Climb Kilimanjaro
Travel Details

Travel Agent

RMI has partnered with Erin Rountree to provide our clients with comprehensive travel support. As an independent agent of the Travel Society, she has booked countless miles for adventure travelers across the globe. We have been working with Erin for the last 8 years, and she is very knowledgeable about the travel needs of our programs. Please call (208) 788-2870 or email at etravel@cox.net.

Travel Insurance

We strongly encourage everyone to consider purchasing travel insurance. Travel insurance offers the best possible protection if you have a sudden, unexpected illness or injury prior to or when traveling. Check with the insurance provider for specific coverage details. If you have not yet purchased travel insurance, you may do so prior to commencement of the program. For more information please visit one of the websites below, or contact your local travel agent.
AIG Travel Guard
International Health Insurance
Erin Rountree

Personal Medical Insurance

We recommend that you purchase medical insurance for your expedition as most standard insurance does not cover mountaineering. International Health Insurance (IHI) provides coverage for annual travel or a single trip. For additional information including coverage, benefits and premiums or to book online visit International Health Insurance.

Getting There

It is relatively easy to travel to Tanzania. Most people either fly from London through Nairobi with a connecting flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). The time in Tanzania is ten hours later than in Seattle; seven hours later than New York.

Entry Requirements

A valid passport is required for entering Tanzania. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond the expected date of return. U.S. passport holders can stay up to 90 days without special visas.

We suggest making a copy of the first two pages of your passport and keeping them in a separate bag as a back up. A copy should also be left with your emergency contact.

Tanzanian Visa

A Tanzanian visa is required for travel and can be purchased upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). The price for the visa is $100. It is requested that you have exact change and if possible only bills printed in 2006 or newer. They will provide you with an entrance permit adequate for your stay. Please check the date to ensure it covers your complete stay in Tanzania.
You may also register in advance for a Tanzanian Visa by completing the application and sending your passport along with additional materials to the Embassy of Tanzania. Please visit the Tanzania Embassy website for more information.

Immunizations / Travel Medicine

Before travel, be sure you are up to date on all routine immunizations according to schedules approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP). Some schedules can be accelerated for travel. 

See your doctor at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for shots to take effect. If it is less than 4 weeks before you leave, you should still see your doctor. It might not be too late to get your shots or medications as well as other information about how to protect yourself from illness and injury while traveling.

• CDC required vaccinations:
  Yellow Fever is present in this region and vaccination is recommended if you travel to the endemic zones in any of these countries.  A certificate of yellow fever vaccination may be required for entry into certain countries if you have visited an endemic area. For detailed information, find the nearest authorized U.S. yellow fever vaccine center.
• CDC recommended vaccinations and preventive medications:
  Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG), Hepatitis B, Malaria, Rabies and Typhoid vaccine. As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles. 

This information is accurate at the time of writing, but may change with little or no notice. For the most updated information on inoculation requirements and recommendations, please refer to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required when returning from Tanzania. Inoculation must be done at least ten days prior to arrival. There are also several additional travel recommendations. We strongly recommend taking anti-malarial medication prior to traveling to Africa. Malaria is rare in most highland areas but precautions should be taken. Please check with your physician and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Airport Arrival

Once you have entered the arrivals hall, proceed to the “Visas” office window located on the right. After you have obtained your Visa, you need to proceed through the Passport Control Line before going into the baggage claim area. Once you collect your baggage, proceed through the customs line. Be sure to keep all your bags together. Most people will choose the :Nothing to Declare: line. After you clear customs, your RMI guide will meet you outside.

Departure Tax

When leaving Tanzania, a $40 departure tax (payable in cash) is levied for departing international flights. This fee is generally included in electronic ticket purchases, but not always included in standard ticket purchases. If it has not been included with your ticket, then you will have to pay the tax at the airport.

Tanzania Country Facts

The population of Tanzania is 20 million persons consisting of numerous tribal groups. The official language of Tanzania is Swahili, but English is widely spoken or understood and is the principal language of commerce.

Weather

Tanzania enjoys a warm equatorial climate. Though Kilimanjaro is relatively dry and can be climbed year round, the main climbing seasons are during the months of January-February and June-September. These dates take advantage of both the best weather on Kilimanjaro as well as prime game-viewing times. The weather is usually sunny and warm at the lower elevations, but can be quite cool in the evenings. Bring a light jacket or fleece for the safari in case of cooler temperatures.

The two rainy seasons on Kilimanjaro are during the months of April-June and October-December. During the rainy season temperatures are colder and the trails turn muddy. The game viewing areas are also affected during this period as muddy roads usually force closures of certain areas.

Etiquette

Although it is not expected that American tourists dress formally, it is expected that they dress modestly. Casual and comfortable clothing is suggested along with comfortable shoes. Tourists who flaunt such things as expensive cameras, watches, jewelry, etc may attract thieves. It is expected that you engage in some degree of bargaining for market or street purchases. This is fun, and should be taken lightly. On occasion, you will be approached by local children and adults for some little gift. It is a nice to be able to give them something like a pen, colored pencil, pin, or sticker.

Money

The official currency of Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling (TSh). A recent exchange rate was about 1,250 TSh to the U.S. Dollar. However, for the purposes of our trip, U.S. dollars are readily accepted nearly everywhere. We recommend bringing $20 denominations as larger bills are not as easily used or cashed. It is recommended that you change to TSh only as much money as you think you may spend (i.e., carry cash of small denominations) as local currencies cannot be removed from the country or reconverted.

You will find that $400 - $800 for spending money should be adequate for drinks, souvenirs and pocket money. You may choose to bring more depending on your shopping plans. We recommend that you have some small amounts of cash with you when arriving from the United States so you do not have to worry about changing money at the airport.

There are many cash machine locations in Tanzania, and this is by far the best way to get cash in country in case you need more money. Travelers checks are a good backup and the safest way to carry money, but are not easily cashed and usually have a much lower exchange rate. 

Everyone has a preferred way to carry money. Some use money belts, others have hidden pockets. Whatever you do, be aware of pickpockets and thieves in any area which caters to tourists.

Tipping

In Tanzania, waiters, drivers, and other service personnel usually expect to be tipped.

Everyone approaches tipping a little differently. Whether or not a person tips, and how much is completely dependent on the individual, but here are some suggested tipping guidelines for your trip.

• Dik Dik Hotel: $5.00 to $10.00 per person per night for a total of 3 nights. The Dik Dik Hotel prefers that you do not tip individual staff members but instead contribute to their “All Staff” tip box located in the reception area.
• Safari Lodges: $1.00 to $5.00 per person per day for a total of 3 nights.
• Safari Staff: $5.00 to $10.00 per person per day for a total of 4 days.
• Kilimanjaro Mountain Staff: We pool our tip money at our last night’s camp on Kilimanjaro. We recommend that each climber contribute $100.00 to $125.00 to the pool. This will be split between all of our mountain staff - African Guides, cooks, and porters.

Health

Travelers often suffer from upset stomachs when in foreign countries. There are some basic rules, however, that can help keep you healthy.

• Hygiene - It is important that you wash your hands thoroughly before meals and after using any bathroom. If water is not available for washing, we recommend using a hand sanitizer.
• Water - The number one rule is: don’t drink the water, and that includes shower water and ice! Brush your teeth with purified water rather than tap water. You should check bottled water for a good seal and use a napkin to wipe dry excess moisture in drinking glasses. Take care with fruit juice, particularly if it has been diluted with water. Carefully clean the tops of bottled beverages before opening.
• Food - If you can cook it, boil it, or peel it; you can usually eat it. Salads and fruits should be washed with purified water or peeled where possible. Be wary of ice cream and shellfish. Always avoid any undercooked meat.

Photography

Tanzania is very photogenic and the photos you take will be priceless. Install fresh batteries in your camera and/or flash before you leave the United States and take along an extra set. Bring plenty of film or storage space.

Ask for permission before photographing individuals, particularly indigenous people. Most of the locals will gladly pose for a photo in exchange for a small gift. If in doubt, either ask or refrain. Don’t photograph any government or military property or persons; this includes the airport.

Electricity

Since the electricity in Africa is not the same as in the United States, plug adapters are required. Nearly all of the establishments that we visit, however, provide basic adapters. If any of your personal items require a special adapter, please make sure you bring it along.

Medical Emergencies

The Mt. Meru Regional Hospital is located in Arusha. This is easily accessible from the Dik Dik, but Kilimanjaro and the safari remain remote locations without established medical facilities.

Travel Advisories / Warnings

Please confirm any current travel advisories/warnings as well as passport and visa requirements with the US Department of State.

Resources

There are a number of books on travel health including: Staying Healthy in Asia, Africa and Latin America by Dirk Schroeder. Lonely Planet, Let’s Go, Fodor’s and Frommers are all good travel guides. Information and updates can be found on the website for the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, which provides medical information for travelers as well as the consular information.

Alexander Stewart, Kilimanjaro: A Complete Trekker’s Guide (A Cicerone Guide). Cicerone Press, 2004.
This is a beautifully illustrated, useful and packable guide.

GameReserve.com offers detailed and comprehensive information on Africa’s top game parks.