Park:
The park has more than 400 bird species, the most well-known amongst them the pink flamingoes that can be seen in the shallow waters of the Momela Lakes in Arusha National Park.

Lake Victoria:
Home to more than 200 diverse bird species: cormorant, goliath, great-white egret, sacred ibis and malachite kingfishers are some of the most frequently spotted species.

Lake Natron:
Boasting a diverse population of 127 bird species including ostrich, helmeted guinea fowl, coqui francolin, flamingoes, buff-crested and kori bustards, red-chested cuckoo and white-backed vulture. As well as Lake Victoria and Lake Natron, other lake destinations which are great birding locations include; Lake Eyasi, Lake Manyara-, and Lake Tanganyika are also ideal birding locations are Lake Eyasi, Lake Manyara and Lake Tanganyika.

Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park:
With the highest number of bird species around 750, its diverse habitats are home to numerous turaco species, four of which are Hartlaub’s turaco, rose turaco, Schalow’s turaco and violent-crested Turaco. There are also more than 30 species of cuckoo in the park, including klass cuckoo and emerald cuckoo.

Ngorongoro Crater:
Home to 500 bird species we mention some of the common bird species found in this area.

Ruaha National Park:
One of Ruaha National Park’s attractions is its large concentration of bird species, 450 bird species, including night-heron, storks, kingfisher, glossy ibis and goliath.

Rubondo Island National Park:
The park has around 300 bird species, which include egrets, herons, flamingoes, kingfishers, spoonbills, African fish eagles and vultures.

Serengeti National Park:
More than 500 bird species call Serengeti National Park  home. Some of them are grey-crested helmet shrike, grey-backed fiscal, Schalow’s turaco, Rupell’s vulture, Verreaux’s eagle and silverbird.

Usambara Mountains:
Usambara Mountains region is teeming with birds including little yellow flycatcher, east coast akalat, dapple-throat arcanator, southern banded snake-eagle and Fischer’s turaco.

• Arusha Game Reserve
• Lake Manyara National Park
• Lake Victoria
• Mount Kilimanjaro
• Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Ruaha National Park
• Selous Game Reserve
• Serengeti National Park
• Tarangire National Park
• Zanzibar Beaches and Historical Sites

Selous Game Reserve, the largest national park in Africa, has a high mammal population with around 150,000 African buffaloes, 40,000 hippos, 25,000 impalas, 4,000 lions, 100,000 wildebeest, and 35,100 zebras. In addition, with its 440 bird species, it is a bird watcher’s paradise. Listed below are some of the most popular wildlife species found in Selous Game Reserve.

Coming soon...

Simply put, safaris in Tanzania aren’t cheap. This is especially true if you’re looking for a more premium safari option. Day trips are usually a few hundred USD, while overnight trips range into the thousands. Generally speaking, for a seven-day trip, you can expect to spend close to $5000 USD per person.

Of course, the price will vary based on the time of travel and the type of trip. You’ll have a much more enjoyable experience if you book with an established tour company. Additionally, many of these companies also offer “mid-range” and “luxury” tour options.

Travel insurance is always recommended whenever you’re traveling anywhere. Depending on what you plan on doing, you may want to look into different options.

In some remote areas you might not but you might be able to use for example ‘Hotspot’.

In some remote areas you might not but in most places, you should be able to or use Hotspot.

Appreciated but not expected, you should feel free to tip your tour and safari guides based on the quality and experience of the tour. When visiting hotels and resorts, tip as you usually would anywhere else.

The power grid in Tanzania is 220-240v, meaning that you will need a converter for any 110v devices that can’t handle the higher voltage. You may also come across Type G (BS-1363) plugs and Type D (BS-546) outlets, both of which require converters. Again, be sure to call ahead at the resort or hotel you’re staying to see what type of adapter you need to bring.