Frequently Asked Questions

We usually recommend sleeping at least one night in Arusha.

This is because the safaris start early (8:30am) and if you arrive much later you will lose valuable time. Besides, even if you arrive early, a day in Arusha is good for orientation, to rest and even to prepare in case of any flight delays or luggage loss.

Safaris usually finish around 5pm in Arusha. With private tours we can be flexible if you need to finish a bit earlier (like 3pm) but we do not recommend much earlier in order to not to compromise your last day of safari. We recommend only going to the next destination on the next day, to avoid rushing to the airport on the last day, but if you need to fly on that day it is possible.

We believe so, and we do all we can to make sure your itinerary is as child-friendly as possible.

The budget option is based on the use of public campsites with basic facilities. It is camping in the wild. Our cook will prepare your meals and set up your tents provided by us. We also provide sleeping bags, pillows, mattresses, food and cooking equipment. Bathroom facilities are shared with fellow travelers at the camp.
Upgrading the level of accommodation means increasing the level of comfort, as you will stay in private lodges or tented camps. Any of these options have large tents/rooms, real beds, private en-suite toilets and showers. The meals will be prepared by these lodges/tented camps (full board is always included).
The difference between further higher levels of luxury is in the quality of the tents/rooms, decoration, service, quality of the restaurant, location, among other things.
The tented camp option is what they call glamping (luxury camping).

It is important to never assume that any of the animals encountered on your game drive is tamed. While you are staying in your safari lodges and camps, it is important to be especially cautious and aware of your surroundings as many of these areas are not fenced and contain wildlife roaming freely. If you have children with you, keep them in sight and do not let them wander alone. At smaller tented lodges, you will always be escorted to and from your tent for dinner or during the night. Should you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to raise them to the staff or your guide.

All safaris include

• All national park entrance and camping fees
• Accommodation as detailed – tented camps/lodges or public campsites. If doing a budget camping safari, we provide all the camping equipment as well.
• Services of a qualified driver-guide
• Services of a cook on a budget camping safari
• 4 x 4 Land Cruiser with Safari pop-up open roof
• 1 pair of binoculars.
• All food – breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Bottled water and soft drinks in the vehicle during the safari
• Airport pick up/drop off Kilimanjaro or Arusha airport

Excluded

• Visas
• Items of Personal Interest
• Souvenirs
• Tips for the driver-guide (we suggest 10 USD per day per person)
• Tips for the cook (we suggest 5 USD per day per person. The cook will only be present on public camping safaris)
• On request we can add other items to the inclusions, like domestic flights, extra tours (like balloon flight in the Serengeti or walking safari in Ngorongoro) etc.

All our safari packages include unlimited game drives without km or fuel limit. This gives you more freedom and flexibility. Unlimited game drives means that you are able to drive for as long as you want within the parks’ operational hours (6am to 6pm), and the designated area for game drives on the given day. For example, if the itinerary designates Central Serengeti, then you are able to stay within the Central Serengeti region as long as you want, stretching to the borders of Western Serengeti. However, we cannot, for instance, drive from Central Serengeti to the Mara River and back.

Yes. We provide unlimited beverages in our safari vehicle including bottled drinking water, soft drinks and tea or coffee. All our safari vehicles are equipped with a small refrigerator to keep your drinks chilled for you to enjoy during your safari.

If you have any allergies or special dietary requirements, please let us know beforehand at the time of booking, so we can advise the lodgings or our cook accordingly. Most places will be able to accommodate your preferred meal options.

Picnic boxes are prepared on a daily basis at each respective accommodation according to your itinerary. The typical lunch boxes consists of various items such as a piece of chicken, bread, sandwiches, banana, apple, juice, muffin and chocolate. If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know and we will plan accordingly.

This is your safari trip, your adventure! You decide how you want to spend your time on this vacation. If you would like to spend a full day on safari, you are definitely welcomed to do so. Greg Adventures does not restrict your mileage, fuel or how much time you want to be on safari. Only restrictions are the park rules which allow game drive between 6 am and 6 pm. While some days you may decide set out by sunrise, other days you can have a slower paced breakfast before start your daily exploration. Simply sit down with your guide to plan your day and meals the night before. Your guide will have plenty of suggestions, but of course the decision is yours.

You will experience bumpy roads when traveling throughout the region and during game drives. This may pose a problem for some individuals with back problems. Please inform us in advance and we can provide additional back pillows for extra comfort. Please also make sure that your cameras and other electronic equipment are safely stored at all times in case of any damages due to bumpy roads.

Our safari packages include ‘Emergency Evacuation Services with AMREF’s Flying Doctors’ (https://flydoc.org). This will cover the guests in case they require immediate evacuation from where they are to the nearest hospital (usually in Nairobi). If you are feeling ill, but not having any serious symptoms or injuries, there are nearby hospitals and clinics (in Karatu and Serengeti) available.

We strongly recommend all our guests to bring with them a small personal medical kit including aspirin, anti-malarial pills, cold and allergy medicine, cream of itches, stomachache medicine, antibiotic ointment, prescription antibiotic effective against a broad range of bacteria including traveller’s diarrhea (e.g. Ciprofloxacin or also known as Cipro). And of course any prescription medicines you have.

Snakes are common throughout Africa, but they are seldom encountered on safaris. In bushy or wooded areas, wear closed-toe shoes or boots and long trousers to avoid insect bites and minimize risk. If you are staying in a mobile or canvas camp, please make sure that the canvas flap is zipped all the way down in order to prevent insects from entering your tent. The staff at each accommodation will spray your room while you are out for dinner and it should be as “bug-free” as possible upon your return.

It is recommended to stay inside your vehicles at all times when you are on game drive, except at picnic sites or if your guide finds a safe place for you to stretch your legs. If you are keen on hiking, there are guided walks that are available in Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro. Within the Serengeti National Parks, long walks are not permitted for conservation reasons; however, some lodgings will offer short walks near the lodge or camp.

Throughout your safari, there are various areas with public bathroom facilities such as ranger stations, museums, visitor centers, camps, lodges and picnic sites. At any time, your driver-guide can find a safe and private area where you may simply exit to the rear of the vehicle. Two large spare tires at the back of the vehicle block the view from anyone else within the vehicle. Most guests are a bit reluctant at first, but gradually adapt and become comfortable with the convenient bush bathrooms. Don’t worry, our driver-guides are extremely professional and sympathetic to bathroom dilemmas and will ensure you are comfortable and accommodated to your needs.

To confirm the booking we require a down-payment which can be paid via bank transfer or by DPO (Direct Pay Online), secure online payment system with credit card. The remaining payment can be paid using the same method or, if you prefer, can be made once you arrive in Tanzania, in cash or with credit card.

Our tipping guideline is 10 to 15 USD per client per day to the driver-guide, though it is ultimately up to the clients’ discretion to decide what amount is appropriate.

When you have a personal cook for budget camping, the tipping guideline is between 5 to 10 USD per person per day, which is also up to the client’s discretion.

The recommended currency for tipping is in USD cash, and it is customary for the clients to tip at the end of their safari.

For any other questions don’t hesitate to contact us at gregadventures.tanzania@gmail.com