LIVETSRESA

The Tanzania Experience

Can any one mental snapshot encapsulate the Tanzanian experience? Thousands upon thousands of wildebeest that march in mindless unison on the annual migration through the Serengeti, perhaps? Or a family of elephants wading across the wide, muddy Rufiji/Tarangire River? What about a pride of well-fed lions sunbathing on the grassy floor of the majestic Ngorongoro Crater? Certainly, it is such images that tend to spring to mind when one thinks of Tanzania. And properly so!
Tanzania, truly, is a safari destination without peer. The statistics speak for themselves: an unparalleled one-quarter of its surface area has been set aside for conservation purposes, with the world-renowned Serengeti National Park and incomprehensibly vast Selous Game Reserve heading a rich mosaic of protected areas that collectively harbour an estimated 20 percent of Africa's large mammal population.
And yet there is more to Tanzania than just safaris. There is Mount Kilimanjaro and Meru, respectively the highest and fifth-highest peaks on the continent. And Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa, the three largest freshwater bodies in Africa. Then, of course, there is the magical 'spice island' of Zanzibar, the highlight of a vast Indian Ocean coastline studded with postcard-perfect beaches, stunning offshore diving sites, and mysterious mediaeval ruins.
It doesn't stop there.
Rising from the sandy shores of Lake Tanganyika, the forested Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks vie with each other as the best place in the world to track wild chimpanzees. Closer to the coast, the isolated massifs of the underpublicized Eastern Arc Mountains have been dubbed the 'African Galapagos' in recognition of their wealth of endemic plants and animals. And Tanzania's daunting natural variety is mirrored by a cultural diversity embracing 120 distinct tribes: from the iconic Maasai pastoralists of the Rift Valley, to the Arab-influenced Swahili of the coast, to the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers of Lake Eyasi.
So, how to define the experience offered by a country with highlights as unique and diverse as Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, Lake Tanganyika, Serengeti and Selous? An experience that might for some entail long days hiking in sub-zero conditions on the upper slopes of Africa's most alluring peaks; for others a once-in-a-lifetime safari followed by a sojourn on an idyllic Indian Ocean beach; for others still the thrill of eyeballing habituated chimpanzees, or diving in the spectacular offshore reefs around Mafia, or backpacking through the time-warped ports and crumbling ruins of the half-forgotten south coast?
Well, the one thing that does bind Tanzania's diverse attractions is, of course, its people, who take justifiable pride in their deeply ingrained national mood of tolerance and peacefulness. Indeed, Tanzania, for all its ethnic diversity, is practically unique in Africa in having navigated a succession of modern political hurdles - the transformation from colonial dependency to independent nation, from socialist state to free-market economy, from mono-partyism to fully-fledged democracy - without ever experiencing sustained civil or ethnic unrest.
Tanzania has also, over the past 20 years, emerged from comparative obscurity to stand as one of Africa's most dynamic and popular travel destinations: a land whose staggering natural variety is complemented by the innate hospitality of the people who live there.
How to define the Tanzanian experience? Surprisingly easy, really. It can be encapsulated in a single word, one that visitors will hear a dozen times daily, no matter where they travel in Tanzania, or how they go about it: the smiling, heartfelt Swahili greeting of "Karibu!" - Welcome



PARK FEES

The entry fees are valid for 24 hours only.
A. Permit for entry for each person to SERENGETI National Park
Tanzanian Non Tanzanian
1,500 Tshs per person of or above the age of 16 years
500 Tshs per person between the age of 5 years and 16 years 50 US$ person, Of or above the age of 16 years for 24 hrs tour.
10 US$ per person aged between 5 and 16 years for 24 hrs tour.

Children below the age of 5 years: free

B. Permit for entry for each person to KILIMANJARO National Park
1,500 Tshs per person of or above the age of 16 years
500 Tshs per person between the age of 5 years and 16 years 60 US$ person, Of or above the age of 16 years for 24 hrs tour.
10 US$ per person aged between 10 and 16 years for 24 hrs tour

Children below the age of 5 years: free

C. Permit for entry for each person to ARUSHA, TARANGIRE and LAKE MANYARA National Parks
Tanzanian Non Tanzanian
Of or above the age of 16 years
Tshs 1,500 35 US$ person, Of or above the age of 16 years for 24 hrs tour
Between the age of 5 years and 16 years
Tshs 500 10 US$ per person aged between 5 and 16 years for 24 hrs tour
Children below the age of 5 years
free


D. Permit for entry for each person to KATAVI, MIKUMI, RUAHA, RUBONDO and UDZUNGWA National Parks
Tanzanian Non Tanzanian
Of or above the age of 16 years: Tshs 1,000 20 US$ person, Of or above the age of 16 years for 24 hrs tour
Between the age of 5 years and 16 years : Tshs 500 5 US$ per person aged between 5 and 16 years for 24 hrs tour
Children below the age of 5 years: free

E. Permit for entry for each person to GOMBE National Park
Tanzanian Non Tanzanian Expatriate
Of or above the age of 16 years: Tshs 1,500 100 US$ 40 US$
Between the age of 5 years and 16 years: Tshs 500 20 US$ 10 US$
Free entrance for children below the age of 5 years

F. Permit for entry for each person to MAHALE National Park
Tanzanian Non Tanzanian
Of or above the age of 16 years
Tshs 1,500 80 US$ person, Of or above the age of 16 years for 24 hrs tour
Between the age of 5 years and 16 years
Tshs 500 30 US$ per person aged between 10 and 16 years for 24 hrs tour
Children below the age of 5 years: free


NOTE: A foreign motor vehicle is any vehicle coming from outside Tanzania and bearing foreign registration number
G. Permit for each Motor vehicle:
Vehicle weight (Tare) Tanzanian Registered Foreign Registered
Up to 2000 kg 10,000 Tshs 40 US$
2000-3000 kg 25,000 Tshs 150 US$
3001-7000 kg 50,000 Tshs 200 US$
7001-10000 kg 100,000 Tshs 300 US$
Tanzanian Registered Foreign Registered
Tshs
iv) Vehicles accident fees
1. All types of vehicles 200,000 Tshs 200,000 Tshs
v) Fines for overspeeding
1. All types of vehicles 50,000 Tshs 50,000 Tshs
vi) Long time permit for citizens non commercial vehicles-trailes, boats and aircrafts
1. Tare weight up to 2000 kgs 50,000 Tshs 50,000 Tshs
2. Tare weight from 2000 kgs-7000 kgs. Minimum is paid quarterly and part thereof thereafter 100,000 Tshs 100,000 Tshs
3. Tare weight over 7000 kgs 200,000 Tshs 200,000 Tshs
4. Tractors, trailers and boats per annum. Minimum is paid quarterly and part thereafter 5,000 Tshs 5,000 Tshs
5. Aircraft per annum. Minimum is paid quarterly and part thereof 200,000 Tshs 200,000 Tshs

H. Permit for camping in any one period of 24 hours or part thereof
1) Public Campsites Tanzanian
a) Of or above the age of 16 years 1,000 Tshs
b) Between the age of 5 years and 16 years 500 Tshs
c) Children below the age of 5 years free
Non Tanzanian
a) Of or above the age of 16 years 30 US$ per person per day
b) Between the age of 5 years and 16 years 5 US$ per person per day
2) Special Campsites Tanzanian
a) Of or above the age of 16 years 2,000 Tshs
b) Between the age of 5 years and 16 years 1000 Tshs
c) Children below the age of 5 years free
Non Tanzanian
a) Of or above the age of 16 years 50 US$ per person per day
b) Between the age of 5 years and 16 years 10 US$ per person per day
3) Kilimanjiaro Campsites
a) Of or above the age of 16 years 50 US$ per person per day
b) Between the age of 5 years and 16 years 10 US$ per person per day
c) Children below the age of 5 years free

I. Guide fees
Tanzanian Non Tanzanian
a) Fees for the service of official guide 500 Tshs 10 US$
b) Fees for the service of an official guide who accompanies the tourist outside normal working hours 1,000 Tshs 15 US$
c) Walking Safaris guides 5000 Tshs 20 US$

J. Special Sport Fishing applicable only to Gombe, Mahale and Rubondo Island National Parks (sport fishing allowed only between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.)
Tanzanian Non Tanzanian
a) Of or above the age of 16 years 2000 Tshs 50 US$
b) Between the age of 5 years and 16 years 1000 Tshs 25 US$
c) Children below the age of 5 years free free

K. Huts, Hostel, Rest Houses Fees (rates are payable per head per night). Prior booking is required
Tanzanian Non Tanzanian
a) Kilimanjaro National Park: Mandara, Horombo and Kibo (Huts and Camping) 1,000 Tshs 50 US$
b) Meru-Miriakamba and Saddle 800 Tshs 20 US$
c) Other Huts-Manyara, Ruaha, Mikumi 3,000 Tshs 20 US$
d) Hostels Marangu, Manyara, Serengeti, Mikumi, Ruaha and Gombe (Strictly for organised groups with permission of the Park warden in charge) 500 Tshs 10 US$
e) Rest House-Serengeti, Ruaha, Mikumi, Arusha and Katavi 5,000 Tshs 30 US$
f) Rest House-Gombe 2,000 Tshs 20 US$

L. Rescue Fee for Mts Kilimanjaro and Meru
The park shall be responsible for rescue between the point of the incident and the gate in any route. The climber will take care of other expenses from the gate to K.C.M.C. or any other chosen destination.
NOTE: Rescue fee is payable per person per trip and is non refundable
Tanzanian Non Tanzanian
a) Rescue fee 2,000 Tshs 20 US$

M. Permit for Landing of Aircrafts and Helicopters
1. Local Registered Private Commercial
a) Up to 4 seater 2,000 Tshs 5,000 Tshs
b) 5-12 seater 5,000 Tshs 15,000 Tshs
c) Over 13 seater 10,000 Tshs 25,000 Tshs
2. Foreign Registered Private Commercial
a) Up to 4 seater 40 US$ 100 US$
b) 5-12 seater 100 US$ 150 US$
c) Over 13 seater 150 US$ 300 US$

N. Filming Fees
The following filming fees are applicable to each person per day and covers entrance, camping and filming fees. (Filmers are not categorised into Tanzanians and Non Tanzanians)
a) All Parks except Gombe and Mahale US$ 100
b) Gombe US$ 180
c) Mahale US$ 130

O. Hotel concession Fees
Fees of 10% per person on half board (bed, breakfast and meal) shall be payable by the owner or proprietor of a hotel or lodge in respect of each who lodges or stays in such a hotel or lodge.

P. Canoeing at Lake Manyara and Arusha National Park
a) Per person half day US$ 20
b) Per person full day US$ 40

Q. Night game drive at Lake Manyara National Park
a) Per person US$ 50
NB: Please note that tariffs are subject to change without prior notice.
Effective from 30th June, 2006