Group Size Notes
Max 20, avg 17.
Meals Included
9 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
Meals
As mentioned above, many of the meals on this tour are included in the tour price. When a meal is not included, this is because there are often many options available - we would like to give you the opportunity to explore a bit and test the local cuisine yourself. In these cases, your CEO will be able to suggest some good local restaurants or options for you to choose from.
All included meals will be prepared from fresh local produce. The majority of the shopping for foodstuffs will be done before the trip departs, and fresh goods, such as meats, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, will be bought en route during the trip from supermarkets, local shops and markets. Breakfasts will generally consist of breads and cereals, if time allows a warm breakfast may be prepared. Many lunches will be provided en-route and will be light meals such as sandwiches and/or salads. All evening meals will be freshly-prepared hot meals, and will consist of a variety of continental and local dishes.
Vegetarian meals and other dietary requirements need to be specified prior to arrival.
Please note all bottled drinking water will be at your own expense.
Transport
Shared shuttle, 4x4 safari vehicles, private shuttle, walking, tuk tuk, ferry, minibus.
About our Transportation
The safari part of this trip is done in private, 7-seat 4x4 Land cruiser vehicles. With sliding windows and a large pop-up roofs, these vehicles are designed for wildlife viewing. If there is a large group, 2 or more vehicles will be used, and the group will be split up.
All G Adventures vehicles are regularly serviced and follow a strict maintenance schedule. However given the long travel days and rough conditions of many of the roads in Africa, vehicles can and do breakdown on occasion. If such situations occur all drivers are trained mechanics and any vehicle issues are rectified as quickly as possible so as to not disrupt your trip. Your patience is requested if the vehicle you are traveling in happens to encounter a mechanical fault.
The journey from Arusha to Dar es Salaam will be in a private bus, and we use a public ferry to cross to Zanzibar. On Zanzibar, we travel using minibuses.
This is not a physically demanding journey; however, travelling can be difficult, with long drives and poor road conditions at times. Please take note of the travel times and distances in the above itinerary, and consider that this is often on poor quality, bumpy roads. Despite this, most clients feel that the diversity of the African landscape, culture and wildlife are all well worth the experience.
Solo Travellers
We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
About Accommodation
Camping in Tanzania is truly an adventure. You will be able to get off the beaten track to get a first-hand experience of the beautiful wilderness and nature. While camping, we stay at designated campsites inside of and nearby the national reserves and parks. These campsites are generally very basic, and are not comparable to western standards. We carry tents to pitch at public campsites, and we may be sharing the space and facilities with other groups, especially during the high seasons. (The amount of people sharing these campsites may influence the cleanliness and environment of these public camp sites.)
All camping equipment (with the exception of your sleeping bag and pillow) is supplied, including camp mattresses, which are warm and comfortable. We supply dome tents and assembly/disassembly takes only 5 minutes. They are good quality, durable, industry-standard 2-person safari canvas tents. Please note that most adults will not be able to fully stand up inside the tents, though most travellers find these more than adequate, as they have a base area of approximately 4 square meters. These tents are regularly treated with a waterproofing agent, but under certain rainy conditions, the tent fabric may become saturated to the point where seepage or leakage may occur. All tents have built-in mesh insect netting on the windows and doors.
Our campsite in Mto wa Mbu is basic, but clean and the location is very convenient. Once we move into the Serengeti National Park and to the Ngorongoro Crater rim, the facilities become more basic with long-drop latrines, simple cold shower or bathing, and no electricity.
Camps are open to the natural environment (ie. no fences) – care must be taken, especially at night, when a torch/flashlight is recommended when walking around the camp area.
The idea of camping in Africa can be a daunting one. For those not accustomed to ‘roughing it’ for a few days, we offer a 'full service camping' experience on your tour. All tents are pitched for you. This leaves you with more time to enjoy your surroundings and is ideal for first-time campers who may be worried about the challenges such a trip can entail.
** NOTE **
- In Zanzibar, we stay in standard, twin-share accommodation in Stone Town and multi-share accommodation on the beach. Please note that our Zanzibar Beach Resort location is subject to change due to availability.
- Before booking any post nights in Zanzibar please CONTACT US to confirm the location.
What to Take
You will be on the move a lot, so our advice is to pack as lightly as possible. Your baggage should be clearly labelled and restricted to one soft compact suitcase, sports bag, or backpack, no larger than 30cm(height) x 30cm(width) x 60cm(length), maximum 15kg, plus a daypack. You will need a daypack big enough for a change of clothes, towel, toiletries etc to take with on the Serengeti excursion, but still small enough to fit into the smaller vehicles used for the excursion. Due to limited space in the wildlife-drive vehicles, big backpacks can unfortunately not be taken with to the Serengeti.
Please note, if you are travelling with a large amount of luggage and will be returning to Nairobi later in your trip, you may leave a portion of it at the start hotel, this is indeed possible as storage facilities are available.
For our camping style tours you will need to provide your own sleeping bag. We provide the tent and the sleeping pads, pillow, and light sleeping sheet.
A set of smart casual clothes is also advisable.
Packing List
Additional Items:
• Sleeping bag and liner (Seasonally appropriate)
Cold Weather:
• Long-sleeved shirts or sweater
• Scarf
• Warm gloves
• Warm hat
• Warm layers
Documents:
• Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
• Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
• Passport (required) (With photocopies)
• Required visas or vaccination certificates (required) (With photocopies)
• Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)
Essentials:
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
• Cash, credit and debit cards
• Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
• Ear plugs
• First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
• Fleece top/sweater
• Footwear
• Hat
• Locks for bags
• Long pants/jeans
• Moneybelt
• Outlet adapter
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Shirts/t-shirts
• Sleepwear
• Small travel towel
• Sunglasses
• Toiletries (Preferably biodegradable)
• Watch and alarm clock
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Windproof rain jacket
Health & Safety:
• Face masks (required)
• Hand sanitizer (required)
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
• Rubber gloves
Warm Weather:
• Sandals/flip-flops
• Shorts/skirts (Longer shorts/skirts are recommended)
• Sun hat/bandana
• Swimwear
Note: The climate in East Africa varies between the dry and rainy season. Please ensure you bring a windproof rain jacket if you are travelling between April & May, October & November.
Visas and Entry Requirements
All countries require travellers to have a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity), and you are required to acquire the entry visas for each of the countries visited.
Please double check with your agent and/or visa agent what the visa requirements is for each country that you will be traveling to. Some countries do require that you get your visa before arrival. If you show up at a border and do not have the required visa you will be denied entry to the country and be send back to the closest embassy/high commission to get the visa. All arrangements and expenses for that will be at your own cost. The CEO will assist you with travel arrangements but will not be able to accompany you. You will also have to catch up with the group at their next destination at own cost.
The information provided here is to be used as a guide only. Please consult with the relevant embassy or your travel agency before you travel. We cannot take any responsibility whatsoever for the use of this information.
IMPORTANT NOTE
It may be required to show a Yellow Fever certificate upon entering the country(s) visited. Please check in with your local consulate and health expert for advice on Yellow Fever and other inoculations required for this area.
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Kenya
The Kenyan Government has introduced an electronic visa process with effect from July 2nd. Travellers wishing to enter Kenya need to visit www.ecitizen.go.ke and follow instructions for processing their electronic visa in advance of their arrival into Kenya. As this measure was introduced with little advance notice, there is a grace period where travellers may continue to apply upon arrival into Kenya for their visa. You can obtain a visa for US$50. All those requiring a visa on arrival must have at least two blank pages available in their passports. Failure to meet this requirement could mean that entry will be refused.
If you are in Kenya for a shorter amount of time (normally max 72 hours but can vary depending on border official) then you can obtain a transit visa which will cost $20. Please make sure you have your travel itinerary at hand and your forward flight details.
Border crossing from Tanzania to Kenya is at Namanga Border Post.
Persons aged 16 years and below will require a visa to enter Kenya.
Visa costs (please use as a guideline only)
a)Single entry Visa Most nationalities $50.00
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Tanzania
Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at the airport or at any entry point into Tanzania, but please double check your visa requirements before departure.
Visa Costs (please use as a guideline only)
US Citizens ONLY: US$100.00 This fee will apply to single and all multiple entry visas.
Non-US Citizens: Visa fees are US$50.00 for single entry, and US$100.00 for double entry
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East Africa Tourist Visa
An East Africa Tourist Visa allows the holder to move freely between Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda with only one Visa, and is valid for a period of 90 days. It also acts as a multiple entry Visa, so if you leave any of the above countries, you do not need a new Visa to re-enter (provided it is within the 90 day validity period). These need to be applied for in advance, and you should contact the foreign Embassy (of the country you will be entering through) for more details. The cost is 100USD.
Please see below for more information:
http://www.visiteastafrica.org/travel-guide/visa-information
This information is accurate at the time of writing, and please contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements and costs, regarding these, and the other countries visited, or see your travel agent. It is your responsibility to have the correct travel documentation.
Optional Activities
Nairobi
- The Carnivore Restaurant (51-82$ per person)
- Karen Blixen Museum (34-73$ per person)
- Bomas of Kenya Tour (26-65$ per person)
- Railway Museum (6$ per person)
- National Museum (21-33$ per person)
- David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Visit (26-65$ per person)
Serengeti National Park
- Serengeti Balloon Safari (599$ per person)
Arusha
- Zanzibar Express
Stone Town
- Stone Town Walking Tour (20-40$ per person)
- Christ Church Cathedral & Old Slave Market (5$ per person)
- House of Wonders (5$ per person)
- Sultan's Palace Museum (3$ per person)
Jambiani
- Swimming
Jozani Forest
- Jozani Forest Tour (35-150$ per person)
Planeterra Foundation - the non-profit partner of G Adventures
Planeterra International Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to turning travel into impact by helping local communities earn an income from tourism. Planeterra connects underserved local communities to the benefits of tourism by developing and supporting small community-owned businesses. These businesses support Indigenous people, empower women, grant youth access to employment opportunities, and protect the environment. Planeterra also works to ensure these businesses have a thriving customer base by integrating their projects into G Adventures’ itineraries globally.
G Adventures is Planeterra’s largest corporate donor, covering all operating costs, so 100% of your donation will bring opportunity to people in need.
G Adventures Dollar-a-day Program - Make Every Day Count - Turn your travel into impact with
Planeterra Foundation.
Did you know? Most communities around the world do not benefit from tourism. Give back to the places you visit on your travels by creating opportunities for local people to earn an income, and protect the environment.
Make every day count by donating $1/day for the length of your trip, and join us in empowering the communities you will visit when you travel. 100% of your donation goes directly to Planeterra projects.
Minimum Age
Minimum age of 18 years for this trip.
International Flights
Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.