PRE DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Thank you for choosing to travel with Kibo Safaris.
We look forward to
serving you on safari. In order to ensure that you
have the best
experience possible, it is imperative that you read
the following
information.
BOOKING CONDITIONS AND ACCEPTANCE ON THIS SAFARI
Please ensure that you are aware of our conditions
and your
responsibility. Please ask your agent for a copy.
Your payment and
travel to Tanzania implies acceptance of these conditions.
SAFARI OVERVIEW
Northern Tanzania generally provides the best game
viewing in Africa!
You should see a large amount and great variety of
wildlife. Your guide
is the single most important element of your safari.
He will be able to
explain much about the country, tribes and wildlife
behavior. Your guide
will spot animals that you will have trouble spotting
using binoculars.
Please be patient and observe the interaction of the
animals. Do not be
in a rush to check off your animal list and say that
you have seen it.
Leopards, for instance, are not sighted on every safari
so if you catch
a glimpse of one consider yourself lucky.
If traveling on a scheduled departure, please be
considerate of other
participants and be on time. Most of the day will
be spent in the
specially outfitted four-wheel drive safari vehicle
with three
game-viewing roof hatches, either game viewing or
driving from park to
park. Kibos guides always put client safety
first and do their best to
avoid tire swallowing potholes. The roads are rough
and bumpy. The roads
in the safari area are dirt and most main park roads
only have a grader
go over them once a year. Most "travel days"
involve less than 4 hours
except when traveling from the Serengeti to Arusha.
Do NOT photograph
people without first asking permission. The Maasai
will usually want
payment, have your guide negotiate this for you.
VEHICLES
We find that our specially modified 4 x 4's with open
roof hatches are
the best safari vehicles. While on a game drive the
roof hatches are
opened, allowing clients to stand for the best views
and photographic
angles. These vehicles seat 5 passengers comfortably
(all window seats).
All of our vehicles are equipped with radios which
can communicate with
each other and the head offices in Arusha.
FOOD / DINING ON SAFARI
Most of our clients rate our camp food better than
that of the lodges.
Please ask for a kitchen tour on arrival in camp so
you will be
comfortable with the food served. We attempt to serve
a balanced diet
and we are constantly looking for new recipes. We
generally offer
nibbles of popcorn to curb any hunger pains before
dinner. Breakfast is
fairly standard; coffee, tea, fruit juice, eggs cooked
to order toast,
bacon or sausage, cereals and fresh fruit. Picnic
lunches are simple,
and may include bread, meats, or tuna fish, hard-boiled
eggs, a sweet
and fruit. Dinner usually starts with soup, followed
by a main course
consisting of fish, chicken, pork, beef or lamb and
fresh potatoes rice
and vegetables. Vegetarians are usually served steamed
vegetables and
rice or pasta. Please inform Kibo of any dietary restrictions
before
your arrival.
Lodges usually have a choice of two or three main
courses for the
evening meal. Please exercise caution with lettuce
or fresh spinach
except maybe at Gibbs Farm. Use your better
judgment and always sample
start with a small bite.
While camping, the guides will be eating with you
at the Kibo mobile
tented camps, as they are your host. If your itinerary
has overnights at
lodges they generally will not be eating with you.
They will be catching
up with their friends and finding out the latest information
on the
following days destination. It is important
that they have these
evenings to themselves. Should you wish your guide
to join you for
dinner the lodges charge extra and you will have to
pay the lodge
directly. Your guide will tell you which lodges charge.
SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
Please let us know when booking your safari of any
special dietary
requests or restrictions.
ACCOMMODATION CAMPING
Your walk-in canvas tents tent is furnished with two
single metal frame
beds with mattresses, pillows, sheets and two blankets.
The tents have
sewn-in floors and netted windows and doors. During
dinner the staff
usually use mosquito spray in your tent. On your request
the tent will
not be sprayed.
The bathroom is a canvas privy with a short drop
toilet. In the Kibo
mobile 'Medium Camp' these are not attached and two
tents share one
toilet tent and one shower tent. A bucket style shower
is hung from a
metal bar above the shower tent. Hot water is available
on return in the
evening or, if ordered the night before, in the morning.
The Kibo mobile 'Luxury Camp' has two single wood
frame beds (king size
beds available on request at time of booking). Each
luxury tent has an
attached shower and toilet.
Meals are served "family style" in a separate
dining tent. On all day
game drives lunch is usually a picnic.
HOTELS & LODGES
Do not expect accommodations as you would find in
the USA. The rooms are
generally smaller and forget the TV and working phone.
There are
bathrooms with flush toilet and showers in each room.
Electric lights,
in most lodges running on generators, usually go out
at 11 PM. Hot
water, water in general or electricity can be spotty
but things have
improved dramatically in recent years as tourism has
increased. Hotel
staff attempt to please but patience is a virtue as
things run slower in Tanzania.
Proper bathrooms are NOT AVAILABLE in most of Northern
Tanzanias safari areas.
Please be aware that "going" behind a bush
or the vehicle will be necessary while
on game drives or driving from place to place.
There will not be much time for exercise. Your guide
will try to provide
some walking where its safe and legal. Its
important to tell your
guide at the safari briefing if you want to include
some walks.
Generally there are no places to jog, so please do
not expect many or
any opportunities especially in wet weather.
It s always best to bring a healthy sense of
humor, as things do not
always go according to plan.
TYPICAL SAFARI DAY
You are usually up for breakfast as the day is breaking
and out on your
game drive about an hour later. Morning game drives
will last from three
to five hours. Our experienced, well trained, personable
guides are
proud of their country and will want to you to have
excellent game
viewing opportunities. They will have a clean 4 x
4 vehicle waiting at
the designated time each morning. Depending on the
park you may or may
not come back for lunch. In Tarangire you come back
to camp for lunch,
but in Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti
a picnic lunch is
usually taken along.
Afternoon game drives usually begin around 2:30 or
3:00 PM and last
about three hours (except on all day game drives with
picnic lunches).
You should be in camp around dusk. On arrival in Kibo
Camp hot showers
will be ready after which drinks and snacks are served
around the
campfire. Dinner will be served about an hour after
you arrive in camp.
If you wish a longer or shorter cocktail hour please
inform the guide so
he can radio the camp. After dinner you may sit around
the campfire,
watching the magnificent stars or go directly to bed.
The sounds of the
African night will remain etched in your mind for
years to come.
ENTRY VISA
American Passport holders are required to purchase
a tourist entry visa
which is available at Tanzanian Embassies. Visitors
from other
countries should check with the nearest visa service
or Tanzania
Embassy. There are two international airports; Dar
Es Salaam (13kms
outside the city) and Kilimanjaro (approximately 50kms
from Arusha). If
you are starting your safari from Arusha, Kilimanjaro
Airport is the
preferred port of entry. The other easy alternative
is Nairobi.
Zanzibar, which is part of the independent Republic
of Tanzania, has the
same health, immigration and custom laws.
TRANSFERS
Kibo can arrange all transfers. Please make sure all
your connections
are arranged from either Kilimanjaro Airport or Nairobi.
If you arrive
at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi,
we can arrange for a
4- hour transfer to Arusha either directly from the
airport or from your
hotel in Nairobi. These transfers are by shuttle bus
(outside
contractor) or Kibo's own transfer van. If you are
flying from Dar Es
Salaam to Arusha, we recommend Precision Air.
WILD ANIMALS
Some animals are potentially dangerous. Attacks by
wild animals are
rare. To date we have had no guest injuries but no
safari in Africa can
guarantee that such incidents will not occur. Neither
your travel agent,
Kibo Safari Co., their agents, employees, staff members,
associates, nor
their suppliers can be held liable for any injuries
caused during an
incident involving the behavior of wild animals. Most
of the camps and
lodges supply a night escort back to your tent or
room. Please take
advantage of this service.
HEALTH
While most of the game-viewing areas do not have many
flying insects,
anti-Malaria precautions should be started prior to
departure. Please
consult your doctor for advice. Please be aware that
the drug Lariam has
caused unwanted and severe reactions and your doctor
should tell you the
risks of taking this or any medication. Those with
heart conditions
should be aware that they may be traveling at high
elevations and should
discuss implications of the effect of elevations above
seven thousand
feet with their doctor. For those with bad backs the
roads are extremely
rough, sometimes with huge holes and are generally
bumpy. So bumpy in
fact, that we suggest women pack a jogging bra. Bring
a good supply of
any prescription drugs and carry it with you on the
plane in your hand
luggage.
Certain inoculations may be recommended or required
for travel in East
Africa. Currently Tanzania requires a yellow fever
vaccination prior to
entry. Please consult your doctor. Please also check
with your health
department prior to departure for any changes in health
regulations. The
following is written without regard to individual
country drug approval
regulations.
MALARIA
Expert opinion differs regarding the best approach
to malaria
prophylactics. It is important to bear in mind that
malaria may be
contracted despite taking prevention medication. Malaria
is transmitted
by some female Anopheles mosquitoes, which are active
in the early
evening and throughout the night.
Lariam:
The dosage is one tablet per week beginning 7 days
prior to entering a
malarial area and continued for 4 weeks after leaving
a malarial area.
It is a long-acting preparation with some side effects.
It should NOT be
taken in conjunction with Proquanil or Chloroquine.
It should not be
taken by anyone with a heart problem. It should not
be used during
pregnancy or lactation. It should not be used by people
over 65 years
old, or people with tendencies towards depression
and it should not be
taken for longer than 3 months. If you suffer from
a heart condition it
is essential that you consult your doctor regarding
prophylactic
regimes. Some health care providers recommend taking
a couple of weeks
to see if you have any negative reactions to the drug
while you are
still at home.
The side effects of Lariam may possibly be minimized by:
1) taking half a tablet twice a week (instead of
a full tablet once a
week), after dinner with no alcohol; or
2) taking "Essential" (or similar), a non-prescription
liver
detoxification tablet, which seems to minimize the
side effects of
Lariam.
As with any medication contact your doctor.
Following is the Malaria prophylactics recommendations
for African
travelers statement from AMREF (which is much more
knowledgeable than
anyone at Kibo on the subject). Again consult your
personal doctor.
______________________________________________________________________________
AFRICAN MEDICAL AND RESEARCH FOUNDATION
P.O. Box 30125 Nairobi, KENYA: Tel: 254 2 501301 /
500508: Fax: 254 2
609518
MALARIA PREVENTION
Malaria is a serious parasitic disease, which is common
in Africa, Asia
and South America. It is spread by mosquito bites
and may after an
incubation period of a week, rapidly lead to life
threatening
complications particularly in individual with little
or no immunity.
There is no 100 per cent effective solution but there
are numbers of
good methods available, each with its advantages and
disadvantages. The
recommendations given below have been gained from
the documented figures
and our wide experience throughout parts of Africa.
General:
Avoiding the mosquito is the cornerstone of protection.
The malaria -
carrying Anopheles mosquito usually feeds after dark,
from about 21.00
till 06.00 hours. Mosquito nets provide as good protection
as
Paludrine®, and a number of recent Africa studies
have shown that
consistent use of permethrin - impregnated bed nets
significantly
decrease childhood illness and death.
Avoid the mosquito by using mosquito bed nets (dipped
in pyrethrold
insecticide), and / or Air Conditioning, long clothing
after dark,
repellents/insecticides (sprays and creams), mosquito
coils, mosquito
mesh over windows, doors and under eaves
Chemoprophylaxis (drug prevention):
No prophylactic drug is 100% effective. Taking drugs
does not replace
personal protection. Always avoid mosquito. A drug
must show greater
benefit than risk.
Amodiaquine: Because of severe side effects, It must
not be used for
prevention. It is useful for treatment .
Fansidar® Mentakelfin®: (Pyrimenthamine/sulfur
combination drugs) Life
threatening side effects have limited their use for
prevention. They are important treatment drugs.
Melfloquine. Lariam® An effective long acting
drug with side effects
from mild sleep disturbances to very rare but severe
mental
disturbances. The adult dose is 250 mg once weekly
and should taken with
food in the evening. Start two weeks before entering
a malarious area
and continue until two weeks after leaving it.
Doxycycline: Probably effective in Eastern Africa.
It must not be given
to women in pregnancy or to children under the age
of twelve. The adult
dose is 100 mg daily, Should not be taken more than
3 months at a time.
Proguanil: A reasonably effective and safe drug with
no serious
toxicity. It is safe in pregnancy and for children
of all age.
Preferable taken with food in the evening. The dose
is 1/2 table per
15-kg body weight, for children and adults, i.e. 12
kg body weight = 1/2
tablet. 35kg = 1 1/2 tablets. 60 kg body weight =
2 tablets and so on,
prorata.
Remember - whatever you do, you may still contract
malaria. At the
first sign of illness, consult your doctor and tell
him or her that you
have malaria. DEMAND a blood slide for microscopic
examination,
especially if you have returned home and malaria is
not a common
condition in your home country or area. Early diagnosis
and treatment
will result in cure.
Standby Treatment.
If you travel frequently, especially to low - risk
areas such as the
Masai Mara, Rift Valley, North Eastern Province (
e.g. Samburu) and
Karamoja in the dry season, you may consider optimal
vector avoidance
only and carry a course of treatment with you. You
should only take that
treatment if you have a flu like illness at least
a week after being in
a malaria zone and cannot get to a doctor (it takes
at least a week to
develop malaria from an infected mosquito bite). The
advice also applies
to those living in endemic areas who do not with to
take prophylactic
tablets everyday all year.
Recommended curative doses (for 160 kg adult; divide
by weight for
children):
1. Pyrimethamine/sulfur ( Fansidar® or Metakelfin®
three tablets at once
and Amodiaquine (Camoquin®) 25 mg/kg over three
days.
2. Halofantrine: Adults - three doses of two 250.mg
tablets six
hoursapart (not for those with heart or blood pressure
problems.
Dr. Eliab Soroney Some - on behalf of AMREF. Malaria
Advisory Group.
___________________________________________________________________________
Please remember that the best insurance against
contracting malaria is
to try to prevent oneself being bitten, so use mosquito
repellents
liberally. Wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers/slacks
in the evenings.
If staying in a bungalow/tent, spray with an insecticide
like DOOM to
kill any mosquitoes which may have flown into your
room. Mosquito coils
are also effective.
Having presented all the above information and cautions,
malaria is not
a serious problem if people are sensible and take
basic precautions. We
do not camp in any densely populated areas, and this
greatly reduces the
risk of being infected by malaria. Industry wide we
have had very few
cases of guests contracting malaria in the game viewing
area of Northern
Tanzania.
Hospitals and health care facilities:
Medical technology and facilities in Tanzania are
not as up to date as
the USA or as readily accessible
Immunizations:
You must have a Yellow Fever vaccination to enter
Tanzania. Please
consult the Tanzania embassy about for any current
requirements.
Some doctors recommend Ciprofloxicin antibiotic for adults for diarrhea.
Imodium is a good short term treatment.
Water:
Don't drink it unless it is from a sealed bottle.
To keep from getting
dehydrated, drink plenty of fluids. Tea, coffee and
alcoholic beverages
are dehydrating. Brush your teeth only with your bottled
water. Never
let a waiter open a new bottle of water for you. It
is safest that you
break the seal. Brush your teeth with bottled water.
Bottled Drinks:
Diet sodas are not available in Tanzania. Wine, beer,
bottled water at
lodges, sodas and alcoholic beverages are not included
in the trip price
at any of the lodges. While in a Kibo Camp there
is usually is limited
supply of sodas (Fanta, Sprite & Coke), beer and
South African wine (we
also use French and Spanish wines) You should reimburse
the head waiter
for any beverages consumed. We include mineral water,
sodas, beer and a
couple of glasses of
table wine at dinner on our scheduled classic camp
safaris.
Two one-liter bottles of water are supplied free
of charge per day.
Alcoholic beverages can be brought or ordered in advance
by the bottle.
Hotels and lodges usually have a good selection of
drinks. Ice is still
rare and possibly risky; plan to drink neat! On the
luxury safari Kibos
ice is made with mineral water. On the medium camping
safari count on
not having any ice. We have a wine and spirits price
sheet available on
your request at time of your initial deposit payment.
It may be best to
bring your favorite with you.
BATHROOM FACILITIES
Proper bathrooms are NOT AVAILABLE in most of Northern
Tanzania's safari
areas. Please be aware that "going" behind
a bush or the vehicle will be
necessary while on game drives or driving from place
to place.
INSURANCE
You should take out comprehensive insurance cover
when paying your
deposit to cover cancellation, medical evacuation,
person baggage and
medical expenses. Other insurance, such as health
and life insurance
should be up to date.
Kibo Safaris and its associates cannot be held responsible
or liable for
loss, damage, or theft of personal luggage and belongings,
nor can they
be held liable for personal injury, accident or illness.
Please ensure
that you have yourself and your belongings adequately
insured before
your departure. Please contact your broker or your
travel agent for
details. We cannot be held liable for any losses or
damages incurred.
a) Health Insurance:
It is strongly suggested to have full medical, emergency
evacuation and
repatriation cover for the period of time you are
away.
If you are on a scheduled Kibo departure the cost
of Flying Doctors
Service, which takes you in emergency from Northern
Tanzania to a
Nairobi Hospital is included.
If you are on a custom safari please make sure that
your agent has
priced and included this service for you. If you are
doing a combination
Kenya and Tanzania trip be sure the first safari
operator gives you the
Flying Doctors card.
b) Cancellation and Curtailment:
You might have to cancel or curtail your safari due
to unforeseen
circumstances. If you cancel a trip close to departure
date for any
reason you could lose your full payment. Should you
have to leave the
safari early, we cannot refund you the portion of
the safari you do not
complete. Depending on the reason for cancellation
and curtailment,
insurance may cover you for this eventuality.
c) Baggage & Money Insurance:
It is advisable to take out baggage and money insurance,
especially if
you are carrying much cash or expensive and valuable
camera equipment.
You should always carry such equipment as "carry-on"
luggage. Do not put
anything of value in your checked baggage!
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:
The tour fares are fully inclusive as detailed in
the itinerary.
However, personal expenditure, gratuities for driver/guides
and
camp/lodge staff, and airport taxes and visa fees
are excluded.
US $25 ? $30 per day should cover the cost of personal
expenses and
souvenirs etc.(within reason).
TIPPING
Tipping is not compulsory. If, however, you want to
tip because you have received good service, we have
enclosed a brief guideline to assist you.
Tipping is left to your discretion. If it totals
7 to 10% of your
safari cost that would be about correct and very much
appreciated. The
standard in the USA 15% is above standard in Tanzania.
1. Guides
We recommend US$ 8 to 15 per guest per day if the
guide has done a good
job. If there are less than 4 travelers in the safari
vehicle you may
want to consider $15 per day.
2. Kibo Camp Staff
We recommend about US $5 - 10 per guest per day camping.
This should be
handed to the camp manager on your last day of safari
or into the
communal tipping box to be distributed equally among
all the staff at a
later stage. If you are camping on a private safari
with only two or
four passengers you may want to consider the higher
side or a bit more.
If you weren't pleased by the service offered by an
individual in a Kibo
camp please do not hesitate to inform Kibos
management in Arusha while
you are on safari.
3) Transfer Drive
Nairobi Arusha We suggest US$ 12 - 15 for the private
van driver per
trip to or from Nairobi. For Transfers in Arusha Town
to Airport $5
4) Hotel Lodge Staff
It is amazing what a dollar in shillings per couple
can do at the first
non-buffet meal. Porters would not be adverse to a
dollar per trip in
local currency.
5) Departure Taxes
On all international flights from Tanzania, there
are departure taxes
pay. Note that flights to Kenya are considered international.
All
present domestic departure taxes on charter flights
are included in the
price of your safari. A visa fee may be required for
entry to Kenya.
Emergency Contact:
If you have a problem, our contact Numbers are:
+ 255 57 504093 These phone has problems sometimes
+ 255 57 50 7605 Thisphone hasproblems sometimes
fax number +255 57 8937 This phone has problems sometimes
24 hour emergency mobile phones
+255 811 510 132
+255 811 512 171 Josiah
+255 811 512 287
+255 811 652 756
If you are a keen birder we recommend that you bring
your OWN
Zimmerman's Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania.
Everyone should bring
their own BINOCULARS in order to get the most out
of the safari.
SCHEDULED FLIGHTS (VERY IMPORTANT)
Please check in early at all airports as the international
flights are
occasionally overbooked. Please insure that all your
onward flights are
reconfirmed at least 72 hours prior to flying. Kibo
will gladly
reconfirm flights but can not be held responsible.
It is best to
reconfirm your flights when you check in on the flights
to Africa.
AIR TRANSFERS
When an itinerary uses scheduled air transfers, we
book the aircraft and
pilot through licensed charter companies in Arusha. Kibo can not be held
responsible for these independent services.
PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT
The choice of the correct camera equipment and film
will determine the
quality of your photographs on the trip. For good
photography of birds
and animals, a good SLR camera and telephoto lens
is necessary. The
minimum recommended size is 200 mm and a zoom lens
can be extremely
useful on safari.
IMPORTANT -BRING LOTS OF FILM AND A SPARE CAMERA BATTERY
AS THEY ARE NOT
AVAILABLE ON SAFARI.
LAUNDRY
Laundry can be done at most camps and lodges, weather
and water
providing. The lodges or camps charge a fee for this
facility. Kibo does
provide this service for free in our own mobile tented
camps if water is
available. The camp staff will not wash women's underwear
owing to local
traditions.
FLASHLIGHTS
As the grounds of most lodges/camps in Tanzania are
unfenced, it is
essential that you bring a small flashlight as you
may encounter WILD
ANIMALS in camp at night. You should also bring a
spare bulb, as well as
extra batteries, as they are unobtainable while on safari.
DRIVING CONDITIONS
The roads and at times tracks are rough and bumpy
and we will travel
where it is possible that injuries may occur if, for
example, an unseen
hyena hole etc. is struck. Neither Kibo Safaris nor
their staff members,
associates or agents can be held liable for any accidents
or any
damages!
NO SMOKING POLICY
It is Kibos policy that smokers not smoke in
the vehicle or in the
tents or dining tents.
PARK FEES
The park fees are included in the cost of your safari
unless you request
an unscheduled stop.
LOSS OF ARTICLES
Please note that we cannot accept any responsibility
for the
misplacement of any articles while on safari. Naturally,
we will do
everything possible to locate a misplaced article,
but any costs
incurred will be for your own account.
PRIVATE VEHICLES
If you would like a private vehicle and guide to take
you on safari, we
can arrange this for you at an extra cost. If you
elect to take up this
option then you will have a private vehicle and guide
for you and your
party. Please contact your agent for exact pricing.
If you elect not to
take this option you will be traveling with other
safari guests. We
insist on acceptable behavior in the safari vehicle
which will insure
that all our guests have enjoyable game drives.
RESPECTING WILDLIFE
Please do not ask the guides to bend any rules. By
asking them to bend
the rules, you put their jobs at risk.
Observe the animals silently and with a minimum of
disturbance to their
natural activities. Loud talking on game drives can
frighten the animals
away. Please respect your driver-guide's judgment
about our proximity to
lions, cheetahs and leopards. Don't insist that he
take the vehicle
closer so that you can get a better photograph - bring
a telephoto lens.
A vehicle driven too close can hinder a hunt or cause
animals to abandon
a hard-earned meal.
Litter tossed on the ground can choke or poison animals
and birds and is
unsightly.
Never attempt to feed or approach any wild animal
on foot. This is
especially important near lodges or in campsites where
animals may have
become accustomed to human visitors.
RESPECTING CUSTOMS
We want future visitors to enjoy our wonderful country.
We do not wish
to change the ways and looks of our diverse peoples.
We believe that it
is best to have as little impact on the people as
possible. We ask you
to travel with an open mind and be respectful of our
cultures.
LUGGAGE
As no formal clothes are needed, we recommend that
you keep your luggage
to the basics. Bright or dark blue colors attract
tsetse flies (similar
to horse fly in bite-power), khaki or neutral colors
best. Traveling
light is imperative as it takes less time to load
your vehicle on travel
days. If you are flying by small plane (as on our
luxury departure from
the Serengeti to Arusha) a soft carry-all (instead
of a suitcase) with
the following maximum dimensions: 32 in long, x 14
in wide x 10 in high
is suggested. Small charter airline companies have
a 25 pound limit on
luggage. This 25 lbs. includes camera bag and equipment.
A clothing list
is attached for your information. Please keep in mind
that the baggage
compartments on the light aircraft are only 10 inches
high.
Guests will also have the option to leave any extra
bags in lockers at
our workshop and storage facilities office in Arusha,
or at a hotel, at
their own risk. Please remember that on most safaris
laundry services
will be available.
PACKING LIST
While the dress code in East Africa is conservative
but informal, long
pants (or below the knee skirts for women) is the
rule in cities,
However, in Arusha during the day T - shirts and modest
shorts are
acceptable.
SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT LIST - MAXIMUM 25 LBS - IN ONE
SOFT SPORTS BAG
(INCLUDING CAMERA EQUIPMENT)
o Good quality sunglasses, preferably polarized.
o Bush hat
o T-shirts and one long-sleeved cotton shirt
o Shorts/skirts
o Long trousers/slacks
o Bathing suit
o Underwear and socks (we recommend running bras as
the rough roads can
cause discomfort)
o Good walking shoes or sneakers
o Thongs/sandals
o Sweater or patagonia jacket for cool evenings
o Camera equipment and plenty of film.(If available,
it's expensive).
o If you wear contact lenses, we recommend that you
bring along a pair
of glasses in case you get irritation from the dust
o BINOCULARS - ESSENTIAL (and Zimmerman's bird book
if you are keen)
o Personal toiletries
o Anti-malaria tablets
o Moisturizing cream & suntan lotion
o Anti-histamine cream
o Insect repellent e.g. Tabard, Rid, Jungle Juice,
etc.
o Basic medical kit (aspirin, Band-Aids, Imodium,
antiseptic cream etc.)
o Tissues/"Wet Ones"
o Visas, tickets, passports, money etc.
o Flashlight w/ spare batteries and bulb
o Light rain gear (goretex is great)
o Gloves for camping at the Crater
o Zip Lock bags for laundry and camera equipment
If you are camping at Ngorongoro Crater during June - August (40 degrees
at night is possible), you may want to bring a Patagonia
jacket, wool
hat, gloves and long underwear which can double as
PJs.
ELECTRICITY
The main electricity supply is 240 volts, 50 cycles.
On safari, many
lodges and tented camps operate their own generators.
Sockets have 3
plugs. Adapters are provided at the lodges after a
security deposit is
paid. To be sure of availability we suggest bringing
your own.
CHILDREN
Children are welcome in Tanzania at the lodges and
most of the safari
camps. Many families travel on safari with young children
from 5 years
old. They certainly are welcome on Kibo scheduled
safaris but we do
require that people traveling with more than one child
have their own
vehicle. It is advisable to bring healthy snacks for
long game drives,
bring play games and other amusements that will keep
them happy in camp.
Soccer balls are great for exercise, a wonderful
icebreaker with local
children and nice to leave at the end of your safari.
MONEY
The local currency in Tanzania is the shilling. Always
keep your money
with you. Do not leave cash in your room, stored luggage
or in your
tent. Major credit cards are not accepted at most
places in Tanzania.
About a hundred dollars converted into Tanzania Shillings
should cover
most incidentals (but not serious souvenir shopping).
Please do not
change money on the street.
AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX
The airport departure tax for Tanzania is currently
US$ 20 per person,
for Kenya its the same. There is presently no
departure tax if you
travel between Kenya and Tanzania via the Namanga
border by land
transfer. Note that flights to Kenya are considered
international. All
present domestic departure taxes on charter flights
are included in the
price of your safari. Kenya may charge visa fees if
flying to Nairobi
from Tanzania.
WEATHER CONDITIONS & TEMPERATURES
East Africa and Tanzania enjoy one of the wold's most
pleasant climates.
Weather and temperatures are generally mild year
round. However, it can
be quite cold at the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater,
where wind, fog and
heavy dews can be expected any time of year and evening
temperatures can
go down to the 40s during June, July and August.
In the rest of the
country during December to March: temperatures average
in the high 70s
& low 80s during the day and 50s &
60s in the evenings and early
morning. From May to November: temperatures are about
6 to 9 degrees
cooler. Zanzibar and the Selous are more humid and
much warmer. Rain can
occur at any time and is unpredictable, especially
in recent years. The
long rains are supposed to happen in late March, April
and May. The
short rains are expected in late October to early
December.
SHOPPING
While you are on safari, we ask our drivers not to
stop for shopping. If
you wish to stop imperative to get the consent of
your fellow travelers
first and make it a short stop not over 15 minutes.
Bargain hard and do
not be afraid of walking away. It is best to check
the prices at the
lodge gift shop in Arusha before purchasing anything
roadside. Usually
our guides will stop at the "Cultural Heritage"
center when you return
to Arusha either by air or road.
There are nice crafts available for purchase in Tanzania,
including
basketry, beadwork, gemstones, masks and woodcarvings.
Arusha has shops
where you can purchase souvenirs. For the more adventurous
you are
welcome to explore the curio shops near the clock
tower and/or the local
markets. Be sure to bargain for the best price and
keep a good eye on
your money and valuables. Good quality beaded belts
are available for
about $15, depending on size and detail. If you are
a big shopper or
collector, it may be best to schedule a day in Nairobi
and/or Arusha for
shopping.
DO NOT SHIP GOODS HOME. It's best to pay the surcharge
from the airline.
Kibo Safari and its selling agents can not be responsible
for any goods
purchased an /or shipped.
LANGUAGE
Ki-Swahili is the official language of Tanzania. English
is spoken and
its the accepted language in hotels, restaurants
etc. There are Swahili
phrase books available at good book stores in most
countries, but here
are a few words to get you started.
Slowly Pole pole
Hello Jambo
How are you? Habari Gani?
Fine (very well) Nzuri (which also means good)
Thank you (very much) Asante (sana)
Please Tafadhali
Welcome Karibu
Goodbye Kwaheri
Danger Hatari
Friend Rafiki
People Wananchi (watu)
How? Vipi?
Where? Wapi?
Why? Kwe nini?
No problem! Hakuna Matata (shida)
Stop Si mama
Let's go Twende
How much? Ngapi?
Men Wanaume
Women Wanawake
Sir/Mister Bwana
Mrs. Mama
If you are visiting the Hadza tribe near Lake Eyassi
it is strongly
suggested that you read what Peter Matthiessen writes
in THE TREE WHERE
MAN WAS BORN. for perspective.
Thank you for choosing to safari with Kibo. We have every intention that
you enjoy your travels in Tanzania and that you'll return again and also
tell your friends about us.
Aug 18,1999
Kibo Safaris 8/99