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How to Get There and What to Read

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When to Go

The weather is coolest and driest from June through October. For safaris, consider what you want to see and where you want to visit. Although animal movement can be difficult to predict in the Serengeti, the major wildebeest migration tends to take place in summer.

Getting There

KLM operates flights from major U.S. cities via Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro International Airport, 35 minutes by shuttle, bus, or taxi from Arusha.

Visas

Tourist visas (mandatory) are available at all Tanzanian embassies, on www.tanzaniaembassy-us.org, or through any visa service and cost $50 for a single entry. Applications must be submitted with a valid passport.

Immunizations

Yellow-fever vaccination, malaria prophylactics, and preventative measures for hepatitis, rabies, and typhoid are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov).

Tours

George Mavroudis Safaris (255-27/254-8840; www.gmsafaris.com) leads custom, private, luxury tented safaris in Tanzania and specializes in both wildlife viewing and cultural experiences. Itineraries—from 14 to 21 days, including visits to four or five wildlife and cultural areas—are arranged based on your activity level and interests. Prices vary depending on the number of people; for six, the cost per person per day is $870, including accommodation, meals, guides, transportation, and a visit to the Hadza. Additional excursions can be added at extra cost. The company also operates Lukuba Island Lodge on Lake Victoria, an ideal base for hiking, bird-watching, and visiting local fishing villages. Although T+L highly recommends Mavroudis, other companies that specialize in cultural experiences in Tanzania include the high-end Hoopoe Safaris (255-27/250-7011; www.hoopoe.com; tours from $2,545) and value-priced IntoAfrica (44-114/255-5610; www.intoafrica.co.uk; tours from $1,395). Additionally, there is a Cultural Tourism Program representative at the tourism office in Arusha who can help independent travelers arrange visits to local peoples.

What to Read

The Tree Where Man Was Born By Peter Matthiessen. An insightful portrait of the relationship between humans and animals in East Africa.

Safari By Bartle Bull. A detailed history of the African safari tradition.

The White Nile By Alan Moorehead. A readable history of European exploration in Africa in the 19th century.

—Xander Kaplan

Copyright © 2008, American Express Publishing. All rights reserved.