frequently asked questions

Travel Arrangements

All your travel arrangements are made individually. It is important, however, to communicate your details with your contact person at Milestone Safaris.

You will need to organise travel from your home country to the joining point in Moshi, Tanzania.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Health Precautions

Vaccinations & Antimalarials

It is advisable to begin your vaccinations approx six weeks prior to your arrival so that you’ll have adequate time to get them all in.

Malaria is relatively common in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania although recent figures show that prevalence is dropping. Visitors may also want to bring insect repellent with Deet (we suggest 50%) to use while in Tanzania. Anti-malarials can be taken but we recommend speaking to your General Practitioner to ensure they are suitable for you.

Please consult your General Practitioner or travel clinic for advice on the most up-to-date information. If you do need to arrange vaccinations, you should contact your General Practitioner or travel clinic at least two months before departure.

Insurance

It is compulsory to have travel insurance before joining one of our trips. Be sure to have adequate coverage as the nearest hospitals with western standards for severe and life-threatening emergencies are located quite a distance from Moshi (e.g. in Nairobi). Your insurance should cover you for all activities listed and, if on a trekking trip, the altitude.

Ensure your policy covers Emergency Air Evacuation to be transferred by helicopter to accredited facilities. Medical evacuations often cost tens of thousands of US Dollars.

Passports and immigration

Changes to immigration and visa requirements can change so please check with your local Tanzania Embassy or visa service.

Currently (October 2019), in order for non-residents to enter Tanzania for a short-term (classified as up to 3 months) the Tanzanian government requires a tourist visa. The tourist visa can be obtained in your home country OR very easily at the airport/border in Tanzania for approximately $50 (single entry) or $100 (US passport holders multiple entry). If you do apply for this in your home country bear in mind that the date of issue is the date the visa will start.

Important documents

We recommend that you make 3 photocopies of each of the below documents; you should scan them and email them to yourself as well.

Passport (valid for at least 6 months after your intended return date)

Tanzania Tourist Visa
Flight Tickets or print out of e-ticket (please also email these to Milestone Safaris so we can keep copies together on your file)
Travel insurance details
Check/Debit/Credit Card
Vaccination records/certificates

We recommend that you make 3 photocopies of each of the above documents; you should scan them and email them to yourself as well. On your journey to Africa, you should keep one copy in your backpack, one in your day-bag and give one set to your parents or a friend back home (in case you need to contact them in case of an emergency). To be extra safe you should also bring with you photocopies of the following:

Driver’s license from your home, and international license if you have one
Your embassy phone number in the countries you will be visiting
Serial number on valuables e.g. cameras
Credit card emergency phone numbers to report theft

What to Wear

General Clothing

Though Tanzania is a rather tolerant country, people tend to dress rather conservatively and it is a sign of respect that you dress the same. Women should never dress in what the local people might interpret as a provocative fashion. We recommend that skirts or shorts at or below the knees or long pants should be worn at all times. Spaghetti strap tops, halter tops, or tank tops are not worn by local women very often, but are definitely seen more now than they used to be. Tight fitting or revealing clothing should be avoided – mainly to avoid stares from local men rather than any other reason.

Men can wear shorts or trousers, although you will find the local men rarely wear shorts. It is also advisable that men avoid wearing sleeveless shirts. It can be rainy between November – April, so we’d suggest bringing a raincoat and a sweatshirt. At other times of the year, light cotton clothing is best for the heat, though you should be prepared and pack a light sweater just in case.

Suggested extras

Kiswahili phrase book or language book
Guide book (ie. lonely planet)
Watch
Camera
Film/extra memory card
Adapter plugs (Tanzania has the same sockets and voltage as the UK; 3 pronged and 210volts)
Combination padlocks
Flashlight/head torch
Spare batteries
Walkman/CD player/iPod
Headphones
Books
Water bottle
Day pack (small backpack)
Sunglasses
Mobile/Cell phone (make sure this has been unlocked in your country, we will provide you with a SIM-card upon arrival).
Money

Packing for a Kilimanjaro Trek

There are local hire shops in town that import quality gear and equipment to hire at a reasonable price if you are not interested in purchasing or bringing items from home. Below is a suggested list of items you will need to ensure your comfort. As the weather is very unpredictable on the mountain, it is always better to be over prepared just in case.

1 Mountaineering Sleeping bag (usually a -10 degree rating or better is recommended)
3 litre combination of water bottles / camelbacks
1 LED Flashlight with spare batteries
1 Pair of comfortable trekking boots
3-4 pairs of thick thermal socks and several pairs of regular socks and liners
1 pair insulated ski pants
1 down jacket
1 set of thermal underwear (i.e. thermal vest & long-johns)
2 pairs of trekking trousers
1 set waterproof jacket and waterproof trousers
1 pair of ski gloves and glove liners
1 balaclava or ski-mask

Walking poles highly recommended

Packing for a Milestone Safari

1 Sleeping bag
1 litre water canteen (optional as we provide water for the duration of your trip)
1 LED Flashlight with spare batteries - or if you can get a wind-up one that is even better!
1 Pair of comfortable closed shoes for using around the camp
1 Pair of comfortable open shoes for using while in transit or on game-drive.
1 waterproof jacket (just in case)
1 sun hat
1 pair of trousers for the evenings
2 pairs of shorts for the day
Several light t-shirts/blouse
1 warm fleece
Sunscreen
Insect repellent cream/spray (an absolute must)
Camera (with extra batteries if possible)

Expensive Items

In some cities and towns in Tanzania, expensive-looking clothing, jewellery, and electronics could put you at an unnecessary risk for robbery, therefore we ask that you are cautious and careful with expensive items and try not to keep them on show. Individuals with electronic equipment such as laptops, cameras, and music players are asked to use them discreetly.

Photography

It is recommended that you do not photograph Tanzanians without their express permission. However, you will find that many people enjoy having their pictures taken especially if they can see the instant results of a digital image. If individuals do refuse to be photographed, please respect this decision.

Tipping in Tanzania

Tipping is not a common practice in Tanzania, with exception of the tourism industry. It is customary for visitors climbing Kilimanjaro or going on Safari to tip the guides and crew. This is discretionary and should depend on the level of service you received and be a mirror of your satisfaction of the professionalism of the team.

We strongly feel this should not depend on whether or not you reached the top. Whilst discretionary, many of our guests ask us for a guideline so we suggest the following percentages:

Kilimanjaro Expeditions: 10-15% of total sum shared across the crew
Safaris: 5-7% of total sum shared across the crew
Local Excursions: 10% of total sum shared across the crew

frequently asked questions

Vaccinations & Antimalarials

General Clothing

Suggested extras

Information

Newsletter