FREQUENT ASKED QUESTIONS
Flights
For North America/Europe, choose KLM to Kilimanjaro (JRO). Australasia travelers, Emirates to Nairobi/Dar es Salaam. JRO is 1-hour from Arusha; Nairobi/Dar es Salaam are 1-hour flights or hours by bus. For Zanzibar/Pemba, fly into Dar es Salaam, then to Kilimanjaro for safari.
Leverock Tours and Safaris arranges East Africa travel, including flights, buses, and shuttles. Tickets can be picked up or mailed based on your first stop. For international flights, kindly contact your local tour agents.
Airport taxes are included in most domestic and international flights now.
Charter companies (Regional Air, Flightlink, Coastal Aviation) and airlines (Precision Air) offer optimal Zanzibar routes. MW can assist in booking daily flights from mid-morning to early evening, tailored to your schedule.
Travel Information and Seasons
September, the driest Kilimanjaro climbing month, is cold and busy. Due to its unique weather patterns, it can rain on Kilimanjaro even when it’s dry elsewhere. Always be prepared for rain and carry rain gear while on the mountain.
Leverock Tours and Safaris arranges East Africa travel, including flights, buses, and shuttles. Tickets can be picked up or mailed based on your first stop. For international flights, kindly contact your local tour agents.
Late March to late May: long rains, not ideal for safaris due to sudden downpours. After rains: abundant wildflowers, minimal dust, fewer tourists, great for safaris. July to October: dry, high tourism season, best for wildlife viewing. Late October to mid December: short rains, low tourism. December to March: “Summer,” popular for optimal game viewing, especially in late December and January.
Health & Immunizations
Health insurance is not included in our tour quotes.
To find the latest immunization guidelines and travel requirements for Tanzania, please visit the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) website.
Reservations & Cancellations
Yes, you can, we recommend bank transfers directly to our account for payments so that all safaris are paid for six weeks in advance as per booking terms. This reduces any risk you may have by travelling large amounts of cash.
Certainly, we can coordinate your flights and hotel accommodations in Zanzibar. Additionally, we can organize airport transfers with the majority of hotels. We offer a diverse range of options and communicate directly with owners to ensure your stay is as welcoming as our service.
Please read our Terms page for details on our cancellation policy.
Money Issues
Use Visa/MasterCard to withdraw Tanzanian shillings in specific cities. Many places don’t accept cards, and those that do may charge 3-5% commission. Alert your credit card company about your Tanzania trip beforehand to avoid issues. Tanzanian ATMs have a 400,000/- withdrawal limit (about US$280) per transaction, but you can make multiple withdrawals based on your bank’s limit. Prepare for specific payments in advance.
Change some money to shillings for local expenses. Stores and restaurants prefer shillings; paying in dollars incurs higher rates. In Arusha’s souvenir shops, US$100 and US$50 notes get better rates, while smaller denominations (US$20, US$10, US$5, and US$1) are useful for safari souvenirs.
Absolutely not, Tanzania strictly enforces this rule. Bring notes from 2005 or later for transactions in Tanzania. Older notes are widely mistrusted due to past counterfeiting issues; banks won’t accept them.
While on Safari: Lodging and Food
At Leverock Tours and Safaris, we Match your desired experience with suitable lodge options, ranging from exclusive luxury tents to adventurous camping setups. We offer a variety of private lodges, catering to both mid-range and high-end budgets, ensuring accommodation options for every preference.
Certainly, kindly inform us beforehand, allowing us to make the required preparations.
On safari, each person receives two 1-liter bottled water daily.
Tanzania’s staples include ugali, chapati, kachumbari, nyama choma, and mchicha. Northern Tanzanian dishes include ndizi nyama and mahindi maharage. To experience Tanzanian cuisine, notify us before your safari, and we’ll add local dishes to your menu.
Wash hands frequently, avoid raw produce, skip street food, and wipe bottle mouths. Peel fruits like bananas, If unsure, consult our chefs or guides.
Driving On Safari
Leverock Tours provides safari-ready vehicles: 4WD Land Cruisers and Land Rovers. Owned and maintained by us, they feature comfy seats, open roofs for optimal animal viewing, ensuring every passenger gets a window seat.
City-to-park roads are good, but park roads are rough and muddy. We drive slowly for comfort, especially in dry weather when it gets dusty. Bring cleansing cloths. Arusha to Ngorongoro road is tarmacked.
Photography on Safari
Leverock Tours’ cars have inverters for in-car camera and laptop charging.
AAA-D batteries, like Energizer and Duracell, are available in Arusha for emergencies, but they might be cheaper in your home country. Bring them as it’s hard to find good quality ones outside big cities.
Lodges provide outlets and most of them have solar panels for electricity, they use a generator as a backup. Tanzania uses 240v electricity; bring converters and adaptors. Minimize electric tools.
It depends on your photography passion. Generally, 3-4 rolls with 24 exposures daily suffice. Animals move unexpectedly, so be mindful of potential wasted shots.
In bright sunlight, ISO100 provides top quality. Yet, during low light in early mornings or late afternoons – prime animal viewing times – consider ISO 200 or 400 for better results.
Depends on your focus: for close-ups, a macro lens; for animals, use a long lens (300mm minimum, up to 500mm if available). A zoom lens offers versatility.
Souvenir Shopping
In Arusha, find souvenirs at the market 500 meters southwest of the central post office. Bargain; aim to pay 50% of the price. Safari hotels and places like Oldonyo Orok and Cultural Heritage offer shopping options. For Tanzanite, inform us about a certified gemologist’s visit, ensuring value, quality, and a certificate.
Wildlife and Other Information
On your safari, an experienced wildlife guide will accompany you, having at least five years of experience, language, and wildlife training. We merge tourist groups only upon client request, ensuring a private vehicle with your dedicated Leverock Tours and Safaris wildlife guide.
Originally coveted by hunters, the Big Five (rhino, elephant, lion, leopard, and buffalo) were the fiercest, often turning the tables on hunters. Today, tourists flock to Tanzania’s national parks, especially in Northern Tanzania, to witness these iconic animals.
The annual wildebeest migration, involving 1.2 million wildebeest, 600,000 zebras, and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelles, spans from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park to Kenya’s Masai Mara. It provides great chances to observe animal behavior, especially predators. Despite its usual December to June and August patterns in the Serengeti, recent extended rains have disrupted migration, making precise paths and times unpredictable
The wildebeest migration occurs in the Serengeti from December to September. In dry months (December-February), masses of animals migrate. During March to May rains, groups split, roaming in different Serengeti areas. They stay in smaller groups until returning to Kenya in October. Global seasons change, so contact us for updates.
A bush walk, or walking safari, occurs inside or near a national park. It can be customized based on your preferences, whether you’re into birdwatching, observing big games, or exploring Tanzanian culture. Armed guards accompany walks near the big game. The walks vary from leisurely strolls to strenuous hikes, lasting from 30 minutes to hours.
At Leverock Tours and Safaris, we have put guidelines for tipping our staff. Please contact the office directly for further information.