Frequently Asked Questions

Send an enquiry through any form on this site, email info@rutalegacysafaris.com or message our WhatsApp line. We reply with a day-by-day itinerary and a quote, revise it with you, and confirm the booking on receipt of a deposit.

Normally 30% of the trip cost to secure park permits, mountain gate fees and accommodation, with the balance due 30 days before arrival. Last-minute bookings are settled in full at confirmation.

International bank transfer (SWIFT) and card payment via a secure payment link. Balances can also be settled in cash (USD) on arrival in Arusha if you prefer, by prior agreement.

Deposits are refundable less unrecoverable park and lodge charges when you cancel more than 60 days before departure. Inside 30 days the trip is generally non-refundable, which is why we ask every traveller to carry travel insurance with cancellation cover.

Park entry fees, crater service fees, concession or camping fees, a private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, fuel and unlimited game-drive mileage, a professional English-speaking guide, accommodation, all meals on safari and drinking water.

International flights, Tanzanian visa, travel insurance, alcoholic drinks, laundry, optional activities such as balloon safaris or Maasai village visits, and tips for your guide and crew.

Lion, elephant, buffalo and leopard are all seen regularly on the northern circuit. Black rhino are the hard one — the Ngorongoro Crater offers the best chance in Tanzania, though sightings are never guaranteed. Wildlife is wild; your guide's job is to maximise the odds.

Yes, and families are welcome. We suggest slightly shorter driving days, lodges with pools and family rooms, and private departures so that timings flex around young children.

Private safaris use one vehicle for your party only. Group-joining departures carry a maximum of six travellers in a seven-seat Land Cruiser so that everyone gets a window and roof space.

Lemosho (8 days) and Machame (7 days) offer the best balance of scenery and acclimatisation, and therefore the highest summit rates. Marangu (6 days) is the only hut route and suits travellers who dislike camping. Rongai (7 days) approaches from the quieter northern side and is the driest route in the rainy shoulder seasons.

No. Kilimanjaro is a long, high trek rather than a technical climb — no ropes, harnesses or ice axes on the standard routes. Good general fitness, steady hiking legs and a tolerance for altitude matter far more than mountaineering skills.

Across all operators and routes roughly two thirds of climbers reach Uhuru Peak. Success rises sharply with the number of days on the mountain: seven- and eight-day itineraries run well above 85% in our experience, while rushed five-day climbs fall far below that.

Camps are mild by day (15–25 °C in the forest and moorland) but summit night regularly hits −7 °C to −20 °C with wind chill. A four-season sleeping bag, insulated jacket and proper gloves are essential; we rent quality gear in Moshi and Arusha if you would rather not buy.

Mild headaches and breathlessness are common. Our guides monitor oxygen saturation and pulse twice daily, enforce a slow 'pole pole' pace, and carry bottled oxygen for emergencies. Any climber showing serious symptoms descends — that decision rests with the guide and is not negotiable.

Short flights connect Arusha and Kilimanjaro Airport with Zanzibar daily, taking about 75–90 minutes. We book these for you and handle the transfer to your beach hotel.

Nungwi and Kendwa in the north have swimmable water at all tides and the liveliest sunsets. Paje and Jambiani in the south-east suit kitesurfers and budget travellers. Pongwe, Matemwe and Michamvi are quieter, better for honeymoons and reading in a hammock.

Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim. Beachwear is fine at resorts, but in Stone Town and villages please cover shoulders and knees. Light, loose clothing is both respectful and far more comfortable.

Most nationalities do. An ordinary single-entry tourist visa costs USD 50 (USD 100 for US passport holders) and can be obtained online in advance or on arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport. See our visa and entry guide.

A yellow-fever certificate is required if you arrive from a yellow-fever endemic country, and is checked when travellers transit through such countries. Routine vaccinations plus typhoid and hepatitis A are commonly recommended, and malaria prophylaxis is advised for safari and coastal areas. Always confirm with a travel clinic.

Drink bottled or filtered water only. We supply drinking water throughout safaris and climbs — bring a reusable bottle to cut plastic use.

US dollars (notes dated 2009 or later) are widely accepted for park fees, tips and hotels, and Tanzanian shillings are handy for markets and small purchases. Cards work in larger hotels; ATMs are available in Arusha, Moshi and Stone Town.

Guidelines rather than rules: USD 20–30 per day for a safari guide from the group, and on Kilimanjaro roughly USD 200–350 per climber divided among the crew. Your guide will explain the tipping ceremony at the end of the climb.