Visit Serengeti National Park and Gombe National Park
After gaining independence from the British in the early 1960s, Tanganyika and Zanzibar united to form the country of Tanzania. Tanzania lies on the Indian Ocean in central eastern Africa, and includes the island of Zanzibar, just off the coast. Tanzania is home to more than 120 ethnic groups (though the majority has Bantu origins). Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak and best-known landmark, lies in northern Tanzania. The country also boasts Africa’s largest lake (Lake Victoria) and its deepest lake (Lake Tanganyika). Many well-known wildlife parks are also located in Tanzania, including Serengeti National Park and Gombe National Park (where Jane Goodall studied chimpanzees). Tanzania is also home to the largest breeding site of the threatened Lesser Flamingo, located at Lake Natron near the Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania.
Be in the know before you go
Tanzania:
A valid passport is required to travel. It should be machine readable and have at least 6 months’ validity after your return home. You should have at least 2 blank pages per country that you are visiting. If your passport does not meet this requirement at the time of departure, you can be denied boarding for your international flight and may consequently incur additional expenses.
US citizens require a Visa to enter Tanzania. This can be done ahead of time through the newly launched electronic e-visa service. The visa requirements and costs are dependent on the nationality of the passport holder. Full details on the new e-visa service can be found here. You also have the option of attaining your visa through the Tanzanian Consulate or upon arrival at a cost of USD $ 100 for a multiple entry visa (rates are subject to change). Please note that the Tanzanian Government has stated they hope to phase these options out in time, making the e-visa a requirement in the future.
For up to date information on recommended and required vaccinations and general health travel tips for Tanzania please visit the CDC Website, then use the drop down menu to select the countries you are visiting. Please consult with your physician for clarification or concerns regarding recommended or required vaccinations. The government of Tanzania requires proof of yellow fever vaccination upon arrival if you are traveling from a country with risk of yellow fever (this does not include the US). Please visit the CDC webpage on Yellow Fever here, for more information regarding Yellow Fever affected countries.
Note for travelers climbing Kilimanjaro: During your tour you will be visiting high altitude areas. Travelers with medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease, high blood pressure, sickle cell disease, or women who may be pregnant, should be advised to consult a physician familiar with high-altitude medical issues before traveling to high altitude areas.
What Our Clients Are Saying
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"Our agent Stephanie was the best!!! We were going to several countries in Africa and she made sure our trip was safe, comfortable and loaded with lots of fun. We had trusted tour companies and interesting guides. We always felt we were in good hands. Once one of our connecting flights was late and she already knew it and took care of the issue and us! We have used Stephanie twice now. Once in South America and once in Africa. Our trips were fun and so memorable. Thanks Stephanie."
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I have done two extensive trips organized by Yampu Tours. These trips have covered 11 countries - 7 in Africa and 4 in Asia. Without a doubt Yampu has done an excellent job planning for us to see what we wanted and get among the countries comfortably. They are immediately responsive to every question. The itinerary that is sent is complete with details about each hotel, tent, airline and important highlights about each country. The contracted tour agencies in each country also live up to the standard set by Yampu and if you have even a slight problem and contact Yampu, it is taken care of before you even leave that country. We have traveled to 71 countries and used various travel agents. Hands down, Yampu has been the best.
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"Great trip to Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar. Third trip with Yampu and still very satisfied. Just beware the roads of Madagascar and the dusty roads of the parks of Kenya and Tanzania!"
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"We had an outstanding trip, thanks to you!! We both feel that every travel detail was seamlessly handled for us so we did not have to think about anything but enjoying our travels. You did an amazing job for us!! What was an incredible trip to view and photograph chimpanzees and gorillas also tuned out to be a trip to meet and fall in love with the land and people of Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda! Our guide in Tanzania, Sexton, was delightful and excellent in making sure our experience was exactly what we wanted. Although our time was short with him, we truly enjoyed every minute with him. We also just couldn't have had a better guide than, Eric Nodorere, who became a very dear friend and cherished travel companion throughout our extended travels through Rwanda and Uganda. Indeed we have never spent so much concentrated time with anyone except our children and wouldn't have had it another way. Eric was very observant and sensitive to making sure everything went perfectly without our even noticing which is the definition of "exceeding expectations"! Our lively and open conversations together as we spent hours together only enhanced our experience and lead to a deep understanding for all of us which was very enriching and satisfying. We truly shared some amazing experiences with Eric who was also astute enough to know that we like to be in charge of our own schedules and frequently like to wander off by ourselves. He graciously supported our requests and gave us space and time to do everything at our own pace. Having the freedom to get out on our own meeting and getting to know people in their own environment is one of the best ways to gain understanding and appreciation of the world and enrich our lives and perhaps the lives of those we encounter. I will send you a couple of videos in a separate email that gives a glimpse of only some of our experiences. I am now looking forward to getting into my Art Studio and expressing our beautiful time in Africa. Thank you so much, Stephanie, for making this a unique and very special adventure for us...."
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"Our trip was fantastic! And everything seemed to go without a hitch. Both Anne and I successfully summited Mt. Kilimanjaro without any altitude signs or symptoms; not even a headache. (Although we did see lots of people getting sick, and three with severe altitude sickness. And one lady fractured a leg.) Adding the post-climb safari was wonderful! And all of the upgrades were appreciated! Shah Tours did a great job! Anne and I were very lucky to have the guides we had. Hillary and Musa were particularly excellent. We probably were successful to summit because of these two excellent professionals."
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"Stone Town was great fun! The hotel was great as was the guide. No gliches with the airlines or the return flight. "
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"The trip you set up for me was flawless. The guide met all my expectations. He was helpful and protective. I did learn that in Africa, time is a relative thing. I soon learned that when James told me we were one half hour from anywhere, I could count on an hour. I saw every major animal, but one, including the Black Rino, one of the most endangers specie in the Crater. I took 900 pictures. I can tell you without a doubt, that your people can take care of a person my age and should promote that fact. I loved Nxabega. However, I was prevented from going to my tent for a rest when a family of Elephants started eating the trees between the lunch area and my tent. They were all first rate camps, but Sopa was exceptional. If you wish me to fill out anything, let me know. One funny story. I needed to go to the bathroom. James asked me to wait while he drove about a half a mile to high ground, so he could watch out for animals while I attended to the problem behind his 4x4. As we get to about fifty yards from the place we planned to stop; three lions walked over the hill and past our vehicle. You would be surprised how fast the urge to go disappears under these circumstances."