Safari packing essentials laid out on sand

Know before you go

Tanzania Travel Guide

Everything a first-time traveller asks us: where the parks are, when the migration moves, what to pack, visas, vaccinations, money and how much to tip. Written by our guides in Arusha.

Where to go

Interactive map of Tanzania's parks

Tap or hover a park to see details. Schematic map — not to survey accuracy.

Month by month

Great Migration calendar

January

Southern Serengeti / Ndutu

Herds spread across short-grass plains, first calves drop.

February

Ndutu & Ngorongoro conservation plains

Peak calving — around 8,000 calves a day and constant predator action.

March

Southern & central Serengeti

Calves strengthen, herds begin drifting north-west as rains build.

April

Central Serengeti (Seronera)

Long rains; columns form and move through the Moru kopjes.

May

Western Corridor

Rutting season, long marching columns, Grumeti River approach.

June

Grumeti River

First river crossings; huge crocodiles wait in the Grumeti.

July

Northern Serengeti

Herds push north; early Mara River crossings begin.

August

Kogatende / Mara River

Classic dramatic Mara River crossings — the peak spectacle.

September

Northern Serengeti & Masai Mara

Herds shuttle back and forth across the Mara River.

October

Northern Serengeti / Lobo

Short rains start, the return south begins.

November

Eastern & central Serengeti

Fast movement south through Lobo and Seronera.

December

Southern Serengeti / Ndutu

Herds settle back on the nutrient-rich short-grass plains.

The migration follows the rains, so timings shift by two to three weeks each year. We track herd positions weekly and will place your camp accordingly.

Timing

Best time to visit each park

Park	Peak season	Also good	Best avoided
Serengeti	Jun–Oct	Jan–Mar (calving)	Apr–May (long rains)
Ngorongoro Crater	Jun–Oct	Great all year	Apr–May (mud, mist)
Tarangire	Jul–Oct	Jun	Mar–May
Lake Manyara	Jul–Oct	Nov–Jun for birding	Apr–May
Kilimanjaro	Jan–Mar, Jun–Oct	Dec (busy)	Apr–May, Nov
Mikumi	Jun–Oct	Jan–Feb	Mar–May
Nyerere / Selous	Jun–Oct	Jan–Feb	Mar–May (camps close)
Ruaha	Jun–Nov	Dec–Feb (birding)	Apr–May
Katavi	Aug–Oct	Jun–Jul	Mar–May
Mahale / Gombe	Jul–Oct	Dec–Feb	Apr–May
Zanzibar	Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb	Nov (short rains)	Apr–May

Long dry season · Jun–Oct

Best game viewing everywhere — animals concentrate at water, grass is short, roads are firm. Busiest and priciest.

Short rains · Nov–Dec

Brief afternoon showers, green landscapes, migratory birds and fewer vehicles. Excellent value.

Long rains · Mar–May

Heaviest rain, some remote camps close and tracks turn to mud — but the lowest rates of the year.

What you'll see

Wildlife guide

The Big Five

Lion

Simba

Serengeti, Ruaha, Ngorongoro

Ruaha holds some of Africa's largest prides; Serengeti kopjes are prime daytime spotting.

Leopard

Chui

Seronera valley, Nyerere, Manyara

Look along sausage and acacia trees on riverbanks in early morning and late afternoon.

African Elephant

Tembo

Tarangire, Ruaha, Serengeti

Tarangire in the dry season has one of the highest elephant densities on the continent.

Cape Buffalo

Nyati

Ngorongoro, Katavi, Mikumi

Old solitary bulls ('dagga boys') are the most dangerous animals to encounter on foot.

Black Rhino

Faru

Ngorongoro Crater, Moru kopjes

The Crater floor is Tanzania's most reliable black rhino sighting — bring binoculars.

Beyond the Big Five

Cheetah

Fastest land animal; best on the open southern Serengeti plains.

Wildebeest

Roughly 1.5 million animals drive the Great Migration.

Plains Zebra

Migrate with wildebeest — 200,000+ join the columns.

Giraffe

The Masai giraffe is Tanzania's national animal.

Hippopotamus

Retima pool (Serengeti) and the Rufiji River hold hundreds.

Nile Crocodile

Mara and Grumeti rivers — the crossing specialists.

African Wild Dog

Endangered; Nyerere and Ruaha are the strongholds.

Spotted Hyena

Highly successful hunter, not merely a scavenger.

Chimpanzee

Trek them at Mahale and Gombe on Lake Tanganyika.

Flamingo

Lakes Natron, Manyara and Magadi turn pink in season.

Greater Kudu

Spiral-horned antelope, a Ruaha speciality.

Colobus Monkey

Black-and-white in Arusha NP; red colobus in Jozani, Zanzibar.

Before you fly

Packing checklist

Clothing

Neutral colours: khaki, olive, beige, brown (avoid blue/black — tsetse flies)
3–4 short-sleeve shirts and 2 long-sleeve shirts (sun and mosquito cover)
2 pairs of safari trousers plus 1–2 pairs of shorts
Fleece or warm jacket — Ngorongoro and Serengeti mornings drop near 10°C
Wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and a light scarf/buff for dust
Swimwear for lodge pools and Zanzibar
Modest cover-up for Stone Town and rural villages

Footwear & bags

Comfortable closed walking shoes or light hiking boots
Sandals or flip-flops for camp
Soft-sided duffel (hard suitcases don't fit bush flights)
Bush flights limit luggage to 15 kg per person including hand baggage
Small daypack for the vehicle

Health & toiletries

Malaria prophylaxis prescribed by your doctor
Insect repellent with 30–50% DEET
SPF 50 sunscreen and lip balm
Personal medication in original packaging, plus a copy of prescriptions
Basic kit: rehydration salts, antihistamine, plasters, painkillers
Wet wipes and hand sanitiser

Gear & documents

Binoculars (8x42 recommended) — one pair per person
Camera with a zoom lens, spare batteries and memory cards
Universal adapter — Tanzania uses UK-style Type G, 230V
Power bank; many camps run generators only part of the day
Headtorch for tented camps
Passport valid 6+ months, visa/e-visa copy, yellow fever certificate if required, travel insurance details
USD cash in notes issued 2009 or later for tips and visas

Entry

Visa information for Tanzania

Do I need a visa?

Most nationalities do. Apply online in advance at the official Tanzania Immigration e-visa portal (visa.immigration.go.tz) — allow at least 10 working days. Visas on arrival are also issued at Kilimanjaro (JRO), Julius Nyerere (DAR) and Zanzibar (ZNZ) airports for many passports, but queues can be long.

How much does it cost?

Ordinary single-entry tourist visa: USD 50. US passport holders must take the multiple-entry visa at USD 100. Transit visa USD 30. Fees are paid in cash USD or by card on the e-visa portal.

How long is it valid?

A tourist visa allows stays of up to 90 days. The single-entry visa is generally valid for 3 months from issue; the US multiple-entry visa for 12 months.

Passport requirements

Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival with at least one blank page. Bring a printed copy of your e-visa approval and your return ticket.

Zanzibar

Zanzibar is part of Tanzania — no separate visa. However, mandatory Zanzibar travel insurance (about USD 44 for up to 92 days) must be purchased online before arrival at the ZIC portal, and an infrastructure levy of about USD 5 per night is payable at your hotel.

Requirements and fees change — always confirm with the official Tanzania Immigration portal or your nearest Tanzanian mission before travelling. We are happy to send a supporting invitation letter.

Stay well

Health and vaccination guidance

Yellow fever

Not required if you arrive directly from Europe, North America or Asia. A certificate IS required if you arrive from — or transit more than 12 hours in — a yellow fever risk country (including Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and much of West/Central Africa). Carry the yellow card if in any doubt.

Malaria

Present in almost all safari areas below 1,800 m, including Nyerere, Ruaha, Mikumi, Zanzibar and the coast. Take prophylaxis (Malarone, doxycycline or mefloquine) exactly as prescribed, use repellent at dawn and dusk, wear long sleeves in the evening and sleep under the net provided. Ngorongoro rim and Kilimanjaro's upper slopes are low risk.

Routine vaccinations

Ensure MMR, DTP (tetanus/diphtheria/polio), and chickenpox are up to date. Hepatitis A and typhoid are recommended for nearly all travellers; hepatitis B, rabies and meningitis for longer stays, rural travel or animal contact. Consult a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before departure.

Food & water

Drink bottled or filtered water only — safe drinking water is provided in every vehicle and camp. Avoid ice from unknown sources, raw salads at street stalls and unpeeled fruit. Lodge and camp kitchens on our itineraries are safe.

Altitude (Kilimanjaro)

Above 3,000 m headache, nausea and breathlessness are common. Walk pole pole (slowly), drink 3–4 litres a day, and consider Diamox after speaking with your doctor. Our guides carry pulse oximeters and emergency oxygen and check you twice daily.

Insurance & evacuation

Comprehensive travel insurance including medical evacuation is mandatory on all our trips, and must cover trekking above 4,000 m for Kilimanjaro climbs. Flying Doctors (AMREF) cover can be arranged for a small fee.

This is general guidance, not medical advice. Speak to a travel health professional at least six weeks before departure.

Money

Currency and live exchange rates

Paying in Tanzania

Park fees, lodges and safaris are quoted in USD. Bring clean USD notes issued 2009 or later — older or torn notes are refused, and notes of USD 50/100 get a better rate than small bills. Tanzanian shillings are best for markets, tips to local vendors, snacks and taxis.

Cards & ATMs

ATMs in Arusha, Moshi, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar dispense shillings (usually TZS 400,000 per withdrawal). Visa is accepted more widely than Mastercard; Amex rarely. Lodges that take cards often add 3–5%. There are no ATMs inside the national parks — carry cash for tips.

Gratuities

Tipping guide

Who	Suggested	Notes
Safari driver-guide	USD 20–30 per vehicle, per day	Split between the group, handed over at the end of the safari.
Camp / lodge staff (communal box)	USD 10–15 per guest, per day	Shared among kitchen, housekeeping and waiting staff.
Butler or dedicated waiter	USD 5–10 per day	Only where a personal service is provided.
Kilimanjaro lead guide	USD 20–25 per day	Given at the tipping ceremony on the last morning.
Kilimanjaro assistant guide	USD 12–15 per day	One assistant per 2–3 climbers is standard.
Kilimanjaro cook	USD 10–15 per day	Per cook, split by the group.
Kilimanjaro porter	USD 8–10 per day	Per porter — a typical group has 3 porters per climber.
Balloon pilot / activity guide	USD 10–20 per person	Discretionary, for exceptional service.
Restaurant & bar	5–10% of the bill	Only where service is not already included.
Porter at airport/hotel	USD 1–2 per bag	Small notes are useful here.

Tipping is customary but never obligatory. Bring small USD notes (1, 5, 10, 20) or shillings — an envelope handed over personally at the end of the trip is the local norm.