Travel Guide
A clear, no-nonsense guide from local experts in Moshi.
Wildlife is excellent year-round. June–October is the dry, peak season and best for the Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti. January–March is calving season in the southern Serengeti — predator action is incredible. Kilimanjaro is best in January–March and June–October.
Most travellers need a tourist visa (US$50, US$100 for US citizens). You can apply online before travel or on arrival at Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Dar es Salaam airports. A passport valid for 6+ months and one blank page are required.
Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from a yellow-fever country. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for safari areas. Bring a small personal first-aid kit and travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover for Kilimanjaro.
USD cash is widely accepted for park fees and tips; bring clean bills printed after 2009. Local Tanzanian Shillings for small purchases. Suggested tipping on Kilimanjaro: US$200–300 per climber for the full crew, split among guides, cooks and porters.
4G is widely available in Moshi/Arusha and most parks. Buy a Vodacom or Airtel SIM at the airport. Power is 230V, UK 3-pin sockets (Type G). Bring a power bank for the mountain.
Tanzania is one of the safest African countries to visit. Stick with reputable operators, keep valuables in hotel safes, and follow your guide's advice on the mountain and in the parks.
Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) — about 45 minutes from Moshi and 50 minutes from Arusha — via Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Addis Ababa or Nairobi. Dar es Salaam (DAR) and Zanzibar (ZNZ) suit beach add-ons. Overland, shuttles run from Nairobi to Arusha via the Namanga border. We arrange your airport pickup.
A sunrise hot-air-balloon flight over the Serengeti lasts about an hour, followed by a bush breakfast. Book early in peak season; flights depend on weather. Light-aircraft fly-in safaris save long drive days, but bags are usually limited to about 15 kg in a soft duffel.
Soft duffel bag, neutral-coloured layers (khaki, olive, beige — avoid blue/black for tsetse flies), warm fleece for early drives and Ngorongoro rim, hat, sunglasses, SPF 50, insect repellent, binoculars, camera with spare batteries, power bank, personal medication and a copy of your passport and insurance.
Headache, nausea, poor sleep and fatigue are common above 2,500 m. Walk slowly (pole pole), drink 3–4 litres daily, choose longer routes for acclimatisation and tell your guide about symptoms. Our guides check oxygen and pulse twice daily. Confusion, breathlessness at rest or loss of balance mean immediate descent. Ask your doctor about Diamox.
Insurance is mandatory for Kilimanjaro, Meru and safari bookings. Ensure it covers trekking up to 6,000 m, emergency helicopter evacuation, medical treatment, trip cancellation and lost baggage. Bring your policy number and 24-hour emergency phone number.
Citizens and residents of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and other EAC countries pay lower park fees, so we offer special Kilimanjaro rates. Send your nationality or residence permit, route, dates and group size on WhatsApp for a resident quote.
Cycle through coffee and banana farms on Kilimanjaro's lower slopes, around Lake Chala, through Maasai lands in West Kilimanjaro or on Moshi town tours. Half-day, full-day and multi-day trips include a mountain bike, helmet, guide and support vehicle.
Day trips from Moshi include Materuni waterfalls and coffee tour, Chemka (Kikuletwa) hot springs, Lake Chala, Marangu village and Chagga caves, Kilimanjaro day hike to Mandara hut, and Arusha National Park walking or canoe safaris.
