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We
invite you to come and see Makumira for yourself -- and
perhaps enjoy a safari at the same time. Below are some travel tips
to help you plan your trip. And let us give credit where credit
is due: the information on these pages was originally compiled by
Beth
E. Elness-Hanson when she and her husband Erik worked
at Maasae Girls Lutheran Secondary School.
Be sure to note
the handy printer-friendly "Preparation Timeline"
checklist of things to do, found at the end of the Preparation section
below. Visitors from the ELCA may also want to check this
link.
(Please
contact the webmaster
to recommend changes to any of the following information.)
Table
of Contents
PREPARATION
The only international
airline that flies into Kilimanjaro International Airport is KLM,
the travel partner of Northwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines (for
frequent flier purposes). The airport is approximately 30 minutes
east of Makumira and an hour east of Arusha.
KLM’s hub is
in Amsterdam. If you check fares on the web, don’t check out prices
from your airport to Kilimanjaro, instead, check from your airport
to Amsterdam and then check a second flight from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro.
I shaved $1000 off an estimate once!
Peak rates (the
most expensive) are from Dec. 2 to Jan. 10 and sometime early spring
to Sept. 30.
If you are an
experienced traveler, you may consider flying into Nairobi, Kenya,
and taking a mini bus to Arusha. Be prudent. There are more airlines
that fly into Nairobi and prices will be cheaper. However, you will
also need to either get a Kenyan visa with multiple entries
(one for arriving and one for returning from Tz) or a “Transit
Permit” for $20, which you can download in the US from the Tanzanian
Embassy web site. Nairobi is a fascinating but dangerous city.
In Nairobi,
you can take the Davanu or Riverside shuttles from the airport to
Arusha. Or take a taxi from the Nairobi airport to the Norfolk Hotel
to catch the Devanu or Riverside shuttle bus to the Novotel Hotel
(a.k.a. Mt. Meru Hotel) in Arusha. The shuttle should not cost more
than $15 per person. They will probably take US cash.
The Nairobi
shuttles will leave twice a day at either 8:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m.
from the Norfolk Hotel and either 8:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. (approximately)
from the Nairobi airport and arrive in Arusha at either 1:00 p.m.
or 6:00 p.m. The border crossing lacks logical systems, so it is
good to have a Tanzanian visa ahead of time—so you don’t miss the
bus!
I’ve seen super
specials to Nairobi at $1200 round trip. During the summer, rates
were as high as $2300 round trip.
Email your flight
information/travel/shuttle plans to me a few weeks before you depart.
I’ll arrange a pick up for you and confirm it via email as well.
Start by getting
a passport if you don’t have one already. You can find out how to
get one at http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html.
You will need
to provide two (2) passport type photos. They usually cost about
$6-10 at a passport place or Kinkos. You can make your own by having
someone take several photos of you (and whoever else that’s going)
at various distances in front of a white, plain background. Don’t
get too close, the final head size has to be between 1 to 1 and
3/8 inches. Get double prints and measure the head size on
the prints. Choose the ones with a head side of between 1 to 1 and
3/8 inches from the top of the head to the bottom of the chin. Cut
them out as a 2 x 2 inch square. Voila.
- Passport:
Leave a photocopy of your passport (picture page) with someone
accessible at home
- Passport:
Carry a photocopy of your passport separate from your passport
- Credit
card: Have your international customer service numbers and
credit card number accessible in case your credit card is lost
or stolen
- Health
insurance: Have a copy of your policy and give a copy to your
contact at home
- Will:
Take this opportunity to update your will if it isn’t current.
- Vaccination
record: carry a copy of the yellow fever page
- Pam Boston,
a friend who visited, recommends bringing 2 lists: A list
of current medical conditions, medications, and dosages; and a
list of primary care physician, dentist, ophthalmologist, health
insurance administrator, and travel insurance policy (name, address,
phone, fax, and email)
First start
with your health insurance company and ask what they cover for international
travel. I strongly recommend purchasing a short-term international
health insurance policy.
Additional policies
usually are purchased. A great contact is our insurance broker,
Jeff Gulleson, a Lutheran pastor’s son and former missionary kid.
Good Neighbor
Insurance
Toll free tel. (866) 636-9100
620 S Winthrop ST
Email jeff@gninsurance.com
Gilbert, AZ 85296
Web http://gninsurance.com
Travel agents
can also be a source for international health insurance.
Check with your
health insurance prescription coverage. They may cover this.
Most malaria
prophylaxis needs to be started one or two weeks prior to departure
and must be continued for up to four weeks after departure.
Visit the Center for Disease Control web site for travelers, http://www.cdc.gov/travel/regionalmalaria/eafrica.htm
For adults,
medications available in the US require a prescription and often
a family physician will refer you to the travel clinic at your public
health department. The most common medications are:
- Doxycyline
- Least
expensive; a daily pill
- Side
effects: sun sensitivity, yeast infections for women (bring
yeast infection treatment)
- My pharmacist
said that this was the antibiotic that was given to teens
for long-term acne treatment, so it is relatively safe. Note,
antibiotics will decrease the effectiveness of birth control
pills.
- This
is what we use when we go to high-risk malaria areas.
- Larium/Mefloqine
- Moderate
price; a weekly pill
- The
only medication acceptable for pregnant women
-
Side
effects: increased activity, restless sleep (or lack thereof),
wild dreams, and in some cases, hallucinations and neurological
side effects (If planning on taking Larium, start 2 weeks
early to experience any side effects when at home.)
- Malarone
- Quite
expensive, a daily $5 pill!
- A two
drug combination of paludrine/proguanil (not available separately
in the US) and atovaquone.
- This
is what we will put Anya on when we go into high-risk areas.
(She will be on the drug paludrine/proguanil with chloriquine
when in Monduli.)
Malaria meds
MUST be taken for two weeks after leaving a malaria area.
If you are planning
on bringing things for the school, packing in the molded plastic
foot lockers, Contico (brand), works very well. They comply with
airline baggage regulations (62 linear inches). Weigh them on a
scale to be a maximum of 70 pounds. Padlocks can lock them up. We
duck tapped around the opening, and then over the latches and encircling
the entire trunk, but then had to open every trunk for a security
inspection before leaving the States, reusing our duck tape as best
we could. Have your mailing address on each trunk (I recommend covering
it in clear packaging tape). You may want to carry a small roll
in your carry on for this and the 1001 uses for duck tape.
International
airlines may limit you to one carry on bag. Check with your airline.
A daypack or backpack is good and very functional when you have
to walk quite a ways or go to the city. In the crowded areas in
the city, wear your backpack backwards--as a front pack--for extra
security. Carry on luggage maximum size regulations are 9 x 14 x
22 inches.
If you bring
trunks with gifts for the girls school, it would be good to have
your local church participate enough to be able to provide an official
letter (on letterhead with a signature) with a statement that these
are gifts to the girls school to decrease chances of having to pay
any customs duty. (Thus far, no duty has had to be paid with this
documentation.) Often, letters may seem more official to a customs
officer if they are embossed or have a rubber stamp seal upon them.
A general description may work for getting through customs. A detailed
list might be scrutinized. Customs officials are concerned with
pharmaceuticals and electronic equipment, which can demand duty
of 40 percent!
If you are bringing
beads, you may want to bring an assortment some small clasps, pierced
ear, and jewelry hardware too. Bring lots of white beads; then black.
The other colors are yellow, dark royal blue, red, and pumpkin orange.
I’ve seen some gold and some Kelly green (Tanzanian flag color).
I think that
mixing all your beads in a big bowl and packing small zip lock bags
(from craft shops) with an assortment of colors and a couple clasps
would make an easy distribution method. There are approximately
250 students. The students can trade colors and clasps as needed.
If you aren’t
bringing trunks, most suitcases should do. Keep in mind that wheels
work in airports and safari lodges but not much beyond that in Tanzania
(little pavement or sidewalks). A smaller bag is good for going
on a few days of safari, leaving bigger suitcases with us at the
school. Smaller bags take up less room in the land rover and make
travel more comfortable.
If you are bringing
trunks, you might pack (in the trunk) a small, soft-sided suitcase
or larger backpack for safari.
Pack lightly!
You will probably have to carry your luggage at sometime. (Yes,
the trunks aren’t light. There are luggage carts available for free
when you pick up the trunks at the carousel. These carts will help
with getting luggage to the parking lot.)
On
your body
Top
of this section
- Security
Wallet (kept around your neck inside your shirt or inside your
waistband, fanny packs are not secure! Eagle Creek brand security
wallets made out of silk are available through REI.com for $20-22.
Non-silk are $14.)
- Passport
- Vaccination
chart (I rubber band mine into my passport with the rubber band
around the spine, so that both can be opened up at any time.)
- Travelers
checks and original receipt (some places ask to see the receipt
and photo ID, i.e. passport)
- Visa (brand)
credit cards (photo credit card if possible)
- Airplane
tickets
Carry
On: Backpack or Fanny Pack
Top
of this section
- Note, I recommend
putting liquids in zip lock bags to reduce the risk of leaking
or airplane pressurization popping tops off. (Pam said the bags
came in handy too!)
- Prescription
medication (both your meds and malaria meds)
- Keep in original
labeled bottles. If you have a huge bottle, ask your pharmacist
to prepare and label a small bottle for you.
- Antibiotic
for traveler’s diarrhea: My sister, a physician in Pakistan, recommends
Septra (brand). It’s cheaper than Cipro (brand) and works in most
cases. US health professionals recommend Cipro most often.
- Hand wipes
or waterless gel (Pam Boston liked having both.)
- Toiletries
(use travel size containers where possible, no perfume or after
shave, it attracts bugs!) Including:
- Conditioning
shampoo saves on space—no separate conditioner needed
- Spare
glasses
- Prescription
sunglasses (if any)
- Contacts
& solutions (there is a significant risk of eye infections
for contact wearers. Wearing glasses is recommended)
- Lip balm
with sunscreen
- Travel
sewing kit
- Feminine
hygiene supplies
- Birth
control/condoms
- Travel
medications (over the counter)
- Antihistamine
(e.g. Benadryl ®)
- Antimotility
medication (e.g. Imodium ®, used only if limited access to
a restroom, as on safari, otherwise, get the bugs out of your
system!) We have a rather large supply from previous people,
so if you don’t mind asking for it, you may have some!)
- Bismuth
subsalicylate (e.g. Pepto-Bisbol ®)
- Pain
relievers (e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen)
- Water bottle
(screw tops tend to leak less)
- Optional:
sweetened powdered drink mix (e.g. Tang, Crystal Lite) to add
a little bit to your water bottle to take some of the water-kept-in-plastic-bottle
taste away. (Note: bottles will need to be rinsed regularly to
keep mold from forming.)
- Drinking
straws, individually wrapped (I’ve never done this, but I see
it recommended.)
- Granola bars
or other snack food
- Facial tissue
travel packs
- Journal and
pen (maybe a pen on a string)
- Address list
for sending postcards
- Bible (New
Testament should do fine)
- Other book
for reading on the plane and relaxing in the evenings
- Watch/clock
with alarm (plastic cheapy, not an expensive looking metallic)
- Optional:
travel pillow
- Flashlight
(a one or 2 AA battery flashlight will do)
- Camera &
flash
- Film, 100
ASA for bright sun and dark skin tones is recommended. Higher
ASA is good for safari. Film is available in Tz, but can be expensive,
especially at safari lodges. After September 11, all checked baggage
is X-rayed, ruining any film. So, pack your film in your carry
on.
- Optional:
lead film protective pouch (though be warned, it can cause a hassle
at the security check!)
- Optional:
Video camera (if bringing one) with extra tapes and batteries.
(You will need a 220-110 power converter for video camera battery
charger. (I would not recommend bringing hair dryer, curling iron,
etc. There is very limited access to electricity.)
- Optional:
binoculars for safari
- Pam Boston
brought a portable tape player/recorder to record sounds with
a couple empty cassettes. She wished she had a couple favorite
tapes for relaxing.
- About $10
to $20 in US $1 bills. (In case you need to tip or want to buy
a cup of coffee in the airport in Amsterdam and don’t want $18
or $48 of Euro’s in change.)
Checked
luggage
Top
of this section
- Clothing,
dark colors that can be hand washed and doesn’t need ironing.
Don't bring anything nice. Shop at thrift stores for your Africa
clothes. Wearing white indicates that you are a tourist and are
more susceptible to street hawkers.
- Convertible
pants (zip off legs for safari, Beth’s personal preference)
- Two pair
of pants (a pair of jeans and a pair of dark colored, wrinkle
resistant Docker-like pants are great.)
- During the
cold months of June through Aug., a pair of sweats may help
- One or two
pair of walking-type shorts (for safari and non-classroom time
at the school)
- Three or
four T-shirts or polo shirts
- One long
sleeved shirt (Light denim is good)
- Sweatshirt
for layering (especially in June to Aug.)
- Tank top
(for safari)
- Sleepwear
- At least
5 pair of underwear
- Women
- Skirts/jumpers
for the classroom. Light denim or similar is great.
- Bra,
2 or 3 (1 can be hand washed and dry overnight). A sports
bra is appreciated on the bumpy roads!
- One nicer
Sunday-dress outfit plan (i.e. dress up skirt)
- Additional
feminine hygiene supplies
- Additional
birth control/condoms
- Men:
One nicer Sunday-dress
outfit plan (i.e. slacks)
- Light water
repellant jacket with hood (optional: rain poncho)
- Bathing suit
for pool at one safari lodge
- Hat for the
sun
- Sunglasses
- Sandals (Teva-type
sandals are great, comfortable to walk in and no problem getting
them wet and muddy—mud is copious during rainy seasons (March-May,
Oct.-Nov.)!!!
- Flip flops
for use like slippers or in the classroom on muddy days when you
leave muddy shoes outside (Or they can be purchased at the Monduli
market on Sundays for about US $2.)
- Comfortable
walking shoes (broken in) or tennis shoes (yes, get used to seeing
tennis shoes with a skirt). Light hiking boots are fine, but in
muddy season, the tread traps the mud. Smoother soles are easier
to scrape off.
- Socks (help
keep feet warm in June-Aug. Grey bottom sweat socks and other
non-white socks help keep the dingy-look away.)
- Optional:
single-serving coffee bags
- Sunscreen
(at least one 45 and perhaps one lower—at least SPF 15)
- Insect repellent
with DEET (Ultrathon® is one recommended brand, also available
at REI). Rhino Bite® is a non-DEET lotion for kids, but I find
myself not avoiding using it, because I don’t mind the smell!
- Permethrin
insect repellent for pre-treating clothing (the best deal I found
was the Sawyer (brand) 15 oz “refill” spray bottles at REI). Spray
clothes with permethrin and let them dry. They will repel insects
for 2 weeks or until washed or longer if kept in air-tight bags.
This is highly recommended. It is safe for the skin, but the skin
breaks down its effectiveness within minutes. That’s why it’s
applied to clothes instead.
- Vitamins
- First aid
kit
- Latex
gloves (I have some in every bag, school bag and back pack)
- Adhesive
bandages or gauze with tape
- Alcohol
swabs, individual packets
- Triple
antibiotic disinfectant
- Tweezers
- Eye drops
for moisturizing on dry days.
- If you’re
with a group, one larger kit is fine, which may include:
- Ace
wrap ®
- Antifungal
ointment
- Cough
drops
- Hydrocortizone
ointment
- Oral
rehydration salts
- Thermometer
- Optional:
Small scissors and/or multi-purpose tool (e.g. Leatherman—do
not pack these in your carryon. They will be confiscated!)
- Little padlock
for locking tent while on safari
- Optional:
“Swahili” pocket dictionary and phrase book
- Towel and
a couple washcloths (thin ones dry more quickly) (Pam liked having
a hand towel too.)
- Optional:
Bandana (I always seem to find a use for one) (Pam agrees! During
dry season safaris, we become cowboy-like with them over our noses
while driving down the dusty roads!)
- String for
clothes line and clothes pins
- Extra batteries
- Laundry soap
(I double zip locked bagged about 1 cup for 3 weeks and labeled
it well.)
- Optional:
FRS band two-way radios (Eric, I, Jean and Marv have these. It
helps to communicate if you have a group.)
- You might
keep in mind watching for sales. Give or request them as gifts--if
appropriate. Don’t spend a lot of money for things that might
be lost, broken, or stolen.
“Ki” means “language
of.” So, "Kiswahili" is the Swahili word for the name
of the language spoken by the Swahili (coastal) people. Thus, if
you are referring to the language while speaking English, you say
"Swahili," and if referring to it while speaking Swahili
you say "kiswahili."
Swahili is the
12th most spoken language in the world. It is not a tribal
language, and thus, has been a unifier of the people—especially
in Tanzania—where it is an official language along with English.
The origins
of Swahioli go back to the Arab slave traders. As they occupied
the coast, and then ventured inland, a language developed which
was a mixture of Arabic and the local Bantu languages. This language
became Swahili, and you will find Swahili very easy to learn if
you first brush up on your Arabic! (Makumira students find many
pleasant surprises when they learn Hebrew, because Hebrew and Arabic
are quite similar, and thus there are many words in Hebrew which
are the same in Swahili.) But don't let the Arabic connection intimidate
you. Swahili is much easier to learn than Arabic, has no gender
or definite article, and is pronounced the way it is spelled. (It
should really be the international travel language!)
Picking up a
“Swahili” pocket dictionary and phrase book will be helpful to begin
to learn some greeting and phrases that can help make you a good
guest. Greetings are important. See the addendum of beginning Kiswahili
for guests.
There is also
a “2-point” hug beginning with left cheeks coming close, then right
cheeks, like the French. Sometimes you will experience a “three-point”
handshake all with the right hand: 1) handshake, 2) grasp thumbs,
3) handshake.
The only vaccination
that is absolutely required is yellow fever, which has to be stamped
in your yellow International Certificate of Vaccination card (provided
by your health department travel clinic). In Seattle, the yellow
fever vaccination was $72 plus a $20 administrative/consultation
fee.
CDC
recommends the following vaccines (as appropriate for age):
See your travel
clinic at the public health deparment at least 4–6 weeks before
your trip to allow time for shots to take effect.
Hepatitis
A or immune globulin (IG), a series of 2 shots with the second
dose given 6 to 12 months after the first
Hepatits
B, if you might be exposed to blood (for example, health-care
workers), stay longer than 6 months, or be exposed through medical
treatment. (Note from Beth, this is optional. Hep B is a series
of 3 shots that are administered on a 0, 1, and 6-month schedule.)
Meningococcal
(meningitis) vaccine, if you plan to visit the western half
of Ethiopia (see
meningitis map) from December through June.
Rabies,
if you might be exposed to wild or domestic animals through your
work or recreation. (Note from Beth: this is optional. We got it
for Anya but not for us.)
Typhoid,
particularly if you are visiting developing countries in this region.
Yellow
fever, if you travel anywhere outside urban areas.
As needed, booster
doses for tetanus-diphtheria,
measles,
and a one-time dose of polio vaccine for adults. Hepatitis
B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children
ages 11–12 years who did not receive the series as infants.
Visit the embassy
web site for visitor's visa information and a downloadable
application form. Send in your application with your passport
by certified mail with a certified mail stamped return envelope.
The standard process takes approximately 4 weeks.
Tanzanian Embassy--Washington
DC
2139 R ST NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel. 202-884-10801
Email: balozi@tanzaniaembassy-us.org
Website: http://www.tanzaniaembassy-us.org/embassy/index.html
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