FAQs

General Tanzania Travel FAQs

 Below some of the most frequently asked questions about traveling to Tanzania that will help you get started to prepare for an adventure of a lifetime.

Is it safe to travel to Tanzania?

Tanzania is as safe as any other African country. Caution should be used at all times.

Some precautionary measures to take include but are not limited to:

Lock valuables in hotel safes.

Do not carry large quantities of cash with you.

Do not carry a lot of camera equipment.

Avoid wearing flashy jewellery.

Regularly check your government websites to see if any travel restrictions have been given

Yellow fever

If you’re coming from a country with yellow fever, you’ll need a vaccination certificate. It’s also recommended to get the vaccination before you leave, as it’s effective for 10 years. 

Hepatitis A

This liver disease can be contracted from contaminated food or water, so it’s often recommended to get vaccinated or a booster before traveling to Tanzania. 

Influenza

The risk of getting the flu is present all year round in tropical climates, so it’s recommended to get vaccinated.  

Other recommended vaccinations include polio, rabies, hepatitis B, and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis). 

Malaria is also a risk in Tanzania, but there’s no vaccination for it. You may need to take antimalarial tablets, so you can consult a travel clinic to discuss your options. You can also take steps to prevent bug bites by cleaning the area, avoiding scratching, and using over-the-counter remedies like hydrocortisone or antihistamines. 

Never drink directly from the tap in Tanzania, always have bottled or boiled water instead. Avoid ice, raw vegetables and fruit at street restaurants. However, high end lodges and hotels often take great precautions when preparing your food and ensure that it is clean and well cooked.

 

There are a number of hospitals around. If you get seriously sick or injured you will be evacuated by flying doctor. Your safari packages include ‘Emergency Evacuation Services with AMREF’s Flying Doctors’ for two weeks.

All travelers entering Tanzania must comply with official government immigration regulations.(Please note that these rules/requirements are different for every nationality and may change from time to time without notice).

There are three primary methods to obtain a visa:

  1. Online Application (Recommended)
    • Submit your application 6 weeks before travel
    • Visit the official e-Visa portal
    • Most convenient and secure method
  2. Visa on Arrival
    • Available for eligible nationalities
    • Processing at major entry points
    • May require additional waiting time
  3. Tanzania Diplomatic Consulates
    • Application through local embassies
    • In-person submission may be required
    • Processing times vary by location

Important Notes:

  • Immigration policies are subject to change without prior notice
  • Always verify current requirements through official channels
  • Consult the Tanzania Immigration website for detailed information
  • Keep travel documents updated and readily available

For the most efficient processing, we strongly recommend applying through the e-Visa system at least six weeks before your intended travel date. For more information, please visit: www.eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/

Mt. Kilimanjaro Climbing

So you have decided that you would like to climb Kilimanjaro, what next?
You will obviously have many questions that you would like answered to help you to prepare for your adventure of a lifetime; but where do you start? Below some of the most frequently asked questions that will help you prepare to climb Kilimanjaro.

When is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro?
It is possible to climb Mount Kilimanjaro all year round; however the months outside of the rainy seasons are more desirable. The best months are from December to March, and July to October. The finest weather is usually at the beginning of the year from January to March, which are typically the warmest and driest months of the year.
 
There are 6 routes used to climb Kilimanjaro, each has its own characteristics and offers a different perspective and challenge. The most popular route is the Marangu route; or Coca Cola route as it is also known, which attracts the majority of all visitors to Kilimanjaro. The Machame; or Whisky route as it is known is also a very popular route and as a result can also be very busy; these routes are typically completed in 5-6 days. The Lemosho and Shira routes approach Kibo from the West and offer a quieter approach as these are less populated routes. The Rongai route approaches from the North and is also a quieter route. These three routes can be completed in 6-8 days which will assist with acclimatization and increase the chances of reaching the summit. Finally there is the Umbwe route the shortest and most direct route to the summit; it is also the least popular and toughest of all the routes.

We have a maximum of 8 people per group. We believe that a small, intimate group is one of the most important factors to ensure our guests will have an amazing experience on Kilimanjaro. We can arrange trips for larger groups if required.
Will I need to purchase travel insurance?
You must arrange adequate travel insurance for your Kilimanjaro trek. You should ensure that your policy covers you for high altitude climbing as most standard policies will not include this. More information is available on our Kilimanjaro insurance page.

Anyone of reasonable fitness should be capable of summiting Kilimanjaro; it is more likely that altitude sickness, rather than a lack of physical fitness will prevent you from summiting. That said the more preparation and training that you can do prior to climbing Kilimanjaro the more enjoyable you will find it.

You do not require any technical equipment on Mount Kilimanjaro; however you will experience changing weather conditions and be exposed to temperatures ranging from +30 degrees to -25 degrees, so you should be prepared for this. You should take thin layers that can be added, or taken away depending on the weather conditions. But remember there is a limit to the weight that the porters can carry and your kit bag must be a maximum of 15Kg. You will also have a rucksack that will contain your basic kit for a day’s walking.
On average you will walk between 3 and 6 miles per day, apart from the summit night when you will walk up to 15 miles. You will usually start your days trekking around 8am and walk for between 4 and 8 hours per day (longer on summit night).
Please see routes overview page for more details.
Apart from the first day when you will bring bottled water from the hotel for your first days walking, the porters will collect your drinking water daily from streams located near the camps. Although the water is generally clean enough to drink, your porters will boil enough water for your next day walking. You may wish to bring additional water treatment tablets, if you have a particularly sensitive stomach.
Unfortunately there is no way of ensuring that you will not suffer from AMS as it affects everyone differently. The safest way to ascend to high altitude is by going slowly; the more days you have at altitude and the slower the rate of assent; the greater that chance you have of acclimatizing and ultimately reaching the summit. If you have had no experience of altitude climbing, or trekking; then you may wish to consider the Kilimanjaro treks lasting 7 days or more; such as the Lemosho route, or Rongai routes. In addition to this you should drink plenty of fluids and you may wish to consider taking medication such as Diamox and Ibuprofen to help treat the symptoms. Please visit the altitude sickness for more information.
For information on health and vaccinations for Tanzania, please visit our vaccinations page.

Wildlife Safaris

So you have decided that you would like to  go for Epic Tanzania Safari; what next? You obviously have many questions that you would like answered to help you to prepare for your Safari adventure of a lifetime; but where do you start? You will find below some of the most frequently asked questions that that will help you prepare to Tanzania Safari Holiday.

When is the best time of year to go on a safari?

The best time to go on a Tanzania safari is during the dry season from June to October. This is when the wildebeest migration travels through the Serengeti and the animals are easier to spot near water sources.

Tanzania is as safe as any other African country. Caution should be used at all times.

Some precautionary measures to take include but are not limited to:

Lock valuables in hotel safes.

Do not carry large quantities of cash with you.

Do not carry a lot of camera equipment.

Avoid wearing flashy jewellery.

Regularly check your government websites to see if any travel restrictions have been given

Never drink directly from the tap in Tanzania, always have bottled or boiled water instead. Avoid ice, raw vegetables and fruit at street restaurants. However, high end lodges and hotels often take great precautions when preparing your food and ensure that it is clean and well cooked.

 

There are a number of hospitals around. If you get seriously sick or injured you will be evacuated by flying doctor. Your safari packages include ‘Emergency Evacuation Services with AMREF’s Flying Doctors’ for two weeks.

There will be a number of different insects around including but not limited to mosquitoes, spiders, worms, grasshoppers, crickets and Tes-tse flies. However, with some preparation and caution they should not bother you much. Our advice is that you wear long sleeved shirts and long trousers/skirts in the evenings and night time. Be sure to pack some insect repellant too, and ensure that you have spoken to your doctor about what malaria medication to take.

Let us know and we will tailor your safari to be as child-friendly as possible. I’m traveling with young children – is a safari a suitable holiday? We can arrange for family rooms, accommodation with great swimming pools and more. We will also be able to recommend extras to add to your safari to make it more exciting for your little one(s).

Consult your doctor about

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Typhoid
  • Yellow fever (Proof of this may be required at the airport upon entry)
  • Tetanus
  • Polio
  • MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
  • Meningococcal Meningitis (Africa/Asia)

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