Tanzania FAQs

Visas

Visa’s are required and can be obtained online before travel or on arrival.  When applying online, only use the official government website at https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/. Visa’s obtained upon arrival at international airports in Tanzania cost $100 USD. Be prepared to pay in cash in case connectivity issues make electronic transactions impossible.

Passports

It’s important that your passport is valid for at least six months after your intended departure and you should have two consecutive blank pages facing each other for the relevant immigration stamps.If you visit other countries you will need two blank pages per country.

We will confirm certain elements of your trip such as domestic flights, permits or train tickets using your current passport details. If a member of your party changes their name in their passport after booking (for example, through marriage or adoption) this could mean having to reissue important parts of the trip at an extra cost and subject to availability. 

Medical

If you are travelling between two East African countries or you are visiting Zanzibar you will require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination. 

Please note that requirements can change and we recommend that our guests contact the local embassy in the country where you live for the most recent and up to date information.

Single use plastics are banned in Tanzania. Zip lock bags used for storage that you will take home with you are allowed. 

There are also rules on travelling with minors without both parents so please check with your travel designer or concierge for the full details on this to make sure you have the necessary paperwork arranged well before you travel.

Yes, once your trip is confirmed it is essential that you take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover you in case anything unexpected happens. 

We always recommend that our guests get the maximum level of coverage that you feel comfortable investing in. Read more about travel insurance for US travellers here and for travellers from other countries here.

Yes, you should visit a travel doctor before your trip as they may recommend certain vaccinations or medications before or during travel. Some vaccines commonly recommended for travellers to Africa include: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Meningitis.

There is a high risk of Malaria in parts of Tanzania. Please speak with your travel doctor about the best anti malaria medication for you and bring insect repellent, wear a long-sleeved shirt and long trousers with closed shoes in the evenings and early mornings.

As mentioned above under Entry Requirements, you may need proof of yellow fever certificate if visiting other East African countries.

Flights in Tanzania are typically taken on small, light aircraft with a strict luggage restriction of 15kg/33lbs in soft sided bags, per person – this includes hand luggage and camera equipement. The bags should be duffle style with no hard aspects or wheels. Please speak with your travel designer or concierge if you have any questions regarding excess luggage for camera equipment for example. Please inform us in advance if anyone travelling has an individual weight of more than 100kgs (220lbs) as additional weight allowance on the aircraft must be purchased for safety and comfort.

We suggest that you check in online 24 hours before your domestic, regional and international flights. We will provide you with the tickets and details of the flights we have arranged for you approximately 2 weeks before travel.

Travel pack

Before you head off on your adventure you will be sent a travel pack. The travel pack is full of great information and is also a beautiful keepsake. It is not necessary to travel with vouchers or confirmations on your trip but we do recommend having a printed copy of your travel itinerary to hand when you arrive into Tanzania

Bon Voyage email

Around 2 weeks before you depart we will email you an electronic version of your travel pack including your domestic flight tickets. Once you’ve received this email your Travel Designer will reach out to arrange a time for you to talk on the phone to go over any last minute questions and talk you through the information we’ve sent over.

Tanzania’s local currency is the Tanzanian shilling. You will need local currency for tips outside of high-end lodges/hotels or for purchasing items from local shops and markets. Obtaining local currency from ATMs and currency exchange counters in large airports and cities is straightforward. US dollars can be used for tipping on safari or larger transactions. Obtaining US dollars in Tanzania can be difficult and the exchange rate is often poor. The US dollar bills you bring with you from home should be no older than 2011 with no damage such as rips, tears or even deep fold marks.

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in most places visited by tourists (hotels or larger restaurants in cities) including the camps and lodges you will be visiting. There are some exceptions at small or remote camps so please check with your travel designer or concierge.

ATMs are available in the major cities but not when you’re on safari so you should prepare any cash needed for tipping before you leave the City. You will only be able to withdraw local currency at ATMs in Tanzania. 

Although still accepted in some hotels in the major cities, Travellers Cheques are difficult to exchange and often not accepted by safari lodges.

Although tipping is discretionary many workers in the tourism industry do rely on tips to make up part of their income. The below is rough tipping guide, you may wish to tip more or less depending on service

In Cities:

• 10-15% in restaurants
• USD 10 for a half day with your city guide
• USD 1-2 for hotel or airport porters per bag 
• USD 1-5 for drivers on short transfers

On Safari:

• USD 15 to your driver 
• USD 5 to 10 for your tracker
• USD 15 – 25 to your guide

(all are per day, per person recommendations based on two people travelling together)

What’s the weather like and how should I pack?

What you pack for your Safari can change depending on the time of year. January to March is hot and humid so you should bring lightweight clothing and waterproof jackets and shoes. July to October are dry months that although can feel hot in the middle of the day, can get very chilly in the mornings and evenings – you will need jackets, beanies and thick socks. The weather in Zanzibar is typically warm year round with April and May seeing the most rain.

What to pack

This is our essentials list, we recommend chatting with your travel designer or concierge for more personalised, comprehensive suggestions based on time of year and activities on your trip:

• Layers – it can be cold during early game drives, even in summer.
• Down jackets if your travel during the cooler months
• Lightweight rain jackets for showers and to act as a windbreaker. 
• Polarised sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Trousers and shirts with adjustable arm and leg lengths in lightweight, quick dry fabrics
• Camera/Smartphone and/or camera with all the necessary charging leads, plugs and batteries 
• Earplugs
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Sun hat
• Binoculars – your guide will have a pair but having your own can mean that you see a bit more for a bit longer
• Day bag for carrying your all daily essentials

Most Safari lodges do offer a laundry service for a small price or it’s included. This is normally done by hand so we recommend you wash your own personal items.

We highly recommend that you make restaurant reservations in advance of your trip. Once your trip is confirmed you will be introduced to your concierge who will be able to assist you in not only making the reservations but also  making  recommendations based on your preferences.

We only recommend taking transfers arranged by Jacada travel, the team on the ground, your hotel or a restaurant we’ve reserved for you. Although there are metered taxis and even uber in the major cities it shouldn’t be necessary on your trip. 

Jeeps used on safari can be closed or open sided depending on the area. Typically a safari jeep will seat between 6 to 12 passengers and are shared with others at your lodge. Please ask your travel designer or concierge about possible upgrades to private vehicles if that’s of interest to you.

Tanzania uses plugs with three round pins in a triangular pattern and operates on a 230V supply voltage.

Wifi is common in all larger city hotels and even on Safari too. On safari however the connection can be patchy and is not always available throughout the entire property, sometimes only being available in the common areas or in the rooms. There are some exceptions where wifi is not possible at all, so if this sort of connectivity is very important to you please discuss this with your travel designer or concierge. 

Cell phone reception and roaming is not always possible in some remote areas so please bear this in mind when planning communications while on your trip. It’s best to speak with your own network provider to discuss roaming charges while abroad.