Clothing:

• warm clothes including a fleece or light wool sweater
• padded sleeveless waistcoat with deep pockets for valuables, film, papers etc
• lightweight wool socks
• long-sleeved shirt
• strong waterproof walking boots, gaiters useful
• sturdy trousers
• sunglasses & high factor sun screen
• a sun hat with a small brim
• breathable lightweight rain poncho/parka & rain hat
• small backpack to carry water
• gloves recommended for those with sensitive skin or allergy to nettles

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Communications:

International FLIGHTS INTO TANZANIA
Dar es Salaam is served by Air India, Air Malawi, Air Tanzania, British Airways, Emirates Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Egypt Air, Kenya Airways, KLM, Oman Air, South African Airways/ATC, Swiss International Airlines, (via Nairobi), & Yemen Air.Many Airlines fly regularly into Zanzibar, including Air Oman, Air Tanzania, Egypt Air, Gulf Air, and Kenya Airways. Italy, Spain and Switzerland have charter flights directly to Zanzibar. There are particularly frequent rapid direct flights from Italy, both from Milan Malpensa and from Rome Fiumicino. Both these airports are well connected to other cities in Europe by charter and scheduled airlines and may offer a viable alternative to scheduled flights with stop overs.

There is a daily flight both ways between Serengeti and Kigali on Coastal Aviation.

• RWANDA and CONGO

• UGANDA

• TANZANIA

Malaria is endemic to the region, especially on the coast. It is transmitted by infected mosquitoes.
You are advised to take preventative medication Ask your doctor about prophylactic pills.
Remember that mosquitoes are most active during the evening and night
wear light coloured clothing - mosquitoes don't like to be seen
wear long trousers and long sleeved shirts in the evening
use mosquito repellents, preferably with natural ingredients, as some of the chemicals used in some brands
can give unpleasant side-effects
avoid wearing perfumes or aftershaves
If infection is suspected medical advice should be sought immediately. Malaria is detectable with a simple
blood screen, but the sample is best taken during a high cycle of the fever, when the infection is at its most active.

Vaccination Table for Tanzania:

Type	Vaccination Duration	Comments
Cholera		No longer recommended. Only necessary if travelling from infected countries.
Diptheria & Tetanus	10 year booster	For long stay visitors, rural travel
Hepatitis A	Up to 10 years	Recommended
Hepatitis B		For extended travel or high risk
Polio	10 year booster	Recommended
Typhoid	Up to 10 years	Recommended
Meningitis A & C	3 years	Long stay visitors, rural
Rabies		Long stay visitors, rural travel
Yellow Fever	Up to 10 years	Recommended

Modern Medical services are available in Dar es Salaam, at the Aga Khan Hostpiatl, the IST Clinic and the Nordic Clinic.
Visitors are advised to bring their own personal medicines with them.

Money Matters:

Currency:

US Dollar Currency is always welcome and easily exchangeable.
Exchange:
In order to get a good exchange rate ensure that notes are (year) 2000 and/or more recent and only in denominations of $50 and $100 notes.
Smaller denominations of year 2000 and/or more recent will get you a “cheaper” rate (5 - 10% less).
Older denominations: Year 1998 and 1999 will get you a “cheaper” rate.
Euro, if accepted, is most often exchanged into local currencies at the rate of 1 Euro = 1 USD.
It is best to change your Euro into US dollars cash in Europe. It will cost you a bit. But you will enter the parks.
Forget wanting to change your Euro into USD in banks.

Link to Currency Converter

Local currencies are:

Rwandaise Francs

Uganda Shillings

Tanzanian Shillings

Any excess local currency is not usually exchangeable overseas, nor can it be converted back into foreign currency in Rwanda. In Tanzania you should keep your exchange receipts in order to be able to convert back into forex.

USD Travellers Cheques (the safety)
The dear safety has its price. You will not get a good exchange rate.
Except in Kigali, Dar es Salaam and Kampala where they might be accepted with a lot of difficulties in banks, forget them.

Euro Travellers Cheques
Do they exist?

Credit Cards (the other safety)
More or less the same situation as with traveller’s check.
Only accepted in big hotels, at the park headquarters, in some banks for local currency withdrawal - all with a commission.

Airport departure tax
This should be included in the ticket price from Nairobi, Kigali and Dar es Salaam on most international flights
From Kigali to Tanzania on Coastal Aviation Airport Tax is not included in the ticket price and is payable on check-in.

Park Fees:
In these countries payment of the park fees is in US currency, cash only.
Traveller’s checks are not accepted at the park gates.
Traveller’s checks might be accepted at the park headquarters in Kampala and Kigali for the purchase of gorilla permits. With a commission.

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Park Rules:

A National Parks Guide will accompany all groups to the gorillas, and on entry to the National Park will advise you of the rules for Gorilla observation.

 

Passports

All travellers to Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Congo must have a valid passport.

 

Road Transport:

RWANDA

In Rwanda the roads are generally very good, with paved roads from Kigali to most major cities and towns.
The condition of these roads was until recently very poor, with numerous pot-holes and vehicles often driving on the dirt verges since these were deemed smoother than the road itself. A recent government programme of upgrading and resurfacing means that most major routes are now in good condition. The major urban arteries of Kigali, as well as the high streets in Ruhengeri, Kibuye and Gisenyi are dual carriageways, but all national long distance roads are single carriageway. There are no motorways in Rwanda.
From Kigali it is just 90 mins drive to the Virunga Massif, known as the ‘Volcanoes of the Moon’, which hosts the Volcano National Park.
To Nyungwe Forest it’s a four hour drive on good roads with a recommended stopover for lunch and a museum visit in Butare Town.

UGANDA

The roads in Uganda are comparable to many in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most of the main roads are metalled though the condition of them can deteriorate in patches. And some become extremely pot holed. Many of the minor roads and side roads are made of hard packed earth (murum) and when graded are quite quick and reasonable. However they will deteriorate in heavy rains and wash boarding frequently occurs. The best way to deal with the wash boarding is not to slow down, but to find a speed sympathetic to the road surface and effectively skip from ridge to ridge. Untarred roads, if wet, may be unpassable in the mountainous regions of the south-west. Commercial drivers of buses and trucks compound the danger, as do pedestrians, livestock, cyclists, dogs, and the odd police roadblock. Plan on 60km/hr as a typical rate of travel (speed will vary, though!). The best advice is drive cautiously and stay totally alert.
When planning a journey it is best not to ask how far it is but to ask how long it will take. Local drivers normally have a good idea of how long journeys will take.

TANZANIA

Road Travel in Tanzania is quite good - there is a network of tarred roads over most of the country.

CONGO

The road system is not particularly good, and there are few paved roads in good condition.

 

Security:

• RWANDA. After the 1994 genocide, Rwanda has stabilised. Democratic elections have been held and Rwanda is one of the most stable and safe African countries. It is relatively easy, safe and simple to travel around. It is landlocked, surrounded by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west
• UGANDA. Except for some parts in the far North, Uganda is a very safe country. The regime is stable, the people are friendly.
• TANZANIA. Tanzania is very stable and safe and the people are friendly.
• CONGO. It has a still bad image. Security is improving in the whole country after the withdrawal of the foreign armies and the reconciliation of the different factions. Central government is injecting massive aid in its eastern region in order to improve the roads and the security.

Time:

Visas:

You can apply to Travcour at http://www.travcour.com/travcour-visa-information.html for your visa, or you can apply yourself:

RWANDA
Please bring 2 passport-size pictures when you travel

Visas are required by all visitors except nationals of the USA, UK, Germany, Canada, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sweden, Mauritius, South Africa and Hong Kong, cost USD 60 and can be bought upon arrival.

Entry Facility Form:

Travellers to Rwanda can apply on the internet for an entry facility form
This form allows them :

- to be accepted by the airlines

- to purchase easily a one-entry visa on their arrival at any Rwandese border post at the cost of USD 60.

- to get a 2nd visa at the border if they have left Rwanda to neighbouring countries with an initial 1 entry visa

You can download this document at www.migration.gov.rw   Email: immig@rwanda1.com
To fill out the form:

Click on “entry facility”

Click on “apply for an entry facility online”

Fill in the different boxes with personal information

Proposed address in Rwanda : Mapendano Voyages BP122 Kigali

Proposed date of arrival : Depending on the trip

Proposed entry point : Depending on the trip

Purpose of visit : Tourism

When did you last leave Rwanda : never

Duration of stay : Depending on the trip

Enter own e-mail address

In the next 48hours the central immigration in Kigali will mail an attachment to be printed by the receiver. This document is to be shown if requested at the airline counter, and at the immigration counter on arrival. The visa will be delivered without difficulties.

UGANDA
We advise that you obtain your visa before departure.

The following nationals do not require a visa:

Uganda, Angola, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Burundi, Comoros, Cyprus, Eritrea, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Ireland Rep, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Rwanda, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Vanuatu, Zambia & Zimbabwe.

All passports must be valid for six months.

You will need one application form, one passport size photographs guarantee letter
stating dates and place of entry and exit, and your passport to apply.

The visa and is valid for 3 months from date of issue, maximum stay 30 days.

From UK see http://www.travcour.com/countries/uganda.html will take 4 days and the visa fee is £25.00 for single entry plus a service charge from Travcour of £25

CONGO
Visas are required by all foreign nationals. All passports must have at least 6 months validity.

Visas should be obtained before departure. You will need an application form, one passport size photograph, guarantee letter and your passport to apply.

A 7 day sojourn permit can be bought easily at the Eastern border posts when coming from a neighbouring country. Cost is USD 30.

TANZANIA

In the United Republic of Tanzania (which includes Zanzibar) visas are required by almost all nationalities.
The cost can be as high as USD 70, depending upon your nationality.
Tourist visas usually have a one month validity, unless you request a longer period.
Visas can be obtained before travel, from Tanzanian Embassies and High Commissions around the world.

See list below, or use:
http://www.tanzania.go.tz/tanzaniaembassiesabroad.htm

Tanzanian Embassies & Consulates around the world:

Belgium : T 02 640 6500 F 02 646 8026 : 363 Ave Louise, 1050 Brussels

Canada : T 0613 232 1500 F 0613 232 5184 : 50 Range Road, Ottawa, Ontario KIN 8J4

France : T 01 53 70 63 70 F 01 53 70 63 66 : 13 Ave Raymond Poincare 75116 Paris

Germany : T 0228 358051 F 0228 358226 : Teaterplatz 26, 53177 Bonn

Italy : T 06 321 0923 : Rome

Japan : T 03 425 4531 F 03 425 7844 : 21-9, Kamiyoga4, Chome, Setagaya-Ku, Tokyo 158

Kenya : T 02 331056 F 02 218269 : Continental House, Corner of UhuruHighway/Harambee Ave, Nairobi

Mozambique : T 258 1 490110 : Ujamaa House, PO Box 4515, Maputo

South Africa : T 012 342 4371 F 012 430 4383 : PO Box 56572 Arcadia 0007, Pretoria

Switzerland : T 022 731 8920 F 022 732 8255 : 47 Ave Blanc, CH-1201, Geneva

Uganda : T 256 41 256 292 F 256 41 242890 : 6 Kagera Road, PO Box 5750, Kampala

United Kingdom : T 0207 569 1470 F 0207 491 3710 ; 3 Stratford Place, London W1C 1AS :
http://www.tanzania-online.gov.uk/visa/visa.html

USA : T 1 202 939 6125 F 1 202 797 7408 : 2139 R Street, NW, Washington DC 20008
http://www.tanzaniaembassy-us.org/

Zambia : T 260 1 253320 : Ujamaa House, 5200 United Nations Avenue, Lusaka

Zimbabwe : T 26 3 472 1870 : Harare

If you have been unable, or have not had time to procure a Visa in advance, it is possible to obtain a tourists' single entry visa at Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar or Kilimanjaro International Airports, and also at the Namanga entry point (Tanzanian-Kenya road border point) subject to the fulfilment of all immigration and health requirements. You will need to carry USD in cash to pay for these.

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Weather:

 Rwanda and Eastern Congo weather:

Average max and min year-round temperatures in Kigali:

Despite its proximity to the Equator, the climate in Rwanda is cooled by the high altitude. It is warm throughout most of the country but cooler in the mountains.

Rwanda has a pleasant tropical highland climate, with a daily temperature range as great as 25°F. Temperatures vary considerably from region to region because of the variations in altitude. It is generally in the 70s F/22-27 C during the day and the 60s F/16-21 C at night - expect frost in the high mountains. There are four seasons; long rains from mid March to mid May, short rains from mid-October to mid-December; long dry period from mid-May to mid-October and short dry season from mid-December to mid-March. The north-east has more rainfall than other parts of the country.

During the rainy seasons, heavy downpours occur almost daily, but after the shower's over, the rest of the day may be sunny. It can rain almost anytime in Volcanoes National Park -- the area receives 90% of the precipitation that falls on the country (that, in part, is why farmers have encroached on the gorillas' territory).

Required clothing
Lightweights are required for most of the year with warmer clothes for cooler upland evenings. Rainwear is advisable.

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Uganda Weather:

Average max and min year-round temperatures in Kampala:

Uganda enjoys ideal equatorial weather conditions, ranging from the warmth of the lowland areas and lakeshores to the coolness of the highlands. The altitude on a Uganda safari varies from 1,000 metres to 2,400 metres above sea level. The days are a pleasant 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and nights are a moderate 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit with January being the warmest month. At higher altitudes it can be cooler, especially at Bwindi. The long rainy season is between March and May and the short rains are from October to November, but it can rain at any time of the year. The rainy season can sometimes make travel difficult but the views are clearer. It can be cool in the evenings, especially in the hilly and mountainous areas. Despite the high temperatures and rainfall, due to altitude, the humidity is low, making for one of the most pleasant and comfortable climates in the world.

SEASONS IN UGANDA:

Uganda has tropical weather conditions which are moderated by the high altitudes. The hottest months are from December to February but it is still cooler at night. The wet seasons in the south of Uganda are from March till May and in northern Uganda from April to October.

In most regions of Uganda there are quite distinctive wet and dry seasons. In much of the southern half, rainfall occurs around March to May and September to November, with the period of June-July and December-January being relatively dry. In northern Uganda the two rainy seasons run together, in effect extending from April to October. In most of Uganda rain falls in the afternoons - although early morning and evening rains do occur at times. However, in parts of western Uganda, the rainfall is predominantly in the form of thunderstorms, and severe hailstorms are frequent, damaging crops and soil cover.

The region surrounding Lake Victoria - sometimes called the Lake Victoria crescent - receives well-distributed rainfall throughout the year, with a relatively dry season between December and March and June-July. The afternoon rains common in the region clear away after a few hours and the land dries up rapidly when the sun appears.

The north-eastern part of Uganda (the Karamoja region) is drier than the rest of the country, partly as a result of the influence of the passage of wind from Somalia (the water vapour content is low by the time the winds reach the region after passing through the Ethiopian and Kenyan highlands).

The rainy season in the north-east is April to August, with a marked minimum in June and marked peaks in May and July. The hilly areas attract more rains, but they are generally heavy and brief, causing sheet erosion and carrying everything down in the seasonal stream and river valleys miles beyond where they originated. The mean temperature over the whole of Uganda shows little variation, save for the mountainous districts of western Uganda and around Mount Elgon.

Tanzanian Weather:

The long rains are from April to May, though typically it doesn't rain every day during this time.

The short rains are from October to November, the showers are short and intermittent.

The coolest time of year is June till September, and the hottest time is December to February.

Link to site which gives current weather in Tanzania.

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