Some useful reminders for travel to Tanzania, for the smoothest possible landing.
Completing your Tanzania e-visa
What is required for an e-visa application?
A JPEG pic of your passport’s biometric page.
A JPEG pic of yourself (smaller than 300KB). Don’t worry if you don’t have an official passport photo – a clear image of yourself against a plain background will do.
Your round-trip flight ticket – either PDF or JPEG will work.
Contact info for your first destination – you can use Urth Expedition's details here: Urth. Expedition or name of your lodge for the first night.
Your mother’s and father’s names and nationalities.
Make note of the security question you choose, as it will be required to check your visa status later.
Where it asks for ‘host details’, write ‘Self’, as this will save you having to complete the rest of that section.
A valid Visa or MasterCard for online payment.
How to apply for an e-visa
To read up about your visa options and the information you’ll be asked for, follow this link:
https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/guidelines
US citizens information
Note that US citizens must choose multiple-entry visas (single-entry visas are not available to Americans) and the cost is USD 100 rather than USD 50.
When selecting the ‘Reason for travel’ please select ‘Holiday & Leisure’ to continue the process.
When selecting your host for the trip, please select ‘Self’.
To complete the process, you will be asked to upload you return tickets.
Do children require an e-visa to enter Tanzania?
Yes, all visitors to Tanzania must have their own visa to enter the country unless their nationality is visa-exempt.
This includes children (under the age of 18) who have their own passport. Children who are included on their parent or guardian’s passport can be included on their parent’s/guardian’s visa.
Ready to apply?
Once you’ve done your homework, you can fill out your application here: https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/ Please note: If you experience Firefox internet browser issues, we suggest using Google Chrome as an alternative.
How long does it take to process an e-visa?
The website says 10 days, but to be on the safe side, we recommend applying 2-3 weeks in advance of travel.
I’ve applied – now what?
Log into the system and check the status of your application any time between 10-14 days after applying. With a bit of luck, it’ll be approved and ready! Print out the confirmation document: though you might have it on your phone/device, the paper version will be required on arrival, so have this ready.
What if I decide to get a visa on arrival instead?
This is still possible for many nationalities, but just make sure you have the following:
At least 2 hours to spare (bear this in mind if you have a connecting flight).
The correct amount of US Dollars to pay in cash.
A pen to complete the forms.
Urth Expedition’s contact information (see above) or details of your first hotel.
TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCEDue to significant pre-trip costs incurred by Urth Expedition for lodge payments and pre-booking of National Park campsites, we strongly advise that you take out trip cancellation insurance. This will cover your safari payment in the event of an emergency cancellation. One company we can recommend is World Nomads (www.worldnomads.com).
FOREIGN CURRENCY REGULATIONS
Tanzania requires that all foreign exchange be changed with licensed foreign exchange dealers. While money can be exchanged at most tourist hotels, the best rates of exchange are often obtained at a licensed Bureau de Change or in the banks. It is no longer necessary to declare your foreign currency when entering the country. Note: Currency printed pre-2009: US $100, $50, AND $20 dollar bills are no longer accepted in Tanzania. Please make sure all of your US currency was printed in 2006 or after.
HEALTH
A. We carry a basic first aid kit. You should bring specifically required prescriptions if any and consult your physician for advice on malaria or other drugs. For walking safaris, second skin, or something similar are very important for keeping the feet in good shape. Note that we take out medical evacuation insurance for all local emergency evacuations.
B. Malaria prevention - The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga. currently advises taking Larium or Malarone as a prophylactic. Based on our experience with negative side effects we recommend Malarone but please follow the advice of the CDC and/or your Physician. Most safari itineraries visit low-risk malaria areas. We do however as a precaution (and for ourselves since we don’t take a prophylactic) carry the latest Artemisa combination cures in our First Aid Kit.
C. Inoculations – a yellow fever vaccination is required by Tanzania if traveling from an endemic yellow fever area. Given this, a yellow fever vaccination is advisable – they are valid for 10 years. Tetanus, polio, measles, hepatitis, and typhoid immunizations are not required but are advisable. Cholera is no longer required in Tanzania. You still might want to contact if you are in N. America, the United States Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, or other health authorities for up-to-date information.
D. We request that we be informed well in advance (1 month) if anyone has any special dietary requirements or a health/medical condition that we should know about when planning and organizing the safari.
E. Water and soft drinks are supplied in Urth Expedition Safari cruisers and are complementary.
TIPPING
The practice of tipping can be a difficult issue as expectations and amounts
vary with different situations. We offer the following guidelines:
A. Most hotels have a communal tipping box which is shared equally amongst all employees. This is a fair system and we recommend using it. In some hotels with a communal box, employees who are in direct contact with guests, e.g. porters, room stewards, waiters, and bartenders are not included in the communal tip. In this case, these individuals should be tipped separately. Your guide can advise you on protocol for specific situations.
B. Even though tipping is by definition a voluntary gesture, it is a standard practice in the Tanzanian safari industry and much appreciated by staff. If you are happy with the safari and services and wish to tip, a general guideline for a good tip is to budget $10 - $20 per day for camp staff and $15 - $20 per day for each guide per client group. The actual amount, above, below, and within this range, will vary depending on factors such as length and type of safari, number of clients, the type of services provided, the number of Urth Expedition guides involved in your safari, and most importantly what you as a client wish to give.
Participants on a safari should pool their tips and give individual guides the tip directly when their involvement in the safari has ended.
This can be put in an envelope and given to your head guide. Tips can be in any currency.