Kilimanjaro Climb – Machame Route

The name Tanzania conjures up images of wildebeest stampeding across vast savannah, rain forests teeming with monkeys and birdlife, and great plains brimming with legions of game. All of these natural wonders and more are on offer in this exceptionally diverse African nation. Visitors typically visit Tanzania to partake in at least one of the four well known Tanzanian tourist experiences: a relaxing seaside vacation on the picturesque island paradise of Zanzibar, an underwater tour of some of the world’s most renowned dive sites around the gorgeous Spice Islands, a safari adventure in some of Africa’s most impressive game reserves, or a hiking excursion around Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. Whichever of these incredible holidays you choose, you will undoubtedly be welcomed by some fabulously friendly and peaceful inhabitants who, despite being divided into 120 different ethnic groups and cultures, live in harmony with one another and provide some of the most wonderfully exotic local cuisine you could imagine. With all of this diversity on offer, the most difficult part of your Tanzanian holiday experience is likely to be deciding where to go! 

You must have a passport that is valid for 6 months after your return date and have at least 2 blank visa pages per country to be visited (amendment, endorsement pages or inside back cover cannot be used for visas or immigration stamps). Airlines will deny boarding if you fail to have necessary requirements. Proper travel documents are the responsibility of each traveler.

Tourist visas are required for tourist travel to Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda offer E-visa’s which need to be applied for, online, before you travel. After completing the form and uploading required scans of your passport etc., you will then receive an email confirmation a few days later that needs to be printed and brought with you to present to immigration.

Current single entry tourist visa costs for US passport holders: (subject to change)
Kenya US$50.00
Tanzania US$100.00
Rwanda US$50.00
Uganda US$50.00

The East Africa Visa is an option for travelers visiting any combination of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. The current cost is $100USD/person and is purchased upon arrival into one of these countries.

Rwanda visas can be easily purchased upon arrival, at the airport or border or you can obtain them in advance via the country Embassy or our preferred visa expediter, Duke’s Visa Service. You can view requirements from the following link: http://www.dukesvisa.com/ It is the sole responsibility of the traveler to have correct travel documents for your journey.

COVID requirements change frequently. Your Borton Overseas' dedicated specialist will review the requirements for your specific itinerary closer to your departure date.  It is recommended that all international travelers be fully vaccinated and boosted for your journey. 

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 10000 Shillings. Coins are issued in denominations of 50, 100 and 200 Shillings.

Banking

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

Credit cards and travellers checks are not widely accepted in Tanzania. Where they are accepted, high service fees and poor exchange rates be expected.

Major foreign currencies - particularly US $ - 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 $, please make sure bank notes 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 bank notes compared to US $ 20 / US $ 10 or US $ 5 bank notes. You will want to have a supply of small denomination cash notes to use for tipping and small purchases. Cash works best in the African marketplaces and with vendors along the road, where bargaining is expected.

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

With proper precautions, travel to East Africa is very safe. As in any developing country, you want to be careful of what you eat and drink if you explore beyond the safari lodges. Protect yourself from the equatorial sun, stay well hydrated, and remember to wear mosquito repellent.

We cannot give you specific medical advice regarding what medication to take and you must check with your physician or travel clinic for any specific personal conditions that may require extra attention.

Malaria is present throughout East and Southern Africa and prophylaxis is recommended, either Larium (mefloquine), atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone) or doxycycline.

A Yellow Fever vaccine is required for entry to many East African countries if you are arriving from or transiting an endemic country. Check with your travel clinic or CDC for latest yellow fever requirements as these change often. The vaccine must be received at least 10-days prior to entry and is now good for life. Proof of receipt of this vaccine is recorded on a Yellow Fever Certificate, which will you will be required to show to the health officer at immigration upon arrival.

It is a good idea to have a prescription of Cipro along in case of an intestinal or other infection.

As immunization requirements change, you should check with your travel clinic or check with the Center for Disease Control for the most current information. Their website is www.cdc.gov.

If you do become ill after you return home, be sure to tell your physician that you have been traveling in East Africa as this will alert your physician to possibilities that may not otherwise be considered.

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.