Travel Arrangements

All our clients travel arrangements are made individually. It is important, however, to communicate your travel details with your contact person at Honey Badger. You will be coordinating travel from your home country to Moshi, Tanzania. The easiest way to get to Moshi is to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), this can be reached via Amsterdam (Europe), Doha (Qatar), Nairobi (Kenya), Kampala (Uganda) or
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania).
 

The most reliable East African connecting flights to Kilimanjaro are run by a Tanzanian Airline called Precision Airways. This said, it can be difficult to coordinate flight arrangements with Precision Airways internationally and we can help to coordinate the internal flights for you should you require as much.


There are also bus and train options for traveling from Dar es Salaam and Nairobi to Moshi. We do not recommend this option for people visiting Africa for the first time. However, if you’d like more information on these options, please contact us.

Health Precautions

Immunizations

Arrange to get your vaccinations started six weeks before you leave, so that you’ll have adequate time to get them all in. Check with the travel clinic at a local hospital about what vaccinations are recommended for travel to Tanzania. This information can also be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov). At the very least, make sure that your tetanus is up to date, and that you have a Yellow Fever immunization (required for entry into Tanzania).

 
 

Malaria

Malaria is relatively common in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania although recent figures show that prevalence is dropping.  Malaria is one of the biggest killers in the world; however the burden falls primarily on those under 5 or immuno-suppressed.  For fit and healthy adults Malaria is more of an annoyance (flu-like symptoms; head ache, fever, body aches etc) and effective treatments are widely available. Nonetheless, we strongly recommend that all volunteers take anti-malarials however you can talk with your personal physician about whether or not to take anti-malarial medication and which one would be most suitable for you.

Following is a table about the most common anti-malarial medications.  But, again, we recommend that you discuss this with your doctor.


  Doxycycline Malarone Mefloquine/Larium
Efficacy >93% >93% >93%
Frequency of Use Daily Daily Daily
Post travel period that medication must be taken
4 weeks
 
1 week 4 weeks
Side effects Dyspepsia, Sun Sensitivity, Yeast Infection

Rare: esophageal Ulcers
Dyspepsia, Mouth sores, Headache Dyspepsia, Headache
Mood changes, Dizziness, Insomnia
Vivid dreams

Occasional: Hair loss
Skin reaction,

Rare: Seizures Psychosis
Cost Lowest Highest Mid-range


Visitors may also want to bring insect repellent with Deet (we suggest 50%) to use while in Tanzania. Malaria is a serious disease and may be deadly. If you become ill with a fever or flu-like illness either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home, you should seek immediate medical attention. Be sure to tell the physician your travel history.

 
 

Insurance

International travelers usually have to pay cash for any required medical care during travel.  Few places will bill your home health insurance direction.  And many health insurance plans do not cover medical care outside of your home country.

Given the additional health risks related with living a developing country, we suggest that our clients purchase a travel insurance plan (that includes medical evacuation services) before arriving in Tanzania.  Medical evacuations often cost tens of thousands of US Dollars.

There are many options for this, including AMREF Flying Doctors, Air Med, Medjet Assistance, International SOS, Patriot Travel Medical Insurance and Foreignsure.  Before your trip, we recommend that you consult with an insurance provider about these and other options to decide what is best for you.

Should you be climbing Kilimanjaro with us, we will request that you provide us with your medical/travel insurance information, in case of an emergency.

 
 

Passports and immigration

In order for non-residents to enter Tanzania for a short-term (classified as up to 3 months) the Tanzanian government requires that you have a tourist visa.  The tourist visa can be obtained in your home country OR easily at the airport/border in Tanzania for approximately 50 - 100 USD (depending on your country of origin).  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 (you can also get this at the airport in Tanzania)

  • Flight Tickets or print out of e-ticket (please also email these to Honey Badger so we can keep copies together on your file)

  • Travel insurance details (again please email to Honey Badger)

  • 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 numbers & emergency numbers to report theft

 

Packing

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.

Here is a list of some basics you should consider packing:

  • Underwear
  • Cotton shirts
  • Long-sleeved shirts
  • Walking shoes/Trainers
  • Shorts
  • Jeans or long pants
  • Skirt
  • Rain jacket
  • Bathing Suit (preferably a one piece if you are wanting to swim)
  • Sweater
  • T-Shirts
  • Flip flops/sandals
  • Light waterproof top/windbreaker
  • Swimming gear
  • Sun hat/cap
  • Socks

Toiletries

Toiletries and most medical products are readily available in Moshi, however, they can be of poorer quality than those you would find back home, and can often be more expensive.  (*Highly Recommended)

  • Toothbrush and toothpaste

  • Brush or comb

  • Shampoo/Conditioner

  • Face cleansers/moisturizers

  • Lip balm

  • Sun screen*

  • Shaving stuff

  • Deodorant

  • Medic-Alert identification*

Added 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 Expedition

  • 1 Mountaineering Sleeping bag (usually a -10 degree rating or better is recommended)

  • 1 litre water canteen (sturdy plastic or steel). We have some at the Lodge, but it is difficult to know whether or not they will be in use at the time.

  • 1 LED Flashlight with spare batteries - or if you can get a wind-up one that is even better!

  • 1 Pair of comfortable trekking boots

  • 2 pairs of thick thermal socks and several pairs of regular socks

  • 2 Fleeces

  • 1 down jacket or long-sleeved wind-breaker (down jacket is unnecessary if you have good fleeces)

  • 1 set of thermal underwear (i.e. thermal vest & long-johns)

  • 2 pairs of trekking trousers

  • 1 waterproof jacket

  • 1 pair of waterproof trousers

  • 1 balaclava or ski-mask

  • 1 sun hat

Packing for a Honey Badger 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)



Additional items

In addition to the above, we would recommend that visitors take the following into consideration:

Expensive Items

In some cities and towns in Tanzania, expensive-looking clothing, jewelry, and electronics could put you at an unnecessary risk for robbery or worse. 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