Tanzania is waiting for you! Warmly, Stacy Readal and Hezron Mbise, Owners

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1 We are so glad you have chosen to travel with Duma Explorer for your adventure of a lifetime. We are certain you will have a fantastic trip and we are committed to exceeding your expectations. We love Tanzania for its warm culture and natural beauty and we are thrilled to share this with you! This trip info package provides you with essential background about logistics and how to prepare for your trip. Please read it thoroughly and ask us any questions you may have during your preparation process. Tanzania is waiting for you! Warmly, Stacy Readal and Hezron Mbise, Owners If we are picking you up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Domestic Airport (ARK), your driver will be holding a Duma Explorer sign and will meet you out front. Please note the office emergency numbers in the emergency section. Please check with your local authorities and your doctor on your needs for a trip to Tanzania. Generally speaking, a trip to Tanzania requires the following: A valid passport and entry visa (USD per person - you can get this visa either from the Tanzanian embassy in your country or at the airport upon arrival) International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever and other vaccinations (if traveling from certain countries or if you need to be transported to Kenya during an emergency). For information on recommended vaccinations, please refer to the following website: Malaria prophylaxis Necessary medication and tablets for diarrhea and pain relief P O B o x A r u s h a, T a n z a n i a i n f d u m a e x p l o r e r. c o m

2 Travel insurance with medical cover Emergency evacuation insurance for your stay in Tanzania (see below for information on your automatic Flying Doctors coverage) In the unfortunate event of lost luggage, we will process your lost luggage claim should your baggage not arrive with you at the airport. Please note that only luggage lost with KLM flying into Kilimanjaro Airport will be transported to you free of charge. We charge for this service for baggage lost on other airlines. We recommend keeping electronics and your important items, such as prescriptions and contact lenses, in your carry on luggage. We also recommend keeping a change of clothes and bath essentials in your carry on in case your bag is lost for a few days. With more than 20 tribes, Tanzanian culture is extremely varied. When interacting with the local people, please remember to: Treat each individual with respect and remembertanzanians are quite conservative and polite. Always ask before taking photos. Certain tribes do not like being photographed. Please do not hand out candy, pens, money or other items to children. This teaches them to beg from tourists and keeps them out of school. If you want to make a donation, please contact us for ways to make a meaningful donation. Duma Explorer sponsors a rural kindergarten outside Arusha. If you are interested in visiting, volunteering or making a donation, please contact us for more details. After you finish your trip, we will you an evaluation to fill out about the trip. Please return the evaluation to us by or post. We use your feedback to improve our service and reward employees so we appreciate your comments. Wear conservative clothing in towns. This typically means covering shoulders and knees. Although many activities in Tanzania are 'all inclusive', there is still a need to bring money for souvenirs, gratuities, drinks, laundry and other expenses. The Tanzanian Shilling is Tanzania's currency. The rate is around TSH 200 to USD but the rate fluctuates widely. ATMs are widely available in Tanzania's major cities (Arusha, Moshi, Dar es Salaam, 2 P O B o x A r u s h a, T a n z a n i a i n f d u m a e x p l o r e r. c o m

3 Zanzibar). It is advised to bring a Visa card with a 4 digit pin. MasterCard is also accepted at some ATMs. ATMs dispense Tanzanian currency only. Please notify your credit card company that you are traveling to East Africa. Although credit cards are accepted for payment at some stores and hotels, high surcharges usually apply typically ranging from 5-0%. Travelers checks are difficult to use and the rate is low. Major stores and hotels will accept USD cash for payment. Breaking $00 bills is difficult. Gratuities are best given in USD cash or Tanzanian Shillings. Airport departure taxes (currently USD 30 when exiting Tanzania and USD 6 for domestic flights) must be paid in cash. Many airlines include the departure tax in the ticket price check your ticket. You must bring USD bills that are year 2002 or newer for Northern Tanzania. Some bureaus in Zanzibar will accept bills newer than Please keep your valuables (money, passport, cameras) on you at all times. Please do not keep money, travelers checks, etc. in your packed luggage at the lodges. As there are many companies and dozens of people at each location, we cannot guarantee the safety of unattended valuables. Please store your valuables at the front desk or in your room safe. Duma is not responsible for lost money or valuables. You will have many opportunities to purchase souvenirs while in Arusha and on Zanzibar. Expect to bargain at local markets. If you are interested in purchasing Tanzanite, we can arrange a visit to a Tanzanite museum and store. Please us for details or ask your local guide. Dar es Salaam International Airport is located 5kms southwest of Dar, approximately 25 minutes by car. Facilities include duty-free shops, car hire, post office, banking, ATM, bureau de change, and a bar and restaurant. Kilimanjaro International Airport is located 40kms from Arusha, or hour by car. Facilities include curio shops, a post office, and a bar. Zanzibar International Airport is located 7kms from the centre of Stone Town, approximately 5 minutes by car. Facilities include a cafeteria and bureau de change. Arusha Domestic Airport is located on the outskirts of Arusha town. Facilities include a curio shop and snack bar. 3 P O B o x A r u s h a, T a n z a n i a i n f d u m a e x p l o r e r. c o m

4 Although the landline phone system is limited, mobile phones are widely available. While service is expanding in the parks, it is limited in many areas and should not be relied upon. Vodacom, Airtel, and Tigo work in some areas, but Halotel rarely does. Phone charges from hotels are generally around USD 4/minute. Internet cafes and hotel internet access is available in most cities. Most safari lodges and camps do not have public internet connections (with the exception of some large properties). Please do not expect a wireless connection in your room! Even if there is an internet connection, it is often difficult to acquire settings to connect your laptop. Country code: 255 Duma emergency phone numbers (please note you will need to check how to dial internationally from your home country). If you are dialing from within Tanzania, dial for example: - Omary, Reservations Manager / Emilie, General Manager Hezron, Director / Duma info@dumaexplorer.com Street address: Plot #5, Kivulini Estate, Ngara Mtoni ya Chini, Arusha, Tanzania. Our offices are near the Arusha Domestic Airport. Tanzania s climate is predominantly tropical. The hottest months are from October to February. The long rains occur from mid-march to late May, and the short rains from November to January. The coolest months are June to August, and nights and early mornings can be cold. In highaltitude areas such as Kilimanjaro, temperatures fall well below freezing. Coastal areas are hot and humid with an average daytime temperature of 30C/86F. Sea breezes can make the temperature on the coast pleasant but we advise accommodation with air-conditioning during the hot season. Most camps and lodges do not have 24 hour electricity. Charge your appliances soon after 4 P O B o x A r u s h a, T a n z a n i a i n f d u m a e x p l o r e r. c o m

5 arriving at your overnight destination. Electricity in Tanzania is 220V. Please refer to the photo below when purchasing an adaptor. There are no charging facilities on the mountain. Use the restrooms at park gates and campsites, as there are not many restrooms inside the parks. Your guides will advise you how to use the facili-trees in between campsites to minimize your impact on the environment. It is advisable to always carry a small amount of toilet paper with you and a Ziploc bag to store it until you can dispose of your trash later. This is a requirement of park regulations and a good Leave No Trace principle to leave no trash behind. Duma drivers will meet you at your hotel to drive you to Kilimanjaro National Park. There is a luggage weight limit of 5 kilograms (33 pounds) of personal gear per climber that is carried by porters. This does not include the items you carry while hiking in your day pack. Please leave items you do not need for the climb in Arusha at the hotel. Please use luggage locks with any baggage you store at the hotel. Climbers with an excess of 5kg in their porter s duffel will be asked to pay an extra $00 for excess weight. Clients who bring everything on the packing list rarely have an issue with weight. Bringing extra heavy items such as books or excessive electronic devices are usually the cause for going over the weight limit. You will meet most of your mountain staff upon arrival at the gate. When you arrive at the gate, there will be a delay as we have to weigh bags and register your climb with the national park officials. Please use the restroom here as this is the last toilet before the first camp. After completing the registration, begin hiking with your Duma guide to the first camp. Depending on your start time, you may either eat your packed lunch at the gate or on the trail. You will be provided with bottled water to top of your bottles at the gate. You will hike with a day pack while a porter will carry your gear pack. For information on what to carry in your day pack, please refer to the packing list below. It is imperative that you have rain gear with you at all times on Kilimanjaro. The temperature drops dramatically when it rains so it is important to keep your body as dry as possible. Also, please pack your sleeping bag in a large plastic bag. We pack your Kilimanjaro gear inside a larger waterproof bag, but 5 P O B o x A r u s h a, T a n z a n i a i n f d u m a e x p l o r e r. c o m

6 recommend that you take the extra precaution of packing items in plastic bags. Please pack all gear that the porter will carry inside a large duffel bag or backpack. Please do not use roller luggage or hard suitcases for Kilimanjaro. As your bag is placed in a larger duffel provided by us, it is not necessary to purchase an expedition pack if you do not already have one. A softsided duffel bag is sufficient. Your staff on Kilimanjaro will consist of licensed Kilimanjaro guides, a cook, and many porters. Please note that some porters also act as waiters, water carriers, and toilet cleaners. Small groups of two climbers have a staff size of 2-5. Lemosho and Rongai always have more staff. Large groups should plan on 4.5 staff for every climber. Your guides will introduce your crew during the first day. We will give you a list of your crew so that you have their names. This will assist you in planning tips for your staff. Please note that all Duma staff are paid good wages so you do not need to increase your tips because the crew size is large. It is okay to tip at the bottom end of the tipping guidelines if you wish. The primary responsibility of the head guide is to ensure that you are safe and healthy during your trek. He will check your progress each day and will ask questions about how you feel and if you are experiencing altitude sickness. The guide will give you a briefing about the following day each night over dinner. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please tell the guide immediately so he may assist you. Campsites on Kilimanjaro are primitive. There are several outhouses, but the only other permanent structures are ranger stations. The porters will set up camp for you each day before you arrive at the campsite. Your campsite will consist of sleeping tents, one mess tent, one cook s tent, one toilet tent, and staff tents. We also provide tables and chairs for the mess tent. Duma staff will provide washing water when you arrive at the campsite so you can clean up immediately after the hike. It is also useful to have handi-wipes so that you can clean up on the trail and in your tent. You can dispose of your soiled toilet paper in the toilet tent at the end of each day. We use a water filter to purify your drinking water. Drinking water is available in the mornings and evenings at the campsites. Water is not available while hiking. We recommend carrying at 6 P O B o x A r u s h a, T a n z a n i a i n f d u m a e x p l o r e r. c o m

7 least two to three liters of water per person each day on the trail. We recommend taking as long as possible to hike between camps to help with acclimatization. Your guide will help you set a good hiking speed. There is no harm having excess energy when you arrive at camp; it is typically the climbers who push hard who later have trouble acclimatizing. Your guide will help determine your departure time on summit night based on their experience and your pace, but departure times are typically pm or midnight. You will have a small snack of light food like tea, popcorn, or cookies. Please pack three liters of water each for the final ascent to Uhuru Peak. Many hikers experience extreme dehydration so it is important to have enough water. If a hiker is having problems carrying their daypack, a guide will assist in carrying the pack for them--so don't be afraid to pack lots of water. Please turn your water bottles upside down and leave a little empty space in each bottle. Please also put the bottle inside a sock or other insulating material so that your water does not freeze. Camelbak hoses are notorious for freezing even if they are insulated and you are diligent about blowing the water back out of the hose so please bring at least one spare Nalgene of water. Please note that summit temperatures often drop to minus 30 C. Please plan your gear accordingly. Additionally, strong winds are often experienced on Kilimanjaro s summit so you must have wind and waterproof outer layers. We recommend wearing four layers on top and three layers on bottom for the Kilimanjaro summit. Please note that Duma Explorer follows a turnaround policy for summiting Kilimanjaro. If you are not at the summit by latest 9:30am, you will turn around. The time may be earlier and the decision is made by Duma Explorer s head guide. Your safety and our staff s safety are our top priority and we ask that you respect and heed our guides experience and recommendations. Please bring your own energy snacks (gel, gu) for the final ascent as these items are not available in Tanzania. We recommend bringing two Power Bars per person for each day of hiking and four gel/gu shots per person for the summit ascent. If you have poor circulation, please bring hand/foot warmers for your gloves and shoes. If you are too sick to continue or you are having health problems during the final ascent, please inform our guides immediately so they can assist you. If a climber has to descend before 7 P O B o x A r u s h a, T a n z a n i a i n f d u m a e x p l o r e r. c o m

8 reaching the summit, an assistant guide will accompany them back to a lower camp (or lower if necessary). We are in phone contact with our guides during the climb and can arrange a rescue if necessary. Please note Duma Explorer does not cover hotel or food expenses should you have to come off the mountain early. We will bring a lunchbox for you when we pick you up at the gate. You will arrive in Arusha at approximately 2pm on your final day depending on your rate of descent. After you finish your trip, we will you an evaluation to fill out about the trip. Please return the evaluation to us by or post. We use your feedback to improve our service and reward employees so we appreciate your comments. Gratuities in the Tanzanian tourism industry generally follow the North American system. Tourists are expected to tip at restaurants and hotels, on safari, and while hiking Kilimanjaro. The following information provides a guide to tipping on Kilimanjaro and Meru. The information is a collection of tipping recommendations from guidebooks as well as our company s experience with tipping in Tanzania. As with any tipping situation, if you enjoy your experience, give a generous tip; if you do not enjoy your experience, adjust the tip accordingly. Generally, you should budget approximately 5% of your total climb cost for tips. If you are traveling in a small group, you should contribute more per person to the tip kitty. We provide a list of your crew as well as jobs performed on the day you begin your climb. Please use this list to write down tip amounts for each staff member. Tips are usually distributed at Mweka Camp on the last morning after breakfast, and we recommend tipping each staff member directly. Role Range / Day Total 6-Day Climb Total 7-Day Climb Total 8-Day Climb Head Guide $20-30 $90-80 $40-20 $ Asst Guide $0-20 $60-$20 $70-40 $80-60 Cook $8-2 $48-72 $56-84 $64-96 Porter $6-0 $36-60 $42-70 $ P O B o x A r u s h a, T a n z a n i a i n f d u m a e x p l o r e r. c o m

9 Please note that some porters have extra jobs such as toilet cleaner, camp crew, and waiter. Porters may also volunteer to go to the summit to help carry bags and obtain valuable experience to become a guide later. Please tip these porters a bit more than porters who do not have extra jobs. Tip amounts listed for Kilimanjaro are per group, not per individual traveler. For instance, if 5 people are on a 7 day climb, they should each contribute between $28 to $42 per person so that the lead guide s tip equals between $40-$20 total for his work on the climb. Please note all of the office emergency numbers above. You may wish to give our contact information to your loved ones back home. Please advise your guides of any illness or injury immediately so that we can take steps to avoid an emergency. In case of a true medical emergency, we automatically provide a membership to Flying Doctors during your stay in Tanzania. This membership covers rescue for medical emergencies to Nairobi, Kenya where medical treatment is available. If you face an emergency, Flying Doctors will transport you plus one escort (friend or family member) to the hospital of your choice in Nairobi. As with any rescue, aircraft are subject to pilot discretion and safe flying conditions. Note that Flying Doctors does not cover medical treatment once you are in Nairobi. For an emergency evacuation to go smoothly, you MUST have the following documentation on your person: Your Flying Doctors membership number (provided by the office) Passport and visa Proof of medical coverage or adequate funds Vaccination certificates (yellow fever vaccination is required to enter Kenya) As Kilimanjaro can be rainy, please carry waterproof jacket and pants in your day pack. A good pair of waterproof hiking shoes is also necessary for each day of hiking and most importantly, the final summit day. Although Duma's head guides carry first aid kits, we recommend that each person has their own first aid kit with essentials such as topical antibiotic, bandages, moleskin and prescription medicines. Please note that you may need to alter the quantity of items listed on the packing list based on the length of your climb. 9 P O B o x A r u s h a, T a n z a n i a i n f d u m a e x p l o r e r. c o m

10 Because of weight restrictions on porters' bags, each climber s gear bag must weigh no more than 5 kilograms (33 pounds). We place your gear bag in a waterproof bag after you arrive at the gate. We recommend packing your sleeping bag and clothing inside plastic bags in case of heavy downpours. Porters will walk ahead of you on the trail. The same porter will carry your bag each day and will place it in your tent s vestibule. Your tents will be set up when you arrive at camp, but you will unpack your own gear bag. For Mount Meru, you will receive your gear bag when you arrive at the rest station. In addition to your gear bag, please pack a day pack to carry during the hike each day. We recommend carrying the following items in your day pack: rain gear, 2-3 liters of water, camera, lunch, extra fleece jacket, passport, and money. If you usually drink a lot of water while hiking, we recommend carrying 4 liters in your day pack. You will not have access to the luggage carried by the porter until you reach the camp/hut each evening. Be sure your day pack has a waist strap and good back and shoulder support. The items below are available for rent in Tanzania. All prices are for the duration of the climb. Mountaineering sleeping tents, mattresses and pillows are included in the price of your climb. A dining tent as well as tables and chairs are also provided in the price of the climb. 0 degree Fahrenheit sleeping bag: $40 each Insulated jacket or Shell/insulated layer combination: $30 each Walking stick (pair): $35 each Jackets and pants: $5 each item Hats, gloves, gaiters and balaclava: $0 each item Please give us as much notice as possible on items you need to rent as we have limited quantities of some items. We often have climbers who would like to send used gear to our porters and guides. If you would be willing to have things sent to you to carry over for our staff please let us know. Boots, sleeping bags, and rain gear are especially appreciated. Item Waterproof hiking boots Tennis shoes or light hikers Wool or polypro socks medium/heavyweight Polypro shirt, sock liners Quantity 5 2 of each 2 0 P O B o x A r u s h a, T a n z a n i a i n f d u m a e x p l o r e r. c o m

11 Polypro long underwear (top & bottom) Hiking shorts Hiking pants/fleece pants Wool or fleece sweater/pull-over Water/wind-proof (Goretex) shell jacket Insulated rain/wind (Goretex) climbing pants Wool or fleece gloves - medium weight Wind/waterproof gloves -- heavy weight Wool or synthetic stocking cap windproof Sun hat Balaclava Gaiters Sunglasses Walking stick Expedition pack or duffel bag Day pack & waterproof pack cover Sleeping bag (rated to 0 F) Headlamp & spare bulb Camp towel 2 of each 3 pair liter water bottles/camelbak (especially useful for summit night) Sun cream and lip balm 30+SPF Large plastic garbage bags and ziploc storage bags of various sizes Lightweight toilet articles - toothbrush & paste, floss, hand and face cleansers, Wet Ones and tissues Extra batteries Travel wallet 6 P O B o x A r u s h a, T a n z a n i a i n f d u m a e x p l o r e r. c o m

12 Camera 2 per day Energy bars, electrolyte powder & snacks (energy gel/gu is best for summit day) Please note energy bars and gu are not available in Tanzania. First Aid Kit Anti-malarial medicines Cipro (GI, general antibiotic) Diamox (altitude) Headache medicine (Ibuprofen) Imodium (diarrhea medicine) Pepto or Antacid (Rolaids) rolls (stomach acid medicine) Flu/sinus medicine Neosporin (cuts) Band-Aids Moleskin for blisters doses dose doses as needed as needed as needed as needed as needed as needed at least 3 sheets We are a qualified Partner company with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) and the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC) Partner for Responsible Travel Program. We voluntarily participate with, and are closely scrutinized by, KPAP s monitoring activities every climbing season. The exploitation and mistreatment of mountain crew can be a troubling challenge in the climbing industry. It is a possibility that porters may: - Receive less than the minimum salary set by the Kilimanjaro stakeholders - Pay a bribe to be selected for a climb - Not receive the full amount of tip intended for them - Be given one meal a day - Sleep in overcrowded tents - Carry weight exceeding the park regulations of 20kgs 2 P O B o x A r u s h a, T a n z a n i a i n f d u m a e x p l o r e r. c o m

13 Many agents and visitors abroad, who are unfamiliar with these practices, may unknowingly book with operators who may misrepresent themselves to be fair and socially responsible. All local climbing companies operating on Kilimanjaro are invited to participate with KPAP/IMEC s Partner Program and there is no cost to the company. In a very competitive market with over 300 local operators offering Kilimanjaro treks, only 0% have been certified as Partners with KPAP/IMEC. We are approved by KPAP/IMEC and you can be assured that we have implemented systems to safeguard the proper treatment of porters. Costs are always an important factor in choosing a climbing company. Sadly, the reality is the lower the costs of a climb, the much higher the probability that an operator is not adhering to fair and ethical standards. As a result, well meaning individuals and organizations inadvertently become part of the exploitation of these hard working men and women on the mountain. As an active KPAP/IMEC Partner company, not only do we believe it is the ethically correct choice to do as a business, we feel it is important to educate the climbing public on these issues and how they can ensure that they are not a part of these abuses. There are many companies who falsely claim to be approved KPAP/IMEC Partner companies. Kindly contact info@kiliporters.org to verify our scorecard performance level. Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project An initiative of the International Mountain Explorers Connection 3 P O B o x A r u s h a, T a n z a n i a i n f d u m a e x p l o r e r. c o m