Q: What precautions should I take to avoid stomach troubles in Tanzania?
A: Cleanliness is very important when handling all food. Wash your hands as often as possible with soap, especially before meals. Where sanitation facilities are limited or rudimentary, alcohol hand cleaning gel can be very effective. Bring a few travel-sized bottles from home. They’re very easy to carry anywhere. Although Tanzanian street food looks and smells tasty, avoid it if you have a sensitive stomach. Eat it only if it’s been cooked piping hot in front of you and served on clean plates. Food that has been recently prepared, cooked, and served piping hot is generally safe to eat, as is fruit (e.g. bananas and oranges) that you can peel yourself. Dairy products that have been pasteurized such as yogurt, cheese, and milk are generally safe (and tasty!) to eat.
Avoid:
- Uncooked fruit and vegetables, including salads
- Cooked food that has been left uncovered e.g.in buffets
- Unpasteurized dairy products
- Raw or undercooked meat, fish, and shellfish
- Ice
Only buy water in bottles that are served in factory-produced cans or bottles with intact seals. Carbonated drinks, fruit drinks, and pasteurized drinks in this condition are generally safe to drink. Don’t drink anything where you suspect the seal has been tampered with. Tea and coffee made with boiling water and served piping hot are also generally safe to drink. If you don’t have bottled water, you can kill bacteria and other nasties by bringing the water to a rolling boil. Don’t drink the tap water or clean your teeth with it.
Q: What vaccinations are recommended for Tanzania?
A: At least two months before your trip please visit your doctor or specialist travel health professional to ensure that your vaccinations are up to date. These vaccines should include the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, and the polio vaccine. Vaccinations against hepatitis A + B, typhoid, and rabies are also recommended. If you’re traveling to Zanzibar you’ll need to have a yellow fever vaccination. Tanzania in general does not require a yellow fever vaccination, but if you have a connecting flight within Africa, you’ll need a yellow fever certificate to enter Tanzania. Also, consider malaria prophylaxis. If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 112 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.
Q: Are airport transfers included?
A: All our Safaris include airport transfers to and from the airport. For safaris, which do not start and end in Arusha, you’ll need to book the airport transfers for 40 USD per one way. Please provide us with your flight details (arrival time + flight number) via info@savannaheagle.com.
Q: What are the visa requirements for Tanzania?
A: It’s best to check your visa requirements with Tanzania’s embassy in your home country, or with your foreign office department. Visa rules differ depending on where you’re from. The Tanzanian embassy website will always have the latest information about requirements and costs, and you’ll be able to download the correct forms.
Q: Do you help with visas?
A: Sorry, we can’t help you with the visa application process but you can apply easily through the Tanzanian embassy in your home country.
Q: What is the local currency in Tanzania?
A: Tanzania’s currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS). It’s called the shilingi in Swahili One US Dollar is worth 2300 TZS.
- Bills: 10,000 TZS; 5,000 TZS; 2,000 TZS; 1,000 TZS and 500 TZS
- Coins: 500 TZS, 200 TZS, 100 TZS and 50 TZS.
Q: What documents do I need to carry with me?
A: We’ve prepared a complete packing list, which will give you an overview of what travel documents you’ll need to carry with you. We recommend you make copies of your documents (you can also take pictures with your smartphone and store them in the cloud online so that you can access them anywhere). Don’t forget to carry two extra passport photos with you and the contact details of your embassy.
Q: What kind of adapter do I need to charge my electronic devices?
A: Tanzania has two types of plugs Type G (British) and Type D (Old British). Type G is the more common plug, but there are still places that use Type G. We recommend bringing an adapter that covers both plugs.
Q: Will I have mobile coverage?
A: We love Tanzania but we have to admit our telecommunication coverage isn’t all that great and it’s a nice surprise if our own mobiles work everywhere. Your best bet is to contact your phone provider before you travel to check for global roaming and prices. Alternatively, you can easily purchase a local sim card in Moshi, but make sure that your phone is unlocked or it won’t work.
Q: Is there internet access?
A: Yes, internet access is possible. Arusha has a few internet cafés as well as restaurants/bars with wifi access. Most of the hotels offer free wifi. The speed of the internet differs from place to place. Please keep in mind that our infrastructure might not be as up to speed as in your country.
Q: What’s the best way to carry money?
A: We recommend a mix of money: credit card and cash in US Dollars. Arusha has plenty of banks, where you can withdraw money with your Visa (preferred) or MasterCard. Since there is a daily withdrawal limit of 1,000,000 Tanzanian shillings (roughly 570 USD) you should carry some US dollars in cash with you. This is especially handy when it comes to paying the remaining 80 % of your tour price.
For security, keep your cash in different places – in your luggage, and on your body. Keep a backup credit card separate from your main one and keep online cash safe in two different accounts. Always keep your important stuff like passport and credit cards in a money pouch close to your body and/or under your clothes. If you have a spare wallet or purse that you don’t mind losing, stick a few low-value notes in and a fake credit card.
Q: Can I store excess luggage during my trek or safari?
A: Yes, we can store all the items that you won’t need on your trek or safari for you, and hand them back safe and sound when you return to Arusha. We’d appreciate it that you don’t bring your grand piano with you, though.
Q: I am joining a group safari. How can I get in touch with my fellow travelers before the trip?
A: We adhere to data privacy best practices so we don’t share the details of your fellow travelers unless they have expressly agreed to it. But we do ask our guests if they are happy with sharing contact details, and if they are, then we share. Half the fun of a trip is making new friends!