Everything you
might be wondering

for peak season (july–october, especially the great migration), we'd suggest booking 8–12 months ahead — the best camps fill up early. for the green season (march–may), 3–6 months is usually fine. for kilimanjaro climbs in the peak windows, 6+ months. that said, last-minute trips are sometimes possible — if you have some flexibility, get in touch and we'll see what's available.

not at all. an enquiry is just the start of a conversation. we'll design a proposal at no cost and no obligation. nothing is committed until you confirm you want to go ahead and we ask for a deposit.

customising is the whole point. we don't have set tours to slot people into — every con bush safaris journey is designed from scratch around your dates, your interests, your budget and your pace. the destination pages on our site are starting points, not products.

costs vary enormously with the time of year, the parks you visit, the accommodation tier and the size of your group. as a rough guide: budget/authentic safaris from $250–400/person/day, mid-range from $500–800/person/day, and luxury from $850–2,500+/person/day. international flights are separate. a typical 7–10 day mid-range itinerary lands around $4,500–7,500 per person.

we specialise in private, custom safaris — you and your party, your own vehicle, your own guide. we can arrange group safaris (4+ unrelated travellers sharing) at lower per-person rates on request, but private is our default. it gives you complete control over pace, focus and stops.

we ask for a 30% non-refundable deposit to confirm your booking, with the balance due 60 days before arrival. for trips booked within 60 days of arrival, full payment is due at confirmation. we accept international bank transfers and major credit cards (a 3% processing fee applies).

Kilimanjaro International (JRO) is the gateway for the northern circuit (serengeti, ngorongoro, tarangire, manyara, arusha, and kilimanjaro climbs). Julius Nyerere International (DAR) in dar es salaam is the gateway for the southern circuit (ruaha, nyerere/selous, mikumi) and zanzibar. for the western circuit (mahale, katavi, gombe), travellers usually fly via dar or arusha, then continue on light aircraft.

most nationalities need a visa to enter tanzania. us, uk, eu, canadian, australian and many other passport holders can get a single-entry tourist visa on arrival for $50 (or $100 for us citizens). or you can apply for an e-visa online before you travel — we'd recommend this to skip the arrival queues. we send specific guidance for your passport with every booking.

within the northern circuit, transfers are usually by 4x4 land cruiser — the same vehicle that does your game drives. for longer hops (arusha to serengeti, or northern to southern circuits), we'd recommend internal flights to save time. the southern and western circuits are reached almost entirely by light aircraft.

a game-drive day usually starts with a 6 a.m. wake-up, breakfast at 6:30, and on the road by 7. you come back for brunch around 10:30, rest through the midday heat, then head out again around 16:00 for the afternoon drive, returning at sunset. full-day drives with packed lunches are common too — they let you follow the wildlife further. we set the pace around what you want.

on private safaris (our default), the vehicle is yours and your party's alone — you don't share with strangers. each one has a window seat for everyone and a pop-up roof for unobstructed viewing.

we look after the ground arrangements within tanzania and can book all your internal flights, transfers and connections. for international flights, we'd usually suggest booking directly or through your local travel agent — you tend to get better deals and more flexibility. we're always happy to advise on routings.

a dawn wake-up, with coffee and biscuits brought to your tent. an early game drive when the predators are most active and the light is best, then back for a hot breakfast at camp. mid-morning you might do another short drive, a walking safari, or simply rest. lunch is usually long and relaxed. afternoons might mean a swim, a book, or a siesta. around 16:00 you head out again, returning at sunset with a sundowner in the bush. dinner under the stars.

closer than you'd believe. in most parks, vehicles can stop within 10–15 metres of relaxed wildlife. off-road driving is banned in many places, but our guides know the road network intimately and will position you for the best possible view without disturbing the animals. walking safaris (in private conservancies and the southern and western parks) put you on foot — a different, more visceral experience.

lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino — yes, most are likely on any well-designed itinerary. lion, elephant and buffalo are essentially certain in the northern circuit. leopard takes more patience but is seen regularly. rhino is the trickiest — ngorongoro crater is the best place in tanzania, with around 35 black rhinos. we can't guarantee any wild sighting, but we put you in the right places at the right times.

the great migration is in the serengeti year-round — just in different parts of the park at different times. january–march: calving on the southern plains (ndutu). april–june: the herds moving north and west. july–october: the dramatic mara river crossings in the northern serengeti. november–december: heading south again. we design itineraries around where the herds will be during your window.

absolutely — tanzania is a wonderful family destination. most lodges welcome children, and many have dedicated kid-friendly programmes. some luxury camps set minimum ages of 6, 8 or 12, and walking safaris and certain primate parks have stricter limits (usually 12+). we design family itineraries with real care — pace, vehicle choice, dining options and engaging guides all matter with kids.

every itinerary includes 24/7 emergency support. all camps have access to medical evacuation services (we strongly recommend flying doctors cover — about $25 per person for the length of your trip). for routine illness, our guides carry first-aid kits and most camps have a nurse on call. hospitals in arusha, dar es salaam and mwanza are well-equipped for anything serious.

Yellow Fever vaccination is required only if you arrive from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission (most of equatorial africa and parts of south america). it isn't required for direct arrivals from europe, north america, asia or australia. routine vaccinations (tetanus, mmr, hepatitis a&b, typhoid) should be up to date. see a travel-health clinic 6–8 weeks before you travel.

tanzania is a malaria zone, particularly in the low-altitude areas. we strongly recommend anti-malarial prophylaxis — most commonly malarone, doxycycline or mefloquine, prescribed by your doctor. also: long sleeves at dusk, repellent with deet, and treated nets at night (provided at all our camps).

tanzania is one of the most politically stable countries in africa, and has welcomed travellers for decades. the usual precautions apply — keep valuables secure, avoid walking alone at night in cities, and follow your guide's instructions in wildlife areas. in safari camps and lodges, you're extremely safe. our team has guided hundreds of travellers in our first two years, with an excellent safety record.

tap water isn't safe to drink in tanzania. all our camps and lodges provide bottled water, and we make sure it's always in your vehicle too. for environmental reasons, many camps now use filtered water in refillable bottles — we love that, and we'd encourage you to bring your own.

yes. most safari packages include local beer, wine and basic spirits. tanzania brews its own (kilimanjaro, serengeti and safari are the popular ones), pours decent south african and italian wines, and stocks the usual range of international spirits. premium imported wines and spirits are available at extra cost in the luxury camps.

our 24/7 operations team watches all incoming flights. if yours is delayed, we adjust the schedule for you and let everyone who needs to know. you'll be met whatever time you land. any costs caused by your delayed flight are covered by your travel insurance, not by us — which is why we insist on comprehensive cover for every booking.

neutral colours (khaki, olive, beige, brown). avoid bright colours, and especially blue and black, which attract tsetse flies. lightweight, breathable layers — early mornings can be cold, midday hot. sturdy walking shoes, sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat. binoculars (10x40 or 8x42 are ideal — essential, don't skip them). a camera with a 200mm+ telephoto lens. we send a detailed packing list with every confirmed booking.

for safaris using only ground transport, your normal international airline allowance is fine. for trips involving light aircraft (most southern and western itineraries, and many northern ones), strict soft-bag limits apply — usually 15 kg per person in total, in soft duffel bags (no hard suitcases). we send specific guidance per booking.

yes. most lodges and camps offer laundry — usually included at the luxury end, or $5–15 a load at mid-range. things wash and dry quickly in tanzania's climate. for cultural reasons, undergarments aren't always laundered, so bring enough.

power: tanzania uses uk-style 3-pin plugs (type g), 230v/50hz — bring adaptors. wi-fi: most lodges and camps have it in the common areas, and many luxury camps in the tents too. speed and reliability vary — don't count on streaming netflix. charging: all camps have charging points; some remote tented camps run on solar with limited capacity.

bring some us dollars in mixed denominations ($1, $5, $10, $20) for tips, drinks at lodges that charge extra, and small purchases. roughly $400–600 per person per week is plenty. larger notes should be 2009 series or newer (older ones are sometimes refused). credit cards work in major hotels and at some lodges, but not everywhere.

tipping is expected in tanzania's safari industry. as a guide: safari guide/driver, $20–30 per day per traveller. camp staff, $10–20 per day per traveller (left in a communal box at the end of your stay). airport porters, $1–2 a bag. restaurant servers, 10% if there's no service charge. we send a detailed tipping guide with your final itinerary.

cancellation fees depend on how close to departure you cancel. roughly: more than 90 days before, deposit only (30%). 61–90 days, 50% of the total. 31–60 days, 75%. 30 days or fewer, 100%. the exact terms are in your booking confirmation. this is why we insist every traveller has comprehensive insurance that covers cancellation.

date changes are usually possible if you ask early — though they depend on camp availability for the new dates, and prices can shift if you move from one season to another. changes within 30 days of your original departure are treated as a cancellation followed by a new booking, so cancellation fees apply.

we don't sell travel insurance directly, but we strongly recommend you take it out — comprehensive cover for medical, evacuation, cancellation and lost luggage. we can point you to reliable providers, including safaricare (specialist east africa cover) and world nomads (general adventure). flying doctors emergency evacuation membership (~$25/person) is essential, and we book it for every traveller.

for events outside our control (pandemics, civil unrest, natural disasters, airline failures), we work with you to either reschedule (no penalty) or refund as much as our suppliers allow. we can't guarantee full refunds in a force majeure — many costs are paid to camps and airlines well in advance. your travel insurance should cover the rest.

yes, though there's no refund for the portion you miss (camps have already been paid, vehicles assigned). if a genuine emergency means leaving early, we provide every possible logistical support — flights, transfers, accommodation in arusha or dar — and your insurance handles the costs.

wildlife is wild — we can't guarantee specific sightings. what we can guarantee is that you'll be in the right places at the right times, with experienced guides doing everything possible to make the most of every opportunity. if a particular thing matters to you (a migration river crossing, a leopard), we'll design around it and tell you honestly what is and isn't realistic.