The questions people actually ask.

There is no bad month, only different months. June to October is the classic dry season: short grass, scarce water, concentrated animals, and the Mara River crossings in the north. December to March puts the herds on the southern plains for calving — the best predator viewing of the year and much quieter than August. April and May are the long rains: fewer vehicles, lower prices, spectacular skies, and a real chance of a muddy track.

Yes, and most people do. Every itinerary on this site is a starting point — roughly half our bookings end up modified. Add a night, change region, fly instead of drive, slow the pace. We re-cost it at no charge, and we will tell you when a change is a bad idea.

Two to six months is normal. For July to September, or the February calving weeks, book six to nine months ahead — the seasonal camps in the right places are small and they fill. Inside eight weeks, ask anyway; we can often still put a good trip together.

A 30% deposit confirms your booking; the balance is due 60 days before travel. Bank transfer or card. Cancellations more than 60 days out are refunded in full less the deposit; inside 60 days a sliding scale applies. Full terms come with your quotation, before you pay anything.

Most visitors do. Apply through the official Tanzanian e-visa portal — several unofficial sites charge a large mark-up for the same thing. At the time of writing the ordinary single-entry visa is US$50, and US passport holders are issued a multiple-entry visa at US$100. Confirm current fees on the official portal. Your passport must be valid six months beyond entry.

We are a safari operator, not a medical practice, and we will not give health advice. See a doctor or travel clinic six to eight weeks before you travel. The one thing we can state as fact is documentary: Tanzania asks for proof of yellow fever vaccination if you arrive from, or transit more than twelve hours through, a country with transmission risk.

Yes — it is a condition of booking, and we will ask for the policy number before departure. It must cover medical treatment and emergency evacuation. Every safari includes flying-doctor evacuation cover, which gets you to a hospital. It does not pay for the hospital.

A 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof. We cap every vehicle at six guests against seven seats, so everyone has a window and nobody sits in the middle. Each carries a cooler, charging points, binoculars, reference books, a first-aid kit and a radio. We do not put strangers in your car.

Broadly yes, and the real risks are road travel, sun and stomach upsets — not animals. Guides are licensed with current first aid, vehicles are serviced on a fixed schedule and carry a satellite phone, and every trip includes evacuation cover. Around wildlife the rules are simple: stay in the vehicle unless your guide says otherwise, keep your voice down, feed nothing.

Yes, and they often get more out of it than the adults. In a shared vehicle we ask that children are six or over; in a private vehicle there is no minimum and we will build shorter days around younger children. Our 8-Day Family Safari exists for exactly this.

Neutral colours — khaki, olive, grey, sand. Avoid dark blue and black, which attract tsetse fly, and skip camouflage, which is restricted clothing in Tanzania. Layers matter: dawn drives are cold in an open vehicle and the crater rim is cold all day. Bring binoculars (8x42), more camera storage than you think, and trainers rather than hiking boots.

Patchy, and that is part of the point. There is usable coverage around Seronera, the gates and most lodges; large parts of the north and west have nothing. Most camps offer Wi-Fi in the common areas. Every vehicle carries a satellite phone, and our office can reach any vehicle.

We drive. The vehicles are built for it and the roof closes. Rain is usually a heavy hour rather than a grey day, and the light afterwards is the best you will get. In the long rains some tracks become impassable and we re-route. If a closure forces a material change we tell you at the time and refund any park fee we have not spent.

Tipping is customary in Tanzanian tourism and it is a meaningful part of what guides and camp staff earn, but it is discretionary and there is no penalty for tipping less or nothing. As a guide to the commonly suggested range: US$20–30 per vehicle per day for your guide, and US$10–15 per guest per day into the communal staff box at each camp. Notes printed before 2009 are not accepted anywhere in the country.

Tell us at the enquiry stage and we confirm with each camp before you travel. Vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free, nut and shellfish allergies are all handled routinely. Be specific about severity — a preference and a life-threatening allergy are handled very differently.

Camps do, and we pass it through at cost without adding a margin — typically US$60 to US$180 per night. If you would rather not pay it, tell us; we can sometimes match you into a shared-vehicle departure.

US dollars for tips and extras, Tanzanian shillings for anything bought locally. ATMs in Arusha are reliable; there are none in the parks. Cards work at lodges, usually with a fee. Bring cash for tips — the camps you will most want to tip at are the ones least likely to have a working card machine.