Trip Planning
Tanzania Travel Checklist
— Kilimanjaro + Safari Prep
Everything to sort before you go. 60+ items across documents, health, insurance, gear, training, and money — written by Arusha-based operators who have been sending climbers and safari-goers into Tanzania since 1978.
Most of the 40,000 people who climb Kilimanjaro every year leave preparation to the last minute. The climbers who perform best — and enjoy the experience most — are the ones who arrive with their documents, fitness, and gear genuinely sorted. This checklist covers every category. Work through it section by section in the 8–12 weeks before departure.
Tanzania Travel Checklist | Visas, Vaccines & Gear
Passport valid for 6+ months beyond your return date
Minimum 2 blank pages for visa stamps
Tanzania tourist visa — $52 on arrival at JRO or DAR
Most nationalities eligible. Bring 2 passport photos and $52 cash (USD)
Yellow fever vaccination certificate
Required if arriving from a yellow fever country. Recommended for all travellers.
Return or onward travel ticket
Immigration may ask. Print a copy of your e-ticket.
Accommodation booking confirmations
Either your lodge confirmations or our itinerary — print copies
Travel insurance certificate (printed + digital)
Carry both. Helicopter evacuation from Kili costs $15,600–$31,200 without it
Emergency contact list — printed
Include our Arusha office number, your embassy, and next of kin
Copies of all documents — cloud and physical
Store digital copies in Google Drive or iCloud. Keep physical copies separate from originals.
Tanzania Travel Checklist | Visas, Vaccines & Gear
Yellow fever — mandatory if arriving from endemic country
Endemic zones: sub-Saharan Africa, parts of South America. Certificate valid 10 days after injection.
Hepatitis A — recommended
Spread through food and water. Two-shot series, 6–12 months apart. Get at least 4 weeks before travel.
Hepatitis B — recommended for trips over 1 month
Three-shot series over 6 months. Often combined with Hep A as a travel combo vaccine.
Typhoid — recommended
Oral (Vivotif) or injectable. Oral requires 4 capsules. Protection lasts 5 years.
Tetanus, diphtheria, polio — boosters current
Check your childhood immunisation record. Boosters every 10 years.
Rabies — consider if spending time near animals
Three-shot pre-exposure course. Worth it for longer trips or wildlife work.
Malaria prophylaxis — essential for lower elevations
Not needed on Kili's upper slopes (above 3,000m) but recommended for Arusha and lowland safari areas. Malarone, doxycycline, or Lariam are common choices. Start 1–2 days before arrival.
COVID-19 — check current entry requirements
Tanzania has no COVID vaccine or testing requirements as of 2026, but rules can change.
Diamox (acetazolamide) — altitude sickness prevention
Not mandatory but strongly recommended. 125mg twice daily starting 24 hours before ascent. Get prescription from your doctor.
Personal medication — enough for the full trip plus 7 days extra
Include any prescription meds, antihistamines, anti-diarrhoeals, ibuprofen, and rehydration salts.
Travel clinic appointment — book 6–8 weeks before departure
Some vaccines need multiple doses spread over weeks. Don't leave this to the last minute.
Tanzania Travel Checklist | Visas, Vaccines & Gear
High-altitude trekking cover — to 6,000m minimum
Standard policies often exclude anything above 4,000m. Kilimanjaro's summit is 5,895m — your policy must explicitly cover this.
Emergency medical evacuation — $104,000+ coverage
Helicopter evacuation from the mountain to Arusha costs $15,600–$31,200. This is your most critical coverage item.
Trip cancellation and interruption
Covers you if you need to cancel due to illness, injury, or airline issues. Get this when you book — not before departure.
Personal belongings and baggage
Covers lost or damaged luggage, cameras, and electronics. Check the single-item limit — wildlife photography gear can exceed basic policy limits.
Adventure activity upgrade if required
Some insurers charge extra for high-risk activities. Budget an additional $31–60 for adventure sports extension.
Share policy number and emergency contacts with your consultant
We keep a copy on file. Also store in your phone's emergency medical ID.
Tanzania Travel Checklist | Visas, Vaccines & Gear
US Dollars — $104–200 per person in cash for tips and incidentals
USD is widely accepted. Carry a mix of small denominations ($1, $5, $10, $21) for tips. Avoid $104 bills if possible — many vendors refuse them due to counterfeiting concerns.
Mountain tip pool — $260–350 per climber (7-day Machame)
This goes to your guide, assistant guides, cook, and porters. Your head guide distributes it fairly. Cash in USD.
Safari guide tip — $16–25 per day for excellent work
At the end of your safari, hand this directly to your guide in an envelope or cash.
Credit card — Visa and Mastercard accepted at lodges
Mastercard has better acceptance in Tanzania. Visa works at most hotels and larger restaurants. Notify your bank before travel.
ATM access in Arusha — reliable but limited elsewhere
CRDB and NMB banks. Withdraw in TZS and exchange at better rates than airports. Safari areas have no ATMs — bring enough cash for the whole trip.
Budget $312–500 for personal expenses
Souvenirs, drinks, optional activities, and tips beyond the standard pool. This varies widely by traveller.
Tanzania Travel Checklist | Visas, Vaccines & Gear
Hiking boots — well broken in, ankle-supporting
This is not the trip to break in new boots. Wear them on 3–4 hikes before departure. Waterproofing is essential.
Down jacket — rated to -20°C minimum for summit night
The temperature at Kili's summit after midnight is -15°C to -25°C. A quality down jacket is non-negotiable. Featherlight synthetics won't cut it.
Thermal base layers — 2–3 moisture-wicking sets
Merino wool or synthetic. Cotton holds moisture and causes chilling. You will wear the same base layers for 7 days — quality matters.
Waterproof outer shell jacket and trousers
The mountain has unpredictable afternoon rain and possible snow at higher camps. Full waterproof system required.
Sleeping bag — rated to -15°C or lower
We provide rental sleeping bags at no charge, but bringing your own is preferable. A -20°C bag covers all conditions comfortably.
Trekking poles — collapsible, lightweight
Highly recommended for the descent and for stability on loose terrain. Rent from us or bring your own.
Headlamp — with fresh batteries
Essential for summit night. 200+ lumens recommended. Bring spare batteries — cold temperatures drain them fast.
Safari clothing — neutral colours, no bright white or army green
Game drives sit in open vehicles. Wear muted earth tones (khaki, brown, olive). White and black attract tsetse flies. No camo — it's illegal for civilians.
Fleece or light insulated layer for safari mornings
Early game drives (6am starts) can be cold at altitude. Layer up and peel off as the day warms.
Binoculars — 8x42 recommended
Wildlife does not always appear close. A good pair of binoculars transforms the safari experience.
High-SPF sunscreen — SPF 50+, 50ml minimum
UV is intense at altitude. The equator magnifies it further. Reapply every 2 hours on safari and mountain.
Lip balm with SPF
Your lips will crack without protection. Bring 2 — one for the mountain, one for safari.
Insect repellent — DEET 30%+
Mosquitoes at lower elevations. Apply evening and early morning. Essential for Arusha and lake areas.
Day pack — 30L capacity
You carry this on the mountain. It holds water, snacks, camera, layers, and rain jacket. 20L minimum, 35L maximum.
Large duffel or trek bag — 80–100L
The porters carry this (up to 15kg limit). Waterproof or pack everything inside heavy-duty garbage bags.
Dry bags or zip-lock bags — for waterproofing electronics
Useful on the mountain and on safari vehicles. 3–5 bags of varying sizes.
Tanzania Travel Checklist | Visas, Vaccines & Gear
Smartphone — unlocked for local SIM card
Airtel and Vodacom both offer tourist SIMs at JRO. Esim works in some newer phones. We provide guidance on arrival.
Portable power bank — 20,000mAh+
Charging on the mountain is unreliable. A high-capacity power bank is essential for keeping your phone and camera running.
Camera with spare batteries — bring 3 minimum
Wildlife does not repeat itself. Cold drains batteries fast. Have 3 batteries and a solar charger for extended use.
Power adapter — Type G (UK-style) for Tanzania
Tanzania uses UK-style three-prong plugs (Type G). 220–240V. European two-prong plugs won't fit.
Download offline maps of Tanzania
Maps.me and Google Maps work offline. Download Tanzania before you lose connectivity.
Headphones or earplugs
For long travel days and light sleepers in shared mountain camps.
Tanzania Travel Checklist | Visas, Vaccines & Gear
Cardiovascular training — 3–4 sessions per week, starting 3+ months out
Running, cycling, swimming, rowing — anything that gets your heart rate up for 40–60 minutes. This is the single most important preparation.
Hiking with elevation gain — 1 long hike per week in final 6–8 weeks
Train specifically for what you will face. Find hills or stair climbs. Aim for 6–8 hours of sustained hiking with a 10–15kg pack by month 3.
Leg and core strength work — 2 sessions per week
Squats, lunges, step-ups, planks, and deadlifts. Strong legs handle the descent which is harder on your muscles than the ascent.
Stair climbing — simulate summit night conditions
Find a tall building or stadium steps. Walk uphill for 5–6 hours non-stop in your boots, with layers, to simulate summit night. Do this twice in your final month.
Altitude exposure — if possible, spend a night at 3,000m+ before the climb
Not available to everyone, but any pre-acclimatisation helps significantly. Hiking at altitude in the weeks before is one of the best preparations.
Tanzania Travel Checklist | Visas, Vaccines & Gear
Read about what summit night actually feels like
It is the hardest physical thing most people will ever do. Knowing what to expect — the cold, the hour-by-hour midnight start, the slow progress — removes fear and builds resolve.
Set a summit-or-no-summit mental framework
Altitude is the great equaliser. Your fitness does not guarantee a summit. Agree with yourself before you leave: the attempt matters more than the outcome.
Tell your guide your fears on day one — they will help
Experienced guides have heard every fear. Sharing them early lets them support you through the tough moments.
Pack your day 1 mindset — this is an adventure, not a holiday
There will be discomfort: cold showers, long days, basic food, altitude. The people who enjoy Kili most are the ones who embrace the challenge, not fight it.
Disconnect expectations — every climb is different
Weather, group energy, your body's response — you cannot control any of it. Your job is to prepare as well as possible, then surrender to the mountain.
Common Checklist Questions
How far in advance should I start this checklist?
Begin 8–12 weeks before departure. Some vaccinations require multiple doses spread over weeks. Gear takes time to break in. Training needs 3–4 months minimum for best results. If you are reading this 4 weeks before your trip — start now and focus on the essentials: passport, insurance, vaccinations, and boots.
Do I really need special travel insurance for Kilimanjaro?
Yes — and this is not optional. Standard travel insurance policies routinely exclude high-altitude trekking (anything above 4,000m). The policy you need must explicitly cover climbing to 6,000m and include emergency helicopter evacuation. Without it, a helicopter off the mountain will cost you $15,600–$31,200. Get the right policy. We recommend Battleface, World Nomads, or True Traveller — all offer specific Kili cover.
What vaccinations do I actually need for Tanzania?
Yellow fever is the only mandatory vaccine — but only if you are arriving from a yellow fever endemic country (parts of sub-Saharan Africa or South America). If you are coming from Europe, North America, Australia, or Asia with no yellow fever transit, you do not need it. For personal protection: Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid, Tetanus, and cholera are all recommended. Start your travel clinic visits 6–8 weeks before departure. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the lower elevations of your trip.
Can I use my phone in Tanzania?
Yes. Both Airtel and Vodacom offer tourist SIM cards at Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) on arrival. We help our clients get set up. Data packages are inexpensive (around $10–20 for a week of data). WiFi is available at Arusha lodges and most safari camps, but not on the mountain. Download what you need offline before heading up. WhatsApp works over data for calls and messages.
Should I tip the guides and porters? How much?
Tipping is customary and expected — it forms a significant part of the mountain crew's income. For a 7-day Machame climb, the standard tip pool is $260–350 per climber, distributed among the guide, assistant guides, cook, and porters by your head guide. On safari, tip your guide $16–25 per day for excellent work. We provide tipping guidelines and envelopes before your trip. Cash in USD is preferred.
What is the single most important thing to prepare?
Your fitness. Nothing else matters if you are not physically prepared for 6–8 hours of sustained hiking per day at altitude. Start training 3–4 months before your trip. Cardiovascular conditioning (running, cycling, swimming) is more important than leg strength. And break in your boots — hiking in new boots on Kili is a fast track to blisters and injury.
Is Tanzania safe for first-time international travellers?
Tanzania is one of Africa's most welcoming destinations for first-time visitors. Violent crime against tourists is rare. The main practical risks are: petty theft (secure your valuables), road safety (always wear a seatbelt), and altitude illness (monitor yourself honestly). As a Safari Kilimanjaro client, you are met at the airport and guided from that moment until your departure — you are never in an unsupported foreign situation.
The Climb
Kilimanjaro Route Guide
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Design My Safari →Questions about your preparation?
If you have questions about any item on this checklist — insurance policies, gear rentals, training plans — send us a message. We answer within 24 hours.