Safari 101

All of the luxury lodges and tented camps we visit have water and usually electricity. The luxury lodges have comfortable beds, high-quality sheets, bed nets, high-pressure showers, basic toiletries, and even blow dryers. There is also laundry service available. Travelers on multi-day treks will stay in mobile bush camps, which will have sophisticated shower setups.

WiFi is available at all lodges and tented camps, most of the time, in the common areas and sometimes in your tent, but it may be slow.

The food on safari is excellent, varied, and safe to eat. All meals and beverages are prepared with filtered water. A full buffet breakfast will be served at camp every morning, including a few options for eggs, baked goods, fruit salad, juices, coffee, tea, and more. Dinners are also buffet style with a range of meal and vegetarian options. Please let us know of any dietary restrictions so we can notify the lodge.

Lodges and tented camps will have purified water for you to drink, as well as a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Just don’t drink the tap water.

Your schedule for game drives is flexible, but most groups decide to leave for the morning game drive between 7:00 am and 9:00 am depending on the day's activities. There will be multiple bathroom stops throughout the day.

You will either leave on your game drive with a picnic lunch or return to camp for lunch and a mid-afternoon break. There will also be an afternoon game drive and you will return to camp around 4:00 pm to relax and enjoy sundowners (cocktail hour) before dinner.

You will have your own private safari vehicle with unlimited mileage. Our safari vehicles are 6-passenger 4x4 Land Cruisers with a pop-up roof offering an unobstructed view for photography. You will most likely not have wifi during game drives, but your guide will be able to communicate with the lodge using their radio. The safari vehicles have chargers. You will need a type D or G converter. There is also a refrigerator case with cold bottled water.

All travelers to Tanzania must have a passport with at least two blank pages, that is valid for six months beyond your travels.

Single-entry Visa on Arrival is available for US citizens at the Tanzanian border, but we recommend getting your visa before traveling using the Republic of Tanzania’s e-visa service. For more information, visit Embassy of the Republic of Tanzania.

We advise visiting a doctor or travel clinic three months before traveling. Your medical provider can prescribe anti-malarial medication and advise you on vaccinations. You may need Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, typhoid, DTAP,, and Tetanus shots. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination if you have recently visited a country with yellow fever. Keep your yellow immunization card with you for proof of vaccination at the airport.

Pack light, loose, and comfortable clothes. Bring layers as the sun can be brutal and the early morning game drives can be chilly. Earth-toned colors are preferred as whites can startle some animals, and blues and blacks attract tsetse flies.

Wide-brim hat or baseball cap

Quick dry Long pants

Quick dry long-sleeve shirts (including button-down)

Quick-dry and regular t-shirts

Lightweight waterproof jacket with fleece layer

Casual clothes for evenings and pajamas

Sandals

Low-profile hiking shoes. Full boots are needed for long treks.

Binoculars

Camera, memory cards, batteries and charger

Sunglasses and prescription glasses

Flashlight or head-lamp

Chargers and type G and D power converters

Sunscreen and toiletries

Insect repellent. We recommend spraying your clothes with Permethrin before you leave.

Insect-repelling plastic bracelet

Malaria pills, OTC drugs like Ibuprofen, antibiotic creme, anti-diarrheal, and prescriptions

US $400-$500 in newer five-dollar bills for tips, souvenirs, and incidentals.