Map of Tanzania For a save and fabulous trip
Recommendations We recommend, unless it's simply impossible due to a tight schedule, that you become acclimatized on your first day in Tanzania. It is better to begin your safari after you have rested; also, a rest day in the middle of your stay is also recommended.

Vehicles and lodges are relatively expensive in the main travel regions. In order to cut costs, you may wish to share a vehicle and if you book a double room instead of two single rooms you will also save a few hundred USD off the cost of your safari.

When going on safari, you most definitely do not want to forget to bring along a hat for head-protection as well as sun-screening cream. During game drives you will be standing for hours in the hot sun in a vehicle with an open roof. However, due to the moderate wind breezes the temperatures you feel may not be what they seem; but come evening - you'll be in for a rude awakening - sun burn.

Those who want to enjoy a few adventurous nights, can camp in Special Campsites. They are situated inside some of the national parks amidst wild animals. Special Campsites must be reserved well in advance for any respective group. At night, by the camp-fire, you can shine your torch into all sorts of wild prying eyes, which can be a little eerie. You will have a sense of how the first strangers in this country felt as they pioneered the country. It's entirely possible for animals, such as, lions, elephants or other big animals, to set foot inside the camp. Needless to say, only those adventurous people that are really enthusiastic about spending the night this way should consider it.

NEVER drink tap water - except when you are told it is safe to do so. You can buy bottled water almost everywhere.

A bike tour through the Usambara Mountains, down to the coast of the Indian Ocean, is a very special experience as well. You will be escorted by a vehicle, packed with supplies, tents and other personal affects. You will never travel by yourself, you will always be in professional hands.

A journey with the new Safari Express (a private operated train) providing every possible comfort and convenience, started operating from Dar es Salaam in October 2003. It passes through the Selous Game Reserve which gives you the opportunity of watching animals from the train. The journey ends at Kidatu Station, located between the National Parks of Mikumi and Udzungwa Mountains.

Wandering along the slopes of Kilimanjaro is likewise a very pleasant experience. You can amble through the plantations (shambas) of the indigenous Wachagga tribe, upto the gate of Kilimanjaro National Park. The plantations are very impressive, like walking beneath a roof of leaves from trees and banana bushes. Looking from the top it's hard to believe that as many as 100,000 people live here. A guide shows and explains much of the vegetation.

It would be advantageous for you to learn some of the most common Kisuaheli (Swahili) words, such as: Jambo (Hello), Habare Yako (How are you?), Asanta Sana (Thank you), etc. Swahili dictionaries and common phrase books are readily available. This helps to open the hearts of these very amiable people even more. It makes them very happy when they meet a tourist who knows some words in their language.

Bear in your mind you are in Africa where time takes on a different meaning than perhaps what you may regard back home. Sometimes situations occur, beyond your control, where the difference in thinking is apparent. i.e.: Africans have some ingenious clichés: "You Whites, you may have a watch, but we Africans, we have the time" or "Haraka, haraka haina baraka" which literally translates: "Hurry, hurry, hasn't any blessing." So, you may wish to consider "slowing down" and adapting to this mentality a little bit. All in all, time goes slowly in Africa - that's just the way it is, with much less stress.

Leave your jewelry at home. It is not advisable to parade around flaunting jewelry or money. Tanzania is a poor country and therefore one should exercise caution and remain guarded at all times. Bear in mind that the average monthly income, compared to our lifestyle, is very low. In the year of 2003 it was about 30 USD per capita. Therefore you should also be exercise reservation when giving tips. Tip according to the standards. If you are too generous you cause uneasiness and the people will impose on you even more, hoping to get more money.

Don't take pictures of government institutions, like administrative buildings, police stations, military institutions, etc. In the event you want to take a picture of something, by all means please ask the responsible person. Perhaps they will give you permission.

Don't take pictures in an obstrusive manner. While taking pictures in public there may be times when somebody makes a disconcerted remark, but that doesn't have to keep you from taking a picture or shooting a film. Some locals, like the Maasai, get angry if they feel that you are specifically taking a picture of them. Here it's best to ask permission to take a picture. They will hardly object when offered a small fee.

Never pay the charged price if you want to buy a carving or souvenir. Bargaing is standard business in Africa; therefore you need not feel insulted by the practice. Sellers always start high, you go low, and somewhere in the middle you'll agree on a price.

Dress conservatively/appropriately. Don't dress too freely, nobody likes to see that. T-shirts, shorts and sandals are no problem (except for maybe in some luxury hotels). You should definitely not wear provocative clothing, such as mini-skirts, hot pants or anything with too big a neck-line.

Paintings from the artist Tom Linton are extremely authentic and realistic. At the moment he is working on a collection of African wildlife/landscapes which can be ordered as limited edition prints. It's also possible to commission him to do a painting for you, such as we did for the Macho Porini's lion eyes.

Paintings: Lion's Eyes Chimpanzee

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