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7/25/2019 SPI Tanzania Updated 012216

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SafariPlanning

Information

We all belong to Africa. It is the birthplace of humanity, the nursery where we learned to

walk, to talk, to play, to love. Our everyday life is founded upon a talent for innovation that

was first used to make stone tools in Africa nearly three million years ago. From those

beginnings we have colonized the globe, built modern civilizations and traveled to the moon.

The thread that joins us to our African ancestors stretches across thousands of generations,

but still tugs at the heartstrings as we marvel at Africa’s landscapes, wildlife, and people.

— JOHN READER, “AFRICA”



Table of Contents

The anticipation and planning of any trip is a unique pleasure unto itself, but especially in the planning

of a safari with its thrill of the exotic and excitement of the wild. We hope this booklet serves to prepareyou for the adventure ahead, from the packing and planning stages to the discovery of an inspiringsafari based novel. Your course is set for Africa…enjoy the ride!

TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Passports and Visas .................................................................................................................................2

Health Requirements .............................................................................................................................. 2

Weather in East Africa ............................................................................................................................ 2

What to Wear ......................................................................................................................................... 3

Cameras and Photography ................................................................................................................. .... 3

Currency, Credit Cards, Banking ............................................................................................................ 6

Electricity...............................................................................................................................................7

Time Zones ............................................................................................................................................ 8

Luggage on Safari ................................................................................................................................... 8

Luggage on International Flights ............................................................................................................ 9

Telephoning and Contact Information.................................................................................................... 10

ON SAFARI

International Arrivals and Departures .................................................................................................. 12

Safari Staff ............................................................................................................................................ 13

Micato Concierge ..................................................................................................................................13

Gratuities ..............................................................................................................................................14

Safari Vehicles .......................................................................................................................................14

Lodges and Camps ................................................................................................................................ 14

Food and Drink .................................................................................................................................... 15

Shopping and Bargaining ..................................................................................................................... 16

Medical Facilities ................................................................................................................................. 17

Safety .................................................................................................................................................... 17

Bush Practices ...................................................................................................................................... 18

African Wisdom ................................................................................................................................... 18

SAFARI PLANNING INFORMATION 1



To Know Before You Go

If birds travel without coordination, they beat each other’s wings. —Swahili proverb

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

Passports: Please ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your length of stay inTanzania. It is advisable to have two consecutive blank pages, lying side by side when the passport is open(i.e. a left and a right hand page).

Visas: A visa is required for Tanzania. To facilitate the process, ZELTIQ has appointed Tangerine to securevisas for US travelers. For your convenience, we’ve also provided a sample Tanzania visa application formindicating some helpful hints and standard answers.

Parents Traveling with Minors: When applying for a Tanzania visa for a child under the age of 18, parents

must submit a notarized letter of consent to travel for each child; we also recommend carrying a copy ofthis letter during your safari. Please refer to the detailed instructions in your visa information kit.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

No immunizations are required to enter Tanzania if arriving from the United States, Canada or Europe.

Additionally, we suggest that routine immunizations be up-to-date, and the Centers for Disease Control(CDC)

recommend a malaria prophylactic. While the chances of contracting malaria are highly unlikely,

travellers should nonetheless take precautions: mosquito repellent with a high DEET content should be

applied to exposed skin between dusk and dawn (when mosquitoes are typically active), and long sleeves,

socks and long trousers should be considered for evenings. Please contact your physician well in advance

of your departure to discuss these suggestions. You may also wish to review the CDC guidelines at www.

cdc.gov or by calling 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747).

WEATHER

The weather is practically perfect! Sunny and balmy throughout the year, average temperatures rangebetween 70-75° Fahrenheit year-round with slightly warmer temperatures in summer (Novemberthrough March) and slightly cooler temperatures in winter (May through August). Temperaturevariance is determined more by region than by season: During winter months, temperatures are mildin the lower-altitude game reserves, a little chillier in the northern highlands, and the coast offerswarm days and breezy nights. From December to March, days are regularly sunny throughout the

country and temperatures are generally in the seventies and eighties.

Travellers often ask about the romantic “rains” of East Africa. The “short rains” traditionally arrive inNovember while the “long rains” arrive around April. Even during the rains, however, the sun usually




shines for part of the day and many experienced Africa hands enjoy safariing during this time as thebush is lush, green and quiet. It’s worth nothing that worldwide changes in weather patterns due toglobal warming have also affected East Africa. We’ve noticed that the arrival of the rains is not aspredictable as in past years, which has also affected wildlife and migration patterns.

In Conclusion: Count on early mornings and evenings on safari to be chillier than expected—especially

if travelling during May, June, July and August when you’ll be quite happy to have packed a heavy fleeceor lined jacket.

Birds of different rivers chatter differently.

—Ethiopian proverb

WHAT TO WEAR ON SAFARI

An entire section has been devoted to the subject and included with your documents. Please refer tothe “Safari Packing List” for complete details. Suffice it to say that safari clothing should be comfortableand casual and that fine jewellery should be left at home. Additionally, since laundry service isavailable in virtually every lodge and camp, we urge you to resist the temptation to over pack, althoughwe know it’s difficult!

A common query is about dressing “safari” style. While it’s not actually necessary to dress like an oldsafari hand, you won’t feel out of place if you do since that’s the everyday attire of the locals—i.e., thepresent-day “old safari hands” whose great-grandparents moved to Africa from England and pointsbeyond. And, in fact, there are valid reasons to do so. Wearing white increases your visibility towildlife, while bright colours—particularly red—can frighten animals. Khaki, olive, tans and brownsincrease your chances of good game viewing (particularly on a walking safari), while offering theadded advantage of concealing dirt and dust. Not to mention that those multitude of pockets onsafari shirts, vests and jackets are infinitely useful in the bush. Darker colours, such as black or darkblue, are not recommended as they can attract mosquitoes and flies.

He who asks questions cannot avoid the answers.—Tanzanian proverb

CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Depending upon the kind of photographic gear you use, be sure to take sufficient film or media, as thebrands that you use may not be available locally and you will unquestionably shoot more pictures thanyou ever dreamed possible. Also bring extra batteries for all equipment, including your cameras, flashattachment and video cameras. Keep in mind, however, that there is a weight limit for most bush flights,so it’s best to limit your photo supplies to items you know you need and will use. You’ll be movingaround quite a bit while on safari, and you really only want camera supplies that you’re comfortable car-rying. Photographic opportunities are boundless, and you’ll be loath to leave your camera behind.




Electrical Requirements: For each plug-in electrical charger required, you will also need a convertorand a country-specific adaptor (refer to the Electricity section for complete details.) Additionally, as manycamps and lodges use solar power or turn off generators at night, you should plan your charging needsaccordingly.

Digital Image Storage: Digital cmeras and memory cards fill up quickly, especially if using a high mega-

pixel camera and in high resolution. Having enough camera memory is the biggest challenge when travel-ling and there is no perfect solution. Here are some of the possibilties:

• Memory Cards: Estimate how many photos you would typically take each day and then double it,because you’ll undoubtedly underestimate the remarkable photo opportunities on safari. Then buya suitable number of extra-large capacity (4GB and higher) memory cards. This is probably theeasiest solution.

• Mini Photo Storage Hard Drives: Designed specically for photo storage, these hard drives accept mostdigital camera memory cards. Most models have screens for reviewing photos as well. A good optionbut pricey.

• iPods: Using the appropriate cable for your camera, photos may be downloaded to your music player.(MP3 player, iPod, etc.). This option can be tricky, however, since not all players confirm thesuccessful file transfer of photos.

• CD or DVD Burners: Compact, portable burners accept common digital camera memory cards.Benefits: Discs are sold worldwide, and multiple copies of images can be written for safekeeping.Disadvantages: The burning process is exceedingly slow and results in many dozens of bulkydiscs to carry.

• Laptop: Most of us download at home to our computer and a small notebook laptop can be carried onsafari, along with your memory card adaptor, USB card reader or USB cable. Disadvantages including

the weight and inconvenience of travelling with a laptop.

Solutions that will not work include uploading to the cloud: emailing images or creating web albums (e.g.Picasa). High-speed internet service and the necessary bandwidth simply isn’t available in the bush—noteven in all cities.

Travellers should avoid bringing digital cameras that require special software to process photos—standard jpegs are simplest for travelling. If you are using a digital SLR camera and will shoot in RAW format, makesure you have a plan for the very large file sizes and storage involved.

Film: If you use film, bring double the amount you think you will need. It’s virtually impossible to holdback when your vehicle is surrounded by a family of elephants! Two to three rolls per day is average, but

only you can judge for sure—our very avid photographers bring five to ten. Do not count on buying filmlocally as it is often unavailable, especially in the bush. If you shoot using print film, 100 or 200 speed ismost useful. For the low-lit early morning or late afternoon photographs (which is when you’ll be in thebush), 400 speed or higher is advisable. If you shoot using slide film, 100 speed is a good overall choice,but bring some rolls of 200 and 400 also for dawn and dusk. Print film allows for more mistakes, and istherefore more highly recommended for shooting in the bush.




Lenses: An upcoming African safari is often an incentive to invest in good camera equipment— particu-larly a quality long lens. What do we suggest? If you choose a fixed focal length lens, it should be at least300mm. You might also consider adding a 2X extender to convert your 300mm into 600mm. A very longlens, 500-600mm, is costly, heavy and probably unnecessary unless you are a serious photographeror wish to shoot many bird images. If you have the ability and urge to carry multiple lenses, we dorecommend it for truly stand-out shots. To capture the vast expanses of the endless savannahs, a wide to

medium zoom lens (28-35 mm) and a telephoto zoom (80-200mm, nothing bigger than 400) will worknicely. Digital SLR cameras often feature a “multiplier” effect of 1.4, 1.5 or 1.6, converting a 400mm lensinto a 560mm, 600mm or a 640mm lens—which is more than adequate for most wildlife shots. For eventighter shots on moving wildlife, you might consider a camera with auto-focus and Auto Advance.

Filters: In the age of the digital photographer, filters are slowly going the way of the VHS tape, but thereare some effects that still can’t be reproduced. Polarizing filters are the most practical in the bush, asthey reduce glare (excellent when shooting bodies of water) and deepen contrast (giving you brilliantsky shots). Cheap polarizers are worse than no polarizer, so stick with well-known brand names such asSingh-Ray, Tiffen, Hoya, Heliopan and B+W. Cokin also makes a blue-yellow polarizer that highlights blueor yellow tones in a scene while adding a warm color cast to the entire scene, providing a neat effect inthe golden grasses of the savannah. You might also consider a UV filter for keeping out the dust.

Knowledge is better than riches. —African proverb

Tripod: A tripod probably isn’t practical since most shots will be taken from the inside of a safari vehicle.

Flash: Separate flash units for fill-in lighting can be useful in wildlife photography, plus you’ll want theflash for interior shots of friends and family in camps and lodges.

Photo/Safari Vests: Vests are not just for looking the part… those multitudes of pockets are wonderfullyuseful in the bush and on flights. Why flights? Travellers are restricted to one small carry-on per flight,which can be a problem when travelling with a great deal of photographic equipment. A photo vest, how-ever, with pockets stuffed with film and lenses, is like having a secret, second carry-on.

Flying with Camera Equipment: Navigating large international airports is much easier with cameraequipment stored inside a backpack. It is advisable to carry as much equipment with you on the plane in-stead of packing it into checked luggage. For added protection, wrap camera bodies and lenses in bubblewrap. Important: checked luggage is subject to film-damaging x-rays. If you are travelling with film doNOT pack it in your checked luggage.

Camera Bags for vehicles: You will want to ensure that your camera fits into the backpack or tote bagthat you plan to bring in the safari vehicle during game runs or in the car while sightseeing in the cities. It

is not advisable to have photographic equipment lying loose in the vehicle; cameras can easily get dusty,wet or bounced off of seats during bumpy rides.

Plastic Bags: Plastic bags are very useful for photographers, especially to protect equipment from dust.Gallon-size Ziploc bags accommodate film and small lenses, while 2-gallon Ziplocs can hold a camerabody. Pack plenty since they tear. (Plus you can use them for wet bathing suits, leaking lotion bottles, etc.)




Cleaning supplies: The chief hindrance to nature photographers is nature itself—specifically dust anddirt. Be sure to bring along cleaning fluid, a lens cloth and an air blower ball.

Batteries: Bring extra. Common AA batteries may be available but lithium batteries can be rare. If youuse rechargeable batteries, bring at least two sets and ensure that your electrical battery chargers are dualvoltages. (Most are.) If not, however, you will need a transformer to convert the 200 volt electricity to

110 volts, plus an adaptor plug. (Refer to Electricity section below.)

Instruction Booklets: Bring your camera’s instruction booklet because, even if you never needed to knowbefore, on this trip you will absolutely want to know how to increase your “depth of field,” i.e., to have infocus both the elephant in the background and your spouse in the foreground. Ideally, you will read andpractice this technique at home first.

Point and Shoot Cameras: With all this talk about camera equipment, those of you with point-and-shootcameras must be wondering what sort of pictures you can possibly hope to obtain on safari. Rest assured,you will also get great shots. Safari vehicles can often manoeuvre quite close to the wildlife and you willundoubtedly capture many stunning images, even without a sophisticated photography kit.

Not all time is like the herding time.—Kenyan proverb

CURRENCY AND CREDIT CARDS

Major credit cards are widely accepted in large shops, restaurants and at most lodges and hotels (DinersClub is not as commonly honoured.) Before departure, you should inform your credit card companiesabout the countries you will be visiting to avoid your cards being stopped by fraud control. U.S. cash isalso widely accepted in shops and small denominations are suggested ($1 and $5) as change is usuallygiven in Tanzanian shillings.

The amount of cash you carry is at your discretion, and you may find it helpful to consider gratuities whendeciding how much to bring (more on gratuities later in this document). Please ensure that all bills in yourpossession are the post-2000 series, as banknotes with a series date before the year 2000 will most likelybe declined. (These bills are easier to counterfeit.) Traveller’s cheques in small denominations from wellknown banks can also be used in the larger shops but are often less useful than U.S. cash (for example, theycannot be used for gratuities). Please exchange money only at authorised banks, hotels and exchangefacilities and always save your exchange receipts as they may be checked by Customs upon departure.

Please keep in mind that most establishments—outside of some open-air markets—take credit cards,so a great deal of cash is not necessary. Most guests simply bring enough to cover gratuities and visafees with a modest amount left over for any incidentals they might encounter. While ATM machines areavailable and generally reliable, finding one can be unpredictable so we recommend guests bring enough

cash for your trip. However, if you do need to visit an ATM, we will do our best to accommodate you.Most ATMs will accept Visa and Mastercard international credit cards, paying out in local currency.

The hotels, lodges and camps on safari will gladly exchange money, but bear it mind that it is not

necessary to have large amounts of local currency on hand since dollars and credit cards are accepted

nearly everywhere. Re-exchanging local currency back to dollars at the end of the trip is inconvenientand will also result in a financial loss.*

SAFARI PLANNING INFORMATION 6*$200-300 US is the recommended amount of cash to bring on a trip such as this.



Seeing is different from being told.—Kenyan proverb

TANZANIAN CURRENCY

The shilling is the currency of Tanzania. It is subdivided into 100 cents. Its ISO code is TZS.

Tanzanian shillings are written in the form of x/y, with “x” being the amount above 1 shilling and “y”being the amount of cents. An equals sign represents zero. For example, 50 cents is written as =/50,while 100 shillings is written as 100/ =.

Currently in circulation:

Banknotes: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000 shillings.Coins: 50, 100, 200 shillings.

As of this writing, 1 U.S. dollar = 2,115 TZS.

One who greets another profits by it; one who does not, loses by it.—Ethiopian proverb

ELECTRICITY

The voltage and the frequency (the number of times the current changes direction per second) in

Tanzania is not the same as in the United States. Moreover, plug shapes, plug holes, plug sizes and socketsare also different, not to mention it is possible to use several different types within the country itself.

A step-down converter or transformer and a plug adapter will be necessary to operate electricalappliances or recharge camera batteries if they are not dual voltage. Even with step-down voltageconverters and transformers, however, many appliances still do not operate efficiently in some countries.It is therefore wise to bring battery-operated appliances whenever possible. Also note that the electricityin most bush lodges is provided by generator and may not be able to support the use of a hair dryer. Additionally, camps and lodges will turn off their generator at various times of the day— be sure toinquire should you need to recharge camera batteries, for example, before your next game run. Mosthotels offer a 110-volt socket and U.S. style three flat-pronged outlet for shavers in the bathroom.

Electrical Voltage:

The voltage in Tanzania is 230-volts and 50 cycles.




ABOUT CONVERTERS AND TRANSFORMERS

Converters and transformers both step up or down the voltage, but there is a difference in use between

them. Converters should be used only with “electric” products. Electric products are simple heatingdevices or have mechanical motors. Examples are hair dryers, steam irons, shavers, toothbrushes or smallfans. Converters are not designed for “continuous duty” and should only be used for short periods of time(1 to 2 hours). Additionally, most converters can only be used for ungrounded appliances (2 pins onthe plug). Converters must be unplugged from the wall when not in use. The advantage of converters,however, is that they are lighter and less expensive than transformers.

Transformers also step up or down the voltage, but they are used with “electronic” products. Electronicproducts have a chip or circuit. Examples are radios, CD or DVD players, shavers, camcorder batteryrechargers, computers, computer printers, fax machines, televisions and answering machines. (Notehowever that computers and battery rechargers are often dual voltage now.) Transformers can also be usedwith electric appliances and may be operated continually for many days. Transformers are sold in varioussizes based on how much wattage they can support. Therefore one must pay careful attention to thewattage ratings of the appliances to be plugged into a transformer.

It is a blessing to have any visitors. —Swahili proverb

TIME ZONES

Tanzania is eight hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and seven hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time.

(Greenwich Mean Time +3 hours in the winter and GMT+2 in the summer.)

LUGGAGE ON SAFARI

There’s a certain sense of freedom in travelling light, and not only do we encourage our guests to try it onsafari, it’s a requirement due to the small luggage compartments of the bush planes in which you will flybetween game parks. (But we think you’ll also enjoy the freedom of so little to pack!)


Tanzania Plug and Socket Type

(Also found in Zambia, Kenya, United Kingdom,

Ireland, Cyprus, Malta, Malaysia, Singapore

and Hong Kong.)

Tanzania Plug and Socket Type

(Also found in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal

and Namibia)



Before departure, every traveller will receive an attractive and roomy ZELTIQ Safaris bag in which to packyour belongings for the safari. This sturdy, wheeled bag will serve you well on safari and probably becomeyour favourite bag for local jaunts back home. It was designed to satisfy the needs of the bush airlines forsoft-sided, medium-sized bags, as well as to fit inside the luggage compartment of a safari vehicle. Pleaseattach a Micato luggage tag to an outside strap and place identification inside the bag as well. We urge

you to resist overstuffing your bag due to the strict weight allowance on flights within the countries wewill be visiting. You are allowed one piece of checked luggage and one small carry-on bag per person.

Important: The weight limit for your checked bag and carry-on is 33 pounds in Tan-zania—so it is bestto keep your bag at or below this weight limit.

One camel does not make fun of the other camel’s hump.—Guinean proverb

LUGGAGE ON INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

While travellers may be allowed a greater luggage allowance on international flights, we suggest thatMicato guests travel only with their one 33 pound safari bag, as this is all that can be taken into the bush.

Liquid Policy for Carry-on Luggage: Each country has its own regulations with regard to carryingliquids, gels or pastes. For flights departing the USA, passengers may carry in their cabin bag limitedquantities of liquids, gels and aerosols, including travel-size toiletries such as shampoo, suntan lotion,creams, toothpaste, hair gel and hair spray. Containers holding liquids must not exceed three ounces(90ml). Liquid containers must be carried in a separate clear plastic zip-top bag that does not exceed8” x 8” or quart size. Items must fit in the bag comfortably and the bag must be completely closed.

Should you need more than three ounces of essential liquid medicines during your flight, it may becarried separately in your cabin bag (in a clear plastic bag.) Passengers may be asked to prove that themedicine is for the individual traveling and is required during the flight. Should you require essentialmedications during the flight, please consult with your travel agent or the airline about exceptions.

A crazy guest eats and leaves right away.

—African proverb




TELEPHONING AND CONTACT INFORMATION

A safari is a rare opportunity to get away from the constant contact of the technological age. That said,Tanzania has experienced a communications renaissance in recent years and in many locations (but notall), it is possible to stay in touch by the following means:

Your Personal Cell PhoneMost smart phones can be used internationally, but guests should be aware of the expensive data roamingfees that can accumulate while traveling. Here are a few tips to staying in touch via your cell phone:

• Contact your cell phone provider. International roaming service is not automatically enabled oncell phones, so you will need to contact your service provider and ask them to activate the internationalfeature. Policies and fees vary by provider and phone. You can research online—visit AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon or Virgin to find detailed webpages for overseas travel information—or call your serviceprovider to learn your options.

• Know how to turn off “data roaming.” Most smart phones ae always roaming—accruing roam-

ing charges—just by being turned on. The only way to avoid this to turn off the phone or turn off yourphone’s “data roaming” and “data synchronization” whenever you’re not using the internet or an applica-tion. You can usually find these options under “settings” on your phone. Find out how to do this beforeyou leave.

• Monitor your mobile data usage. There are Smartphone apps for Android (3G Watchdog), iPhone(Data Usage in the iTunes store), and BlackBerry (Data Monitor) that enable you to track your data usageand roaming charges. If you have internet access, you can also visit the website of your provider, log intoyour account, and check your data usage this way.

• Consider Airplane Mode. If you just want to use the internet without making calls, Airplane Modeis ideal if your phone features the option. It turns off the cellular and data radio but leaves your Wi-Fi

receptor on. This solution only works if you’re in a location with Wi-Fi; ask your guide if you’re unsure.

• Skype or Google Voice. With access to Wi-Fi, you can use services like Skype and Google Voice tomake calls for a fraction of the cost—or free!

Via Micato SafarisShould you need to be reached during your safari, we are happy to convey urgent or emergency messagesfor guests. Friends and family can call Micato’s U.S. toll-free number (800-MICATO-1) or our Nairobi of fice directly. Micato’s guides are all in regular contact with our offices, thus messages can also be conveyedto guests in this manner if necessary.

The telephone country code for Tanzania is 255 and the city codes for Dar Es Salaam and Arusha are 51

and 57 respectively. If you happen to be flying through Nairobi, the telephone country code for Kenya is254 and the city code for Nairobi is 20.




MICATO’S NAIROBI OFFICE:

Micato Safaris Almont Park, 2nd FloorChurch Road, WestlandsPostal Box 43374Phone: 011-254-20-444-5220Emergency after hours /weekend: 011-254-733-623-340Email: [email protected]

Hotel TelephonesCity hotels offer international calling from guest rooms, but the cost is high and hotels levy a substantialsurcharge as well. Most bush lodges and camps do not have phones in rooms but most will attempt toplace an international call for you from the reception desk. Phone lines in the bush,however, are frequently down.

Email and Internet in Lodges and Hotels

Computers with internet connections are available to guests in most city hotels, but availability is limitedin the bush. In general, travellers should not count on keeping in touch via hotel computers.

A hasty person misses the sweet things.—Swahili proverb

.




On Safari

The person who has not traveled widelythinks his mother is the only cook.

—Ugandan proverb

INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES

Kilimanjaro Airport Arrival: Your flight will likely arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), amodern and efficient facility that serves northern Tanzania. Once you arrive, you will be directed fromthe gate to the Immigration counters where there will be multiple queues for passport inspection, after

which you will proceed to the baggage claim area. The process is straightforward and simple to navigate.

There are luggage trolleys available in the baggage claim area. Once you have collected your luggage fromthe carousel, you should wheel it toward the exit door, passing Customs along the way who may ask youa question or two. Micato staff will be waiting for you directly outside of the Customs exit door and willhappily relieve you of your luggage and escort you to an awaiting vehicle.

The drive from Kilimanjaro Airport to your hotel takes about an hour. Your Micato Safari Director willmanage your hotel check-in, have your bags sent to the room and inform you of the day’s activities.

Anticipate the good so that you may enjoy it.—African proverb




He who learns, teaches.

—Ethiopian proverb

SAFARI STAFF

Travellers generally travel to Africa for the love of wildlife, but return home in love with the people. And it starts with your Safari Director and Driver Guides. Nowhere on earth will you find peoplemore genuinely hospitable and friendly, nor individuals more devoted to the success of your holidayand enjoyment of Africa. Most travellers return home assuming they were lucky enough to have beenassigned “the best” guide in the company…which would make them all the best!

Safari Director: The finest Safari Directors in Africa are keen to work for Micato as the company voted“World’s Best Tour Operator & Safari Outfitter” by Travel+Leisure magazine for the past eight years. Theaward brings prestige to them and their family, so we are privileged to have our choice of the best.

Micato’s Safari Directors are graduates of Africa’s finest wildlife management and tourism colleges andthe majority have been with us for 10-15 years. Their presence on safari ensures a seamless operation inevery way. Not only are they wildlife experts, they are also highly experienced in the logistics of a safari ona management level. They fly between game parks with you, handle camp and lodge check-ins, overseeluggage, organize Driver Guides, provide bush insights while rotating between safari vehicles, discusswildlife issues with guests during free time in camp, and share sundowners and stories at night aroundthe campfire.

Driver Guides: Your Driver Guide will be a central and delightful part of your days on safari. You’llspend many an enjoyable hour in the bush together, engaged in conversations about everything fromwildlife and its habitat to global warming, politics, his tribe, family, folklore and way of life. You’llmarvel at his uncanny ability to sniff out elusive animals, his encyclopedic knowledge of flora and fauna,

not to mention birdlife and wildlife. Your Driver Guide will be the face of your Africa and the key to itssecrets. We guarantee that you will be spellbound.

Driver Guides are stationed at each game park; when you fly to the next region on your itinerary, you willsay goodbye to your Driver Guide and probably be sad to do so. In the next location however, anotherwonderful Driver Guide awaits, ready and eager to share his vision of Africa with you. And again, weguarantee that you will be spellbound…

The friends of our friends are our friends.—Kenyan proverb

MICATO CONCIERGE

Your Micato Concierge is available via telephone 24 hours a day to help with anything you may need:lost medicine, flight changes, a private car, dinner reservations or just a simple question. Our Conciergesknow the areas we travel, and they have access to any number of helpful resources. Please feel free to callwith questions or quandaries.





After arriving at your hotel in Tanzania, you will receive information detailing how to telephone theMicato Concierge from anywhere on your journey, at any time during your safari.

GRATUITIES

Micato offers the virtually unprecedented luxury of including all tips during your trip— even to Safari

Directors and Driver Guides—a feature rarely offered anywhere in the world. But, let’s face it... it’s in-convenient to carry so much cash, or to wonder if you’ll be seeing a certain guide again, or to realize thatyou’ve missed the chance. Instead, Micato guests can relax and leave the tipping to us. It’s all included,from gratuities to the Micato staff: our Concierges, Safari Directors and Driver Guides, to the waiters atincluded meals and porters at lodges, camps and airports. In short, everyone.

Guests occasionally ask us about the “General Tip Box” they notice at lodges for behind-the-scenes staff,or wonder about leaving something extra for a staff member who may have been particularly attentive,such as a room attendant or barman. We have included these tips in your safari too, so an additional do-nation is not necessary. If you are inspired to give above and beyond the call of duty, a few dollars per dayis a lovely gesture. That said, please don’t ever feel pressured to do so. Should you sense that any lodgingstaff person is expecting a tip (service staff at lodges often change, and some may be unfamiliar with our

“no tipping” policy) suggest the staffer speak with the Micato concierge. Also feel free to ask our conciergeor your Safari Director to clarify any confusion.

SAFARI VEHICLES

A safari involves exhilarating and pleasurable days on the trail of wildlife, as well as the occasional longday driving between locations. Each comfortable nine-passenger Micato vehicle is limited to six guests,affording all travellers a window seat and access to an overhead roof hatch. Moreover, each vehicle carriesa pair of Bushnell binoculars for every traveller, a cooler of mineral water and soft drinks, chips and othermunchies, beanbags to stablise long camera lenses, plus a set of field reference books on birds, animalsand flora. Vehicles are equipped with long-range VHF radios for communication between other Micatovehicles and our head office, while Driver Guides also carry cell phones.

There are three rows of seats within a safari vehicle, and we ask that travellers make a point of rotatingrows with each game drive and park transfer. While the view is exactly the same from every seat, it’s nicefor everyone to have a chance to be seated near to the Driver Guide in the front.

LODGES AND CAMPS

Each of Micato Safaris’ carefully chosen hotels, camps and lodges adds to the flavour and romanceof your program. They are comfortable, often luxurious, and the hotels in the cities are 5-star.

Some of the services that you may encounter at bush hostelries will range from the discovery of a hotwater bottle under your bedcovers at night (so English!) to a tray of steaming tea, coffee and sweetbiscuits on your verandah in the morning along with your sunrise wake-up call. Most lodges andcamps offer swimming pools, cozy lounges (many with fireplaces for cool evenings), al fresco dining atlunchtime, private verandahs overlooking the savannahs, and occasionally, water holes, rivers or saltlicks for game viewing from the lodge.




A big blanket encourages sleeping in the morning.—Kenyan Proverb

FOOD AND DRINK

East Africa is a culinary delight. Its history of settlement has created a cuisine that blends the spicy andaromatic foods of the Oriental and Arab world with traditional European and local fare. Around 1000years ago the Arab traders settled along the coast and Persian influences are reflected in the Swahilicuisine of steamed cooked rice infused with saffron, cloves and cinnamon. In the 16th century thePortuguese seized areas along the coast, introducing techniques of roasting, marinating and the useof spices to turn bland meals into aromatic stewed dishes. From their Asian colonies, the Portuguese

brought fruits such as orange, lemon and lime and from their colonies in the New World came exoticitems—chilies, peppers, maize, tomatoes, cashews, pineapple, bananas and the domestic pig—now alla part of a traditional East African meal. Centuries later in the late 1800s, the British and Indians arrivedand brought their foods as well. Indian cuisine in particular—spiced vegetable curries, lentils, chapattisand a variety of pickles—has become a staple on the tables of most Tanzanians.

An ordinary Tanzanian fast food meal today consists of chicken or fried fish and chips, or rice andbeans. You will see many signboards along roadsides for Nyama Choma, a popular African meal ofcharcoal roasted goat or beef. A banana stew—boiled bananas and meat—is also a staple, as is ugali, astarchy cornmeal mush regularly prepared as an accompaniment to meat, stews or greens.

Meals: Every day begins with a hearty breakfast buffet served after returning from the morning game run

and includes hot and cold cereals, toasts, fruits and meats, accompanied by a chef preparing eggs toorder. Lunches are also usually buffets served al fresco around the swimming pool. Lunch offeringsinclude soups, various salads of meat, vegetables or fish, cold sliced meats, cheese platters and a choice of hotentrees, perhaps including an African or Indian specialty. Trays of sweets and fruits tempt dinersthereafter. For dinner we move into the dining room of the lodge or camp and enjoy a sit-down, three-course meal.

Most fruits and vegetables are grown locally on small family farms, making the produce on safari especiallyfresh and delicious. In particular, we highly recommend pineapple, mangoes, avocados, bananas andpassion fruits when ripe and in season.

Afternoon tea is another pleasant East African tradition, served every afternoon around 4:00 pm withcakes and cookies to send you off contentedly on your afternoon game drive.



Included Bottled Water: For your convenience we are happy to offer Micato guests complimentary bottledwater and soft drinks at every meal on safari, as well as in safari vehicles. It is wise not to drink local tapwater or even the thermos of “safe” water placed in your room by hotels and camps.

Drinks: Tea and coffee, both grown in Tanzania and generally outstanding, are included with everymeal. Decaffeinated coffee is not usually available; you will be offered Sanka or instant Nescafe instead.Popular American sodas are available but diet versions are often difficult to find with the exception,perhaps, of Diet Coke (called Coke Light).

Great events may stem from words of no importance.—African proverb

SHOPPING AND BARGAINING

An African shopping expedition is rich and diverse! Throughout your journey, you will find traditionalartefacts, fantastic jewellery, beautiful carvings, stunning beadwork, the world’s best coffee and tea,precious stones, furniture, beautiful cloth, excellent local music, wonderful modern art and so muchmore. When will you have time to shop? Be ready to shop on the fly and buy the moment something

strikes your fancy since it’s unlikely you’ll find the time to return.

You can find unique objects throughout Tanzania—gourds and spears from northern Tanzania, wovenmats on the coast, handmade baskets in Dar es Salaam and Arusha. Zanzibar offers a wealth of shoppingchoices— especially among Stone Town’s winding streets—including great jewellery, antiques, spices andclothing. We suggest that you take any goods you purchase with you as shipping and duty costs mayeasily exceed the cost of the item. Please note: when purchasing large pieces, the freight on items you shipcan run into many hundreds of dollars.

The salesperson does not have only one door.

—Tanzanian proverb

Bargaining: Bargaining is so at odds with our life in America that most of us don’t want to attempt it (ordo so only halfheartedly), even when we know that it’s not only acceptable but expected. This is certainlythe case in Tanzanian open-air markets, and often the case in shops—rarely is bargaining consideredoffensive. It is an art with roots deep in the African culture and regarded as an essential business skill.Opening prices are always an exaggerated gambit and considered the first step in a long process.

The real price is usually somewhere in the lower vicinity of half the initial price. How close you cometo the real price is up to you. Bargaining can be a long and convoluted process, involving protractednegotiations. Westerners often find this frustrating, but it is an essential and always amicable custom. You may get a better price if you buy more than one item from the shop.

If you are in a hurry and need to move on, it is the usual practice to finalise proceedings by declaring your ‘absolute final price’ (the “Bei ya Mwisho”) and asking for theirs. If you can both agree on a figure

between the two then the deal is done.




Talking doesn’t fill the basket in the farm.—Kenyan proverb

HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CARE

Should you require medical services while on safari, you can depend upon the highest standards of safe,professional care and treatment.

Camps and lodges have doctors on call, experienced in travel-related and common ailments. Micato guestsare also covered by the services of the Flying Doctors, an emergency airborne medical team created to bringfirst-rate medical care to outlying areas. This assures Micato guests in remote destinations of prompt medicalattention and air transportation to the nearest medical facility in the unlikely event of an emergency.

In East Africa, Nairobi offers good quality medical facilities. Additionally, as Jane and Felix Pinto residein Nairobi, it is reassuring to know that they can put travellers in touch with the finest local physiciansshould the need arise. In the case of an emergency, they will provide prompt medical attention andtransport by air to the nearest medical facility.

Please note: Clients must have adequate health insurance to cover the fees private hospitals charge. Anyhospitalization would need to be covered by your personal insurance, cash or credit card.

SAFETY

Travellers should exercise the same common-sense precautions as they always do when travellinginternationally. Pickpockets are present worldwide and Africa is no exception, so we urge guests to beaware in shops and crowded locations. Fine jewellery should be left at home and replaced by stylish African wooden and beaded bangles while on safari. When in hotels and bush properties, it is never wiseto leave cash, jewellery or traveller’s cheques unattended, even if locked in your suitcase. Every lodge orhotel has safe deposit facilities for your valuables.

A Word About Wildlife: Bush lodges and camps are located in wildlife regions and game reserves, henceguests should follow the directives of the lodge staff regarding walking the grounds after dark. Some bushproperties allow game to graze on their property—please do not mistake these animals for tame pets! Anywildlife along your path should always be given an extremely wide berth; you should make no attemptwhatsoever to interact with wild animals. Additionally, young children should not walk the propertyunattended, especially at nighttime.

U.S. CUSTOMS

Upon their return home, U.S. residents are allowed to bring back $800 worth of merchandise duty-free.Regulations frequently change so we suggest you check with the U.S. Customs website or call a localoffice to obtain a set of current regulations.

The Generalized System of Preference (GSP), administered by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative,is a trade preference program that provides for duty-free entry of over 5,000 products from nearly 150




countries and territories. Tanzania is an eligible beneficiary of this program, which means that manyitems purchased in these countries can be brought back to the United States duty free. For moreinformation, please visit www.ustr.gov.

BUSH PRACTICES & MORE RANDOM MUSINGS….

• Morning game drives set out at first light, as the sun rises. For early risers, it’s an ideal schedule. But for night owls, so many early mornings can be tiring. Thus, while it sounds obvious, please

remember that you don’t have to participate on every game drive! Relax one morning, sleep in,

enjoy the quiet and have the camp virtually to yourself.

• Welcome improvements in the realm of cell phone service have unwittingly created a curious

problem for safari guests: that of the overly-zealous cell-phone talker and fellow-traveller.

Accordingly, we ask that guests refrain from dialing friends and family back home from safari

vehicles during game drives. The use of cell phones in the lounges of small lodges and campsis also discouraged. Instead, kindly share your experiences via cell phone from the privacy of

yourtent or room.

• National game park regulations forbid smoking in the reserves; there is also no smokingin safari vehicles.

• Numerous game parks prohibit safari vehicles from driving “off-road” but this is rarely a problem

thanks to the intricate series of dirt roads traversing parks. Please do not ask your Micato Driver

Guides to violate this regulation in pursuit of better wildlife shots—they are so eager to assist

thatit will be difficult for them to say no, which they ultimately must.

• When in the presence of wildlife, please speak in low voices and avoid abrupt movements

outsideof the vehicle’s window or roof hatch. It is our goal to create

as little disruption as possible to thenatural patterns of wildlife and to keep our impact on the

land to a minimum.

• On game drives, we encourage travellers to slow the pace and observe an animal for extended

periods of time to gain a meaningful sense of its behaviour and interactions with other animals.

Itis far more fascinating than you might have imagined, and soon you will find yourself detecting

patterns of behaviours and perhaps even recognising individuals from prior game runs. As Kenyans are fond of saying, Haraka haraka haina baraka. (Hurry, hurry has no blessing.)

• Throw out your smartphone and savour the splendid isolation of the savannahs….

AFRICAN WISDOM

Throughout this booklet, we hope you have enjoyed the African proverbs sprinkled here and there.The languages of Africa are rich in proverbs and quite frequently employed. Indeed, proverbs are apowerful way of saying something without saying something or giving offense. Fascinating, colourfuland often amusing, we hope these proverbs have served to provide you with an insight into Africantraditional values. Of clear importance are friends, visitors, hospitality, polite greetings, hard work andtaking time to enjoy life. In short, good lessons for all of us!




15 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10010 telephone 212-545-7111 facsimile 212-545-8297

email [email protected] www.micato.com

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