The practical part

June to October is the long dry season: cool mornings, easy game viewing, herds pressing north. Late July to October is the window for river crossings in the northern Serengeti.

January to March is green, warm and quieter, with calving on the southern plains and excellent predator activity. April and May bring the long rains, beautiful, empty and much better value, but some camps close.

Most guests fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), 45 minutes from Arusha. There are no direct flights from the US, UK or most of Europe, so most journeys connect through Amsterdam, Doha, Istanbul, Addis Ababa or Nairobi. Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar work well for journeys that end at the coast.

Internal legs are on light aircraft between park airstrips. We handle every transfer and airstrip meet.

A passport valid for at least six months beyond your date of travel is required for entry into Tanzania, with at least two blank pages.

Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival or apply for an e-Visa in advance. Requirements vary by nationality, so we recommend confirming with the Tanzanian embassy or consulate in your country well before departure.

We recommend applying for the e-Visa on the official Tanzania Immigration website at least two weeks before travelling. Some unofficial websites charge considerably more for the same process. US citizens must apply for a different type of visa (multiple entry). On arrival you may be asked to show your return or onward ticket.

Since October 2026, all foreign visitors must purchase Tanzania's mandatory inbound travel insurance through the state insurer NIC, either before travelling or on arrival. It is separate from your own travel insurance, and without it you may be refused entry.

Yellow fever: a vaccination certificate is a mandatory entry requirement if you are arriving from, or have transited through, a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Carry your certificate with you at all times while travelling.

Malaria: Tanzania is a malaria risk area. Consult your doctor or a travel health clinic well ahead of your trip to discuss appropriate anti-malarial medication. We also advise asking about Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid and Tetanus, and about your fitness to travel if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.

Vaccination and health requirements are the sole responsibility of each traveller, as regulations can change without notice. Every Hodari journey includes Flying Doctors AMREF emergency medical evacuation cover. Comprehensive travel insurance covering medical expenses, cancellation and belongings is also a condition of travel with us.

Neutral colours, khaki, olive, stone, work well in layers. Mornings in the crater are cold, midday on the plains is hot.

Bush flights limit each passenger to 15kg of luggage, soft bags strongly recommended. If you need to bring more, Coastal's XL seat class allows up to 30kg, though it must be requested and confirmed by their operations team in advance and isn't guaranteed. Every camp launders daily, so pack less than you think.

Bring a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, high-factor sun cream, insect repellent, a warm fleece, a light waterproof and comfortable closed-toe shoes. We provide the rest.

Most camps offer electricity and Wi-Fi in the main areas, so staying connected is easy if you want to. Mobile coverage is reliable in Arusha and Karatu, and patchier once you're inside the parks.

Every vehicle has charging points, so cameras and phones stay alive between game drives.

US dollars are the easiest currency to carry, ideally from 2009 or later and in good condition, as older, torn or marked notes are often refused. Larger notes, fifties and hundreds, typically get a better exchange rate. Tanzanian shillings are useful for small purchases and markets.

Tipping is customary and appreciated, though never obligatory. As a guide, USD 20 to 25 per day for your guide and USD 15 to 20 per day, shared, for camp staff is typical. We're happy to advise on this directly before you travel.

Tanzania makes a wonderful family safari, though age policies and comfort levels vary by lodge and park, and some conservancies set minimum ages for game drives or walking safaris. We match itineraries and properties to the age of your children so the pace suits everyone.

Safari involves 4x4 vehicles, uneven terrain and remote camps, which can be challenging for guests with limited mobility. Not every lodge is fully accessible, so let us know your needs when enquiring and we'll recommend the properties best suited to you.

River crossings take place from late July to October in the northern Serengeti. From January to March, the herds are on the southern plains, where the calves are born and predator activity is intense. We shape your route around the dates you travel.

With Hodari, the guide and the Land Cruiser are yours alone for the whole journey, and we recommend a maximum of four people per vehicle so everyone has a window seat. Nobody else joins your safari, and you decide the pace, the timings and the stops.

As many days as you like: every journey is designed around you. As a reference, most travellers choose between 7 and 10 days, which allows time to visit several parks without spending the day in the vehicle.

Every journey begins with a conversation. We listen to what you're looking for, then design an itinerary shaped around it, adjusting pace, routing and accommodation until it feels right.

Once confirmed, a deposit secures your dates and we handle everything from there: flights, permits, transfers and lodge bookings, so the only thing left for you to plan is what to pack.

As a guide, a private safari with Hodari costs between USD 900 and USD 2,000 per person per day, VAT included. This covers accommodation, meals, a private guide and vehicle, park fees and the experiences in your itinerary. Where your journey falls within that range depends mainly on the lodges you choose and the season. Once we've designed your journey, we give you a fixed price.

For the Great Migration season (July to October) and Christmas, we recommend booking 9 to 12 months ahead, as the best camps in the northern Serengeti fill early. For the rest of the year, 4 to 6 months is usually enough. If your dates are closer, get in touch anyway and we'll check availability.

Yes. Northern Tanzania is one of Africa's most established safari destinations, and at Hodari we take care of every detail so you can travel with peace of mind. Our guides are licensed and trained in first aid, and the vehicle carries a long-range radio and a first-aid kit checked before every departure. Every journey includes Flying Doctors AMREF emergency medical evacuation cover. We handle all transfers and are with you from the moment you arrive until you leave.