High School Adventure Trip – Kilimanjaro / Tanzania

Serengeti Safari, Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar… the names roll off the tongue like a roster call of Africa’s most alluring destinations, all packed into one country. Seven times larger than England and a little larger than Texas, Tanzania is a land of contrasts and majesty, and the largest of the Eastern African Countries (Kenya and Uganda). Located in central East Africa, it is bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country’s eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.

With more land devoted to national parks and game reserves than any other wildlife destination in the world, Tanzania evokes the best Africa has to offer — wonder, adventure, challenge, and relaxation — which is why millions of visitors from around the globe travel to Tanzania every year to visit its famous and world-renowned destinations. Lake Victoria, Lake Manyara, and Lake Tanganyika are immense bodies of water and strong draws for tourists.

Those who want to say they’ve been to the roof of Africa — the highest and largest freestanding mountain in the world — can climb to the snow-capped summit of the “Natural Wonder of The World,” Mount Kilimanjaro. In addition, Tanzania prides itself on the huge numbers of wildlife spread all over the country, and each of these wildlife displays its own characteristics particular to the ecosystem. With Tanzania’s national parks and game reserves remotely located in places such as Selous and Mahale Mountains, visitors have the opportunity to view one of Africa’s few resources preserved by nature and almost untouched by mankind. Tanzania is home to the world-renowned Serengeti National Park and its annual wildebeest migration.

Tanzania offers an underwater paradise for marine enthusiasts visiting Pemba, Mafia, and Zanzibar with many interesting reefs featuring shallow rocky areas that suddenly drop off into deep, vertiginous crevasses. Tanzania’s varying tribes and cultures provide an excellent opportunity for guests to encounter other ways of life, rites, and rituals. Last but far from least, Tanzania’s multiple Indian Ocean Islands provide visitors the opportunity to select their beach spot just the way they prefer it. From its safaris and national parks to its little-known but spectacular Swahili ruins on the southern coast to the hunter-gatherer tribes of the northern highlands, Tanzania truly offers something for everyone.

Currency

In Tanzania, the unit of currency is the Tanzanian Shilling, which is divided into 100 Cents. Notes are issued in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10,000 Shillings. Coins are issued in denominations of 50, 100, and 200 Shillings.

Banking

Banks are open from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday to Friday. Many banks are equipped with 24-hour ATM machines.

Credit cards and traveler's checks are not widely accepted in Tanzania. Where they are accepted, high service fees and poor exchange rates can be expected. Major foreign currencies—particularly US dollars—are accepted in Tanzania and are convertible at banks and bureau de changes in the main towns and tourist areas. If bringing cash in US dollars, please make sure banknotes are in good condition, with no cuts or damage, and are not older than 2006. Most banks offer higher exchange rates for US $100 / US $50 banknotes compared to US $20 / US $10 or US $5 banknotes.

If you are visiting a number of parks and reserves in Tanzania, you can either drive or fly between them. Roads in most of the wilderness areas are in poor condition and unmarked, and self-driving is not recommended. Operators will supply you with a driver who doubles as an informal guide; alternatively, you can arrange to fly to your destination and utilize a car and driver supplied by the lodgings. Elsewhere in Tanzania, towns and cities are linked by a steady stream of buses and dala-dalas (minibuses), and in the cities, there is public transport in the way of buses, dala-dalas, taxis, and, in some places, bicycles or tuk-tuks.

Precision Air run regular services, mostly via Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar, to all main towns and other destinations in East Africa and beyond. All national parks and some of the top-end luxury lodges have airstrips and Coastal Air operates between these and the main airports on the mainland and the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia. ZanAir has frequent connections between Zanzibar, Pemba and the mainland.

Driving is on the left hand side of the road

Most camps, lodges or hotels cater specifically to tourists and serve Western-style food, ranging in standard, but generally are excellent. Game lodges tend to offer a daily set menu with a limited selection, so it is advisable to have your tour operator specify in advance if you are a vegetarian or have other specific dietary requirements. First-time visitors to Africa might take note that most game lodges in and around the national parks have isolated locations, and driving within the parks is neither permitted nor advisable after dark, so that there is no realistic alternative to eating at your lodge. 

Tap water in Tanzania is generally not safe to drink, and most travellers try to stick to mineral water. Filtered and bottled water can be difficult to find you are travelling outside of main town and so it is advisable to stock up. Most camps, lodges and hotels have bottled water readily available.

Please note that, as of 2016, Tanzania has banned the use of plastic bags in a bid to tackle pollution and protect the environment. Travellers' to Tanzania will no longer be allowed to bring plastic carrier bags into the country. This ban targets all plastic bags that are imported, exported, manufactured, sold, stored, supplied and used. 

Just south of the equator, Tanzania is huge and its sheer size means that the climate varies considerably within it. However, generally the main rainy season, or the 'long rains', lasts during about March, April and May. Afternoon tropical downpours are the norm – which are heavier and more predictable beside the coast and on the islands. The humidity is high and daily temperatures reach the low-mid 30°s.

The long dry season lasts throughout June, July, August, September and October is when rainfall is unusual, even on the islands. Temperatures vary hugely with altitude and location, but it's usually a fine, clear sky and sunny weather – it's a great time to visit Tanzania. During November and December there's another rainy season: the 'short rains'. These are much lighter than the main rains and less reliable.

If it has rained during the short rains, then it normally dries up for a few months, January and February, which is Tanzania's 'short dry season', before starting to rain again in earnest in March.

It never gets really cold in Tanzania so lightweight clothing, preferably cotton or linen, is recommended. While on a game viewing safari, avoid brightly coloured clothing, stick to whites, beiges, khakis and browns. There may be long days sitting in safari vehicles, so it is advisable to wear light comfortable clothing such as short sleeved shirts and cotton/linen trousers or shorts. Denim will become too hot and extremely uncomfortable. Walking shoes and socks will be required.

The evenings will be chilly, so long sleeved shirts and trousers should be worn. A sweater may be needed. These will also prevent you being bitten by insects. A hat should be worn at all times outside. The sun may sometimes not feel hot, but it can still easily burn, especially if it is cloudy and overcast.

If visiting Zanzibar or any coastal town don't forget to take a swimsuit, as it is invariably warm. Ladies are recommended to take cotton skirts, blouses and dresses. Sandals are a must for this environment! On the beaches and within the confines of hotels, normal swimwear is acceptable but nudity is not.

As over a third of the population in Tanzania is Muslim, it is therefore not etiquette for ladies to walk around in public displaying their legs and shoulders. Remember to dress modestly as short shorts, miniskirts, vests and tank tops will be frowned upon.

Tanzania has good Internet Service Providers with email and internet services offered by many hotels and lodges (free / paid). In most towns there are plenty of private business centres and cyber cafes offering email and internet access, although the speeds might be somewhat slower than what you are used to. 

Electrical sockets in Tanzania are one of three: Type G (BS-1363) and Type C (CEE 7/16 Europlug) and Type D (BS-546) electrical socket types: If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all types.

Electrical sockets in Tanzania usually supply electricity at 230 volts AC / 50 Hz frequency. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 230 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need. If your appliance isn’t compatible with 230 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.