Travel Tips

Personal effects, including cameras, binoculars, may be brought in free of duty. A custom’s bond may be demanded from those bringing in Video, camcorders, radios, tape recorders, and musical instruments to ensure the goods are re-exported. Firearms and pocketknife require special permits. There is duty free allowances of 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, and one pint of spirits. Visitors buying local handicrafts must keep their sales receipts for presentation to customs officials on departure

For Kenya and Tanzania health concerns and inoculations are the same as those for travel to South America or east Asia. The vast majority of traveler’s to Africa return from their safaris happy and healthy! Anti-malaria medication is strongly recommended when traveling to East Africa. Anti-malaria tablets are recommended to be taken a few days prior to your arrival, during your stay and for a short period after returning home. All childhood vaccinations should be up to date. We recommend that you visit with a local travel health specialist in your home town for further details.

All clients are required to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance plan before trip departure. This should cover you for events such as trip cancellation, delay or interruption, lost or delayed baggage, emergency accident, sickness and evacuation, accidental death, common carrier, 24 hour medical assistance, traveler’s assistance, and emergency cash transfer.

It is relatively safe to eat most of the foods offered by lodges and camps as they take great care to ensure that food is prepared in a healthy manner. If you are worried about contracting a “stomach bug” don’t eat salads, avoid ice cubes in drinks, and eat only fruits that have thick skins which are peeled (oranges, bananas). Although water in many cities and small towns is purified and safe to drink, it is wise to drink only bottled drinks which are readily available (ask
that water is opened in front of you as they may try to reuse the container at some of the larger hotels). In addition don’t swallow water during a shower and use purified water for brushing teeth. Don’t worry – bottled water is readily available.

Tanzania and Kenya use the UK/European standard power supply of 220/240 voltages. If you want to use U.S. appliances you will need a voltage converter as well as a plug converter. However, we do suggest to bring with you battery-operated appliances if possible. If a camp or lodge is connected to electricity mains or has a generator you may be able to recharge your video batteries. Many camps and lodges have the correct adapter plugs however we recommend that you bring your own plug and converter. One of the best options for recharging video batteries is an adapter allowing you to recharge from a vehicle battery.

Luggage should be kept to a minimum: about 50 pounds per person packed in a soft duffel bag. Hard sided suitcases and soft-sided internal frame carry on luggage are not acceptable as they will not fit in the baggage compartment on small aircraft which are often used for transfers between lodges and camps. On safaris that have no small aircraft transfers the weight and size allowance is not as important however you should still strive to bring as little as possible.

When on safari it is best to wear grey, brown or khaki colored clothing during the months July through October, and green clothing during the months November through June so as not to alert wildlife of your presence. White & other bright colors are definitely not recommended (blue actually attracts tetse flies!).
Camouflage clothing is not allowed. Bring comfortable clothes that are cool, but that can layer to keep you warm at night or on game drives. During winter months (June through August in southern Africa) bring a pair of gloves and a warm hat as temperatures can drop to freezing! It is also advisable to bring a pair of sandals, comfortable walking shoes, a swimsuit, and a hat to block the sun.

Most safari lodges and camps offer a complimentary laundry service (some have a small fee) weather permitting, however please note that undergarments are often excluded. You may wish to bring a small supply of liquid laundry soap (a small plastic travel bottle filled with Woolite works well for hand washing).

English is widely spoken but a few words of Swahili are always appreciated.

The unit of currency in Tanzania and Kenya is shilling, available in notes and coins. One shilling is divided into 100 cents. There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency that may be brought into Tanzania or Kenya, and no currency declaration is required. But import and export of Tanzanian and Kenyan currency is illegal. Foreign currency in Cash or Traveler’s cheques may be exchanged at banks, authorized dealers and at the bureau de change at the international airports, major towns and border posts. US cash or travelers checks may changed into local currency at airports and banks. Small bills (US $1, US $5, US $10, and US $20) are best. Always keep your receipt so that when you depart you may change your money back to US dollars.