Tanzania - Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I go?
When is the best time of year to go on safari in
Tanzania?
Where is the best place to see
Kilimanjaro?
Will I be with a group?
Will we stay in tents or lodges?
I really want to see the Great Migration
Special attractions in Tanzania
Will I have a chance to interact with the local people
of Tanzania?
Never been to Africa before?
Click here
First time travelers
Who is Absolute Adventure Travel?
Why should we book with Absolute Adventure
Travel?
Will I get Value For Money?
What is the accommodation going to be like?
Should we take the kids?
What clothes will we need?
How long should our vacation be?
Do you offer Group Travel?
Will we be traveling with a group?
How do we get to Africa?
Laundry
Will we
need special medication?
Safari Guides and
Rangers
Who leads the trips?
Who will meet me when I arrive in Africa?
Safari Vehicles
Typical day on safari
When is the best time to go on a safari?
Will we need visas?
Can I use a credit card to pay for my safari?
Can you arrange a trip for persons located outside
the United States?
What's the weather like in
Tanzania?
What additional costs should I
expect?
Where should I go on my Safari?
Tanzania can be divided into four main areas for travelers
to consider:
- The Northern Circuit. With the town of Arusha as its center,
the Northern Circuit includes the magnificent Mount
Kilimanjaro, the internationally famous game viewing destinations of the
Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti and several lesser known, but no less
spectacular or interesting destinations such as the very private and exclusive
Sinya, Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire National Park. It
offers an array of activities, from climbing Kilimanjaro, to visiting the
Maasai or San Bushmen, to walking safaris and luxurious photo safaris.
This is where you come to see the
Great Migration with February being the
preferred month, followed by June and July.
We have a scheduled departure that includes many of
these parks, Hemingway's Tanzania and a custom
departure Tantalizing Tanzania.
A safari here that combines luxury mobile tented
safaris with lodges is the ideal first time safari. Please see our
Tanzania Hemingway Safari for our suggested
itinerary.
- The Southern Circuit. In the South are two really first
class destinations that are typically off the beaten path, the Selous and
Ruaha. In the Selous we recommend staying at the Sand
Rivers Lodge, it is fabulous and one of our Top 5 Camps in Africa. In the
Ruaha we really enjoy Mwagusi Camp, a luxury tented camp ideally situated for
really good game viewing. These two very different areas are much preferred by
return visitors, and ex-patriot locals, who enjoy the exclusivity and seclusion
that these two great parks offer.
- The Indian Ocean Coast. Zanzibar is the center of Tanzania's
beach destinations. The coast is which is beautiful and offers a variety of
first class destinations from private islands such as Mnemba Island, the
cultural experiences of Stone Town in Zanzibar where the Serena is the
preferred hotel, and a number of private camps along the coast.
If relaxing on the beautiful beaches of the Indian
Ocean is in your plans then we will be more than happy to advise you in where
best to stay.
- The Chimpanzee Circuit. In the far west of Tanzania are two
really special destinations, Gombe Stream National Park and the ultra exclusive
Mahale National Park. Gombe Stream is where Dr. Jane Goodall studied
chimpanzees and changed the face of scientific research.
The Jane Goodall Institute is still very active here.
Mahale is a boat ride away down Lake Tanganika and is another chimp destination
and one of the most relaxing and luxurious destinations in all Africa.
Special Attractions
Great Migration,
Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National
Park, Arusha National Park, Mikumi National Park, Ruaha National Park,
Tarangire National Park, Kilimanjaro National
Park, Selous Game Reserve, Zanzibar and the Indian Ocean coast.
Where is the best place to see
Kilimanjaro?
Sinya Camp. This exclusive and
luxurious camp is located on the western side of Mount Kilimanjaro in a private
concession. The ten large tents have double beds and en suite facilities and
are beautifully situated under acacia trees and spaced far apart from one
another to ensure privacy. The view from your tent is of the snow capped summit
of Mount Kilimanjaro and there is no better sight in Africa. This camp has gone
straight into our "Top 5 Camps in Africa."
When is the best time of year to go on
safari in Tanzania?
The 'long rains' of April & May can make traveling
extremely difficult and so we do not recommend traveling at this time of the
year. Otherwise, Tanzania is a year round destination and it is always
wonderful to be on safari.
If the Great Migration
is a particular attraction to you then you should plan on being in Tanzania in
either January to mid-March or mid-June to mid-August. Historically, these are
the best times to see the wildebeest and zebra concentrated in huge numbers -
literally many hundreds of thousands of animals!
We plan your safari itinerary to take advantage of the
best possible game viewing and as such may make changes to itineraries to
improve your vacation.
Never been to Africa
before?
As first time travelers to
Africa you are well advised to focus your vacation research on either South
Africa or Tanzania. Both offer fabulous vacation opportunities, both are easy
to get to and both are tourist friendly. Each country offers something slightly
different and to help you decide between them these very 'general' guidelines
and our suggested itineraries for your first visit to Africa will assist you:
Tanzania - A real favorite of ours and our
clients. Tanzania offers so much, both for first time and seasoned Africa
travelers. As First Time Travelers to Africa we recommend that you visit the
classic parks of Tanzania on its 'Northern Circuit'; the Serengeti, the
Ngorongoro Crater and Kilimanjaro.
Tanzania is home to the Great Migration (hundreds of thousands of
wildebeest and zebra roaming the Serengeti plains in search of fresh grass),
the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Mount
Kilimanjaro. A safari here that combines luxury mobile tented safaris with
lodges is the ideal first time safari.
Please see our Tanzania
Hemingway Safari for our suggested itinerary.
There is much more to Tanzania than the natural wonders
mentioned above. It has some of the finest cultural experiences with
opportunities to visit the Maasi tribesmen and San Bushmen. The very best place
to experience the culture of the Maasai, in a completely natural setting and as
it has been since the dawn of time, is Sinya Camp on
the western slopes of Kilimanjaro.
A word on 'tented': The luxury safari tent, be it mobile
or permanent, bares no resemblance to your usual idea of a tent. The safari
tents are huge, the ceiling 8 feet or higher, they have twin or double beds -
proper beds not camp beds, they have dressing areas, en suite bathrooms and,
believe it or not, flushing toilets! You will have a 'Butler' assigned to you
who will look after you while you are in camp, you have tea or coffee brought
to you when you wake up, your laundry is done every day, you are escorted to
and from your tent. In short, a luxury tented safari is exactly that -
luxurious.
A safari in Tanzania that combines luxury mobile tented
safaris with lodges is the ideal first time safari. Please see our
Tanzania Hemingway Safari for our suggested
itinerary.
Suggested Itineraries for your first Safari in
Tanzania:
Tanzania Hemingway
Safari
Please call us to talk about your plans.
We help many people each year with their first safari. We love to share our
knowledge and experience and will be delighted to assist you with your vacation
planning.
Houston metro: 713.807.9620
Toll Free: 800.298.1312
We look forward to talking with you.
Accommodations
The question we are most frequently asked is "How are
the accommodations?" The answer, quite simply, first class. Whether you are
staying in a mobile-tented camp in the Serengeti, the permanent tented camp at
Sinya, or one of the luxury lodges at the Ngorongoro
Crater, the accommodations are luxurious. We love it, and so will you.
Luxurious Africa
One of the toughest challenges we face each day is
explaining to our clients that their accommodations not just be comfortable,
they will be luxurious. It seems, that no matter what we say, people are
determined that a safari means 'roughing it' - nothing could be further from
the truth. If you would like a copy of our CD Luxurious Africa please
contact us here.
Each of our itineraries includes a detailed description
of the properties it includes.
Hotels: We rarely use hotels in our itineraries. The
notable exception being Nairobi where you may need to overnight if you are
flying to into Kenya. We use first class properties and prefer the Norfolk, the
Serena or Stanley hotels.
Lodges: The lodges we use are all four star, five star
or better. The majority are small and intimate, accommodating perhaps sixteen
or twenty guests. Without exception, they offer first class service,
knowledgeable and experienced staff, excellent food and have wonderful
ambiance.
In the Ngorongoro Crater we only use the Serena and the
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. There are other properties but they do not come close
to meeting our standards for accommodation, service or food…
Tented Camps: The luxury safari tent, be it mobile or
permanent, bares no resemblance to your usual idea of a tent. The safari tents
are huge, the ceiling 8 feet or higher, they have twin or double beds - proper
beds not camp beds, they have dressing areas, en suite bathrooms and, believe
it or not, flushing toilets! You will have a 'Butler' assigned to you who will
look after you while you are in camp, you have tea or coffee brought to you
when you wake up, your laundry is done every day, you are escorted to and from
your tent. In short, a luxury tented safari is exactly that - luxurious.
Who is Absolute
Adventure Travel?
Absolute Adventure Travel was founded by Graham
Farebrother in 1997 and is based in Houston, Texas.
We offer personal travel planning to a few exclusive
destinations in the world: Nepal, Peru, Ecuador & the Galapagos and, our
most popular destination, photo safaris in Africa.
Every one of our sales team has traveled extensively in
the areas they represent and can offer you personal insight into the country,
destination, or camp to help you decide whether it is right for you.
Why should we book
with Absolute Adventure Travel?
Three very simple reasons:
- Our knowledge: We personally check out each camp, lodge or
mobile safari. If a property does not meet our stringent standards then we do
not include it in our itineraries. You may be interested to know that many more
properties fail to meet our standards than make or exceed them.
- Our experience: The approval rating from our clients is
exceptionally high and many are repeat customers.
- Value for money: The vacation we arrange for you will cost
you less than you can arrange it for. Feel free to compare our prices with
others offering the same high quality vacations and you'll see exactly what we
mean.
Is Africa a good family
destination?
Yes! Definitely take the children. They will love it
and, so will you. We regularly take our families. Very young children are not
well suited to safaris but from 5 years or so, children are fabulous safari
companions.
Here is the proof, from one of many happy clients:
"Simply the best educational experience our children
could ever have". S. Stuckey, Houston, USA
Certain lodges cater specifically to children, (some
specifically do not), many have swimming pools, offer specially trained rangers
who will look after the children, and baby sitters to allow the parents to
fully enjoy the vacation too.
We will plan your vacation to make sure that everyone
has a great time.
Clothing
It is easy to pack for your safari. You will be
spending most of your time outdoors, even your evening meals will often be
enjoyed under the stars, and you should dress accordingly. Casual clothes,
typically khaki or a similar unobtrusive color work best - things you don't
mind getting dusty. Daily laundry service is the norm so you do not need to
pack a lot.
If you are flying on charter flights or light aircraft
there will be a strict weight limit set for your safety. This is typically 26
pounds per person. This sounds horrifically little for those of us used to
traveling with two or three bags but, remember that you are in the bush and you
will have laundry every day.
We will provide you with a detailed clothing list when
you make your reservation.
Duration
We would suggest that 10 days is the minimum time you
should plan on spending in Africa, and the longer you have to travel the
better.
The Great
Migration
Tanzania is the home to the
Great Migration and it really is a sight that
everyone should see at least one time in their lifetime.
The best time to see the migration is mid-January to
mid-March when more than a million wildebeest and zebra congregate in the short
grass plains, where the Ngorongoro and Serengeti meet, for their annual
calving.
The next best time is in mid-June to mid-July the
migration starts to reform in the Western Serengeti before heading north,
usually, but not always, into the Masai Mara of Kenya. This is when they have
to run the gauntlet of crossing the crocodile infested rivers of the Grumeti
and the Mara.
For more information on the Great Migration please click here.
Group Travel
In Tanzania we offer scheduled departures for our
Hemingway Safari and you fill find a schedule of
dates still available here. These trips are
priced for a minimum number of four guests and typically have a maximum of
eight. This itinerary is the same very high standard as all our itineraries,
and in fact, if you have a group of four or more, you may book this itinerary
as your own private departure.
We also arrange group travel for individuals with common
interests; photographers, bird watchers, friends and family. We also arrange
the travel programs for the Houston Museum of Natural Science and they do have
a group traveling to Tanzania on a very special itinerary -
HMNS Tantalizing Tanzania.
Most of our travel arrangements are for 2 to 10 people,
who wish to have a vacation designed to meet their specific needs.
How do I get to
Tanzania?
Africa can be reached by regular international flights
to its major cites. The easiest route into Tanzania is on Northwest/KLM via
Amsterdam on the direct flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
A popular alternative is to fly to Nairobi, Kenya, where
we will meet you and drive you into Tanzania - about a two hour drive. This is
a good route if you are starting your vacation at Sinya
Camp as it is located immediately across the border from Kenya.
We have access to very competitive airfares and the
majority of our suggested itineraries include all your flights. We will be
happy to assist you with all your flight plans.
Laundry
Most lodges and safari camps offer daily laundry
service.
Medication
Certain areas of Africa are not Malaria-free, so you
should take precautions. You should advise your doctor of your vacation plans
and follow his advice.
Safari Guides and Rangers
Your safari guide is the key to a successful vacation.
We make sure that you only have well trained, educated,
English speaking guides. Our guides love their country, its natural resources
and cultural history and they thrive on sharing their knowledge with you. Their
enthusiasm makes your vacation very special.
Some camps also provide a tracker to assist the ranger
in tracking the game.
Simply put, our guides are the best.
Who leads the
trips?
Graham Farebrother leads a few trips each year and
these are open to all to join on a first come basis. Most vacations, however,
are unaccompanied and our representatives in Africa will be your local guides
and advisors.
In Tanzania we use Kibo Safaris for all of our safaris
in the North. Kibo are unquestionably the best providers of upscale, first
class, luxurious safaris and we have worked with them for many years.
Some of our guests prefer that a guide travel with them
throughout their safari and we have some of the very best professional guides
available should you too wish for this service. Please call us to discuss this
option. In Houston 281-217-8111 or 713-203-0000 or Toll Free 800 298 1312.
Who will meet me when
I arrive in Africa?
In each country or region of Africa, we have an
established network of local representatives who will meet you at the airport
and act as your primary contact during your vacation and return you to the
airport for your flight home.
In Tanzania our representative meets you at the airport
and drives you to your first destination. You will then meet up with your
safari guide and driver who will be your personal guide for the whole of your
stay.
If you prefer to have professional guide travel with you
throughout your vacation, in addition to your guide, and many of clients enjoy
this, we have some of the very best in the business. Just let us know and we
will arrange it for you.
Typical day on
safari
Your safari will usually involve 2 game drives each
day in an open Land Rover or Land Cruiser. Vehicles in the National Parks in
East Africa have to be enclosed, so they all have roof hatches that allow you
free access and are particularly useful for photographers. The game drives are
designed to catch the animals when most active, being early morning around
sunrise and late afternoon and dusk.
Meal schedules vary from camp to camp, but typically are
tea or coffee served in your room at wake up, followed by a light snack before
the game drive.
During the morning game drive you will stop to stretch
your legs, enjoy more tea, coffee and snacks. When you get back to the camp you
will be served brunch or lunch.
After lunch your ranger is usually available to take you
for a short walk in the bush before the afternoon game drive starts around 4pm.
During the afternoon game drive you will stop for
Sundowners, a wonderful colonial African tradition of enjoying a cocktail, beer
or glass of wine while watching the sunset. When you return from the game drive
you will be served dinner, typically outside.
Customized Safari
Vehicles
In East Africa we use only four wheel drive safari
vehicles and we put a maximum of four guests in a vehicle ensuring that you
have lots of space and that everyone has a window seat. Special arrangements
can be made for groups of five.
Value For Money
Because we generate a substantial volume of business
to the hotels, lodges and camps that we recommend we are able to negotiate
preferential terms. We pass those savings along to you. We offer the very
highest quality vacations at very competitive prices.
You may be able to find a lower priced vacation, but not
with the same high level of services and accommodations - as with most things
in life you get what you pay for…
Can you arrange a
trip for persons located outside the United States?
Yes, we have many clients from outside America. We can
make all arrangements in Africa including transportation, accommodation and
activities.
When is the best time
to go on a safari?
We like the African winter (June - August) as the
grass is dry and vegetation sparse making game viewing easier. Water is in
short supply so the animals are typically concentrated at whatever water
remains.
If the Great Migration
is something you want to see then the very best place to see it is in Tanzania
in February when many hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra gather in
the short grass plains on the borders of the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro for
their annual calving. Either of these itineraries can be booked for the Great
Migration in February - Hemingway's Tanzania and
Tantalizing Tanzania.
Will we need
visas?
All visitors are required to carry a passport that is
valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay. Nationals of certain
countries do not require visas - this depends on the country you are visiting.
It is advisable to check with the Consulate of the country that you intend
visiting for the latest visa and entry requirements.
Please call us for current details - In Houston 713 807
9620 or Toll Free 800 298 1312.
Can I use a credit
card to pay for my safari?
Yes. We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
Where is the best place to go for
wildlife viewing in Africa?
You simply can't beat northern Tanzania for wildlife
concentrations. Most people have heard of the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater and
the wide array of wildlife dwelling on the crater floor. Most have heard of the
vast Serengeti savanna, which hosts the annual Migration of Wildebeest and the
predators that follow in its wake. This is only the beginning of the natural
phenomena awaiting your discovery on a safari to Tanzania. Guests of Thomson
safaris consistently tell us the wildlife they experienced far surpassed their
most optimistic expectations.
Will I meet the local
people of Tanzania?
Yes. And, if discovering more of the local cultures is
of interest to you we particularly recommend staying at Sinya Camp where you
will be able to meet with Maasi tribes people who have not changed their ways
for millennia. This is a unique experience and not to be confused with the
'commercial' opportunities you may find elsewhere in Kenya and Tanzania.
The vast majority of Tanzanians are still living very
close to their traditional lifestyles. Most of the people are subsistence
farmers. The Maasai people, favored by photographers for their strikingly
colorful décor, live a pastoral existence following their herds of
cattle to better grazing areas, still adhering to the traditions and ceremonies
of their ancestors. Their "villages" are located throughout northern Tanzania.
Other small tribes of hunter-gatherers, living according
to their ancient customs and traditions can also be found in this area.
What's the weather
like in Tanzania?
Located at an altitude of 5,000 to 7,600 feet,
northern Tanzania's dry sunny climate is nothing like the steamy African jungle
of Tarzan movies. The weather is spring-like year round, with daytime
temperatures in the 70s and 80s, evenings in the 60s. From June until August,
temperatures are slightly cooler, ranging from the 50s to the mid-70s. The
coastal and lowland areas tend to be more tropical in temperature.
What additional costs
should I expect?
Your safari package includes international airfare
from Houston (we can price flights from any US city) and all accommodation and
meals while on safari, airport transfers, park fees and services of your
safaris guides and drivers.
It is customary to tip your guide and driver, as well as
the Camp staff if you are camping during your safari.
You will also need to pay for your own beverages and
personal items like laundry service and phone calls.
Before you go, you are responsible for any passport and
visa fees.
We highly recommend that you purchase travel protection
insurance.
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