Tanzania Safari: a camping trip to the heart of the savannah

This journey begins at Arusha. On the first day, we meet at 18:00.

We recommend flying to Kilimanjaro, or to Zanzibar and then taking a domestic flight to Arusha.

This journey ends at Arusha. On the last day, you are free to leave at any time, so whether you need to book a flight, a train, or wish to continue the journey on your own, you can organize your return as you prefer.

For this itinerary, traveling with a backpack is mandatory for logistical reasons and the convenience of the entire group - including yourself! Trolleys, bulky suitcases, or hard luggage are not allowed. The Travel Coordinator will provide guidance on the ideal baggage before departure via the WhatsApp group.

If you are a UK citizen, to find out the entry requirements for Tanzania, you can check this informational page from our partner Sherpa. If you need a visa, you can apply for it through Sherpa. If you are not a UK citizen, you can still use Sherpa by changing the nationality in the 'Passport' section.

Before traveling, always remember to check the government website of your country of origin for updates on the entry requirements for Tanzania – you wouldn’t want to stay home due to a bureaucratic detail!

• UK residents: review the FCDO Travel Advice.
• US residents: consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
• Other residents: refer to your government or local consulate's travel advice.

Tanzania is in the East Africa Time zone, which is UTC+3. This means that if it is 12pm in the UK, it will be 3pm in Tanzania. If you are in the USA, the time difference will vary depending on your location. For example, if it is 12pm Eastern Time, it will be 7pm in Tanzania. Tanzania does not observe daylight saving time, so these differences remain constant throughout the year.

The currency used in Tanzania is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). The exchange rate can vary, but as of the latest update:

• 1 GBP is approximately 3,100 TZS
• 1 USD is around 2,300 TZS
• 1 EUR is about 2,600 TZS

You can exchange currency at banks, exchange bureaus, or major hotels in cities like Dar es Salaam and Arusha. It's a good idea to carry some cash, especially in rural areas where card payments might not be accepted.

In Tanzania, you can pay using cash, credit cards, and mobile payment platforms.

• Cash is king, and the local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling.
• Credit cards are widely accepted in major cities and tourist areas, but not everywhere, so it's a good idea to have some cash on hand.
• Mobile payment services like M-Pesa are also popular and convenient for smaller transactions.

Make sure to check with your bank about any international transaction fees before traveling.

In Tanzania, tipping is not mandatory, but it's appreciated for good service. In restaurants, consider leaving about 5 to 10 percent of the bill as a tip. For guides or safari drivers, a tip of around 10 to 20 USD per day is common. Hotel staff, like porters or housekeeping, will appreciate a small tip, such as 1 to 2 USD. Always tip in Tanzanian Shillings or USD, and give tips directly to the person who helped you.

In Tanzania, Wi-Fi is generally available in hotels, cafes, and some public places in major cities like Dar es Salaam and Arusha. However, the connection can be slow or unreliable, especially in rural areas. For better connectivity, we suggest you buy a local SIM card or an e-SIM data plan. Popular providers include:

• Vodacom
• Airtel
• Tigo

You can purchase these at the airport or in the city, and they offer good coverage and data packages at reasonable prices.

In Tanzania, the official languages are Swahili and English. You'll hear Swahili spoken widely, and it's handy to know a few basic phrases. Here are some useful expressions you might hear or use:

• Hello: Jambo
• Thank you: Asante
• How much is this?: Hii ni kiasi gani?
• Goodbye: Kwaheri

Don't worry if you're not fluent, as many people also speak English, especially in tourist areas.

In Tanzania, the power plugs and sockets are of type D and G. The standard voltage is 230 volts, and the frequency is 50 hertz. If you're coming from a country with different plug types, like those used in the UK or the USA, it's a good idea to bring a universal adapter to ensure your devices can be charged without any issues.

In Tanzania, the main religion is Christianity, followed by Islam. It's important to note that Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, has a predominantly Muslim population. If visiting Zanzibar, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, it's respectful to dress modestly. For women, this means covering shoulders and knees. Important religious holidays include Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha for Muslims, and Christmas and Easter for Christians.

For a trip to Tanzania, pack light and suitable items for the tropical climate and diverse landscapes. Here's a list to help you prepare your backpack:

• Clothing:
  • Lightweight shirts and t-shirts
  • Long-sleeve shirts for sun and mosquito protection
  • Shorts and lightweight pants
  • A light jacket for cooler evenings
  • Swimwear
• Shoes:
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Sandals
  • Flip-flops for the beach
• Accessories and Technology:
  • Sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat
  • Camera and charger
  • Power bank
  • Plug adapter (Tanzania uses types D and G plugs)
• Toiletries and Medication:
  • Sunscreen and insect repellent
  • Basic toiletries
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Common travel medication like motion sickness tablets, pain relievers, and anti-diarrheal pills

Remember that Tanzania is a predominantly Muslim country, so dress modestly in public areas, especially women, to respect local customs.

The weather in Tanzania varies by region, so here's a quick breakdown:

• Coastal areas (like Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar): Warm and humid year-round with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 32°C (77°F to 90°F). The best time to visit is during the dry season, from June to October.
• Northern and central regions (like Serengeti and Arusha): Cooler and drier, especially from June to October, with temperatures around 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F). The short rainy season is from November to December, and the long rainy season is from March to May.
• Western areas (like Kigoma): Warm and can be quite humid. The best time to visit is the dry season, from May to October.

For the best experience, plan your visit during the dry season when the weather is most pleasant and wildlife viewing is optimal.

Return international flights are not included on our trips because we want to give you full autonomy and flexibility. You can choose your preferred airline, fly from the airport that works best for you, and decide how many stopovers you want to make along the way.

As flights are not included, you also have more flexibility with your travel dates: you could arrive at your destination a few days early or return home a bit later – or even continue independently to a nearby destination!

An "Available" departure means that the trip isn’t confirmed yet and we’re waiting for a few more travellers to sign up… which could be you!

If you book the trip please wait for it to be confirmed before booking your international flights.

The question of all questions! Here’s some more information: 

• The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all travellers on the trip and managed by your Travel Coordinator. 
• It is used to streamline payments for extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do. This guarantees flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group. 
• It is typically collected on the first day of the trip in local currency, although at times, the Travel Coordinator may ask for it to be paid before departure.
• You’ll find the Money Pot amount on the website under the section ‘What’s included in the Money Pot’. To find this look for ‘What’s included’, scroll down to ‘Money Pot? Click here’ and you’ll find the details.
• The amount varies depending on the destination chosen.
• It is usually used for group expenses that all travellers decide to take part in, but sometimes if you opt out of an activity it might make more sense for it to come out of the Money Pot. In these cases the Coordinator will return the amount for this activity back to you at the end of the trip. 
• It is estimated based on the experience of other groups but can vary depending on what activities your group is keen for. As such, the Travel Coordinator may need to increase the amount during the trip.
• If not all of the Money Pot is spent, the difference will be returned to all travellers at the end of the trip. 
• The Money Pot also covers the Travel Coordinator’s share of the activities included in the Money Pot, except for those activities that are free for the Travel Coordinator.
• If you pay in advance for part of the Money Pot before the trip for certain non-refundable optional activities, unfortunately, the amount cannot be refunded if the trip is cancelled. 

We offer several payment methods to fit every need:

1. Credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express);
2. Instalment payment with Klarna (you’ll pay for the trip in three equal amounts);
3. PayPal (for selected destinations);
4. Revolut Pay to pay even faster straight from your Revolut account.

Anyone who books a WeRoad trip has the option to cancel or modify the trip – including both the dates and the destination – free of charge up to 31 days before departure. In case of cancellation up to 31 days before departure, you will receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price. If you make a change, a price adjustment will be applied to the new trip chosen – meaning, if the new trip is cheaper, we will refund the difference; if it’s more expensive, you will need to pay the difference.

If you’ve purchased the Flexible Cancellation Option (which you can add in the first step of the booking process), you can request a cancellation or trip change until 8 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you’ll receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price, minus the cost of the Flexible Cancellation option. 

How to request a cancellation or change to your trip? Send us an email at [email protected] or a WhatsApp on +447716573700. Please share the booking reference for the trip you want to cancel or change, and, in case of a change, the new trip you would like to join.

For our trips we usually use locally owned accommodation instead of big hotel chains. It’s our favourite way to really experience the local culture and, whenever we can, support the local economy. Typically, you’ll stay in hotels, apartments, guesthouses and hostels with the same standard maintained across all trips in the same destination.

The list of accommodation for your trip will be shared with you by your Travel Coordinator 2-5 days before departure, along with other useful details for your adventure!

Yes! We might not know the flights for everyone else in the group, but there are ways to find out which flights your fellow WeRoaders will be taking. 

1. All travellers can share their flight details after booking on their My WeRoad account so that other travellers on the same trip can see these details anonymously. 

2. Alternatively you can join our Facebook group: Solo Travellers | WeRoad Community – (here is the extended link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/963298767843213 ) Look for a post about the trip you’re interested in or ask the group admin for help in getting in touch with your future travel companions!

3. If the Coordinator has already been assigned to the trip you’re keen for, you can easily find their Facebook post on the website. Click 'Ask the Coordinator' and follow the link here. 

Our groups usually consist of 8–12 travellers, with a minimum of 3–4 and a maximum of 15. 
Everyone on our trips speaks English, and travellers join us from across the UK, Europe and beyond. Our trips are open to people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, with an average age of 34 across all trips.

Each group will be joined and led by one of our experienced Travel Coordinators, who’s there to ensure everything runs smoothly and the group feels well-supported. 

If you’d like to know more about our typical WeRoad groups do reach out to us on WhatsApp on +44 7716573700. 

Yes! If you're curious, you can take a sneak peek at the group before booking. 
You’ll find the info in the ‘Group’ section for each trip on the departures page, showing how many WeRoaders have already booked. 

Click the little arrow and you’ll even see their gender and ages – but hey, that’s exclusive info, so we’ll ask you to log in or sign up to see that!

For some trips, in the itinerary section, you’ll find the number of nights and the location (not the hotel) where you’ll be spending the night(s). The location shown is the one we usually go for on most trips, but in some cases, you might stay in a nearby town. This will depend on logistics or availability of accommodation. 

The list of accommodation for your trip (and therefore also the exact locations) will be shared by your Travel Coordinator 2-5 days before departure, along with other useful information for your adventure!

The WeRoad Travel Coordinator is an experienced and skilled traveller who will be the perfect companion for your trip. They will manage all the logistical aspects of the itinerary like transport, timings, accommodation, restaurant bookings and meeting points, so that you can enjoy the trip without this hassle. They’re there to support the group, ensure everything runs smoothly and will no doubt make the trip a lot of fun along the way too! 

The Coordinator will set up a WhatsApp group approximately 2 weeks before departure. This will be the moment to ask any pre-departure questions and get to know the rest of the group! If the trip you are interested in already has a Travel Coordinator assigned, you can contact them before booking. Their details will be on the trip page, or you can search for their name here. After booking, you will find their contact details in your My WeRoad account, under ‘Bookings and Trips’ > ‘Your Upcoming Trips’ > ‘Trip Details’.

Yes, on all our trips you will share a room with other WeRoaders in your group. By default this will be people of the same gender, unless you tick ‘I'm OK with a mixed gender room’ when you book. The bathroom will either be private or shared only with other travellers on the trip. The rooms might be twins, triples, quadruples or multi-share (up to 8 people in exceptional cases), depending on the destination and availability.

You will never share with people from outside of the WeRoad group, except in certain cases for local experiences, which are specifically mentioned in the itinerary or communicated before booking. These typically involve specific nights in unique accommodation like tents, homestays, or camping, offering a more adventurous travel experience in exchange for some comfort.

On some of our trips we can offer a private room for an additional cost. Just tick the ‘Private Room’ option at checkout to get this added. For some of our trips if you book as two travellers together you can add this private room free of charge. Look out for this option at checkout. 

Please note that if you do book a private room with a friend/partner this could be either a double or a twin room so please email [email protected] if you have a preference on this. 

When you set off on a WeRoad trip, you’re officially a WeRoader – and as we often say, 'once a WeRoader, always a WeRoader'. This means that once you’re part of the community, a little piece of WeRoad will always stay with you.

But you’re not just a WeRoader during your trips, far from it! The community is alive and active all year round: you can stay in touch by following and interacting on our social media channels, like the Facebook group or the Instagram profile. You can also come along to one of our many events that we run in different cities worldwide. Check out and sign up to our events by downloading the WeMeet app here.