Frequently askedQuestions

The airport tax is included in the purchase price of your ticket, also the airport tax for the airports and domestic flights in Tanzania. If this is not included, it will be stated on the confirmation of your flight.

You can view the departure and arrival times of your flights via www.schiphol.nl. You can also subscribe to a notification service. This will keep you (or the person who takes you/picks you up) automatically informed of the current flight information.

Upon arrival at the airport of Tanzania; Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar, a driver from Explore Tanzania will meet you in the arrival hall. You will recognize him by the name sign from Explore Tanzania.

Make sure your trip is known to those at home. You’ll receive the travel documents two weeks before departure. Here you’ll find the names of your hotels in Tanzania and the contact details of the safari company and / or the contact person on location. Please also pass on the address and telephone number of the Explore Tanzania office in Apeldoorn to those who stay at home. If necessary, they can contact Explore Tanzania.

• Respect nature and environment;
• Don’t participate in activities that cause animal suffering or play poachers;
• Don’t order meat from a restaurant that you suspect is from an endangered species;
• If you go diving or snorkeling, leave coral and shells alone. Don’t step on it or touch it, just leave it as it is;
• Don’t purchase items and products made from protected animals (sea turtles, large cats, rhinos, elephants or coral).

Do you want to know what a good time is to travel through Tanzania? Then view our page ‘‘Tanzania – When to go ‘ .

Are you going on a safari? And do you want to see the animals well? Then bring your binoculars! If you can afford it, a magnification of 7 to 10 times is recommended. Avoid permafocus binoculars. These give tired eyes and no sharp image. Also avoid binoculars that focus or zoom electrically. Very small binoculars are difficult to hold.
Does everyone want to take a good look at the same time? Then we recommend binoculars per person (from your travel group).

The price of a safari is determined by many factors. An average budget is € 325 – € 450 p.p. per day, excluding international flights and any local flights. For this money, you enjoy a nice and comfortable safari, where you’ll see a lot of the landscape and the animals. A more expensive safari gives more luxury, but not guaranteed a better safari experience. But can this amount also be somewhat reduced?

• A similar program is cheaper when you travel in a group than if you go privately. Besides, a group safari can also be a lot of fun! You could consider going with more people so that you can use the capacity of the entire Landcruiser.
• You overnight stay partly determines the price you pay. Real camping in a small tent and the somewhat larger and older lodges are slightly cheaper. You can opt for the small-scale, but comfortable, lodges and tented camps in Tanzania.
• If you spend the night outside the parks you save accommodation costs for yourself, the car and the driver/guide. After all, a large part of your travel sum is already spent on entrance fees to the parks, on average around $ 60-80 p.p. per day (and you also pay for the car, the driver/guide). If you decide to stay the night, entrance fees are added.
• Considering self drive? We admit it sounds great. However, in Tanzania this is only for the very experienced traveller. Due to the short depreciation time of the car, it’s also not really cheap. On the other hand, the chance of damage due to poor road surface is high and the insurance does not always cover all damage. In contrast to South Africa and Namibia, the roads in Tanzania are very poor and the gasoline expensive.
• Exploring without a guide is possible, but without knowledge of the area you don’t know where you are. Getting lost on the unmarked sandy paths in the Serengeti is very easy and without a guide you’ll see fewer wild animals anyway.
• Saving on tips is also not an option, because tips in Tanzania are an important part of the income. The guide’s entire family counts on it.
• You could, however, limit yourself to two or three parks.
• Don’t go on a safari every day, but also plan a day off or a cultural visit to the population, a market or a sporting activity such as cycling or walking etc.
• Or interrupt your safari with a few beach days at the coast or on one of the islands off the coast, whether or not lazy in your hammock or with a water sport activity such as diving, swimming, snorkeling, sailing, fishing, kiting, canoeing etc.

Do you want to contribute to a better world as Jane Goodall envisions it? Then, like us, support Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots program.

You must be at the international airport approximately 3 hours before the departure time. Keep the stated check-in time as an indication for this. For some airlines you have to take extra check-in time into account, as there may be extra security checks.

Avoid the crowds and the queues at the airport. With internet check-in you can check in for your flight (at home) online, select your seat yourself and immediately print and email your boarding pass. Or arrange everything via the KLM app (download for apple or android).

Online check-in is only possible for:

• passengers with an e-ticket;
• passengers with a confirmed booking;
• groups of max. 9 passengers;
• passengers travelling with checked luggage that meets the weight limits;
• passengers departing from an airport where online check-in is possible.

You can check in online from 30 hours up to 1 hour before the departure of your flight. Look for this on the website of your airline.
You do not need to check in in advance for a domestic flight.

Don’t take too much (clothing) with you! On our website, you’ll find a packing list, with advice for the clothes that you can take with you. Or watch the video; ‘How to pack for a trip to Tanzania’.
You don’t have to look great on and during your trip. Take comfortable and practical clothing with you. Are you going on a safari? Then choose clothing in “safari colors”, such as green, khaki, brown and gray. White or bright colors can scare the animals. This is especially important if you go on a walking safari.

In the evenings and in the morning, it can be chilly (especially in the higher areas) and it’s hot during the day. Therefore, bring clothing you can wear in layers.

Laundry
If you are in an accommodation for longer than two nights, you can have your clothes washed there for a fee (not underwear). To wash is not possible in our Green Camps or any of the other safari camps.

Respect the culture
Zanzibar is a predominantly Muslim island. Therefore, keep in mind (when you arrive at the airport, if you visit a village or town) that your body is covered from shoulders to knees. This is greatly appreciated by the locals.
Don’t worry if you’re lying on the beach or going for a swim; the Zanzibari’s have gotten used to that by now.

The climate in Tanzania is generally tropical. The coast is often warm and humid, but on the beaches the sea breeze provides cooling. The average daytime temperature is 30°C.
Tanzania has two rainy periods: the long rains from late March to early June and the short rains from November to mid-December. During the long rains, short heavy showers can fall, the short rains are less heavy. The hottest period of the year is from December to March, before the long rains begin. The coolest months are June, July and August with an average temperature of 20-25°C. In high-lying areas, such as Kilimanjaro and the highlands of Ngorongoro, it can get cold.

Phone
The country code for Tanzania is +255.
With your mobile phone, you can reach Tanzania almost entirely, except for very remote areas. To make a phone call, you can buy a Tanzanian SIM card. That’s cheaper than calling with your international SIM card. SIM cards and prepaid calling credit can be purchased in Tanzania, or better online in The Netherlands.

Internet
Almost all hotels and lodges have WiFi. There are internet cafes in the bigger cities.
Or create your own WiFi hotspot with we.stream. WiFi is not always available in the safari camps.

Letters
International mail takes about a week.

For the latest information on COVID-19, see our Tanzania travel advice page.

“Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints”
It is forbidden to bring shells, shields, skins, coral and ivory from Tanzania. You can find more information about what you can and cannot take with you on the customs website.

Summer 2022 was busy at Schiphol and that could well happen again. Longer waiting times will be unavoidable on certain days. With your help, the nuisance can be reduced.

Be on time but not too early
What time you are expected at Schiphol differs per flight. Your airline will indicate in advance how far in advance you are expected. On the app of Schiphol you can see how busy it will be. Do not arrive hours earlier than what your airline advices, because then the security control or the check-in desk will not yet be open for your flight and you ensure that the lines are unnecessarily longer.

Check in online for your flight
Many airlines allow you to check in online at home. This saves time at the check-in counters.

Limit your hand luggage and limit it to 1 bag
Pay close attention to what you can and cannot put in your hand luggage and thus avoid extra work for the security personnel. You do not have to take any liquids or electronics out of your bag at Schiphol; so leave that in.

Follow directions
Schiphol staff, but also employees of your airline company, are informed about the best way to guide passengers. This can e.g. in hall 1 are different than in the other halls. Do not argue, but follow the directions as best you can.

Stay friendly and kind
The employees at Schiphol are doing their best, but there are a lot of people flying this summer. Therefore, stay friendly and kind. With your cooperation, your visit to Schiphol can go quickly and efficiently.

Do you have special dietary requirements or wishes? Or does this apply to your child (ren)? Inform us at least three weeks before departure so that we can take this into account or have it taken into account. Even if there are allergies or other health risks, we would like to hear that.

Do not drink water from the tap. Try not to take ice and ice cubes, no fruit juices mixed with water and no food prepared with tap water. You can buy bottled water almost everywhere. If you buy a bottle of water, check if the bottle is sealed.
Explore Tanzania puts a lot of effort into limiting the amount of plastic that enters the parks (mainly bottles of mineral water). To limit our waste, we have made agreements with a mineral water company.
In your safari jeep (in the north of Tanzania) is a container with 20 liters of mineral water. You get a bottle you can fill. In our Green Camps there is also a container with clean mineral water in the restaurant tent. Many lodges/hotels have a (glass) bottle with drinking water in the room.

If you are going to drive in Tanzania yourself, we advice you to get yourself an international driver’s license. Driving is on the left. On Zanzibar, you need a local driver’s license.

You see it more and more and it also looks nice, but drones are only allowed in Tanzania under strict conditions. But if you’ve met all that, then it’s still not allowed above a national park.

The electricity voltage is 220 to 240V. Every now and then there are power outages. So don’t be surprised if the electricity goes out (for a moment). The sockets are British (3-pin straight or 2-pin round) and can be different. So take a world plug with you, it fits everywhere.

Every now and then a power failure occurs. So don’t be surprised if the electricity goes out (even).
Some lodges have a limited number of hours of electricity because they use a generator.

In a number of (camping) accommodations, such as our Green Camps, there is no electricity. We use solar energy and lanterns there.
There is a power outlet in the safari jeep (Northern Tanzania) to charge your battery.

In case of an emergency, please call the contact person on your travel documents:

• Office Explore Tanzania: (+31) 055 533 25 50
• Emergency contact Explore Tanzania: (+31) 06 27 62 64 69
• Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs: (+31) 247 247 247

Dutch Embassy in Tanzania
Garden Avenue
Umoja House, 4th floor
Dar es Salaam
Phone +255 22 219 40 00
Whatsapp +31 6 82 38 77 96
email: dar@minbuza.nl
website: http://tanzania.nlambassade.org

Dutch Consulate in Tanzania
Kwa Iddi, Olosiva
behind Lutherian Chruch
Sakina, Arusha
telefoon: +255 768 045 48 / +255 784 737 542
e-mail nlconsaru@habari.co.tz

Begian Embassy in Tanzania
Barack Obama Road, 5
Dar es Salaam
Phone: +255 22 211 26 88/ +255 22 211 25 03/ +255 22 211 40 25
Emergency contact outside office hours: +255 75 478 21 56
email: DarEsSalaam@diplobel.fed.be
website: www.diplomatie.belgium.be/tanzania

British Embassy in Tanzania
Hamburg Avenue, P.O. Box 9200
Dar es Salaam
Phone: +255 22 229 0000
Emergency contact outside office hours: +255 0 22 229 0000
email: bhc.dar@fco.gov.uk
website: https://www.british-consulate.org/british-embassy-in-tanzania.html

US Embassy in Tanzania
686 Old Bagamoyo Road
Dar es Salaam
Phone: + 255 22 229 4000
website: https://tz.usembassy.gov/embassy/dar-es-salaam/

Choice
During your trip there is often an extensive choice of international dishes. The lodges and camps with which Explore Tanzania cooperates have a good and hygienic kitchen.

Drinks
International soft drink brands are available everywhere. Local beer brands include Safari, Kilimanjaro, Tusker and Serengeti.

Hygiene
Most tourists who visit Tanzania come from countries with few problems with hygiene. As a result, our immune system is not well prepared for the level of hygiene in Tanzania.

Important:

• wash your hands before eating.
• You can eat fried, boiled and peeled food.
• do not eat salads if you do not know how they are prepared (for example with tap water); the cooks of the lodges and camps of Explore Tanzania use purified water.
• only eat cooked meat or fish.
• only eat fresh ingredients, prepared under clean conditions.

Are you in doubt? Just don’t eat it.
Are you following a certain diet? Inform us of this at least 3 weeks before departure.

Local food and drinks
A Tanzanian breakfast consists of a mug of sweet tea with milk and a chapati (kind of pancake) or mandazi (kind of oliebol). A lot of ugali is eaten in Tanzania. That is a corn porridge that is served with vegetables, meat or fish.
On the coast and on Zanzibar people eat a lot of fish, lobster and crab, prepared with coconut milk.

General advice
Don’t try new equipment during the trip, but take a camera that you already know so that you can take your photo(s) at important moments. Store your photo and film equipment together in a tightly sealed bag, protected from sun, dust and rain.

Try turning off the sound on your camera and refraining from using flash. Sounds and flashes of light scare the animals away.

Sometimes you have to be fast! That is why a faster shutter speed is definitely recommended when photographing wild animals.

The closer, the more beautiful. This is possible with a telephoto lens. 300 mm and longer is recommended for animals. In addition, a lens from 70 to 200 mm is ideal to have with you. You want to be able to keep the device still while taking photos. This can be done, for example, by supporting it on a rice bag.

Sufficient memory and batteries
Make sure you bring enough memory cards and batteries. Batteries, memory cards and the like are more expensive in Tanzania than in the Netherlands and not available everywhere. You can charge your equipment in the safari jeep and in the lodges and camps.

Ask for permission
Not everyone in Tanzania appreciates taking photos or filming. Do you want to photograph people? Always ask for permission first. And respect it if you object. On routes where many tourists come, the Maasai ask for money for photos. Never secretly take photos, this can lead to problems. It’s really forbidden to make recordings of police officers and soldiers.

Tip: workshop fotografie: www.krijnvandergiessen.com.

And finally… Don’t forget to tag us in your photos on social media! @exploretanzania.nl on Instagram and @exploretanzania on Facebook and TikTok.

In the larger cities in Tanzania you can get modern medical help. There are also pharmacies and drug stores. However, we recommend that you take your own medication (small first aid kit) with you when travelling.

KLM has an exclusive bus service between Schiphol airport and Nijmegen & Arnhem or Maastricht & Eindhoven. We can add these free of charge when booking the KLM flight. Adding to the booking afterwards costs € 25 per person.

KLM has a zone with extra comfort in Economy Class. This zone is on all intercontinental KLM flights.

What is Economy Comfort Zone?
Economy Comfort is a zone in Economy Class with seats that have more legroom and a larger recline (reclining) option. The legroom is 10 centimeters more than with standard Economy Class seats and the backrest can go back twice as far. You’ll find the Economy Comfort Zone on the front rows in Economy Class. This allows you to disembark faster after landing. The service on board is the same as the regular Economy Class.

What does an Economy Comfort seat cost?
All passengers can reserve a seat in the Economy Comfort zone, regardless of their booking class. This is free for passengers with booking classes B / S / X and Flying Blue Platinum participants, provided that sufficient seats are available (a seat in the Economy Comfort zone is not guaranteed). All other passengers pay a surcharge. The surcharge varies from €80 to €150 each way, depending on the duration of the flight. Flying Blue Gold members receive a 50% discount and Flying Blue Silver members receive a 25% discount on the surcharge. This discount does not apply to traveling passengers.

Reserve Economy Comfort Zone?
You can reserve a seat in the Economy Comfort Zone from 359 days to 1 hour before departure, via www.klm.nl.

In addition to the mentioned comfort option in Economy Class, KLM has two other travel classes: Premium Comfort Class and World Business Class. See also elsewhere on our website and/or ask us about the options and reservations.

In collaboration with Thalys, KLM offers the sustainable option of making the connecting transfer by train from Belgium to the Netherlands instead of by plane. When making the reservation, we would like to hear if you want to use this option. You then travel by Thalys from Brussels-South station or Antwerp-Central station to Schiphol for your connecting flight to Tanzania and back.

The official languages of Tanzania are Swahili and English. There are also many other local languages, these vary per tribe of the Tanzanian population. Outside the towns and villages people speak less English. Arabic is widely spoken along the coast, especially on Zanzibar.

It’s possible that your suitcase gets lost. Report this immediately to the agent of the airline concerned at the airport of arrival. They will try to find your suitcase as quickly as possible. Does this take too long? Then consult with us about a temporary solution.

If you travel with KLM, you can also report delays, destruction or loss of luggage directly online via a PIR form. The proof for this is your receipt / luggage tag when you drop off your suitcase. Please note, however, this notification is not a claim for compensation, you must file this separately with KLM Customer Contact Centre, whether or not through us with your authorization.

If your luggage has not been found after 21 days of being missing, it will be considered lost. According to the Montreal Convention, you can still make a claim with the airline up to 2 years after that. The compensation according to the Montreal Convention is a maximum of about €1660 pp, and concerns receipts for emergency purchases such as clothing and toiletries in case of delay, costs of repairs in case of damage and the current value of the proven lost luggage.

In view of the maximum compensation, we recommend that you take out travel luggage insurance, so that you can also claim the damage incurred from the insurance company or credit card company.

Don’t bring too much luggage!
The e-ticket of your international flight states how many kilograms and pieces of luggage you can take (for free) on your flight. You’ll also find the permitted dimensions of your luggage on the airline’s website (KLM). It’s better to take a backpack or soft bag than a (hard) suitcase. Large and hard suitcases do not fit in the safari jeep and in the small planes to Zanzibar, for example. For domestic flights, you can take a maximum of 15 kilos (sometimes 20 kg), including hand luggage. (You can find what applies to you in the travel documents.) Follow these rules, they’re in place for your safety. If you do arrive with heavy luggage, you run the risk your luggage may not be taken. Or that you have to pay an extra seat for your luggage.
Do you travel together with others? Then divide your luggage over several suitcases or travel bags. If a suitcase is lost, you still have part of your luggage.
Lock your luggage with a padlock or combination lock. You can also have your baggage sealed (sealed) at the airport.

Hand luggage
You may only take one piece of hand luggage and one accessory (for example a laptop) on board the aircraft. Sharp objects are not allowed in your hand luggage. Look for more information on the website of the airline, also in connection with liquids that you can take on board. Make sure you take some clothing, toiletries and possible medication with you in your hand luggage (on the plane), in case your suitcase gets lost or does not arrive on time.

Here you find a short video and a packing list for you trip. It contains what you can best take with you on your safari, beach or mountaineering vacation.

During the briefing prior to the climb, your guide will check whether you have the correct (quantity of) luggage with you. Prevent your luggage from weighing over 15 kilos. This is the maximum weight that the carriers can carry.

Hand luggage
Make sure you have these items in your hand luggage (in the plane), in case your suitcase is lost or does not arrive on time:

• waterproof mountain shoes (high and sturdy hiking boots category B or C). Wear your shoes during your flight, so you don’t have to take them separately in your hand luggage
• waterproof coat
• cap or hat
• sunglasses (which completely protect your eyes)
• fleece sweater / cardigan (thick and thin)
• lightweight pants (no jeans)
• waterproof pants
• two pairs of hiking socks
• head light and extra batteries
• sunscreen (minimum factor 25, preferably 50, max. 100 ml per bottle)
• any medication

Here you’ll find a packing list for your trip. It contains what you can best take with you for your Kilimanjaro climb.

Throughout the year you can catch a malaria infection in Tanzania. It’s therefore wise to protect yourself against malaria.
Malaria is caused by malaria parasites that enter the body after a mosquito sting. Only the female mosquito stings, she needs blood to make eggs. Protection against mosquito bites is always important. You must be aware that you can always get malaria, even if you are faithfully taking your malaria tablets. Malaria (Tropica) can occur as severe attacks of chills, sweating, diarrhea and fever, but also as a flu feeling that causes joints and headaches without a clear fever. Consider a fever or flu that lasts for more than two days as malaria, until proven otherwise.
Always contact a doctor immediately if you have a fever or flu-like symptoms during or after your stay in Tanzania.

You reduce the risk of malaria by following these precautions:

• Wear light-colored clothing, mosquitoes don’t like to be seen;
• Wear long pants and shirts with long sleeves from dusk;
• Use mosquito cream Anti-insect Natural line from Care Plus or citronella;
• Wear as little perfume or aftershaves as possible;
• Make sure the mosquito net has no holes and is properly impregnated with mosquito spray;
• Spray mosquito spray over your clothes and in your room;
• Cover your body with mosquito spray when you go to the toilet at night;
• Be disciplined in taking anti malaria tablets (= malaria profylaxe).

Good malaria tablets are Lariam and Malarone. However, many people suffer from the side effects of Lariam, which is why we recommend Malarone.
The malaria tablets for children are tailor-made, depending on their weight.
For more information, contact Helath Services in your area.

Tanzanians are curious about travelers. The first questions they ask you will be about your marital status, how many children you have and which church you go to. Most Tanzanians respect people with a different opinion. Drinking alcohol is accepted without problems from a female tourist, but it is inappropriate for a Tanzanian woman to drink alcohol in a bar or other public place.

Tanzanians like to communicate socially desirable. They’ll often give the answers to questions they think you want to hear. A yes does not always mean yes.

When Tanzanians meet, a whole series of questions follows: “How are you, your family, your children, your work, your house …” During the greeting, hands are shaken. Young people greet the elderly with “shikamo”, a respectful greeting. Respect for the elderly is very important in Tanzania. Tanzanian society is hierarchical and elderly and men have more power and prestige than young people and women.

See also under ‘clothing’.

Mosquito nets are available wherever necessary. So you don’t have to bring your own mosquito net.

The national currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS). (TZS 2.505 = US$ 1; exchange rate September 2023).
You’ll find banks or exchange offices at all airports and in the larger cities. In hotels, restaurants and shops you can pay with US dollars or Tanzanian shillings.
The easiest way is to convert with US dollars. You can pay with US dollars anywhere in Tanzania. For the expenses in villages, it is handy to have some Tanzanian shillings with you. It is therefore useful to withdraw local Tanzanian shillings upon arrival. You can also exchange Euros and US dollars for Tanzanian shillings at exchange offices. Banks, ATMs and exchange offices can be found at all airports and in the larger cities. Please note that you cannot exchange Tanzanian shillings for euros at Schiphol Airport.

The bigger lodges, hotels and shops accept credit cards (Mastercard, Visa, American Express or Eurocard). For this, usually around 5 percent commission is charged.

Do you want to withdraw cash? There are ATM’s in Arusha, Karatu, Dar es Salaam and in Zanzibar, among others.
However, it happens that the ATMs do not work. So make sure you take enough cash with you when you travel. Make sure your bank card has been converted to “outside of Europe”.

There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency with which you can enter Tanzania, but amounts to more than US$ 10,000 must be declared to customs.

We discourage giving money or gifts to the locals, such as pens, booklets, toys or clothing. Your arrival is already a form of income for Tanzania and its population. You give Tanzanians the greatest pleasure in showing respect and interest in their culture. Do you still want to give something away? For example, give fruit (to orphans) you’ve bought at a local market. In this way, you also support local entrepreneurs.

You don’t have to bring your own mosquito net. These are available wherever needed.

Here you’ll find a packing list for your trips. It contains what you can best take with you on your safari, beach or mountaineering vacation.

Do you also want to park your car cheaply and safely at Schiphol? Book a parking space here well in advance of your flight.
Parking is possible at P3 Long-Term Parking, uncovered or in the garage. A shuttle bus takes you to the departure hall in 5 minutes. Or hand in your keys at the counter of P6 Valet Parking. You can walk to the departure hall in 2 minutes.

Note:

• The earlier you book, the bigger the discount
• Can be reserved from 3 days of parking
• Reservations, changes (free of charge) and cancellation (costs € 5.00) possible up to 1 day before departure
• Pre-booking is required for valet parking

Advantages:

• Every 10 minutes there is a free shuttle bus from P3
• There are 12 charging points for electric cars in the P3 garage
• With the valet service, the key can be handed in at the counter of P6 and you walk directly inside to the departure hall
• With the valet service there is a maximum of 12 km extra on the counter and there is a video street that takes pictures from all sides of your car
• The valet service has video surveillance and an extra option for washing your car
• You can easily pay online

In order to gain access to national parks and game reserves, park fees must be paid per person and per day. These entrance fees are set by the Tanzanian government. These park charges and any other taxes are included separately in the travel proposal. To give an idea of the prizes, a list is included below.
These prices apply in 2019, for 16 years and older, considerable discounts apply to children from 5 to 15 years old, no entry fees are requested for children up to 5 years old.
Some park fees will increase in 2021, this is indicated in brackets.

• Serengeti National Park = US$82.60 pppd (US$70.80 pppd from March 15 to May 15)
• Ngorongoro Conservation Area = US$70.80 pppd  plus US$295.00 per jeep
• Kilimanjaro National Park = US$82.60 pppd
• Arusha, Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks = US$59.00 pppd (US$53.10 pppd from March 15 to May 15)
• Katavi, Mikumi, Ruaha, Saadani, Udzungwa and Saanane Island National Parks = US$35.40
• Selous Game Reserve / Nyerere National Park = US$82.60 pppd  (US$59.00 from March 15 to May 15)
• Mahale National Park = US$94.40

You must have a valid passport for your trip to Tanzania. Upon arrival in Tanzania, your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months. You’re responsible for arranging and possessing a valid passport.

Do you not have Dutch nationality? Then contact Explore Tanzania, the Embassy of Tanzania in the Netherlands or in Belgium for visa information.

Upon arrival in Tanzania you go through passport control and customs. Your passport will be checked and stamped here! Don’t you have a visa yet? You can buy one at customs in Tanzania. You do this before you go through passport control. Make sure you have US$ 50 US in cash with you and a valid passport. Passport photos are not required. It does take a lot of time. It’s better to arrange the visa prior to the trip, online or via the embassy (see below under ‘visa’).
Even if you travel from the mainland of Tanzania to Zanzibar, you have to go through customs.

Ban on plastic bags!
As of June 1, 2019, the use of plastic bags in Tanzania is prohibited by law. Plastic bags are no longer allowed in the country. This also applies to bags with tax-free items. These must be left on the plane. Ziplock (resealable) bags to store toiletries are allowed (provided you take them home with you).

It’s difficult to indicate what amount of cash you need to take with you. This really depends on your personal expenses.
Your trip is usually on a full-board basis (see your travel description) and for most accommodations you still pay separately for drinks and tips.

Average prices in Tanzania:

• mineralwater and soft drinks – US$ 2,50
• beer – US$ 3,00
• wine per bottle – US$ 20,00

More than 60% of the Tanzanian population is Christian and 35% Muslim (mainly on the coast and on Zanzibar). They live together peacefully.

Tanzania is a friendly and generally safe, but poor country. So don’t leave valuables in visible places.

Safety of your belongings
We recommend that you always keep your passport and money (and any valuables) with you. Cars and accommodation are also stolen in Tanzania. Therefore, do not take expensive jewelery or other valuables with you when traveling.

Personal safety
In the evening, don’t just walk the streets of a city, village or remote beaches.

Don’t go hiking outside the camps and lodges, because wild animals live there. Do not feed the animals. Never come near the animals! The rules in the national parks are strict again. Our guides know that they must follow these rules. Don’t encourage your guide to get off the road to get closer to the animals. Safaris are only permitted in daylight, except for special night safaris that must be reserved in advance. Do not make too much noise, view the animals in silence and do not disturb the animals unnecessarily.

You’re not allowed to leave the car in the national parks unless the guide permits this. Do you have to go to the toilet? Then pass this on to your guide so that he can find a safe place for you.

Prevent fires
Do you smoke? Please be careful and don’t leave (burning) cigarette butts on the floor.

Safety for mountaineers
The Kilimanjaro is indeed high, but it is a mountain that anyone – in good condition – can climb. It’s not a technical climb, but a walk. Safety during the climb, however, is of great importance. This also applies to the ascent of Mount Meru.

The guides from Explore Tanzania have the world famous ‘Wilderness First Responder’ certificates. This is a very comprehensive first aid training, especially for remote locations. This training is recommended by the US Coast Guard. Every year a lot of money is invested in training the guides and porters. In addition to the highly experienced and well-trained guides, there are the following safety measures: altitude sickness checklist, first aid kit, evacuation stretcher and full briefing with the guide for the climb.

Do you want to know what is a good season to travel through Tanzania? Then view our page ‘Tanzania – When to go‘.

Sustainable tourism helps to minimize the negative impact on nature and the environment and that the local population, local guides and hotel and pension owners can benefit from our arrival. You can read about our sustainability efforts on our webpage.

• Hi = Jambo
• Bye = Kwa Heri
• Thanks = Asante
• Yes = Ndio
• No = Hapana
• Alright = Sawa
• Welcome = Karibu
• How are you = Habari gani?
• My name is … = Jina langu ni …

If you’ve booked your tickets through Explore Tanzania, you’ll receive the e-tickets 2 to 3 weeks before your departure.

Tanzania, is two hours ahead of the Netherlands, three hours ahead of England and eight hours ahead of Washington. In Tanzania the clock is not set forward during the summer months. As soon as our summer time starts, it is one hour later in Tanzania. Your ticket states the local time!

Times are different in Swahili. So ask to be sure whether you’re planning something at English or Swahili time. In Swahili, people start counting from the moment the sun rises (6 o’clock in the morning) and sets (6 o’clock in the evening). 7 o’clock in the morning or 7 o’clock in the evening is therefore 1 hour during the day or 1 o’clock at night.

In East Africa, tipping to employees of service organizations is common. Tipping is of course not mandatory. Even though Explore Tanzania pays the crew very well, a tip is a friendly gesture, a way to show your gratitude and certainly welcome.

At accommodations (hotels, lodges, tent camp / Green Camps) we recommend an amount of US$ 10-15 per room per night. You can best give the tip to the property manager or put it in the tip jar at the reception. The money is then distributed fairly among the staff.
At lodges, your bags are carried to the room. The wearers receive a tip via the tip jar.
Are you satisfied with your safari guide? Then an amount of US$ 25 per guide per day is usual. You can give this to him at the end of the safari. This is not necessary for a possible trainee, who shares with the guide.
If you participate in activities such as canoeing, cycling, night safari or walking, you can give a tip of US$ 3-5 per person.

How and when do you tip?
The topic of tipping will often be discussed during the last evening. This is also a good time to discuss this with your fellow travelers, possibly in consultation with the main guide. It’s best to give the tip at the fence at the end of the climb. It’s therefore wise to have enough cash with you (US dollars or Tanzanian shillings). All tips must be noted on the form that goes up the mountain, so that this is known to all crew members. The tips go into a jar and are distributed among the crew members.

How much do you tip?
These amounts are guidelines based on what is common in Tanzania. It is of course not mandatory to pay exactly this amount. You are free to adjust the amount up or down. After all, it remains a tip!

• 7 days hike US$ 190 per person
• 8 days hike US$ 220 per person
• 9 days hike US$ 240 per person

With small groups, add about US$ 100 per person. Despite the small company there is always a lot of crew present.

Tanzania now has a yellow travel advice and is a safe country where you can travel comfortably without many restrictions. In addition, you can travel well insured and there is sufficient care capacity at the destination. Vulnerable groups and catering staff at the destination are protected against corona by vaccination. See also our current travel advice and/or the travel advice of the Dutch government.

It is important to travel well insured. Explore Tanzania offers, for the benefit of your booked trip, a travel and cancellation insurance in collaboration with Allianz Global Assistant.
Contact us for more information.
If you already have (continuous) travel and cancellation insurance, check that it has worldwide coverage and what the insured amount is per trip.

For customized information, prevention and vaccination, timely contact Health Services, Travel Clinic, Tropical Center, vaccination center or a specialist doctor in your area. We recommend to do this 6 to 8 weeks before departure.

In the Netherlands, the following vaccination advice is given for Tanzania.

• DTP vaccination;
• Yellow fever vaccination (mandatory if you come from a yellow fever area);
• Hepatitis A vaccination;
• Malaria tablets (see the Malaria heading).

Remember that Corona vaccinations make it easier to get in and out the country.

Buy your visa in the Netherlands (or Belgium)
All visitors to Tanzania must have a visa. You can apply for the Tanzania visa online via this reliable site (do not use any other link or organization as they appear to be unreliable). With the online application, you need to upload a scan of your passport & a passport photo and flight e-tickets. After the online payment with your creditcard (Master or Visa), you’ll receive an email after approximately 7-14 days in which you can download the document with your visa. After that, you still have to complete the last two pages yourself and provide them with a signature. Also watch our instructional video on how to apply for the visa.

The visa is valid for a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 90 days from the stated day of arrival.
Your passport must be valid for at least another six months on the day of arrival in Tanzania and have two blank pages for the visa stamps.
A visa costs US$50.

Addresses Embassy.
In the Netherlands:
Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania
Groot Hertoginnelaan 28
2517 EG Den Haag
Phone: 070 21 56 450
fax: 070 215 99 09
e-mail: contact@tanzaniaembassy.nl

In Belgium:
Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania
72, Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 1050 Brussels
Phone: 0032 26 40 65 00
e-mail: brussels@nje.go.tz

Buy your visa in Tanzania
Do you not have a visa upon arrival in Tanzania? Then you can still buy a tourist visa for US$ 50 there. This is possible at one of the following delivery locations:

• Dar es Salaam International Airport;
• Zanzibar International Airport;
• Kilimanjaro International Airport;
• Namanga (border post between Kenya and Tanzania);
• most border posts with the neighboring countries of Tanzania.

Please take into account a waiting time. Passport photos are not necessary.

Flying to Nairobi? And do you then travel overland to Tanzania? Then you need a transit visa for Kenya. You can request this via https://e-visums.nl/kenia
You cannot buy this visa upon arrival at the airport in Kenia.
Are you flying to Nairobi and flying directly to the next destination? So without going through customs? Then you do not need a transit visa.

You can buy a visa in Tanzania for the following countries: Burundi, Congo (Zaire), Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Visa by Explore Tanzania
Do you find it difficult or do you have no time? For € 45 per visa (+ US$ 50.00) we arrange the above for you. Then fill in the additional online form to have your visa arranged by Explore Tanzania on our website in time .

Are you travelling to Zanzibar island? Our trips and our excursions are socially responsible and are carried out with respect for people and the environment. Consult our website for an overview of several amazing tours you can do on Zanzibar island.

All tours are best booked in advance at Explore Tanzania (we have good price agreements and you are assured of a spot). Call us at +31 55 533 25 50 of email to info@exploretanzania.nl