Currency, purchases, and payment of bills:
If carrying U.S. or other foreign currency, we recommend travelers checks or a small amount of cash. If you need to make a currency exchange in Tanzania, banks in Arusha are open Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 3:00PM, and on Saturday from 8:30AM to 11:30AM.

Credit cards or personal checks may be accepted in Tanzania for the purchase of goods, but not by all businesses or shops.

Any balance owed by you upon your departure from one of our properties – in most cases these amounts will be small due to the full prepayment of the all-inclusive rates -- must be paid by cash or travelers checks.

U.S. residents may bring home up to $400 worth of goods acquired abroad, duty free; this may include 100 cigars, an unlimited amount of cigarettes and one quart of liquor. There is no customs duty on "…a reasonable amount of wood carvings and indigenous gemstones over the $400 maximum as long as they are purchased for personal use. However, these items must be declared at U.S. Customs inspection.

Baggage restrictions:
Each passenger traveling from the U.S. to Africa is allowed one piece of soft luggage of reasonable weight, and one piece of hand luggage. If you are flying on a charter arranged by Firelight, you will be allowed only 44 pounds including hand luggage, as there are weight restrictions for smaller planes.

If you are going on safari with Firelight, you should bring soft luggage, not hard suitcases. Again, the weight limit is 44 pounds per person. Any luggage over that weight will have to be stored in Arusha and then picked up at the end of your safari.

Visas:
Visas may be purchased on arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport for $100 for residents of the U.S., $50 for residents of the UK and European Union. Or, they may be purchased through the Tanzania High Commission in Washington, D.C. or in similar offices in European countries.

Insurance:
While every precaution is taken, Firelight will not be responsible for damage or loss of baggage. Please investigate personal baggage insurance, trip cancellation insurance and medical evacuation insurance.

What to Bring:
On safari, the general rule of thumb is that less is better. Following are our suggestions as to what to bring:

• Shirts: 2 short-sleeve, 3 long-sleeve
• Pants: 3 pair long pants
• Shorts: 2 pair
• Jacket: 1 lightweight windbreaker, or light ski jacket
• Fleece: 1 cotton pullover or zip
• Shoes: 1 pair walking shoes, sneakers or sandals
• Socks: 4 pair
• Underwear: 3-4 pair
• Bathing suit
• Hat: broad-rim if possible
• Sunglasses, sunscreen and "Off" insect spray
• Binoculars (one pair per viewer)
• Camera with lens (the bigger/longer, the better)
• Flashlight
• Credit cards, travelers checks and (a small amount of) cash
• Electric converter
• Reading material
• Spare batteries for camera and flashlights

Optional:

• Collared shirt
• Slacks
• Shoes for the lodge