★ FAQ ★
Clear answers,
before you commit
Practical guidance about booking, health, safari, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, payments, packing and travel style. Your confirmed proposal and booking terms remain the final reference for your trip.
Planning and confirming your journey
How do I book a trip?+
Send your dates, party details and interests. Big 7 prepares a written proposal; a booking becomes confirmed only after you accept the stated terms and the required deposit has cleared.
How much is the deposit?+
The deposit percentage and due date are stated in your written quotation because supplier rules and travel lead time can differ. Do not send money until you receive an official confirmation with payment instructions.
When is the balance due?+
Your invoice states the balance deadline. Late booking may require faster or full payment so accommodations, permits and transport can be secured.
Which payment methods are accepted?+
Available methods and any bank or card charges are confirmed on the invoice. Use only payment details supplied through Big 7’s verified communication channel and ask if anything changes unexpectedly.
What happens if I cancel or change dates?+
Tell Big 7 in writing as early as possible. Cancellation or amendment charges depend on timing and non-refundable commitments already made to parks, accommodations, airlines and other suppliers; see the terms page and your confirmed booking conditions.
Are park fees included?+
Only when listed in the confirmed inclusion section. Statutory fees can change; Big 7 explains whether a later government increase may need to be passed through.
Preparing to travel
Do I need a Tanzania visa?+
Requirements depend on nationality, passport type and purpose of travel. Check the official Tanzania immigration source or relevant embassy well before departure; Big 7 can provide general guidance but cannot issue or guarantee a visa.
Which vaccines do I need?+
Health advice is personal and rules can change. Consult a travel-health professional about routine vaccines, malaria prevention, yellow-fever documentation and your own medical history.
Is Tanzania safe for visitors?+
Tourism areas receive many visitors, but no destination is risk-free. Follow guide advice, secure valuables, avoid isolated walking after dark, use arranged transport and monitor official travel advice and insurance conditions.
Do I need travel insurance?+
Yes, comprehensive insurance is strongly required. It should cover medical treatment, evacuation, trip interruption, baggage and the activities you will undertake; Kilimanjaro policies must explicitly cover trekking to 5,895 metres.
Can you handle dietary requirements?+
Most common requirements can be accommodated with advance notice. Share allergies in writing and distinguish a medical allergy from a preference; remote camps have more limited alternatives than city or beach hotels.
Are airport transfers available?+
Yes when written into the itinerary. Confirm the airport, flight number, arrival date and contact method; transfers from Kilimanjaro International, Arusha and Zanzibar airports are not interchangeable.
Wildlife days and travel style
What should I wear on safari?+
Choose lightweight neutral layers, a warm layer for early mornings, sun protection and closed shoes for camp. Bright colors are not forbidden, but quiet earth tones are practical; camouflage clothing can be legally sensitive in some countries and is best avoided.
What should I pack?+
Pack light, use a soft-sided bag for small aircraft, bring prescribed medicine in original packaging, binoculars if possible, camera batteries, sun protection and a light rain layer. Your itinerary may have a specific baggage limit.
Should I tip guides and staff?+
Tipping is customary but voluntary and should reflect service. Big 7 can provide current guidance for guides, trekking crews and lodge teams before travel; pool systems and mountain crew practices differ.
Are safaris private or group-based?+
Most Big 7 journeys can be private. A group departure is offered only when clearly described, including maximum size, vehicle arrangement and what happens if minimum numbers are not reached.
Can families travel on safari?+
Yes. Family itineraries should consider children’s ages, car-seat needs, pool supervision, malaria advice, long drive times and property age policies. Big 7 adjusts pacing and room configuration around the family.
Which accommodation levels are available?+
Options range from practical lodges and tented camps to high-end properties. Location and service often matter more than a simple star label; the proposal names each property or explains when an equivalent may be used.
When is the best safari season?+
Wildlife viewing is possible year-round. June to October is generally drier; November and early December can be green with shorter rains; January to March favors southern Serengeti calving; April and May are wetter and quieter.
Can you guarantee the Great Migration or Big Five?+
No ethical operator can guarantee wild animals. Migration location changes with rainfall and grazing, and individual sightings depend on chance. Good timing and routing improve possibilities, not certainty.
What photography gear should I bring?+
A mid-range telephoto lens, spare batteries, dust protection and beanbag can be useful. Ask before photographing people, never direct a guide to crowd wildlife and avoid flash around nocturnal or sensitive animals.
Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar
Which Kilimanjaro route is best?+
There is no single best route. Lemosho and the Northern Circuit provide longer acclimatization; Machame is scenic and popular; Marangu uses huts; Rongai is quieter on the northern side; Umbwe is steep and unsuitable for most first-time high-altitude trekkers.
How fit must I be for Kilimanjaro?+
You need endurance for consecutive walking days and a very long summit night. Training helps, but altitude response is not predicted by fitness. Choose enough days, walk slowly, hydrate and report symptoms honestly.
Is summit success guaranteed?+
No. Weather, health and altitude determine the outcome, and guide safety decisions are final. Reaching the summit is never more important than descending safely.
When should I visit Zanzibar?+
Zanzibar is warm year-round. Drier periods are often June to October and January to February; March to May is usually wetter. Tides vary daily and strongly affect east-coast swimming and boat activities.
Is Zanzibar culturally conservative?+
Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim. Beachwear belongs at the beach or resort; cover shoulders and knees in towns and villages, limit public displays of affection, ask before photographs and respect Ramadan practices.
Are dolphin and turtle encounters guaranteed?+
Wild dolphins are never guaranteed and should not be chased. Turtle facilities follow their own current rules; Big 7 states whether an experience is wild or managed and encourages animal-welfare-first behavior.
Details that shape a Tanzania itinerary
These answers set useful expectations. Your written proposal remains the source for services specific to your dates and party.
How long are the drives between northern safari parks? +
Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti form a logical circuit, but they are not beside one another. Road time changes with the exact gate, lodge, traffic, weather and wildlife stops. The journey from the highlands into central Serengeti is a substantial travel day even though game viewing begins inside the ecosystem. Big 7 should show transfer expectations in the day-by-day proposal and can compare a light aircraft when road time would overwhelm a shorter trip.
What is a private safari vehicle like? +
A purpose-prepared 4×4 typically has a pop-up roof for standing observation, charging arrangements, seat belts and storage for soft luggage. Exact configuration and seating are confirmed for the group. Private use means the guide and vehicle serve your party, allowing flexible stops and viewing time; it does not permit leaving authorized roads, crowding wildlife or ignoring park hours.
Can dietary needs be handled on safari or Kilimanjaro? +
Many common dietary needs can be accommodated when disclosed before properties and provisions are confirmed. Remote camps and mountain kitchens have fewer replacement ingredients than city hotels, so specific allergies, cross-contamination risks and religious requirements must be described clearly. Carry essential personal snacks or medication as advised, and check the written proposal rather than assuming every buffet or packed lunch will be suitable.
How much luggage can I bring? +
International airlines, safari light aircraft and Kilimanjaro porter systems have different rules. Soft-sided bags are normally more practical in safari vehicles and small aircraft, and domestic flights can impose lower weight and dimension limits than the international journey. Mountain duffels also have a crew weight limit. Big 7 Safari Tours will confirm the most restrictive service in your route so you can pack to one workable plan or arrange storage.
Is Tanzania suitable for children? +
Many families travel successfully, but the best design depends on age, attention span, health, rooming and tolerance for rough roads. A private vehicle, fewer lodge changes, pools where appropriate, familiar food and shorter viewing windows can help. Some camps, walks, canoe trips or altitude activities have age or safety restrictions. Share every child's age before booking and discuss health with an appropriate clinician.
How should photographers plan power and equipment? +
Bring more batteries and memory than a normal city trip, use dust protection and confirm charging hours or socket access at remote camps. A beanbag can be useful from a vehicle; tripods are often awkward inside. Light-aircraft baggage may constrain long lenses and hard cases. Ethical photography means keeping distance, limiting noise and accepting the guide's position when another angle would block an animal or another vehicle.
What happens if weather changes an excursion? +
Rain can affect roads and trails, wind can cancel or relocate a boat trip, and cloud can hide mountain views. Guides and licensed operators protect safety first and may alter order, route or operating area. A strong itinerary keeps the core experience flexible and identifies any material replacement or refund terms in writing. Weather-dependent sightings and water visibility are not guaranteed.
Do I need travel insurance? +
Comprehensive cover is strongly recommended and may be required for some activities. Check medical treatment, evacuation, high-altitude trekking to Kilimanjaro's elevation, safari in remote areas, cancellation, interruption, baggage and any policy exclusions. Insurance is a contract between you and the insurer; ask the insurer to confirm uncertain wording rather than relying on a tour operator to interpret coverage.
Can airport transfers connect separate parts of the trip? +
Yes. Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha Airport, Zanzibar Airport and domestic airstrips can be linked with hotels, safari vehicles and mountain departures. The exact terminal, baggage rule, check-in margin and overnight location matter. Big 7 coordinates confirmed transfers in the itinerary, while travelers remain responsible for supplying correct flight details and notifying the team of schedule changes.
How do payments and confirmations work? +
An enquiry is not a booking. Before paying, review traveler names, dates, route, accommodation status, inclusions, exclusions, cancellation terms, payment milestones and the company payment instructions. Availability can change until the required deposit is received and acknowledged. Never send card details in a general contact form, and verify unexpected changes to payment instructions through a known Big 7 contact.
What should I know about tipping? +
Tipping is customary in many tourism settings but should remain voluntary and connected to service. Safari guides, mountain crews, drivers, lodge teams and community hosts have different roles, and group size affects how a suggested amount is shared. Ask for current guidance before travel, budget separately and use the agreed crew distribution method on Kilimanjaro rather than negotiating privately during the climb.
Can Big 7 arrange a fully private Tanzania journey? +
Safari vehicles and road transfers can be planned privately for your party. Some specialist services—scheduled light aircraft, ferries, park activities or boats—may remain shared unless a private option is specifically quoted. Mountain expeditions have a dedicated support team but use public trails and camps. The proposal should label each material service private or shared so expectations are clear.
Still have a question?
Send it directly to the Big 7 Safari Tours team. A useful answer is better than a quick assumption.