Tanzania FAQ

Both Tanzania’s climate and wildlife viewing opportunities are primarily driven by the East African rains. It’s the rains which trigger the mass movement of up to two million wildebeest, zebra, and impala from the Ngorongoro Crater into the Serengeti during the annual Great Migration. Although year-round, the best time to witness this spectacle is at the crossing of the Grumeti and Mara rivers between July and September, when temperatures are also at their coolest (averaging 76°F/25°C). Needless to say, these three months see the majority of travelers to Tanzania as a result.

Many combine tours of Tanzania’s northern or southern safari circuits with summitting Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa’s highest peak – or a few days on the beaches of Zanzibar. Diving is possible throughout the year here, with visibility best in July and August and whale sharks visiting from September through December.

An impressive array of wildlife, including the Big Five, can still be admired on safari in Tanzania at other times of year. The period from November through March comes with the risk of showers (usually for a couple of hours in the afternoon). Yet at the same time, you’ll encounter the migration’s newly-born calves, alongside the predators which stalk them. The birding is also at its best, as migratory species visit Tanzania.

The best places to visit in Tanzania are Arusha, Gombe Stream National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Mahale Mountains National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Nyerere National Park, Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park, and Zanzibar.

A national park is an area set aside and run by a national government whereas a game reserve (aka game park or wildlife park) is a large area of land where wild animals live safely or are hunted in a controlled way for sport. If hunting is prohibited, then a game reserve may be classified as a nature reserve.

U.S. citizens require a passport valid for at least six months, with at least one blank page, and a Tanzanian e-visa. Travelers can apply and pay for an Evisa. Travelers who enter on visas must present a roundtrip ticket and demonstrate they have sufficient funds. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Tanzanian embassy in their country before traveling.

The time zone in Tanzania is UTC+3. The country observes Eastern Africa Time (EAT) all year. There are no daylight savings time clock changes.

The best way to plan a trip to Tanzania is to tell us what trip you want, when you want to travel, the number of passengers, and where you want to depart from. For an existing trip, you can either call us or complete the “Get Pricing Now” form on the itinerary page. If you want a personalized tour, you can either call us, email us, or complete the “Contact Us” form on our website.

Yes. Our clients choose their own departure dates, unless there is a cruise or a group tour with a fixed departure date.

All meals are listed on each itinerary as (B,L,D) or Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Typically, breakfast is included daily. The other meals are either included or not, depending upon the itinerary.

We do not include international airfare in the cost of our tours. We will, however, quote it for you and you can purchase it through us if you like. The cost of our international airfare is usually the same or lower than what you can purchase yourself. Domestic airfare may be included in the cost, depending upon the tour.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website provides recommended and/or required vaccinations for each country. For Tanzania, it recommends that you should be up-to-date with routine vaccines such as Chickenpox (Varicella), Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis, Flu (Influenza), Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), Polio, and Shingles. It also recommends that you get vaccinated for COVID-19, Cholera, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid, and that you speak to your doctor about prescription medicine to prevent Malaria. Consider Rabies vaccination if you will be around dogs or wildlife. Yellow fever vaccination is required for travelers arriving from countries with risk for yellow fever virus transmission. Otherwise, it is generally not recommended for travelers to Tanzania.

Yes, we recommend travel insurance and strongly believe that you should be protected in the event that something unforeseen happens either before or during your trip. We work with Allianz Travel Insurance, AIG (Travel Guard Travel Insurance), and Travelex Insurance Services.

You will need to check with your cell phone carrier prior to traveling, since every carrier is different.

Voltage: 230 V; Frequency: 50 HZ; Plugs: Type G (UK standard three-prong).

The two official languages in Tanzania are Swahili and English. Swahili is more widely spoken.