Purchasing your Air Ticket

Before departure, you will be required to purchase an appropriate air ticket to and from your tour destination. Double check your flight departure and arrival day, time and flight number and ensure that we are supplied with these details well in advance. These details will be very important to facilitate your arrival meet and greet service.

Before you leave
Double-check your airline reservation; make sure there have been no changes.

Get vaccinations six weeks in advance if possible, a Yellow Fever certificate is necessary when visiting Zanzibar (you don't need the actual shot) - be sure to ask for one at the travel clinic.

Some clinics prescribe malaria prophylactic pills (e.g., Lariam) however, you will have less risk of side effects if you simply wear long sleeve shirts and pants at dusk - and use an insect repellent containing DEET (e.g., Off, Deep Woods).

Fill personal prescriptions if necessary for the duration of your trip.

Purchase travel insurance (for int’l medical/dental) from an independent travel insurance agency; be sure to get trip cancellation and medical evacuation coverage.

Make sure you have flight insurance coverage (for lost luggage, delay, or cancellation) many credit card companies offer flight insurance if you purchase your ticket with the card.

Personal effects (clothes, camera, etc) are normally covered on your renter's or home insurance - they will not be covered by travel or flight insurance - be sure to verify that you have coverage.

Get entry Visas at least one month in advance, ensure passport is updated and will not expire while you are overseas. US/UK/EU/Canadian citizens can purchase visas at the border or airport of most African countries, other nationalities should make sure they have their visas in advance.

Make 2 copies of passports, visas, tickets & immunization records (hide one copy in suitcase somewhere and leave other copy with friend or relative to hold in case of emergency).

Take about one hundred dollars in cash ($20 bills or smaller) for driver, guide, and porter tips, visa fees, airport tax.

You may want to rent a powerful zoom lens for safari photos – 300-500mm lens is standard when taking game viewing photographs (1000mm and tripod needed for good bird pictures), also a good pair of binoculars and/or good zoom digital video camera if you wish.

Packing: carry-on bag

At least one major credit card (ATM cards will work in most cities - but it's easier if you connect your VISA/ Mastercard to your bank account for use in the automatic teller machine

Money belt, or travel pouch (make sure the pouch hangs/clips inside your pants or shirt), do NOT use a fanny pack.

Tickets, itinerary

Immunization records (International Travel Immunization Record – required for some countries)
Passports/visas, plus copies of everything
List of emergency contact numbers
Sun Hat or cap, sunglasses, clip-ons for regular glasses
Extra set of eyeglasses or contacts
Pick up many rolls of film before even getting to the airport, the price of film increases dramatically at the airports and overseas.
Bird or mammal field guides, Africa travel book
Reading material
Blow-up travel pillow (helps for sleeping during the flight)
Earplugs & blinders (for sleeping on the overnight flights or anti-snoring during camping)

Packing: medicines

Basic stuff (band aids, gauze, tape, first-aid cream, Betadine, pick up a kit from EMS, LLBean, or wherever)
Swiss army knife (do not take in carry-on, it will be confiscated at airport security)
Antibacterial hand gel (very useful when water is scarce)
Personal prescription medications (whatever you need)
Pepto-bismol tablets, chewable (important)
Imodium A-D or other diarrhoea medicine
If you wear contact lenses, bring eye medicine (Neosporin eye drops)
Tylenol, aspirin, Advil or other painkiller
Benadryl pills or other antihistamine
Cold/flu medicine (important)
Mosquito repellent (DEET 35% concentration – DeetPlus, Repel or Deep Woods, to spray on skin)
Sunscreen, aloe vera gel

Mount Climbing: Glucose tablets (critical for the final summit push on Kilimanjaro and Kenya) and recommended prescribed medicines: dysentery antibiotic pills (Cipro), altitude pills for Kilimanjaro (Diamox)

Packing: toiletry bag

Manual shaver & extra blades
Deodorant stick (not aerosol)
Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss
Shampoo and hair conditioner (in small leak proof bottles)
Bar soap with soap bag/container
Chapstick for dry lips
Disposable contact lenses
Vitamins
For camping and mount climbing - Toilet paper and quick-drying camping towel

Safety:

Remove your watch and jewellery in big cities to avoid being a target. Never wear an external money pouch or use a wallet in your pocket or have a loose backpack. Keep things inside your clothing and out of sight. Take care of your valuables concealing jewellery, watches and hold handbags tightly when walking on streets. Gold neck chains can be snatched with ease and it’s not advisable to wear them. Keep valuables in the hotels safe. Do not leave money, passport, jewellery or watches in the rooms or tent; you carry them with you at all times. Avoid being out late at night in town or on a deserted beach. Africa is a wonderful place, but as in any poor economy, there are those hungry enough to steal for their dinner.

Currency and banking

The amount of money in any currency brought into the country is not limited. Only change your money at the hotels, in official banks and bureau de change. Travelers’ checks, US Dollars, and major credit cards are widely acceptable. However, you should change some small amount into local currency to use for tipping and buying curios. The currency in Tanzania is the Tanzania shilling and is divided into 100 cents.

Dar es Salaam , Arusha and other principal towns have banks with a bureau de change. Banking hours are 0900am to 3.00p.m, Monday to Friday and 9.00a.m to 11.00am on the first and last Saturday of the month.


Shopping and bargaining.

Shop hours are from 8.30am to 12.30pm and from 2.00pm to 5.00pm Mondays to Fridays and 8.30am to 12.30pm on Saturdays. Tourist shops usually remain open beyond these hours and through lunch hour. Bargaining is particularly used in markets and curio shops. Requesting for the final best price is almost expected and starts off knowing you are being charged tourist prices and end up paying what you think the item is worth to you. Do not purchase game skins, trophies or elephant hair bracelets. These items are prohibited as hunting was banned in 1976.

Photography

Ask for permission before photographing local people. Your driver/guide will assist you in this and will possibly help you agree on modeling fee. Do not take photographs of any official buildings such as airports; military installations, border posts or roadblocks. Wildlife can easily be photographed you just ask the driver to stop and ask any questions you may have about the animals, terrain, people and their culture. It is advisable to carry your cameras in dust-proof bags on safaris, especially in the dry season. Films are available in hotels and lodges but it is advisable to stock up in Nairobi as there is variety and are cheap.

Communications

Phones and fax facilities are available in Nairobi, Mombasa, Mount Kenya Safari Club, most lodges/Tented Camps and major towns. E-mail services can also be found from lodges and also hotel (ask at the reception).

Other important points

Please be punctual for all departures, game drive and schedules so as to make maximum use of your holiday time. Departure transfers for international flights are usually two and half-hours prior to flight times. Day rooms are reserved till 6.00pm.

For further information of Kenya Tanzania travel tips, East African tour safari tips, safari packing list, African safari packing list, Africa vacation travel tips, tipping, currency Kenya holiday tips, African holiday Tanzania tips for travel, do not hesitate to contact us for more details as may be required.