Tanzania - Climb Kilimanjaro and go on Safari

Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and one of the famous "Seven Summits" is the dream destination for many mountaineers. But Tanzania offers its visitors much more: mountain tours through equatorial Africa up to the glaciers, impressive safaris in the numerous national parks, an extraordinary flora and fauna, proud tribal cultures and the paradisiacal beaches at the Indian Ocean. This diverse country is sure to enchant you!
Travel to Mountains is "partner for responsible travel” of the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC) and the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP). This partnership guarantees fair wages to the local teams, good working conditions, adequate equipment and further education programmes. To learn more, please visit www.kiliporters.org.

About Tanzania:

Geography & Landscape of Tanzania

Tanzania, since 1964 the "United Republic of Tanzania", is the largest country in East Africa and borders the Indian Ocean to the east, Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) to the west, and Sambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south. Some of the country‘s borders are formed by rivers and lakes, such as Lake Victoria, Africa‘s largest lake by area, to the north-east, and Lake Malawi to the south. The total area of Tanzania is 945,097 km2 and with that, over 11 times larger than Austria. The official capital is Dodoma, but Dar es Salaam is the largest city and also the seat of government and has more than 2.5 million inhabitants.
The landscape of Tanzania is characterized by large plateaus. The most prominent is the central plateau, which stretches over most of the north and west of the country. Its elevation is about 1200 m. Enormous mountains, created by volcanic activity in the African Rift Valley, rise up from the plains and, being "cloud catchers", have a major influence on the climate. Two of the four highest mountains of the African continent, Mt. Meru (4566 m) and the glaciated Mt. Kilimanjaro (5895 m), also called the "roof of Africa", sit like majesties in the north of Tanzania. Tanzania is a country of extremes: The spectrum of vegetation and landscapes ranges from tropical rainforests to the lava deserts of extinct volcanoes and the eternal ice of the Kilimanjaro glaciers. While cloud forests can be found on the mountain slopes, two-thirds of the country is covered by huge dry forests and savannahs like the Masai savannah. Near the coast, lush tropical vegetation with palm trees dominates.
On the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, situated about 50 km off the coast in the Indian Ocean, you will find numerous vanilla, clove and other spice and fruit trees in addition to coconut palms. Another scenic feature of this region are the mangrove trees, which can reach a height of up to 5 m. Between the two islands and the mainland, coral gardens with their huge diversity of underwater animals and plants have formed over thousands of years. In addition to famous diving areas, white beaches and crystal clear waters, Zanzibar’s "StoneTown", the historic centre of Zanzibar City, is a lively maze of streets with many beautiful shops and old Arabic houses. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
Tanzania was home to some of the oldest hominid settlements in the world. According to paleoanthropologists, the cradle of mankind lies in the Tanzanian Rift Valley. In the Olduvai Gorge, for example, over 3 million old footprints of upright walking hominids as well as pieces of jaws and bones of Australopithecus and Homo habilis were found.

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Fauna & National Parks of Tanzania

Tanzania boasts a unique biodiversity, mostly due to the efforts in active nature conservation. The world-famous Serengeti is home to the largest population of wildlife in the world, living far removed from human civilization. The most sought-after "Big Five" on any photo safari are elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard. But there are also many other mammals, birds and reptiles. In order to protect these animals, Tanzania has now created ten national parks and seven game reserves, including Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and the famous Serengeti NP. With its reserves, nature reserves, marine and national parks, Tanzania protects 38 % of its territory - much more than many of the world‘s wealthier nations.
Every year, a fascinating natural spectacle takes place in the Serengeti: About 1.2 million wildebeests, as well as 200,000 zebras and 400,000 gazelles, topis and antelopes migrate in huge herds, driven by the search for nutritious grasses, covering about 3,000 kilometres annually while being hunted by predators.

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Climate & Trekking weather in Tanzania

Tanzania is a tropical country and has warm to hot temperatures all year round due to its proximity to the equator. The day is roughly divided into 12 daylight hours and 12 hours of darkness. The coastal regions and the islands are mostly under a hot and tropical climate (25 - 35°C) with high humidity (70 – 85 %) and warm nights. The central plateau, at an altitude of about 1200 m, has bigger changes in temperature: very dry and warm days (up to 35°C) and rather cool nights. In the cities of Arusha and Moshi, it is often very hot during the day (over 38°C) and it rarely cools down at night. The Kilimanjaro area enjoys a moderate climate all year round with average temperatures around 22°C. During the nights, it is usually very cool and on Kilimanjaro, above 4500 m, there can even be light snowfall during the dry season.
Tanzania has two dry seasons: the "warm" dry season from mid-December to mid-March and the "cooler" one from the beginning of July to mid-October. The dry seasons are interrupted by two rainy seasons: the "long" rains from April to June and the "short" rains from October to the beginning of December. The peak season for safari trips is in July and August during the migration of the animals. The best conditions for mountain climbing are during the dry season, as Kibo is usually clear in these periods. However, these are also the most popular times for climbing Kilimanjaro. In contrast, June, October and March are relatively quiet.

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Health & Vaccinations

Vaccinations are currently not required for Nepal but, as with most long-distance trips, vaccinations against tetanus, diphtheria, typhoid fever, polio and hepatitis A and B are recommended. For longer stays, vaccinations against cholera and meningitis are recommended.
Please note - yellow fever vaccination: A compulsory yellow fever vaccination is only necessary if you enter the country by land from a yellow fever area (e.g. overland trip from Kenya to Tanzania). Do bring your international vaccination card!
NOTE for flights via Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airways) or via Nairobi (KLM, Air Kenya): For entry into Tanzania after a stopover in a yellow fever area (Ethiopia, Kenya), a yellow fever vaccination is only required if you left the airport during the stopover or had at least a 12-hour stay at the airport. If you are asked for proof of a yellow fever vaccination, please show your ticket indicating that you have only had a transit stay of less than 12 hours.
NOTE for entering Zanzibar: You don’t need to be vaccinated against yellow fever when travelling to Zanzibar anymore. If you travel to Zanzibar, you will receive a confirmation letter of the Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors (www.zati.org) to show upon inquiry at the airport.
Malaria: Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the whole country. However, areas above 2000 m above sea level are generally considered too high for the malaria mosquito. For your stay in Moshi or during a safari, we recommend the following protective measures: effective insect repellent, clothing covering the whole body, insect sprays to impregnate the clothing, hotels with air conditioning and/or mosquito nets at night on tented safaris.
Please consult your doctor!
Your first-aid kit should contain – among other things - treatment for insect bites, fever, pain, and diarrhoea. We also recommend bringing antibiotics. It should also contain dressing material, plasters, wound disinfectant. Make sure you also bring sun protection.
Please note that medical care in Tanzania does not conform to Western standards. HIV infections are high - precaution is therefore strongly advised. Please take this into account when taking out insurance cover.

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Drinking water

Drink only boiled/filtered/disinfected water (or bottled water). If you should decide to buy bottled water, make sure the seal is intact. Never drink water from the tap, a well or stream without first disinfecting (e.g. Micropur) or filtering it (e.g. Katadyn). Brushing teeth with untreated water is usually not a problem. On the trekking tour, we recommend treating the water with a disinfectant (e.g. Micropur) or filtering it (e.g. Katadyn). Boiled water (tea, soup) is usually fine.
Please note that single use plastic bottles are not allowed on the mountain. You will get boiled water from your kitchen crew. They will fill your drinking bottle (Sigg, Nalgene etc. or thermos bottle). If you wish, you can disinfect the boiled water, but this is not necessary..
In order to counteract the increasing plastic problem, we ask our customers to refrain from buying bottled water and instead to disinfect or filter regular brook or well water... Thank you for your contribution!

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Language & Population

Tanzania is a multi-ethnic state with about 41 million people belonging to more than 130 ethnic groups. The country is characterized by many different cultures, religions, traditions and partly also different dialects. A total of 128 languages are spoken. The national language is Swahili. In addition, English and Arabic as well as Bantu dialects are spoken.

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Time difference

The time difference between Uzbekistan time and CET is + 3h.

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Electricity

In Tanzania, the power plugs and sockets are of type D and G (three pins). You will need an adapter for 240 Volt/50 Hz. Usually, you can borrow one from the hotel. Chargers with two-pin EU plugs can usually be used without an adapter.

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Currency & Money

The official currency in Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling (Tsh, TZS), the current exchange rate being EUR 1,- = approx. TZS 2.600,- (March 2020). One Tanzanian shilling is divided into 100 cents.
There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency you can bring but you must declare it at customs. You can only exchange your money for Tsh in Tanzania, so bring US dollars or Euro in cash.
Please make sure that the notes (especially USD) are new, otherwise they will be exchanged at a less favourable rate.
You can change money on arrival at the airport or in an exchange office during the drives. Large bills (US $ 50.- and 100.-) will be exchanged at a better rate.
Credit cards/bank cards: There are now a number of cash machines (ATMs) in Tanzania to withdraw money. In general, however, we still recommend taking cash with you and using the ATM card only for emergencies, as you cannot always rely on the machines. Please note that the GeoControl protection program for bank cards has been in force since 2014. For cash withdrawals outside Europe, your bank card must be activated by your bank. Please contact your bank!
You are not allowed to take Tanzanian shillings out of Tanzania. You are only permitted to take foreign currency out of the country up to the amount declared on entry. No restrictions are known with regard to goods. It is prohibited to export items made from material of protected animals not complying with the regulations of the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

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Tipping

Our local staff are paid fair wages typical for the country. However, the teams are always happy to get additional recognition of their work, which is usually reflected in tips. Tips are often expected and a source of additional income that they rely on. Please plan for the following tips for the teams:
Mt. Meru: about USD 80 to 100,- per trekker; Kilimanjaro: about USD 120 to 150,- per trekker. It is best to pool all the participants’ tips and distribute the money at the end of the trekking tour. Gratuity should ideally be paid in local currency but can also be paid in US dollars or Euros (please give only notes, no coins!). Tips vary depending on the size of the group and the duration of the trek. The joining instructions which you will receive approx. 1 month before departure will have more detailed information on tipping.
Please note: The tip is an expression of your satisfaction with the staff and it is up to you how much you tip. We advise you to tip each porter or guide personally at the end of the tour and not to give a lump sum to the guide. It may lead to misunderstandings.
Otherwise, you’ll need hardly any money on the mountain, but it is always a good idea to have a few single US dollars (10 - 20) or Tanzanian shillings in your pocket.

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Visa and entry procedures for Tanzania

EU passport holders, with the exception of Romania, need a visa. The same applies for citizens of the UK, Switzerland, Iceland and Norway. The visa fee is USD 50,- (single entry) and is valid for 90 days. You can apply for it online up to six months in advance. Processing takes about 10 working days.

For more information please visit https://www.immigration.go.tz/index.php/en/services/visa-information and https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/guidelines. Your passport needs to be valid for another 6 months at the end of your stay and should have at least 2 blank pages for each country you visit. It should be in good condition (to tears or marks).  

Visa requirements and charges can change without notice. It is your responsibility to make sure you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate or Department for Immigration of your destination country. (Information as of February 2020)

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