Travel Documents
PASSPORT
A valid passport is required for entering Tanzania. Your passport must be valid for six months beyond the expected return date. US passport holders can stay up to 90 days without special visas. We recommend making a copy of the first two pages of your passport and keeping them in a separate bag as a backup. Also, a copy should be left with your emergency contact. Please confirm any travel advisories/warnings as well as passport and visa requirements with the U.S. Department of State.
TANZANIAN VISA
A Tanzanian Visa is required for travel. Although a visa can be purchased upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), the wait is often very long and we HIGHLY recommend that you register for your visa prior to your departure. You will need to complete the application (see below) and send it along with your passport and other documents to the Tanzania Embassy.
If youve chosen to purchase your visa at entry, you will need to make payment in cash. The cost is $100 US and exact change is requested and only in bills printed in 2006 or newer. They will give you an entrance permit for your visit—please confirm the dates to ensure it covers your entire stay in Tanzania.
A return ticket is required for entry.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Well in advance of your trip to Tanzania, please consult your physician to discuss what immunizations are appropriate for your trip to Tanzania, often recommended are Yellow fever, Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, and Malaria preventatives. You may also wish to discuss with your doctor the use of Diomax, a medication used to prevent altitude sickness. Also, for the most current recommendations for inoculation requirements and recommendations, go to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
MEDICAL FORM
The medical information form and waiver is required by Immersion Journeys. It must be completed and both pages signed and returned to Rebecca Gray at rebecca@givingjourneys.org or mailed to Giving Journeys, PO Box 69, Lyme, NH 03768 to participate in the Mt. Kilimanjaro climb. Download the form here.
In addition, please download and complete the Travel Information Form and return it with your Participant Agreement to rebecca@givingjourneys.org or mail to Giving Journeys, PO Box 69, Lyme, NH 03768 to participate . Please fill in one form for each participant. Download the form here.
Getting to Tanzania
Giving Journeys has selected Immersion Journeys as its preferred travel partner to provide comprehensive travel support for our climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro. Award-winning Immersion Journeys (www.immersionjourneys.com) is headquartered in New York City with operational offices in Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) and in addition to helping us with in-country arrangements for hotel, airport transfers, and providing the services of an outfitter for the climb they can provide supplemental travel services for our guests:
Pre/Post Climb Safari Services
Treat yourself to a safari in the famous game parks or kick back on the beaches of Zanzibar. Contact Hema Shah at Immersion Journeys at 302 743 7005; (hema@immersionjourneys.com)
Airline Tickets
If you book your airline tickets to Kilimanjaro through Immersion Journeys, they will work with you to get the best fare.
Getting There
Although we strongly recommend using the services of Immersion Journeys to assist you with air travel, we realize some will choose to book their own flights. It is relatively straight-forward to fly to Tanzania. It is preferable to fly from Amsterdam direct to Kilimanjaro International Airport this is possible when departing from Boston Logan airport but is not always available from other departures cities. Many people fly London through Nairobi with a connecting flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). The time difference is seven hours later than EST and we need you to arrive by the evening of January 14th, 2018. Departure for the US can be late afternoon or evening of January 23, 2018 or anytime on January 24th.
Airport Arrival/Departure
Once you’ve arrived at the Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha, Tanzania, you will go to the Visa Office on the right. When you’ve gotten your visa, you’ll continue on to the Passport Control line before going into the baggage claim area. Once you’ve claimed your luggage, proceed through the customs line. When you’ve cleared customs, you will be met by our driver who will take you to the Serena Lake Duluti Hotel.
When you depart Tanzania there is a departure tax of $40 (payable in cash) although generally this is included when you purchase your ticket, please take note if you are purchasing your own tickets.
We encourage you to obtain your Tanzania visa prior to departure to save time at the airport. It is a straight- forward application process. You can apply at the Tanzania Consulate in New York City by downloading the application from here: Application
Additionally, Immersion Journeys can assist in providing this service as long as the application forms are properly filled out and back up documents included (photos, itinerary, visa application fee etc. Immersion Journeys will deliver and follow-up with your application. It will be $45 per application that includes return FedEx cost.
A FEW THINGS TO KNOW WHEN IN TANZANIA
Language:
The population of Tanzania is about 20 million people—most from a variety of tribal groups whose official language is Swahili, but English is widely spoken or understood.
Electricity:
Since the electricity is not the same as in the U.S., plug adapters are needed for the hotel. (And remember you re-chargers, too.)
Currency:
The official Tanzanian currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TSh). U.S. dollars are also accepted everywhere and we recommend having some small denominations for your arrival at the airport. You should exchange dollars for TSh only for what you expect to spend since local currency cant be removed from the country or re-converted.
Tipping:
In Tanzania waiters, drivers and others in service expect to be tipped. Some guidelines: for the hotel, $10 per person per night; for the climb, trip leaders, and assistants get a shared $15.00 to $20.00 and for crew, porters, cooks also a shared $15.00 to $20.00. Tips should be given out at the end of the climb and, of course, are optional.
Medical:
There is a hospital in Arusha, Mt. Meru Regional Hospital, for medical emergencies, but Kilimanjaro remains too remote for medical facilities.