Great Migration: Tanzania & Kenya

Deposit Information:

The deposit and the fees for the optional Protection Plan or Cancel Fee Waiver [CFW] coverage are due at time of booking. Your deposit is £350.

Terms and Conditions:

For additional information pertaining to our Tauck Journeys, including Cancellation Information and Booking Conditions, click here to learn more.

At the time of booking, please have the following information ready:

• Tour Name and Departure Date Desired
• Traveler Name(s):  Please have first and last names as they appear on the passport or driver's license.
• Traveler's Address(es)
• Traveler's Phone Number(s)
• Emergency Contact Information: This would be a relative or friend whom we could contact during the tour in the event of an emergency. Please provide their name and phone number(s).
• Interest in purchasing a travel protection product (US and Canada)
• Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
• Interest in our specially negotiated airfares.

Regarding your final payment:

Final Payment is due to Tauck 90 days before departure for lands trips, and 120 days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

Customer Protection: Our UK-based agents comply with the bonding requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority and provide full financial protection for the package holidays that we sell in the UK. For flight-based holidays, this is through the Air Travel Organiser's Licence (details of which are available from the UK-based agent with whom you book). When you buy a package holiday that doesn't include a flight, protection of your monies paid to our UK-based agent will be provided by way of a bond.

Deposit Information:

The deposit and the fees for the optional Protection Plan or Cancel Fee Waiver [CFW] coverage are due at time of booking. Your deposit is £200.

Terms and Conditions:

For additional information pertaining to our Tauck Journeys, including Cancellation Information and Booking Conditions, click here to learn more.

At the time of booking, please have the following information ready:

• Tour Name and Departure Date Desired
• Traveler Name(s):  Please have first and last names as they appear on the passport or driver's license.
• Traveler's Address(es)
• Traveler's Phone Number(s)
• Emergency Contact Information: This would be a relative or friend whom we could contact during the tour in the event of an emergency. Please provide their name and phone number(s).
• Interest in purchasing a travel protection product (US and Canada)
• Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
• Interest in our specially negotiated airfares.

Regarding your final payment:

Final Payment is due as specified on the invoice. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice.

All U.S. citizens require a valid passport to enter Kenya and Tanzania, and that passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel. (Please note that although adult passports are valid for a full ten years, children's passports require renewal every five years.)  Your passport must also contain at least two blank visa pages. If you are a United States citizen and do not have a valid passport, please contact the closest U.S. passport agency or consult the U.S. State Department web site for detailed information on how to obtain or renew your passport at: www.travel.state.gov.

In addition to a valid passport, and as noted in the Summary of Purchase you received confirming your reservation, U.S. citizens are also required to have visas to enter Kenya and Tanzania. Please note that these visas must be processed within six months of your arrival.  Your Summary of Purchase also indicated various options on how to obtain your visas. To review (and if you are currently within the parameters of the timeframe noted above), you may elect to work with VisaCentral (a visa-assistance provider) to obtain your visas, with another visa-assistance provider of your choosing, or by working directly with the Kenyan and Tanzanian Embassies or Consulates. If you opt to work with VisaCentral, their services are available online at www.visacentral.com/tauck.

Please Note: E-Visa's are available in both Kenya and Tanzania. Visas cannot be processed more than 3 months prior to departure and you should print out a copy for one or both countries, before departing for Tanzania.

For Tanzania: To obtain your e-visa, please visit: https://visa.immigration.go.tz.

The point of entry is into Tanzania is Arusha, Tanzania.

For Kenya: To obtain your e-visa, please visit: https://evisa.go.ke.

The point of entry into Kenya is: Kisumu, Kenya.

Tauck Contact/Reference: Tanzania
Takims Holidays
PO Box 20350, Mtendeni Street
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Phone: +255 22 2110 346
Email: info@takimsholidays.com

Gran Melia Arusha 
Simeon Road, PO Box 1184 
Arusha, Tanzania 23110 
Phone: (255) 746 982 400 
Email: gran.melia.arusha@melia.com 

Tauck Contact/Reference: Kenya
Transworld Safaris Kenya, LTD
7th Floor Jacaranda Hotel
Westlands Nairobi, Kenya
Phone: 254 20 445 1620
Email: tours@transworldsafaris.com

Kenya Hotel Contact:
& Beyond Kichwa Tembo
Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
+27 11 809 4300

• Kenya: Point of entry: Kisumu, Kenya (for MG only) Point of Departure: Nairobi
• Arrival Airport:  Arrival flight for Kenya eTA: Airkenya Express #2552 /Kisumu Airport on Day 7
  If using the eTA system for Kenya, Guests should print out eTA before departing from the United States.
• Tanzania: Point of entry: Arusha
• Tanzania: Point of departure: Mwanza International Airport

PLEASE NOTE: Guests who choose to alter their air arrangements to fly round trip via Nairobi may be required to obtain a multiple-entry visa, rather than the single-entry Kenyan visa required for our program.

PLEASE NOTE: Guests who choose to alter their air arrangements to fly round trip via Nairobi may be required to obtain a multiple-entry visa, rather than the single-entry Kenyan visa required for our program.

Passport Information Requirement: We are required to obtain passport information for all guests on this tour. It is necessary for Tauck to provide the agencies we work through with this information well in advance of this journey's start date. Passport information that is not provided to our office at least 60 days before departure may result in the delay of producing tour documents. Passport information can be submitted to Tauck via My Account on our www.tauck.com website or you may complete the attached form and email it to: passportinfo@tauck.com.

Passport & Visa Requirement: U.S. citizens will need a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond completion of this journey. Up-to-date visas for Kenya and Tanzania are also required. Your passport must contain at least four blank visa pages. 

Your visa application requires a detailed summary of your Tauck itinerary. This document is available in the attached journey confirmation, on the Overview page in the Documents section of My Account (https://www.tauck.com/login) or can be requested directly from our Reservations team. 

Please Note: As a visa is an official government document, Tauck is unable to apply for a visa on your behalf and can only provide limited assistance with the process. Please note evisas are available for both Kenya and Tanzania. Visas may not be processed more than 3 months prior to departure and, once obtained; you should print out a copy for one or both countries, before departing for your journey.

For Tanzania to obtain your evisa, please visit: https://immigration.go.tz/. The point of entry into Tanzania is Arusha, Tanzania. Visa fees are not included in the tour cost.

For Kenya to obtain your eTA (evisa) travelers from the U.S., Canada, U.K. Australia and many other countries should visit: www.etakenya.go.ke. The point of entry into Kenya is Namanga, Kenya. Visa should be submitted no more than 90 days and the processing fee of $34 USD is not included in the tour cost.  It is recommended that families apply as a group. 

Please Note: Guests who choose to alter their air arrangements to fly round trip via Nairobi may be required to obtain a multiple-entry visa, rather than the single-entry Kenyan visa required for our program.

As an alternative to obtaining a visa for these countries on your own, Tauck has collaborated with VisaCentral in the U.S. to assist our guests with processing and issuing their visas. Visa kits may be downloaded through our www.tauck.com website. The visa fees are not included in the tour cost, and payment should be made directly to VisaCentral.
Please Note: While Tauck has an affiliation with VisaCentral for processing visas, you are not required to process your visa through VisaCentral, and may elect to choose other visa services or work directly through the appropriate consulates or embassies.It is a good idea to carry a photocopy of the photo page of your passport in a place other than with the original, and to leave a copy of all your travel documents with a friend or relative at home.

AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) in the My Account section of Tauck.com.

TAUCK AIRPORT TRANSFERS are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Tauck hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre tour or post tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, providing flight information is received in the Tauck office no later than three weeks in advance. Details on locating your transfer upon arrival to the tour start city will be included in your final documents.

AIRLINES and CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Tauck journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.

Special Luggage Restrictions for this Tour

Due to internal flights with limited storage capacity throughout the tour, A special rolling duffel bag (30x 15 x 14 inches) to be used for the entire tour; will be mailed to your home prior to your tour departure. This duffel bag has been selected to provide you with adequate space for all items needed during your stay. Please pack only in this duffel bag, as it will be your only piece of luggage for the entirety of the tour.

For all guests, both domestic and international, the duffel bag will be sent to your home and should arrive approximately two weeks prior to your departure for Africa.

Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey.

Carry-on Luggage - General

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, valuables, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the seat must be stored in the luggage truck, and will be inaccessible during daytime travel.

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.

VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Some of the countries visited on this itinerary may require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against certain diseases in order to enter the country.  These requirements are subject to frequent change as outbreaks occur and subside in different areas, and it is therefore crucial that you obtain the very latest information on entry requirements as you prepare for your journey.

Regarding the Yellow Fever Vaccination: 

While not a Tauck requirement, guests are advised to bring proof of Yellow Fever Vaccination or a doctor's note stating why they are unable to get the Yellow Fever vaccination for entry into Kenya. Please be advised this regulation often changes. 

For the most current information, please consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by clicking here and the World Health Organization (WHO) by clicking here. You may also wish to visit the web sites for the embassies of the countries you will be visiting.  Besides providing details on vaccination requirements, these sites can also provide information on vaccinations that may be recommended (but aren't required) and other potential health issues for which no vaccines are available.

Any decisions relating to your health, of course, should not be based solely on information provided by a web site.  It is critically important that you consult with your personal physician prior to your journey to obtain any required vaccinations and to review any optional recommendations offered by the CDC or other sources.

Please be sure to discuss your journey with your physician at least four to six weeks in advance of your departure, as certain vaccinations take time to become fully effective.  Also, be certain to ask your physician for proof of any vaccinations you receive, and to pack this proof along with your other travel documents in your carry-on luggage (not in your checked luggage).

Researching and complying with vaccination entry requirements for the countries visited on this itinerary is the responsibility of the traveler and not Tauck. Tauck is therefore not responsible for any expenses incurred or disruptions to travel caused by improper or incomplete vaccinations, or by the failure to provide proof of required vaccinations.

If you do not obtain the necessary vaccinations and proper documentation, you may be denied entry into one or more countries, or temporarily quarantined until the necessary vaccinations are administered, or until proper documentation is provided.

MOBILITY

All travelers to Africa should be in reasonably good health. There is a not a significant amount of walking on this tour; however, the walking that is done takes place over uneven terrain, occurs frequently in warm weather, and includes climbing in and out of safari vehicles. As noted above, you will take 4 on-tour flights that use single or twin engine propeller planes accommodating 18-50 passengers. We strongly advise that guests who require assistance walking or who travel with oxygen tanks may not fully enjoy this very active journey.

There are certain rules and regulations that one should be aware of while on safari. It is important that you listen to your tour director, local guide or ranger, as they are trained to be aware of the environment around them. Guests should be aware that while on safari, you will be traveling in smaller groups and will travel on small bush planes and/or helicopters.

Guests will share smaller safari vehicles, where they will be required to rotate not only safari guides, rangers and cars, but also seats within the car. Please note that there are limited medical facilities, and guests will not have exclusive use to a vehicle should they need special attention or consideration.

The safari vehicles are not air conditioned. The cars have six window seats, with roofs that lift up for animal viewing. Please note that the areas traversed on game drives are typically unpaved and will often be bumpy and dusty.

Please note that all Tauck guests will dine at Tauck Designated tables for meals. The majority of meals while on safari, are buffet due to the international guests that stay at the lodges.

A NOTE ON THE SCHEDULED HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE: The minimum age to participate in the hot air balloon ride is seven. There is no maximum age, although you must be reasonably mobile, fit to fly, and prepared for an adventure! Balloon passenger weights are calculated at an average of 176 lbs (80 kg) per person. If you weigh more than 50% above the average weight (i.e., 265 lbs/120 kg), you may be charged an additional fee.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE ON SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN AND MOBILITY ISSUES: This Tauck itinerary cannot accommodate oxygen tanks, wheelchairs or motorized scooters.  Oxygen tanks are strictly prohibited in many foreign countries on regional flights aboard small aircraft, such as those intra-tour flights featured on this Tauck journey.  Likewise, the very limited cargo capacity on such flights prohibits the transport of wheelchairs or motorized scooters.

Guests should also bear in mind that the infrastructure in many foreign countries, particularly in developing countries, often presents severe and even insurmountable challenges for those with walking difficulties or other mobility issues. The responsibility of the Tauck Director is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest.  Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS

The restaurants, hotels, caterers and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Tauck guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.

We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!

You can view the reading list here.

WEATHER

Kenya and Tanzania are truly year-round destinations, as the climate frequently features warm, bright days and cool, crisp nights. Daytime temperatures throughout the year typically range from 60 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, or 15.5 to 35 degrees Celsius; evening temperatures can be cooler, ranging from 50 to 60 F, or 10 to 15.5 C.

Late afternoon rains are customary. The rainy seasons are March through May (the "long rains") and October through December (the "short rains"). During these times, rain occurs mostly in the late afternoon, and is generally brief. The spring months are preferred by some for smaller crowds, verdant scenery, and delightful temperatures.

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, noaa.gov, by clicking here.