Safari Travel Advice

Get ready for the trip of a lifetime! We've put together a reading list of recommended books to prepare for safaris.

Please click on each underlined topic to jump to the section:
Lodging and Food on Safari
Driving on Safari
Photography on Safari
Souvenirs
Tipping
Cell Phones
Viewing Wildlife

While on Safari: Lodging and Food
Q. What do the lodges look like?
A. Please visit the Lodges page for photos of popular lodges.

Q. How does Duma Explorer choose lodges and tented camps in Arusha and on safari?
A. Duma matches the type of experience you desire with the most appropriate lodge arrangements. Available lodging ranges from private luxury tented lodges to adventure camping. There are both mid and high-end private lodges so we can accommodate any budget.

Q. How rugged is a camping safari?
A. On a camping safari, guests and staff sleep in private tents in designated campsites in or near the national parks. Duma Explorer staff setup the camp and prepare all meals while you relax, read and eat snacks. Duma camps consist of tents set up around tables and chairs. We also provide hammocks on some safaris.

Whenever possible, Duma Explorer uses more remote campsites to make your camping experience more private. There are toilet and shower facilities at almost all the campsites although the level of cleanliness varies. Duma Explorer heats water for your shower at more remote sites.

Q. On camping safaris, what equipment does Duma Explorer provide?
A. Duma Explorer provides camping equipment including tents, sleeping mattresses, tables and chairs. Hammocks are provided on some safaris. We also provide all cooking equipment for safari. Please see our packing list for items you should bring with you to Tanzania. All of Duma Explorer's equipment is less than two years old and has been highly rated by many of our past clients. If you need to rent equipment such as sleeping bags or other gear, let us know.

Q. Are vegetarian meals available?
A. Of course; just let us know in advance so we can make necessary arrangements.

Q. Do I need to bring a water filter?
A. On safari we provide bottled water. On Kilimanjaro trips, we filter all drinking water using either a Katadyn KFT Expedition Filter for large trips or a First Need filter for small trips.

Q. What is a typical menu on a camping safari or Kilimanjaro climb?
A. During a camping safari, Duma Explorer provides three meals a day as well as afternoon snacks. We also provide all of your bottled drinking water. After your game drive, a snack with tea or coffee will be waiting for you at the campsite. You will have a choice of fresh popcorn, peanuts, cake or sliced fruits. View a sample menu!

Q. What is Tanzanian food like and will I get to try some?
A. Staple foods found throughout Tanzania include ugali (maizemeal), chapati (thick naan-like bread), kichumbari (tomato, cucumber, bell pepper salad), nyama choma (barbecued meat- goat, chicken, beef) and mchicha (green vegetable stew). Dishes specific to Northern Tanzania include ndizi nyama (banana beef stew) and mahindi maharage (maize and bean stew). If you would like to try Tanzanian food, let us know prior to your climb or camping safari and we'll include some local dishes on your menu.

Q. What precautions should I take to avoid stomach problems?
A. Be sure to wash your hands often with soap and avoid eating raw vegetables and fruits. Before meals, wash and dry your hands before touching your food. Do not eat food sold by street vendors. Wipe the mouth of soda and alcohol bottles before drinking and ensure that water bottles are sealed properly before purchasing. Also, eat fruit that can be peeled, such as bananas, unless it is fruit prepared by Duma Explorer. If you unsure of any food, ask our cooks and guides.

Driving on Safari
Q. Who travels with us on safari?
A. During lodge safaris, you will be accompanied by a trained wildlife guide. Our guides have at least seven years of experience on safari and have taken several language and wildlife courses. If you choose an adventure camping safari, you will also travel with a Duma cook who will prepare all of your delicious meals while in the bush. As with any Duma-arranged trip, we will only combine tourist groups at the client's request. You can expect a private vehicle with your very own Duma guide.

Q. What are Duma Explorer vehicles like?
A. During safaris, Duma Explorer uses 4WD Land Cruisers and occasionally Land Rover Defenders. Our vehicles have been made safari-ready by cutting wildlife viewing holes in the roof and changing the seats to be more comfortable, full-size seats. For more information, please visit the vehicles page.

Q. What are the road conditions in Tanzania?
A. Although the roads between cities and the national parks are generally well-maintained, the roads inside the national parks are rough and dusty, and hence, muddy during the rainy season. During game drives we drive slowly for a more comfortable drive. During the dry season you will get very dusty, so bring some moist cleansing cloths to clean up before meal times.
The road from Arusha to Ngorongoro is now tarmac so the driving time to the park is approximately one and a half.

Photography on Safari
Q. Is it possible to recharge a digital camera on safari?
A. Duma's cars are outfitted with inverters that allow you to charge your camera batteries or laptop right in the car. The inverters accommodate North American plugs.

Q. Should I bring extra batteries for my camera or will they be available in Tanzania?
A. You can find AAA-D batteries in Arusha including Energizer and Duracell brands. Batteries are probably cheaper in your home country, so you may want to bring them with you. It is difficult to find high quality batteries outside major cities.

Q. What extra camera equipment should I bring to Tanzania?
A. You'll need: 1. Small sand bag on which to rest your camera. The safari vehicles shake quite a bit and sometimes you may miss a great shot if you wait for the car to be turned off.
2. Lightweight tripod or monopod.
3. Small can of compressed air to clean the camera. Be sure to clean your camera every night as it is usually very dusty while on safari.

Q. Will I be able to charge rechargeable batteries while in the bush?
A. Most lodges have outlets so you will be able to recharge batteries. However, because the lodges are run on generators, the electrical current is not as strong as traditional electrical currents. Some lodges turn off their generators at midnight. Keep in mind Tanzania uses 220 Volt electricity and you will need to bring necessary converters and plug adaptors. Try to take as few electrical powered tools as possible. All of our vehicles also have US compatible power inverters that allow you to plug in your laptop or battery charger while on game drives.

Q. I'm planning to use a film camera. How much film should I bring?
A. It really depends on the passion you have for photography. As a general guideline, plan on shooting three to four rolls with 24 exposures per day; this is adequate for most people. Remember also that animals often move just when you want to shoot and don't pose for you so you may waste some pictures.

Q. What sort of film should I use?
A. Much of the time you will be in bright sunlight so ISO100 speed will give you the best quality. However, some of the best times to see animals is in the late afternoon or early morning and the light may be low. In this case, ISO 200 or ISO 400 would be better.

Q. What lenses should I bring?
A. This will depend on the type of photography you do. If you are interested in vegetation, you may want a macro lens. For animals, because you will be photographing from a distance, you will definitely want a long lens, at minimum 300 mm and up to 500 mm if possible. A zoom lens will provide you with the best flexibility.

Souvenir Shopping
Q. What about purchasing souvenirs?
A. You will have many opportunities to purchase souvenirs in Arusha and while on safari. The souvenir market with the best prices is located in the center of Arusha town approximately 500 meters southwest of the central post office/clock tower on Sinoni Road. You will have to bargain at this market; you should pay about 50% of the asking price. There will also be many opportunities to purchase souvenirs while on safari. Most hotels have souvenir shops, and there are a couple of large souvenir shops along the way: Oldonyo Orok and Cultural Heritage (expensive). If you are interested in buying Tanzanite, please purchase it at Oldonyo Orok or Cultural Heritage as these two stores sell genuine Tanzanite. If you would like to stop at these shops, please tell your guide.

Tipping Staff
Q. What are appropriate tips for safari staff?
A. Gratuities in the Tanzanian tourism industry generally follow the North American system. For more information, please visit the Tipping Guidelines page.

Cell Phones
Q. Can I use cell phones while on safari?
A. We are now renting cell phones for $25 per phone for the duration of your Tanzania safari or Kilimanjaro climb. We include a phone line in the cell phone, but you must add credit to the phone before using it.

Viewing Wildlife

Q. How can we learn more about the animals we see on safari?
A. During lodge safaris, you will be accompanied by a trained wildlife guide. Our guides have at least seven years of experience on safari and have taken several language and wildlife courses.

Q. What are the Big Five?
A. The Big Five were originally the animals most sought after by hunters. They were the fiercest animals, the animals that hunted the hunters. They include rhino, elephant, lion, leopard and cape buffalo and today are the animals that tourists most want to see when visiting Tanzania's national parks. You can see all five of these animals during a visit to Northern Tanzania.

Q. What is the wildebeest migration?
A. The wildebeest migration is the annual movement of 1.2 million wildebeest and zebra between Tanzania's Serengeti National Park and Kenya's Maasai Mara National Park. The migration is usually in the Serengeti from late December until late August, making these months the best for wildlife viewing in the Serengeti. The best months to view the migration are generally January through March when the migration is in larger herds. The highlight of the migration occurs during a two week period in February when the wildebeest give birth to 8,000 babies daily.

Q. What is a bush walk?
A. A bush walk is a nature walk or walking safari inside or near a national park. We can tailor a bush walk to your interests. If you are a bird lover, we can arrange a bird walk. If you want to be near big game on foot, we can arrange a bush walk in a national park. (These walks require an armed guard.) A bush walk can be a leisurely stroll or strenuous hike and ranges in length from thirty minutes to six hours.