Frequently Asked Questions

The safari deposit is 30% of the total trip price, due when you accept your written proposal. Your booking is confirmed once we receive the deposit and send you written confirmation, so avoid buying flights that cannot be changed until you have that email. Prices are in US dollars, per person based on two sharing, and your proposal shows the exact deposit for your party. The deposit is part of the price, not an extra charge, and it is deducted when your balance is calculated. If anything in the proposal is unclear, ask before you pay. We would much rather answer a question early than sort out a misunderstanding later, and the full wording is set out in our booking terms.

The balance is the remaining 70% of the trip price, and it is due at least 45 days before arrival. We send a reminder with the amount and payment details well before the date, so you are never chasing a deadline. If you would like to pay the balance earlier, that is fine, and some travellers prefer to settle everything in one go to keep things simple. Please pay on time, because the services we have reserved for you rely on it. If you expect any difficulty meeting the date, write to us early and we will talk it through. The payment schedule is always shown in your proposal and confirmation.

Yes, late bookings are possible, subject to availability. A last minute safari inside 45 days of arrival is paid in full at confirmation, rather than as a 30% deposit and a 70% balance. Because lodges, camps and Kilimanjaro departures can fill, especially in the busiest months, the sooner you tell us your dates the more choice you will have. Send us your dates, party size and interests by email or WhatsApp on +255 682 044 971, and we will say honestly what is realistic. If a particular camp is full, we will suggest alternatives rather than quietly swapping something in. Do not buy non-changeable flights until your booking is confirmed in writing.

We accept three payment methods. International bank transfer is the usual choice for deposits and balances. Card payment is available through a secure link we send you; a processing surcharge may apply, and we state it before you pay so there are no surprises. Mobile money is available for small local costs, such as extras settled in Tanzania. Whichever you choose, we will confirm the amount and give you the details in writing. Ask us if you would like to split a payment between travellers in your party. If you are unsure which route suits you best, email info@theexpeditiontourstz.com and we will explain how each one works.

For a bank transfer, we send you our account details with your proposal or confirmation, along with the exact amount in US dollars and a reference to use. Check with your own bank whether it charges transfer fees, and ask for the transfer to be made so that we receive the full amount, as intermediary charges can reduce what arrives. Transfers from abroad can take a few working days, so allow time before a deadline. Send us the transfer confirmation once it is made and we will acknowledge receipt in writing. Never rely on bank details from an old email or a forwarded message. Always confirm them with us directly before sending money.

Safari scams usually involve fake emails with changed bank details, or sudden requests to pay somewhere new. To protect yourself, always confirm bank details with us directly before you send money, by WhatsApp on +255 682 044 971 or a call, not only by replying to an email. We are a business registered with BRELA, Business Name No. 717897, in Arusha, Tanzania. Our email is info@theexpeditiontourstz.com. Be cautious of anyone who pressures you to pay quickly, asks for payment to a personal account you have not verified, or offers a price far below the written quotation. If anything looks odd, stop and contact us before paying.

All prices are in US dollars, per person based on two sharing, and payments are made in US dollars. If your bank or card converts from another currency, the exchange rate and any conversion fee are set by your provider, so check them before you pay. When we receive a payment, we acknowledge it in writing, and you can ask for a payment receipt for each deposit or balance at any time. Keep these records with your confirmation, your insurance documents and your passport details. They are useful if you need to claim on your insurance or if your bank queries an international payment. For small local costs in Tanzania, mobile money can be used.

Your written proposal lists exactly what is included in the safari price and what is not, and that document is what counts. Typically a price covers items such as accommodation, guiding, ground transport and the meals described in the itinerary, while things like international flights, travel insurance, visas, tips and personal spending are usually outside it. Park fees and similar charges are handled in the proposal, which states clearly whether they are inside the price. Read the included and excluded sections carefully, and ask about anything you are unsure of, such as drinks, laundry or optional activities. If a line is unclear, we will explain it before you pay the deposit, not after.

No. Route pages show a guide price marked "from", to help you compare trips. The cheapest start from about USD 2,380 per person, and most fall between USD 3,000 and 5,900, based on two sharing. The real price is set by your written quotation, because it depends on your dates, the lodges or camps chosen, the number of travellers, the length of the trip and any extras. Travelling as a couple, a family or a larger party changes the arithmetic, as does the time of year. Ask for price quotes for two or three versions of your trip if you want to compare options, and we will send them clearly side by side.

Tell us as soon as you know, in writing by email, so we can check availability for the new dates. We cannot promise a change, because lodges, camps and Kilimanjaro departures may already be committed for your original dates, and the cost of any change depends on what has been reserved and what cannot be recovered. We will tell you plainly what is possible and what it would cost before anything is altered. If a change is not possible, the cancellation terms apply. The earlier you ask, the more options there are. Changing dates also means checking your flights, your visa plans and your insurance, so keep us in the loop on all of these.

You can cancel in writing by email. If you cancel 60 days or more before arrival, payments are refunded less a 5% administrative fee, calculated on payments received, and any non-recoverable costs already committed. From 59 to 30 days before arrival, the 30% deposit is kept and further payments are refunded less non-recoverable costs. Under 30 days, or if you do not show up, the full price is retained. Unused days on a trip are not refunded. Because the cancellation policy depends on the date we receive your email, cancel as soon as you know. Travel insurance that covers cancellation is mandatory, and it is what protects you here.

Where a refund is due under the cancellation policy, we aim to pay it within 30 days of agreeing the amount. We calculate it from the payments we received, then deduct the 5% administrative fee where it applies and any non-recoverable costs already committed, and we show you the working. Refunds go back by the same route where possible, which for a bank transfer means the account it came from. Bank and card providers can add their own processing time, so the money may take a few more days to appear. If you have not heard from us, email info@theexpeditiontourstz.com and we will check at once.

Yes, travel insurance is mandatory for every traveller. It must cover medical care, emergency evacuation and trip cancellation. For Kilimanjaro, your policy must specifically cover trekking to 5,895 metres, and many standard policies stop at a lower altitude, so read the small print and ask your insurer to confirm in writing. Buy it when you pay your deposit, not just before you fly, because cancellation cover only helps for events that happen after you buy it. Guides make safety decisions in the field and their decisions are final, which is another reason evacuation cover matters. Send us a copy of your policy details before travel.

Start by telling us your dates, party and interests through the plan form, by email or on WhatsApp +255 682 044 971. We reply with a written proposal, and you can ask for changes until it feels right. When you accept it and pay the 30% deposit, we send written confirmation and your booking is secure. After that we collect passport and dietary details, confirm lodges and transfers, and send practical guidance on visas, vaccinations and packing. We remind you about the balance before it falls due. Closer to departure you receive your final itinerary and contact numbers, so you arrive in Tanzania knowing exactly who is meeting you.

Tell your guide or us at once, because the best time to fix a problem is while you are still travelling. If it cannot be resolved on the spot, put your complaint in writing within 14 days of the end of the trip, and we will reply within 14 days. We do not guarantee wildlife sightings or summit success, and unused days are not refunded, but we do take genuine service problems seriously and will say what we can do. Your guide's safety decisions are final, including changes to a route or an early descent. Keep your insurance documents with you, as some problems are best handled through your insurer.