2008 Itinerary

Day 1: Arusha – Tanzania's safari gateway
Tour begins: Serena Mountain Village, Arusha. Tauck’s Tanzania and Kenya safari begins at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha, the safari gateway city. A transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your hotel, the Serena Mountain Village at the foot of Mount Meru, the second-highest mountain in Tanzania, is included.
Lodging: Serena Mountain Village, Arusha, Lake Duluti, Tanzania

Day 2: Flamingoes at Lake Manyara National Park
The vast Serengeti beckons as you embark on a four-night safari in Tanzania, and a five-night Kenya safari. Take your first game drive through Lake Manyara National Park, renowned among birders for huge flocks of pink flamingoes, as well as giraffes, baboons, hippos, and elephants. Arrive in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, populated by an estimated 30,000 large mammals. Your lodge is on the Ngorongoro Crater rim overlooking the caldera below, an excellent spot for our welcome reception and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Day 3: Wildlife in the "Garden of Eden"
Thought by some to be Africa’s original “Garden of Eden,” Ngorongoro Crater is one of the largest calderas in the world and contains a variety of ecosystems and an astounding concentration of birds and animals. Your four-wheel drive vehicle, built exclusively for Tauck World Discovery, provides an excellent mobile viewing platform when encountering massive herds of zebras, wildebeests, and gazelles. This area affords an opportunity to spot the Big Five – elephant, leopard, lion, buffalo, and rhinoceros. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Day 4: Early man at Olduvai Gorge
Study the history of mankind at Olduvai Gorge, where archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the fossilized remains of the earliest known man, an estimated 1.8 million years old. Continue wildlife viewing while driving the rough dirt roads across the plains to your safari lodge in the Serengeti, which was inspired by Masai tribal dwellings.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Day 5: The Serengeti summons
Morning and afternoon game drives take you into the vast Serengeti savanna. Sightings could include lions, zebras, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, black rhinoceros, hippos, buffaloes, jackals, gazelles, and giraffes. When the sunset paints the sky in the evening, enjoy the show from the luxury of your lodge in Serengeti National Park.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Day 6: Tauck's Kenya safari begins
Say goodbye to Tanzania and hello to your Kenya safari days when you fly from the Serengeti to Arusha, then drive across the Tanzanian border to Kenya. Arrive at Amboseli National Park, located at the foot of one of Africa's highest – and most recognized – mountains, Mt. Kilimanjaro. There are five main wildlife habitats in the national park – open plains, acacia woodland, rocky thorn bush country, swamps and marshland. Wildlife includes lion, leopard, rhinoceros, cheetah and buffalo and vast herds of elephants. A little bit of leisure time at the lodge precedes your first game drive.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Day 7: Kenya Safari Days
A final morning game drive in Amboseli Naitonal Park brings additional opportunities to spot the region's wildlife. Fly to your next Kenya safari experience when you arrive at the rather desert-like landscape of Samburu Reserve in northern Kenya. A game drive offering the opportunity to spot some of the wild local residents, including elephants, baboons, and leopards, follows your arrival at Samburu Serena Safari Lodge for a two-night stay.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Samburu Serena Safari Lodge, Samburu National Reserve, Kenya

Day 8: Samburu Surprises
Tauck's Kenya safari continues as you embark on early morning and late afternoon game drives. Samburu National Reserve residents include storks, hippos, leopards, gazelle, and crocodiles. If you’re lucky, you could spot some of Africa’s rarest game, such as the long-necked gerenuk antelope, the Somali ostrich, the shy oryx beisa, and the reticulated giraffe. And keep an eye out for the Grevy’s zebra, the largest of the zebras found only in northern Kenya.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Samburu Serena Safari Lodge, Samburu National Reserve, Kenya

Day 9: Lifestyles of the illustrious
On the way to a special treat on your Kenya safari, discover how local villagers tend sheep and spin their wool into rugs and garments. Then you’re off to the former retreat of actor William Holden and playground of such illustrious members such as Winston Churchill and Bing Crosby. Now, the world-famous Mount Kenya Safari Club will warmly welcome you for the next two nights. This exceptional hotel set high on the side of a mountain offers all sorts of pleasant diversions. And, we’ve included admission to William Holden’s Mount Kenya Animal Orphanage.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, Nanyuki, Kenya

Day 10: Coffee Capers
Tour a thriving coffee plantation with the owners to learn the story of coffee from the bean to the cup before returning to the Mount Kenya Safari Club for leisure time to spend as you please.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, Nanyuki, Kenya

Day 11: The magical Masai Mara
Fly to the Masai Mara Game Reserve in southern Kenya. Spend the afternoon becoming acquainted with the luxurious Mara Safari Club, your home for the next two nights. This afternoon, leave camp for a game drive in search of animals that make their homes here; perhaps you’ll see lions, antelopes, elephants and zebras going about their business.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

Day 12: Up, up and away over Masai Mara
Today will be one that you’ll always remember as you arise before dawn to board a hot air balloon and float over the awakening plains below as the sun rises. When you land, a special champagne breakfast will be awaiting you right there in the bush – spectacular isn’t quite strong enough a word to describe such an experience! Back on the ground, look for lions, warthogs, gazelles and giraffes – and the other animals you’ve come to love – during your final game drive this afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

Day 13: Homeward Bound
Fly to Nairobi, Kenya's capital, to begin your journey home. A sightseeing tour includes an enchanting visit to the Karen Blixen House and Museum, where much of the movie Out of Africa was filmed. You’ll have a chance to greet the Rothschild giraffes at the Giraffe Centre on the property, which is now a self-sustaining natural sanctuary for these endearing animals. Arrive at the Nairobi Serena Hotel where a day room has been reserved for you. Before heading to the airport for your flight home, please join us for farewell cocktails and dinner at the hotel. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home. Tauck's Tanzania and Kenya safari ends at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day Lodging: Nairobi Serena Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya

Inclusive Prices

Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All safari expenses and adventures, lodge and hotel accommodations, entertainment, land transportation, admission fees, luggage handling, the hot air balloon ride in Masai Mara, the services of the local guides and drivers and of the Tauck Director are included. A representative of Tauck will greet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport, regardless of the day and time of your arrival, provided we have accurate flight arrival information at least two weeks before the start of the your tour, and provide transportation to the Serena Mountain Village lodge on the shores of Lake Duluti in Arusha, Tanzania. if you do not provide your flight arrival information in time, or choose to transfer on your own, you are responsible for your own transportation, which currently costs approximately $100 USD. If you choose to arrive on Day 2 or later, after the group has already departed for Ngorongoro Crater, you are responsible for your own transportation, which costs approximately $500 USD per vehicle from Arusha to the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge. Tauck will provide you with transportation to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from the Nairobi Serena Hotel on the last day of the tour.

Safari Lodge and Hotel Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotels, safari lodges and tented safari camps with en suite facilities including showers, flush toilets and hot and cold running water. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality of accommodations may differ slightly from place to place, our commitment to you comfort is unwavering.

Group Size - All departures are limited to 24 guests to ensure a more intimate safari experience.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

Tauck Directors – Kenya & Tanzania: A Classic Safari is conducted by a Tauck Director who remains with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck World Discovery.

Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for hotel and lodge staff, safari guides, and drivers are included.

No Options Sold - Your Tauck Director will assist with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but they will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.

On-Tour Flights

Airfare While on Tour – Five on-tour flights must be purchased through Tauck as part of your tour package.

Not Included

Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States.

Safari Lodge or Hotel Accommodations Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, Tauck will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through Tauck. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult the Extend This Journey section on this website and discuss with the reservations agent when you book your tour.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to Tauck Travel Protection on this website for more information.

Personal Expenses - Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, visa fees and services, vaccinations and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

Tauck Director Gratuities – The customary gratuity to the Tauck Director is not included. We ask that you extend such gratuities on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.

Additional Information

Airline Security Measures - In the U.S., you must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in for travel to international destinations. Your passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.

If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.

Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times. You may also wish to visit the U.S. Transportation Security Administration Internet website by clicking here.

Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through Tauck for travel originating in the United States. By using Tauck's air services, you agree that Tauck, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck), even if purchased through Tauck. Tauck is not liable for, and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). Tauck must handle ticketing for Tauck's special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Tauck's air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a Tauck tour. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate all tours as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to passengers. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecast at the time of printing.

Journey Start and End Times are provided at time of booking and are subject to change. You or your booking agent will be advised of such changes. The tour begins at Serena Mountain Lodge on the first day of the tour. Your tour ends at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on the last day of the tour approximately three hours before Tauck's earliest scheduled flight. We strongly suggest that you do not schedule a flight for departure prior to 6:00 PM.

Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any persons who are abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Photography on Tour – Occasionally, we will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

Taking pictures of government and military personnel and installations is not advised. We also suggest that you ask before you photograph people; Bushmen often refuse to be photographed.

Preparing To Go

Air Conditioning – The following hotels and lodges provide air-conditioning: the Samburu Serena Lodge and the Nairobi Serena Hotel. The following hotels and lodges do not provide air-conditioning: the Serena Mountain Village, the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, the Serengeti Serena Lodge, the Mt. Kenya Safari Club and the Mara Safari Club. The safari vehicles and mini-buses used for transfers are not air-conditioned.

Clothing and Packing - This African safari is a very casual tour. Comfortable and casual clothing is recommended for both day and night. Formal and resort attire is not required.

We recommend that you leave jewelry, expensive watches, and valuables at home, as safe deposit boxes are scarce during our travels. We do recommend that you bring copies of your travel documents that should be secured in a safe location in your hotel or lodge while traveling

Generally, lightweight, cotton, short-and long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and shorts are sufficient. A light jacket, fleece, or windbreaker, as well as layers of clothing, are suggested for cooler temperatures during early morning game drives and evenings. A bandanna or cotton scarf will always come in handy. Game drives raise the dust off the road, so wear clothes that can be washed while on safari.

While on safari, we recommend you wear natural earth-colored clothing, such as khakis, tans, browns, and greens, as well as comfortable walking shoes. Bright colors and whites are not advised, and army camouflage uniforms or army hats are forbidden. Blue and black are not suggested, as these colors attract both the sun and tsetse flies. It is also a good idea to bring a swimsuit, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and lip protection. Insect repellent with DEET is a very important item to pack, along with pre-moistened towelettes, antibacterial lotion, and a flashlight.

For viewing wildlife, we recommend you bring a good pair of binoculars and your own photography supplies, such as plenty of film, batteries, a 200 mm telephoto lens, lens cap, lens papers, UV filter and, for video-recording, an adequate supply of video cassettes.

Dry cleaning service is not available; however, the hotels and lodges we stay in throughout the safari portion of our itinerary, have valet laundry and pressing available for an additional charge.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription, or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Elevation - The maximum overland elevation on this tour is 8,000 ft (2,438 m). the maximum overnight elevation is 7,546 ft (2,300 m) at the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge.

Health - 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 portions of the tour cover uneven terrain, occur frequently in warm weather, and include climbing in and out of safari vehicles. As noted above, you will take 5 on-tour flights that use single or twin engine propeller planes accommodating 18-50 passengers each. We strongly advise that if you require assistance walking or travel with an oxygen tank, you may not fully enjoy this very active journey.

Roads in rural and wildlife areas are bumpy and dusty. While we provide reliable and reasonably comfortable vehicles, land travel is not air-conditioned and is often slow, especially in wilderness areas.

We regret that we are unable to accommodate wheelchairs on this tour. We also cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.

If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

Malaria may be present in or around the areas visited on tour. While a vaccination against malaria is currently unavailable, you can protect yourself by avoiding mosquito bites and by taking medication to prevent malaria. Mosquito bites can be avoided by applying insect repellent with DEET to exposed skin. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors at night. Spray insecticide or repellent on clothing, as mosquitoes can bite through thin clothing. Avoid wearing perfumes or colognes, as they attract mosquitoes. A few types of antimalarial medicine are available. Seek a doctor's advice well in advance of departure to select the appropriate one for you. Strict adherence to the recommended dosage and schedule is critical for effective protection.

Cholera occurs in many of the developing countries of Africa. The only licensed cholera vaccine in the U.S. has recently been discontinued due to the brief and incomplete immunity it offered. No cholera vaccination requirements exist for entry or exit into Kenya and Tanzania. As cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by a bacteria in food and drink, you should take precautions to prevent illness by avoiding: food purchased from street vendors; food that is not cooked thoroughly; fruit and vegetables that you have not peeled yourself; drinking beverages with ice; and eating dairy products unless they are known to have been pasteurized.

If you are a citizen of the U.S., no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Kenya and Tanzania. However, as of January 14, 2008, the Ministry of Health in Tanzania has reopened Health Surveillance Desks at all borders and international airports. These Health Surveillance Desks require travelers entering Tanzania from any country where yellow fever is endemic to provide proof of vaccination against yellow fever. The goal of this prudent effort is to prevent anyone possibly infected with yellow fever from entering the country, and it should thus make Tanzania a safer place for our guests to visit.

As noted above, not everyone needs to provide proof of vaccination upon arrival in Tanzania. For example, if you are arriving directly into Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha from Amsterdam aboard a KLM flight, you will not require proof of vaccination. Please note that this is how the majority of our guests arrive in Tanzania, so the proof of vaccination requirement will not affect most of our guests.

If you will be transiting any country where yellow fever is endemic, including making a connection through Nairobi, you will need to provide proof of vaccination. A list of those countries may be found on the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and may be accessed by clicking here.

For complete vaccination information, if you are a U.S. citizen, you should contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, prerecorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 (toll-free in the U.S.).

If you are a citizen of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of Kenya and of Tanzania to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for you to visit.

Luggage Restrictions:

Special Luggage Restrictions for this Tour
To help in your packing, Tauck will provide you with a duffel bag. The duffel bag has been specially designed to provide more than adequate space for essential items needed while on safari. Please pack light and bring only the Tauck-issued duffel bag with you on safari.

In addition, guests are limited to one soft-sided, carry-on bag per person not to exceed 15 lbs (6.8 kg) and no larger than an average knapsack.

You will have time to pack your duffel during the first two days of the journey. On the morning of Day 4, your large luggage will return to Arusha for storage and you will continue on safari with only your Tauck-issued duffel bag for Nights 4 and 5.  You will be reunited with your entire luggage on Day 6 in Arusha. On Nights 7 and 8 you will use the duffel bags until you are again reunited with your luggage on Day 9. Once more on Nights 11 and 12 you will use your duffel bag until Day 13.

If you reside in the U.S., the duffel bag will be sent to your home and should arrive approximately two weeks prior to your departure for Africa. If you reside outside of the U.S., you will receive your duffel bag upon arrival in Arusha because customs regulations prohibit the easy delivery of the duffel bag in advance.

Checked Luggage - General
While it is common that airlines allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

In addition, airlines have adopted more strict policies in enforcing size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.

Many carriers require checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, Tauck cannot be held liable to the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current number, weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage number, weight and size may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers.

Tauck World Discovery cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage number, weight and size policies.

Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home.

Carry-on Luggage - General
Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

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 only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not be accessible during daytime travel.

Travel Document Requirements – U.S. citizens will need a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the completion of the tour and current visas for both Kenya and Tanzania.

If you are a U.S. citizen:


If you are a citizen of another country, you should contact a consulate or embassy of Tanzania and of Kenya to determine what travel documents you will need.

Travel with Children

Age Recommendations – Children 5 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, for each itinerary we have a minimum recommended age to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. For the optional visit to the Catacombs of St. Peter’s Basilica, only those who are 15 years of age or older are permitted entry. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.

Babysitting – Tauck journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. However, our guests have occasionally inquired about babysitting services. If you are interested, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements, to ensure your precise needs are met. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer babysitting services that may be arranged on site; however, babysitting services are not guaranteed at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.

Safety and Welfare Responsibility – We welcome the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with Tauck, you release Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.

Special Travel Documentation for Children

Authorization for Travel
If you travel into or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18, you should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and because children are at risk as possible victims of child pornography, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, you should have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating that the parent(s) not traveling acknowledge that the parent(s), family members, etc. who are traveling into or out of the U.S. with the child have permission to do so.

CBP also suggests that this note be notarized. While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if they do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.

If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful.

All children who are U.S. citizens should also have a certified copy of their birth certificate or baptism record for ID. Children over the age of 14 are also required to have a photo ID.

Many other countries also share this concern for children who travel without both parents. To ensure smooth travel, Tauck requires all guests to comply with the travel regulations of each country visited. This information is available from each country’s consulate.

Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment
In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, a medical facility will require permission from the child’s parents to provide treatment. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you bring along a letter from both parents authorizing emergency medical treatment for their child.

Tauck is not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for any travelers, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard for these letters, click here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.

Destination Information

Please be aware that there are numerous “dead zones” on tour where there is no service. This is especially true in large parts of the Serengeti. A satellite phone is the only phone that has coverage everywhere.

Currency and Exchange Rates - In Kenya the currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KES) and in Tanzania it is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). The U.S. dollar (USD) is widely accepted in Tanzania.

We recommend that you rely mostly on traveler’s checks while on tour in Kenya and Tanzania. Major credit cards are widely accepted in Kenya; however, in Tanzania the exchange rate on such purchases is unfavorable and may result in an additional 10% being added to the total sale.

As in most countries, we suggest you do not carry large amounts of cash. The amount of cash you bring with you for incidental purchases should be in small denominations. Exchanging large denominations has been made difficult – even at banks – due to counterfeiting.
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ATM machines are becoming increasingly popular; contact your bank in advance of departure to determine whether you will be able to use your card while visiting Kenya and Tanzania.

To obtain the most current exchange rate, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website, Oanda.com, by clicking here.

Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – If you are a U.S resident who will be returning to the U.S. at the end of the tour, current regulations permit bringing back $800 worth of items duty-free, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the amount of alcohol that can be a part of this exemption. Certain restrictions apply to unaccompanied goods mailed from abroad to the United States. . Please call your local customs office or consult the U.S. government's customs regulations as contained in their publication entitled “Know Before You Go”, by clicking here.

If you are a resident of another country, please refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.

Currently, each country visited on this tour levies a Value Added Tax (VAT) of approximately 16-20% on consumer purchases. (The tax rate may be higher for luxury items and lower for basic goods.) If you are not a resident of the country (or of the country’s intergovernmental economic community, e.g., the European Union) in which the purchase is made, you may be entitled to a VAT refund and should inquire about the refund policy where you shop.

Electrical Current – The electrical current in the safari lodges is 220-240 volts. If you bring electrical devices that are not compatible with these systems, you may want to bring the appropriate adapters and converters.

Internet Access - Access is available at some of the hotels and lodges as indicated below:

Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge - availablle for a fee
Mt. Kenya Safari Club - unavailable
Mara Safari Club - available at the Reception Desk for a fee

Time Zones – Tanzania and Kenya are 3 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time). To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, Timeanddate.com, by clicking 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 ºF (15.5 to 35 ºC); evening temperatures can be cooler, ranging from 50 to 60 ºF (10 to 15.5 ºC).

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.

Climate Chart

	Average Temperature
	Serengeti, Tanzania		Nairobi, Kenya
Month	Fahrenheit	Celsius	Fahrenheit	Celsius
January	82	28	81	27
February	82	28	82	28
March	81	27	81	27
April	77	25	79	26
May	75	24	77	25
June	70	21	75	24
July	70	21	73	23
August	73	23	73	23
September	77	25	79	26
October	79	26	81	27
November	81	27	77	25
December	81	27	77	25

To determine current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, Weather.com, by clicking here.

If You Have to Cancel

Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in Tauck incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, if you have to cancel a confirmed booking, Tauck will charge you a cancellation fee according to when your cancellation notice is received in our Norwalk, CT office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers Tauck Travel Protection.

If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Travel Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have your cancellation penalties reduced. Click here for more details.

If you choose not to purchase Tauck’s Travel Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:

Did you know that you can link-up Tauck itineraries to create longer journeys? Many of these trips are in the same region, and depending upon availability you might connect with them before or after your trip. Alternatively, you might find one of these options better suited for your interests and preferences or for when you are available to travel.

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