Visa

A visa, a valid passport, and two (2) recent passport-sized photographs are required for all entries to Tanzania. Please note that passports should be valid for at least six months past the arrival date.
All visas are valid for three months from the date of issuance. In the event that a visa expires before it is utilized, the applicant will have to re-apply for a new one. The following fees apply:

Visa Type: Ordinary/Tourist Visa
US Citizens ONLY	Non-US Citizens
US $100	US $50

The ordinary/tourist visa can be obtained, prior to arrival, from any Tanzanian embassy or high commission abroad, or it can be obtained, with a very straightforward procedure, at any of these points of entry:

Dar Es Salaam International Airport (Julius Nyerere - DIA) Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA). Note: this will be your point of entry if you are flying to Arusha without a connecting flight in Dar Es Salaam Zanzibar International Airport (ZIA) Namanga boarder crossing point, between Tanzania and Kenya

No visa is required for nationals of the following countries, when the intended stay does not exceed three (3) months:

Antigua & Barbuda	Grenada	Maldives	Solomon Island
Bangladesh	Guyana	Mauritius	Swaziland
Barbados	Hong Kong	Namibia	Tuvalu
Belize	Jamaica	Nauru	The Gambia
Bermuda	Kenya	Sao Tome & Principe Island	Tonga
Botswana	Kiribati	Saint Lucia	Uganda
Brunei	Lesotho	Saint Vincent	Vanuatu
Cameroon	Malaysia	Saint Christopher & Nevis	Zambia
Cyprus	Malawi	Seychelles	Zimbabwe
Dominica	Malta	Singapore

And nationals of Commonwealth countries, with the exception of:

Bangladesh	India	Nigeria	United Kingdom
Canada	New Zealand	South Africa

Although not necessary, US citizens willing to obtain a visa in advance, can do so by applying for their visa at the Embassy of Tanzania, in Washington DC:

Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania
2139 R Street, NW
Washington DC, 20008
TEL: 202-884-1080/ 202-939-6125
FAX: 202-797-7408

For more information on how to obtain your visa in advance from the Tanzanian Embassy in the US, visit the Consular and Immigration web page: http://www.tanzaniaembassy-us.org/tzevisa.html

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Health

Participation on a safari requires general good health. All travelers should understand that while a high level of fitness is not required, a measure of physical activity is involved in all African safaris, especially walking safaris.
If you have a medical condition, and/or related dietary restriction, that we should know about, we ask you to communicate it to us, so that we can prepare and plan ahead of time to guarantee your comfort while respecting your privacy. We have a refrigerator on board that you are welcome to use in case you need to store certain medicines at low temperature.
It is highly recommended that you seek medical advice from your doctor, or a travel clinic, before you depart for your safari. For detailed health information for travelers to Tanzania visit www.cdc.gov/travel/eafrica.htm.
Simple things like change of water, food or climate, can all cause a minor bout of diarrhea, and stomach upsets are the most common traveler’s complaint, especially among those new to tropical travels. They can range from mild discomfort to diarrhea. The vast majorities are harmless and quickly pass.
When diarrhea occurs, you can stop it with drugs or let it run its course. Some doctors argue that diarrhea is nature’s way of ridding the system of harmful poisons and, therefore, should not be stopped prematurely. We suggest that, due to the high discomfort that a persistent diarrhea can cause in a safari setting, you carry adequate medicinal treatment. The most common over the counter drug is Imodium. Your doctor may prescribe stronger drugs for bacterial diarrhea. You should consult your doctor on whether, and under what conditions, you should take diarrhea medicines.
Dehydration is the main danger with any diarrhea, as dehydration can occur quite quickly. Under all circumstances, fluid replacement (at least equal to the volume being lost) is the most important part of treatment. Urine is the best guide to the adequacy of replacement – if you have small amounts of concentrated urine, you need to drink more.

We place safety at the highest level of consideration during all our trips. In case of an unlikely accident, we are trained in evaluating, treating, and evacuating injured persons in wilderness settings, through the most widely recognized and most required outdoor leader certification, the Wilderness First Responder (WFR).
We are a team of experienced outdoor instructors with emergency care experience and impressive backcountry resumes.

The members of the AdventurAfrica staff are Wilderness First Responder certified health-care providers, holding a current WFR and CPR certification from the Wilderness Medicine of Utah

Travel Pharmacy:
Following is a list of general medications that we suggest you bring with you during your trip.

Antimalarial pills (see Malaria section below) Broad-spectrum antibiotics (Ciproxin, Amoxil) Rehydration salts Antidiarrheal drugs (Imodium) Antipyretics-fever reducers (aspirin, acetaminophen) Anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen) Antihistamines (Loratadine, Benadryl) Antibacterial ointment for small cuts (Bactroban) Sun screen DEET-containing insect repellent Permethrin-containing insect spray First-Aid kit

Within the limitation of TSA and airlines carry-on rules, it is a good idea to keep your all your medications in your carry-on luggage.


Vaccinations:
There are no vaccination requirements for entry into Tanzania. However, at a very minimum, we recommend vaccinations against:

Yellow fever Typhoid fever Hepatitis A and B

Vaccination recommendations to discuss with your doctor, or a travel clinic, include:

Tetanus-Diphtheria Polio Measles-Mumps-Rubella

For more information on available vaccines, visit: www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/africa/tanzania.php.

Malaria:
Malaria is one of the greatest potential health risks in Tanzania and antimalarial prophylactic treatment is highly recommended.
Malaria is a serious infectious disease caused by parasites carried by the infective female of the Anopheles mosquito.
There are different antimalarial drugs available, and the most widely used are Malarone (atovaquone-proguanil) and Lariam (mefluoquine). It is your health care provider's responsibility to decide which one you should take, but in discussing your options with your doctor, consider the following.
Malarone dosage is one (1) tablet once a day. Malarone treatment should be initiated 1 to 2 days before traveling to the malaria-risk area and continued for 7 days after leaving. Uncommon side effects include: stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and headache.
Lariam dosage is one (1) tablet once a week. Lariam treatment should be initiated 2-3 weeks (3 doses) before traveling to the malaria-risk area and continued for four (4) weeks after leaving. Known side effects include: headache, a slight increase in anxiety and, most notably, vivid dreams (which some people actually enjoy and nicknamed "Lariam dreams"). Lariam is not indicated for persons with active depression or a recent history of depression, a history of anxiety disorder and seizures.
Based on firsthand experience, we have a preference for Lariam, mostly due to its weekly, rather than daily, dosage. During a safari, with so many new and exciting things going on, it is much easier to take a tablet once a week than to remember to do so every single day. And yes... we had "Lariam dreams", and yes... we enjoyed most of them! Once in a while, Lariam will really give you something to talk about in the morning!
Regardless of the type of antimalarial drug being used, it is important to remember that the best protection from malaria is preventing mosquito bites, especially between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are more active. Precautionary measures include:

Using DEET-based insect repellant Applying permethrin to your bed and/or tent net Covering up before dusk and wearing light color clothing (malaria-carrying mosquitoes seem to be attracted to dark colors), long sleeved shirts, trousers, socks and shoes in the evenings. Pay particular attention to your ankles and legs as mosquitoes, if present, tend to hover at ankle level, and consider spraying repellent under your socks

Travelers should be aware that the risk of contracting malaria can not be completely eliminated. Malaria symptoms, which include headache, fevers and generalized aches and pain, can develop as early as about a week after initial exposure in a malaria-infested area, and as long as one year after departure. Malaria can be treated effectively early in the course of the disease, but delay of therapy can have serious or even fatal consequences. Travelers returning home from malaria-risk areas and developing fevers or flu-like symptoms, should consider malaria as a possibility and seek immediate medical attention.
The Northern Parks and Reserves of Tanzania are not particularly high risk areas. Malaria does not pose a significant risk above 5,900 feet. The Ngorongoro Crater (altitude of 7,500 – 8,000 feet) is considered malaria free and there are few mosquitoes in most regions of the Serengeti (altitude of 5,000 – 6,000 feet). There is a higher risk of malaria on Zanzibar and other low-lying regions in Tanzania.

Other insects can be an unwelcome presence during safaris. The tsetse fly can carry the parasites that cause the sleeping sickness, a serious and potentially fatal parasitic disease. This fly is attracted to very bright and very dark colors (primarily dark blue), so these should be avoided. Lighter and more natural colors such as khaki, brown, beige, olive and green should be worn during the day. The tsetse fly can bite through thin fabrics, so clothing should be made of thick or tightly woven material. Insect repellants have not proven effective in preventing tsetse fly bites.


Snakes:
While snakes are such a rarity to see, and snakes bites are extremely unlikely, snakes do tend to be on the list of concerns of every safari participant.
Among the poisonous snakes of Tanzania, the most dangerous species are the puff adder, Gabon viper, black and green mambas, boomslang, and several cobras including the spitting cobra. These snakes account for several hundreds of reported envenomations each year, although the typical victim is hardly a tourist sitting on a safari vehicle.
The best course of actions to avoid dangerous encounters with poisonous snakes is constant awareness. When on foot, always scan the ground in front of and around your path. Never step into an area that you can't check visually and never, EVER!, put your hands in places that you can't see. All snakes love to avoid interaction with humans and, if made aware of our presence before feeling threatened or cornered, will retreat unnoticed. Keep your bag zips and tent nets closed at all times, when not in use, and never walk at night around the camp without the aid of bright flashlight.
In the event of an unlikely bite, we will follow a strict Wilderness Pre-Hospital Emergency Care (WPHEC) protocol, treating every snake byte from any potentially poisonous snake, or unidentified snake, as a medical emergency, requiring little to no local treatment, other than regular wound management, and granting immediate evacuation (by air transportation if needed) to the closest western-style medical facility, namely the Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar Es Salaam, or the Nairobi Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.


In Case of Emergency:
Our commitment to safety doesn't end with preparation, awareness and mindful planning. We cover every potentially dangerous aspect of our trips with established and time-tested procedures and protocols. In case of emergency, we do have a plan!
AdventurAfrica is member of AMREF (African Medical and Research Foundation) which gives us access to the medical and evacuation services of the Flying Doctors' Society of Africa.
In case of a life-threatening emergency, help is only a phone call away and air transportation to Nairobi is guaranteed 24-hours a day.
AMREF provides full time medical staff and aircrew on standby 24-hours to respond to emergencies. Patient will be accompanied by an emergency physician and/or critical care nurse, who have all worked for several years in intensive care medicine, are certified in advanced life support and have longstanding aero-medical experience.
In case of evacuation, AdventurAfrica will cover the cost of transportation and emergency care, but you will be responsible for the medical bills of the treating facility you'll be transported to.

AdventurAfrica is member of AMREF (African Medical and Research Foundation)

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What to Bring

Safaris are extremely informal vacations and the main goal is to pack lightly and smartly. There is little opportunity for fashion while on safari, though you may wish to bring a nice outfit for a special dinner. Loose fitting, casual and comfortable clothing is recommended during safaris and around the camp. Most lodges and camps will launder your clothes for free or a few dollars fee within 24-hours.
Temperatures range from the mid 70’s to the mid 80’s and lows are in the 50’s and 60’s, except during the cold season (June, July and August), when lows can drop down into the 40’s. The rim of the Ngorongoro Crater gets significantly colder during the night and early mornings, due to its high elevation (7,500 – 8,000 feet).
There is a large temperature variation during the day and it is recommended to wear layers, enabling you to adjust to the varying temperatures. It can be quite cold on early morning game drives and long pants and a warm sweater are needed. In contrast, shorts and t-shirts can be worn on afternoon game drives as it can get hot during midday. During walking safaris, it is recommended to wear a wide brimmed hat and apply sun block to exposed areas.
Below is a compiled list of items we recommend you include in your luggage: