First time on a safari in Tanzania, Africa? Get ready for an unforgettable adventure! This article will guide you from the essential travel documents to what you should wear and what to bring along, ensuring you’re ready for your most exciting wildlife pursuit. With helpful tips and recommendations, leave everything behind and get ready to enjoy every moment of this unique experience.
Necessary travel documents
For your trip to Tanzania it is very important to have 3 basic travel documents in order.
- Hold a passport that is valid for more than 6 months.
- Travel medical insurance, but also travel cancellation insurance.
- Issue a Visa.
For your trip to Tanzania you will definitely need to issue a visa, which costs around $50. You can issue it either online or upon arrival, i.e. as soon as you arrive at the airport. In the first case, if you issue it online, the advantage is that you will not waste much time at the airport with the visa issuance process. What you have to keep in mind, is to proceed with the online version at least 15 days before and not 7 days before like we did (and of course we didn’t have it in time). So once we got to the airport, we wasted about 50 minutes getting our visa sorted, paying $50 per person, in cash.
First time safari
Local currency
The local currency of Tanzania is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). Usually, for their transactions with tourists, they also accept US dollar (USD). Of course, it is always good to have local currency for smaller purchases and everyday transactions. Having the local currency can greatly negotiate the final price.
Tanzanians
In Tanzania you will immediately see how open and kind-hearted the locals are. Every day you will exchange Mambo or Jambo (welcome gestures), laughs and hugs, while you will feel the well-known phrase Hakuna Matata on your skin, because everything is really peaceful there for them. You will definitely leave with the best impressions and having made friendly relations with a local. Most likely this person is your tour guide!
Gratuities
In the price you will book the safari and probably the various activities after it (such as banana/coffee tour, excursion to the Materuni waterfall, etc.) the cost of gratuities has not been calculated, but you have to keep it in mind. In Tanzania they take it for granted that you will give them a tip when saying goodbye. You will hear different amounts, but you will give what you want and when you want it. Keep in mind that the daily wage of an average Tanzanian is $4 a day, while the monthly salary of the middle class is $250 a month.
First time safari
National Parks
Tanzania is famous for its impressive national parks, ideal for safaris. Some of the most well-known include:
- Serengeti National Park: One of the most famous safari parks in the world, known for massive animal movements.
- Ngorongoro National Park: A natural crater with an impressive variety of wildlife.
- Tarangire National Park: Famous for its spectacular wild birds and large elephants.
- Katavi National Park: One of the less visited parks, but with impressive wildlife.
- Lake Manyara: A beautiful lake in Northern Tanzania known for its variety of birds, as well as its extensive paddy fields and spectacular scenery. The lake is also home to wildlife including elephants, lions and flamingos. It is another amazing safari destination in Tanzania.
A safari on your terms
Search as much as possible with which company you will plan the safari. There are many options for every pocket. You can have a very expensive and luxurious safari with overnight stays in the best lodges or choose a more economical shared safari with other travelers and overnight stays in bugdet lodges.
The cost of the safari can be reduced even more if you choose to stay overnight at the public campsites inside the national parks, as we did. Apart from the financial, the experience of spending the night in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro national parks was a remarkable choice for us. The days at the safari also vary, as well as significant differences may exist in your meals. So, the benefits in each company are different. You can ask for what you need based on the budget you have available. We were completely pleased with Topy tour with which we organized all 8 days of our trip to Tanzania. Everything was planned around our needs, everything was taken care of and most importantly, our food was always fresh and delicious.
Read here for our experience with Topy tours on our 4-day safari.
Prepare properly for the safari
When preparing for a safari in Tanzania in December, there are many things to consider. The experience will certainly be unique, but to make it a pleasant experience without unpleasant surprises, it is good to take into account the following factors:
First time safari
Weather conditions
Weather is important as there is a chance of rain in December. Take waterproof clothing with you, as well as a pair of shoes that dry easily. Also, it will be cold at night and early in the morning when you wake up, so in addition to short sleeves, you will also need to bring warm clothes, such as a fleece and an autumn jacket. If you were going to spend the night at the Seregneti and Ngorongoro national parks’ campsites, be sure to take thermal tights, a thermal shirt and thermal socks with you. We chose to stay in both, a unique and unrepeatable experience, but if we were not well prepared it would have been one of the worst. Also, bring sunscreen, glasses, a hat to be protected from the sun. At noon the sun is very strong even in December.
Recommended vaccines
Tanzania does not have any mandatory vaccines, however it is a good idea to find out about the recommended vaccines for the country of Tanzania from your embassy or relevant health authorities. Also contact your personal doctor to make sure you have all the necessary vaccinations against local diseases. Take mosquito repellent and sunscreen with you, as the sun is intense even during the rainy season.
First aid kit-medicines
For your safety always carry a first aid kit, pain relievers, a broad spectrum antibiotic, diarrhea pills and electrolytes. During the days of the safari you must be well prepared for any eventuality. In our case, everything went well, we didn’t have to take any medicine. After all, a complete pharmacy box, with all the above included, follows us on every trip as a precaution!
Technological equipment
Photography is an integral part of your experience, so be sure to bring a good camera and extra batteries. If you have special photography equipment, such as lenses or tripods, make sure you have them with you as well. Don’t forget your chargers, as in the jeep safari there are sockets in every seat to charge at any time.
Useful information about the safari
- For the safari it is recommended to pack light and only have the essentials for those days as the jeep will carry all camping equipment, everyone’s luggage, cooking equipment and raw materials. For your extra luggage, you can request free storage.
- For the safari it is recommended to pack light and only have the essentials for those days as the jeep will carry all camping equipment, everyone’s luggage, cooking equipment and raw materials. For your extra luggage, you can request free storage.
- Camping equipment (tents, sleeping bags and mattresses) is provided. Tents are set up for you, and the campsites are unfenced, but protected by armed guards (the campsite is safe, it is also recommended not to wander away from the campsite and avoid approaching the animals, as the animals are likely to run or to attack if they feel threatened).
- Hot showers are available at Simba Camp in Ngorongoro National Park.
- Bathroom facilities are shared in the camp, so as with any public bathroom, toiletries may be lacking (bringing toiletries is recommended).
First time safari
What will you need in total?
- Baby wipes
- Tissues
- Facial cleansing wipes
- Snacks (such as nuts, cereal bars, breadcrumbs/nuts, dried fruit)
- A quick dry towel
- Flippers
- Mosquito repellent
- A pharmacy for stings, burns, painkillers, antibiotics, diarrhea pills, electrolytes, a cortisone cream, a healer and an antibiotic.
- Sunscreen & sunglasses
- Jungle hat type, Prefer a waterproof one. In our case, it saved us. Only our heads stayed dry when we had to walk for an hour in the rain. Also, they are very convenient with the drawstring they have for putting them on and taking them off.
- Pants and vest with many pockets. The many pockets in your clothes will make you very comfortable. You will have everything you need on you and you will not be looking for what you want the last minute in your backpack
- Isothermal clothing
- Hiking boots
- Technological equipment
- Chargers
- Power Bank
First time safari
Important information: If you own a drone, in Tanzania, you are required to pay about $100 per day inside National parks.
With all the above information you will be fully prepared for all aspects of your trip to Tanzania, fully enjoying the magic of your first safari in Africa!
Enjoy more images from our Tanzania safari in the #SAFARI TZ highlight stories on Ιnstagram.
