FAQ & Facts

This page provide you with a series of questions that are frequenlty asked by our clients before going to a safari or mountain trekking . 

How does a safari work ?

During a safari, you wake up early and have breakfast. The morning often starts with a game drive where you start driving from 8am or so. The guide will drive you to ideal vantage points to track down the animals following them in the wild. Note that in an African safari, no one knows where a lion or elephant would be hanging out that day. Of course, experience, time of the year, and weather among other factors help our guide identify plausible locations so you don’t drive the whole day seeing nothing. But be ready for surprises as you’ll never know if you’ll witness a cheetah hunting its meal or see a family of lions. This is what makes a Tanzania safari truly a once in a lifetime experience. Your guide will also help you pick an excellent spot for your packed lunch and, later on, snacks. The wildebeest migration safari is slightly different from a typical safari because the animals are on the move.

After the day’s tour, you’ll get back to the camp in the afternoon. At dinner, you get to eat heartily and enjoy fireside drinks. Keep in mind that a safari is generally unpredictable, and this plan may change depending on how the events unfold.

How many days should I stay ?

Three days is our recommended minimum stay to provide enough time to enjoy a chosen park, for example, the Serengeti. Our ideal duration would be from 5 to 7 days and longer if you wish to see the top parks (around 2-4 parks) without rushing to the next one as well as enjoy your accommodation’s amenities. Note that transfers between parks alone take time.

One of the best ways to keep your budget at bay is to reduce the number of days of your safari as doing so means you have less no. of days to pay for accommodation, food expense, and park fees, which are paid on a daily basis. Also take in mind the type of accommodation preferred. The midrange option is a great choice for those on a budget. You still get to enjoy great buffet meals, and mid level amenities. Luxury lodges are common in Tanzania but they come with a price to avail amenities such as bath-tub, pool etc…

Absolutely! Kids will have fun witnessing life in the wild. You will be in the vehicle most of the time and you can stop as you wish or go on a lower pace as needed, which makes this a great option for elders too. Similarly, most lodges have family-friendly accommodation with no stairs and less walking. The meals are usually a buffet, giving you ample choices for all taste and preference.

Meals provided in your accommodation is usually buffet style. Breakfasts include eggs, potatoes, cereals, bacon/sausage, and toast among others. For dinner, you can expect a variety of soups, salads, local and international meals, rice, pasta, fruits and desserts. At lunch, most guests are out in a safari so they bring a lunchbox with a sandwich, raw veggies, yogurt, juice, hard-boiled eggs, and cookies. However, you can also opt for a hot meal where we can set-up a number of dishes served in buffet trays in an ambient spot where you have a view of the savannah.

Is accommodation included in the booking ?

All our safaris are inclusive of meals and accommodation for the entire duration of your safari as well as domestic travels to the destination, park & camping fees. Accommodation may be at different places. When we send a proposed itinerary, it will include the lodging that we recommend best based on your budget and preference. Should you wish to receive other accommodation proposals offer or have specific ones in mind, just let us know.

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TRAINING FOR KILIMANJARO TREK

Training to climb Kilimanjaro is as much about your physical endurance as it is about your mental stamina. The physical training for Kilimanjaro should be a good mix of stair masters, uphill treadmill climbs, and breathing exercises. You should alternate days using the stair master and the treadmill.
Here below is some recommended training for the Kilimanjaro climb.

PRACTISE HIKING

Climbing Kilimanjaro is in fact just one long hike. The best way to prepare for a long hike is to do a few yourself. If you can do back-to-back days that would be even better. Doing a few practice hikes as part of your training to climb Kilimanjaro will help you to experience what a 5-hour hike on difficult terrain feels like, going up and down and also getting to wear your boots. There is nothing worse than arriving in Kilimanjaro with unworn-in boots. This can seriously stymie your summit attempt as you will get blisters and sore feet early on in your hike.

MENTAL STAMINA

There always comes a point during summit night that you will want to quit and just head back down the mountain. Keeping a positive attitude and digging deep to push through is an incredibly important and valuable skill. Training your mental stamina is no easy thing, but there are ways to accomplish it. You essentially need to construct an activity that pushes your body to what it thinks is its limit, then you need to push past that to reach your goal. A great way to achieve this is long-distance running such as half marathons and full marathons. A marathon will push you to your limit whilst having an achievable goal in sight of the finish line.

AEROBIC TRAINING

Aerobic training uses oxygen to adequately meet the energy demands of exercise via aerobic metabolism. The types of exercise that use aerobic metabolism are generally light-to-moderate intensity activities like long-distance jogging, swimming, cycling, and walking. This differs from anaerobic exercise like high-intensity weight lifting and sprinting which uses anaerobic metabolism to supplement the aerobic system due to increased energy demands. Aerobic exercise builds the cardiovascular system which is key when training to climb Kilimanjaro, as a strong cardiovascular system will help you process limited oxygen in a more efficient way.

STRENGTH TRAINING

Any Kilimanjaro training plan should also include strength training. Although not as important as your aerobic training, strengthening your upper body, core, and, in particular, your legs, will greatly increase your chances of success. Squats, Front and reverse leg curls, Lunges, and Step aerobics are recommended

best time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro

Mid-January to mid-March is very popular among climbers. The weather is perfectly balanced: it is neither too cold, nor too wet. The days are generally dry, though occasional rains may happen. The possibility of rain increases in the second half of March because the “big” wet season advances.

November is the “small” rainy season. The rainy weather may last into mid-December. The temperatures have dropped and the moisture mist covers the Mount, making your climb more tricky and risky, yet more challenging and exciting. November might not be the best pick in terms of weather but gives a great opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking views of the misty-covered Mount with its snow-capped peak and to make some terrific pictures.

The frequency of rain gradually decreases. The weather on Kilimanjaro is fairly dry and clear but the nights are still bitter cold. June is usually quiet, sunny, and, in our opinion, much underrated in terms of climbing. It is an excellent idea to choose June for your adventure because of the great weather and almost climbers-free routes. The number of climbers will be increasing as the year progresses. Starting in July the majority of the routes will be quite busy.

Christmas and New Year are the second-peak climbing season in Kilimanjaro. The climber’s traffic is extremely high, although there is a high chance of rain and thick clouding in the lower altitudes of Kilimanjaro.

The peak climbing season on Kilimanjaro is August-September. The weather is particularly good for climbing: the days are clear and somewhat warmer than in June/July. At the same time, it may be cloudy in the forest/moorland zone, as well as it may be rainy on the southern routes (Machame and Umbwe). However, once you leave the rainforest behind it will be sunny.
October is another unfairly ignored season: nice weather conditions last into mid-October and the number of climbers drops dramatically, giving you a good chance to enjoy Kilimanjaro treks almost alone. At the end of October, the weather becomes more changeable. As long as you are equipped to withstand the occasional shower, this should not present any major challenges.

The “big” rainy season starts at the end of March and continues until the middle of May. April marks the beginning of the coldest time of the year in Tanzania. These months are so dank and drizzle that some operators simply do not offer climbs in April/May at all.

RECOMMENDATIONS TIPS FOR TRAVELERS

Preparing for a trip to Tanzania

Prepare copies and electronic versions of all necessary documents (passport, driving licenses, and vaccination certificate against yellow fever);
• Do all necessary vaccinations for travel to Tanzania;
• Make sure that your credit card and bank cards can be used abroad. Inform your bank about your travel beforehand and note phone numbers for contact in case your card is lost or blocked;
• Ensure to take your essentials in hand luggage. Do not pack prohibited items in your carry-on luggage;
• Rarely, do travelers experience a delay in receiving their checked luggage. Usually, it arrives in 1 or 2 days. If this unfortunate situation occurs, your luggage will be delivered directly to your hotel by the BAS Travel team. We even bring it up to the mountains if your climbing tour has already started. To save yourself some hassle, pack a few items of clothing in your carry-on luggage.

In Tanzania

• Tanzania is a safe and peaceful country. But you should practice common travel safety, as you would anywhere: do not show off large amounts of money. When exchanging money or withdrawing from an ATM, count your money in a secure and private place before exiting, never on the street. If moving about with expensive equipment such as a large camera or laptop, consider taking a taxi, especially at night. Most hotels offer safe boxes or an option to leave expensive items at the reception desk for safe-keeping if you are interested in taking a city tour, or walking to a restaurant in the evening;
Use only registered taxis, never private vehicles. An official taxi has a white license plate and the car bears registration numbers usually painted on each door. They are typically white cars with green writing in Dar es Salaam and Arusha and Moshi towns. Ask BAS or your hotel to order you a taxi when moving about town;
Arusha and Zanzibar have a special Tourism Police Force to support and assist tourists. If you have any problem, BAS can help you connect with the special Tourism Police Force;
• Do not exchange money in the street. Tanzania has recently changed laws about foreign currency exchange and money should be exchanged only at authorized change bureaus or banks;
• Get a receipt. Every authorized business in Tanzania has a tax number and offers official receipts. If shopping, request an official receipt when purchasing any items. Some local craft markets are the exception, the safe way to buy handmade items and gifts in Tanzania is to only purchase handicrafts from locations your tour guide suggests. You may even have a day for souvenir shopping and your driver-guide will bring you to an excellent craft market that offers authentic goods.

While Climbing Kilimanjaro / Meru

• Do not take valuables on a mountain trek. This includes laptops and smartphones. The chance of breaking them, or damaging them due to extreme weather conditions is very high. Further, you will find it difficult to charge electronics during your trek. All guides have phones and radios for communication;
• Try to drink 3-4 liters of water a day, it speeds up the process of high-altitude adaptation and reduces such unpleasant symptoms;
• Most hiking in the mountains is in the morning and the afternoon is free. You may enjoy having a book, MP3 player, cards, or other activity to enjoy during this restful time;
• Tip your climbing team. The easiest way is to leave a tip at the office after you return (provided you had an excellent experience). This way, it is easy for us to fairly share the tip with the guides, cooks, and porters. Of course, if you have a special request for distributing the tip, we will certainly oblige. The recommended amount for an expedition is for Guide $20, Cook $15 and Poter $10 per person per day.

While on Safari

• Ngorongoro can be cold in the early morning and at night. If you are planning to visit this world-renown site, pack warm layers, such as trousers and a fleece jacket;
• Take wet wipes; in high season it is very dusty and wipes are an easy, travel-friendly solution;
• Take the clothes to change, preferably a new set of clothes for each day;
• Avoid bright colors on safari (white/yellow t-shirts, blue jeans) as they do not help you to blend in with nature during a walking safari, or while driving through the bush. Further, they will show dust very easily. Ideal colors are khaki, dark green, and neutrals;
• Bring a high-quality camera with all the special lens attachments. You won’t be sorry for the additional items when you have a powerful zoom and take an award-winning photograph!
• The hospitality industry in Tanzania is much like the rest of the world, and tips are most welcomed and often expected. The recommended amount for safari guides is $20-$40per day, per vehicle. In hotels, $1-2 is enough when carrying the baggage and small tips in the restaurant for waiters.

In Zanzibar island

• Zanzibar is a major tourist island, but remember that the majority of the population is conservative Muslim. Please dress modestly when visiting Stonetown or venturing away from your hotel. It is acceptable to wear bathing suits at the hotel pool or private beach, but men should wear a shirt and ladies a long dress which covers the knees when going to a restaurant or shopping.
Avoid kissing or displays of affection in public; hand-holding is acceptable;
• “Beach Boys” may offer services from the beach in front of your accommodations, but they often have no office or boat, and tourists often spend more money when using their services. It is better and safer to book a tour or excursion with a legitimate office: ask your hotel to recommend a company instead of booking with a stranger;
• Occasionally, you will find someone attempting to sell you something and won’t take “No.” for an answer. It is considered rude, even in Tanzania, to pressure someone after they have politely declined. You may strongly refuse, or even ignore them and walk away, or ask them to leave you alone in this instance.

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