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kenya and tanzania
Marshal - In reading through a lot of the blogs, which are really helpful, I noticed that quite a few people were planning on arriving in Arusha a day early. I was wondering what you were doing. Carolyn
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We did the Tanzania to Zanzibar tour arriving on the 16th of Feb and we arrived home (Seattle) on March 1st. What a great trip! The blogs made packing worse for me. I did not use much of what was suggested to bring and we did not see one mosquito so several of us stopped taking the anti malaria pills. I left so much behind for the hotel staff. Blow dryers and flash lights were provided at all stops. Those with point and shoot cameras were frustrated due to lack of zoom. Remember if you video tape your camera card is used up quickly...bring a few cards. I did not wear khaki that much at all or long sleeves or long pants. Several had on shorts, short sleeve shirts etc. and I wore color and prints, skirts, capris...normal lightweight summer stuff. If you are not there hunting for animals, the color is not as important. The only part the animals see is your shoulders and head sticking out of the land rover. Ladies, "checking the tires" as they call it when you need a personal stop out on safari is much easier in shorts or a skirt than in long pants. The bathrooms were fine...I mean dirty for sure and semi stinky on safari but they were much better than the alternative. Go every time they stop somewhere...most had TP, some not. There were a few cleaner ones like you would find at our camp grounds so not all bad. We were joking about doing a photo book called, "The Toilets of Tanzania" as they were very interesting...I've traveled quite a bit so they did not seem as bad to me. All had toilets but they would also have one or two stalls with just a hole in the ground for the brave...or desperate!
I wore croc sandals (thongs) the whole way. No socks, no closed toe shoes, no need. Maybe due to the time of year. I don't like wearing enclosed shoes in that kind of heat anyway but maybe that's just me. Many had socks, tennies, hiking type boots etc.
Some of the luxury tents are very spread out. If you have any trouble walking or get winded in higher elevations, don't hesitate to tell your tour guide that you need a tent closer to the dining hall or central area. It was a HIKE for some. I was with my 88 year old Uncle so he was usually in the first tent with me next door in the second.
We had no stomach issues and ate all salad bar and fruit items along with everything else. A few men in our group did have mild stomach problems. Wonderful homemade breads at breakfast. Don't miss the Banana Bread and Pound Cake at breakfast in Zanzibar..the BEST!
Most of the vendors there DO NOT like one dollar bills. We were told to bring them and no one wanted them. Even the Masaii Tribesman asked if I had a bigger bill. Bring more fives and tens as you are rarely purchasing something for one or two dollars. You may end up with some shillings as change but I never did. They gave back American money for change upon request everywhere I shopped. They are serious about newer bills and even some of the nicer shops would not accept US Dollars printed prior to 2006 or maybe it was 2009...(Especially the larger bills) The bill has to have the newer faces/markings on it. Don't forget the cash for the tip for your tour guide and our Safari driver/guides were SO amazing that we gave them a cash tip as well. In order to get the newer bills, plan ahead. You can order them from your bank. My bank run was last minute so I had to take what I could get but had no issues.
When shopping, don't start adding things to your suitcase too early unless you see a must have item. Most of the shops have the same things in them all the way through so let things grow on you so you are sure it's what you want to take home for you or others. There is a great store in Zanzibar called, "Memories of Africa" and I bought most everything there and had some of it shipped home. Good quality and nice two floor selection. There's also a nice shop to buy quality Soccer Shirts but I don't remember the name...I did not barter but one of my tour buddies talked someone down from a $3 pair of earrings to $1.50.
The complimentary dance shows prior to and after dinner each night at the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge were quite good and entertaining. They actually had the BEST gift shops of all stops except in Zanzibar. If you are going to buy a hat from the Serena Chain, the Serengeti Serena Lodge had some good hats and since they say Serengeti that makes them extra cool. The Hot Air Balloon Company hats were cool too but they were sold out. I was able to buy one from one of the employees who drove us to breakfast...he left hatless, we left happy!
When they say do not leave your tent after sundown without an escort...it's a good idea to follow through on that. There were elephants, lots of animal noises and there were 3 Dik-Diks that slept under a tree by my tent each night. The staff is very attentive and more than eager to assist as an escort.
I did not think the Land Rovers were that bumpy...I mean they had their moments but it was very comfortable...I spent much of the time standing on top of the seat just cruising in the wind...it was the only way to cool down at times. I wanted to get some sun and as a result needed lotions each day as to not peel. I had no trouble wearing scented lotion and a dab of perfume from day two on when it was clear we were mosquito free, morning...noon and night. You get so dusty, sweaty, slimy and scuzzy feeling towards the end of the day that a little hand cream or something makes you feel fresh.
We did not need our Ponchos, Deet, Eye Drops, Nets, anything more than a light sweater at night and I did not even need that. Most will need Deet, I'm not sure why there were zero mosquitoes or bugs but I was thrilled! No one had any issues with them. There were some flies on certain days in limited areas but no bites. We did take some Costco individual Trail Mix packs and they came in handy.
I would say the only part I did not like was having to brush my teeth with room temp bottled water every day and night. I have Invisalign retainers so I just stopped wearing the retainers there as I needed to DRINK the water and not waste part of the bottle for brushing, rinsing and gargling that many times per day. Your natural instinct is to put your brush under the running water in the sink but some advised us to cover the faucet with a washcloth unless you were washing your hands so you would remember not to use that water to brush your teeth. It's a small thing but it's the one thing I looked forward to when I got home...running my brush under cold water and getting all of the residue off of the brush. I would put an inch or so of bottled water in a glass and do a final brush rinse that way.
After all of our shots etc. they did not even ask to see our immunization card at the airport.
We each had a regular size suitcase and a carry on size suitcase as well. When you use the duffel bag they provide there is ample room for everything you need for the four days you pack for. Even though you are limited to your duffel bag during that time, you can also wear a backpack, purse etc. on the plane as well so you can take more items in if needed. We took shoes to donate along with items for the school we were going to visit and when you add those things, it's hard to get it all in one suitcase for that length of tour. We had no issues in Amsterdam or Tanzania having two bags. My Uncle had medical supplies in his extra bag as well so if you need the space, don't feel guilty about it!
While they do have laundry service and it is inexpensive, I would not recommend it at the Kikito Lodge. They wash by hand at this lodge and hang dry. It's dusty so if your clothes are not dusted then they are rained on and my were returned to me damp and they smelled funny. With the rain it could not be avoided but if you can hold off until the next stop, that's probably better. I turned those same clothes in again at the next stop. It only rained a few times for a short time and I loved it being from Seattle. It settled the dust for part of the day and that's a GOOD thing!
I'll be posting my photos on facebook this weekend so if you're interested in seeing any of them, feel free to do a friend request, even if temporary, just to see the photos. I bought a new Nikon J1 a week before I left with the added Zoom lens and boy am I glad I did. Amazing photos!
Safe Travels and have a wonderful time!
Josie