With almost 60 million inhabitants, Tanzania is a relatively densely populated country with Dar-Es-Salam (6 million) as its largest city and Dodoma in the interior as its capital. Acting as the gateway to the northern parks and located close to Kilimanjaro, Arusha is the undisputed hub for safaris. Coastal regions are tropical, while the high plateaus of the Maasai savannah have a more moderate climate.

Highlights in the north are, of course, the Serengeti with its annual migration of thousands and thousands of wildebeest and zebras, the Ngorongoro Crater, the Kilimanjaro, Manjara and Tarangire National Parks. The south of the country hosts the quieter Nyerere and Ruaha National Parks, while the west is home to the remote Katavi and the mystique Mahale Mountains National Park where the chimpanzees live along the shores of Lake Tanganyika. The islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia and some lesser know islands offer visitors the ideal opportunity to relax and unwind after the beach. There's plenty to discover!

Safaris in Tanzania are most expensive in the dry season from July to October. It is the time when wildlife sightings are best in all parks and on top of it, the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras is found in Northern Serengeti. Should you wish to travel when prices are low, consider the rainy season from April to May. Please add 10-20% to the pure accommodation cost for covering the park fees, camping fees, concession fees, internal flights or your private vehicle / guide.

As a general rule, June to October is sunny with little rainfall, daytime temperatures are comfortable and nights cooler. The first rains (short rains) begin in November and persist into December. January to March are transitional months and usually remain dry. April to May is regarded as the wet season (long rains), with partly tropical rainfall, particularly on the islands and along the coast. Some camps remain closed during April and May.

Both Swiss and EU citizens require a passport which is valid at least 6 months beyond the date of your departure from Tanzania, and must contain at least two blank pages. A visa is required and should be purchased in advance. Exact details must be clarified before arriving.

Kilimanjaro Airport is the international airport closest to Arusha where most safaris start. KLM via Amsterdam and Qatar via Doha offer good connections from Zurich. Depending on the time of arrival, the safari can start right away or an overnight stay in Arusha is required. There are seasonal direct flights from Zurich to Kilimanjaro with Edelweiss.

Light aircraft landing at airstrips close to the camps are used for fly-in safaris. Even Zanzibar can be reached directly from Arusha. Trips in the north of Tanzania usually begin in Arusha, those in the south in Dar-Es-Salam.

There is a restriction of 15-20 kg per person when flying in light aircraft. Do not bring hard suitcases, but only soft sports bags. We can purchase tickets at addtional costs that allow to bring extra luggage.

Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for travel to Tanzania. Please seek advice from your doctor. A yellow fever vaccination is not required for Tanzania only but may be required if you arrive from Kenya or Uganda. A yellow fever vaccination is not required if you travel tranist through Nairobi on the way from Europe to Tanzania / Zanzibar.

Please make sure that you are adequately insured, particularly for a medical evacuation from a remote area and repatriation. All necessary medication must be brought from home. Do not rely on getting the required medication in Tanzania. All medication must be kept in your hand luggage.

The national currency in Tanzania is the Tanzanian Shilling. Major credit cards are accepted, but please make sure that your PIN code works, as transactions via the automated teller machines (ATM) are faster and much more reliable. Most lodges accept credit cards. Tips to guides and camp staff can be given in cash in US Dollars. The local staff can't change any other currency into local currency due to bank restrictions. Please note that your dollar bills should not be older than 2010 as the local banks do not accept older dollar bills.

There is no specific clothes that you need to bring on a safari. Comfortable, casual clothes are your best choice. For the game drives, all colours are allowed. For walking safaris, only brown, green or beige tones are recommended. For the period from May to August, bring warm clothes, including hats and gloves. As for footwear, we recommend comfortable, open sandals and a pair of sturdy shoes. Hiking boots are not necessary unless you have planned extensive walks.

KiSwahili and English are Tanzania's official languages. Numerous dialects are also spoken. Mobile connection is usually good, unless you are far away from urban centres. However, most camps provide Internet / Wifi access nowadays.

Food at the lodges is of excellent quality. We recommend you to drink only bottled drinking water. Only bottled mineral water and filtered ice are available at the lodges.

The power supply is 220 - 230 volts. Adapters for all countries are present at all good lodges. Computers, cameras and iPods can then be recharged. The power supply is available 24 hrs a day at most lodges. The plugs have three large rectangular prongs (UK-Style).

Clothes can be washed at almost all lodges. Please note that clothes are washed by hand and then sun dried at most lodges. Due to cultural differences, guests must often wash their own underwear. Do not take too many clothes, instead make use of the laundry service wherever possible.

Traffic in Tanzania drives on the left-hand side. The roads in Tanzania (particularly the stretch Dar - Arusha) can be very busy. Most of the traffic comprises old lorries and busses that are usually in a dubious state of repair. Many accidents occur on these roads so please take care. Also take care at roundabouts and remember to drive clockwise!.

European Summer Time: +1 hour
European Winter Time: +2 hours