African Itinerary
Ethiopian Airlines flight: Departure: 27.01.26 London Heathrow – Kilimanjaro @ 20:15, Arrival at 12:55 on 28.01.26.
Arrival at 12:55. Road Transfer to West Kilimanjaro.
Accommodation: Original Massai Lodge
(FB: first meal: Dinner)
Departure from Ndovu Tented Lodge to Manyara NP – game drive; Maasai Light Donation (to pay 75$ to Erick)
Continue to Karatu.
Accommodation: Farm House Valley
(FB)
To Seronera Airstrip; Scheduled flight Seronera to Pemba (11h30AM-16:10PM)- End of Safari.
Full Flight Details:
11:30 UI643 Seronera- Arusha 12:05
—
13:30 UI614 Arusha – Zanzibar 14:35
—
15:40 UI207 Zanzibar -Pemba 16:10
Arrival on Pemba Island (16h10pm)
Transfer to accommodation
Accommodation: Superior Garden Room at Manta Resort
(FB)
Transfer to airport.
Flight Pemba to DAR incl. Terminal Transfer (12h25PM-13h35PM)
International flight:
Ethiopian Airways: Dar Es Salaam- London Heathrow @ 18:45, Arrival at 06:35 14.02.26
Arrival at 06:35
Safari Key Information
Short guide to frequently asked questions and information required to help make your journey that little bit extra comfortable.
Please find below our numbers, these will all be on the WhatsApp group:
Sandra: +255 788 391 600
TZ Office Line: +255 740 983 817
Erick: +255 784 455 605
Katie: +44 7557 133072
Ed: +44 7919 375599
Communication during the safari section:
For any communication, please use the Whats App Numbers shared – both Sandra’s private phone and the office phone will travel with them and we will inform operations/follow up with Erick if any assistance is needed. You can always drop a message in the group or call through.
Head to the Terminal Building: Walk directly to the terminal. Keep your passport, flight ticket, and vaccination card easily accessible as airport staff may briefly check your documents before you enter the terminal building.
Immigration: Follow the signs to Immigration. Queues can form quickly, so heading there straight away is recommended. Visa upon arrival: Purchase your visa at the Visa Counter. E-Visa holders: Proceed directly to the passport control desks. Greet the officer with a warm smile, hand over your documents, and ensure your passport is stamped.
Pro tip: A friendly greeting goes a long way – Tanzanians are known for their warmth and hospitality.
Baggage Collection: Proceed to the baggage carousel to collect your luggage. If any item is missing or damaged, report it immediately before leaving the terminal. Complete a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) form and keep a copy for follow-ups.
Tip:Keep your luggage tags handy as they are needed to fill out the PIR.
Luggage Screening: Before exiting the terminal, all luggage passes through a security scanner (even your hand luggage). Keep your belongings close and follow staff instructions. The process is usually quick, though occasional additional checks may occur. Stay relaxed and take your time.
Meet Your Transfer Driver/Safari Guide (Erick) outside the Terminal Building: Exit the terminal building, where your safari guide will be waiting with a personalized welcome sign. Your guide will assist you to the vehicle and safely store your luggage. This is also a good opportunity to use the restroom, as the drive to your hotel typically takes 1–1.5 hours, depending on location. If you feel thirsty, simply let your driver or guide know — complimentary bottled water will be available to help you refresh after your journey.
Erick will carry out a short safari briefing on the map once you arrive at Original Maasai Lodge.
Tipping is not a must, but a sign of appreciation – here a few notes on it:
Driver-Guides (Primary Focus)
Customary practice: Tip at the end of the safari.
Guideline: Private or small group safaris (2–4 guests): USD 10–20 per person, per day
These are current industry-standard ranges and are considered fair and appropriate. Families may choose the lower end of the range, especially for longer safaris — this is completely acceptable.
Camps & Lodges — General Staff
Most camps and lodges operate a community tip jar, which supports housekeeping, kitchen staff, gardeners, and maintenance teams.
Recommended guideline: USD 2–4 per guest, per night, given at checkout. This amount is pooled and distributed fairly among staff.
You may also choose to tip individuals who offered particularly attentive service, though this is optional.
Electricity in Tanzania operates on 220–240 volts AC, 50 Hz, using the British Standard three-pin plug (Type G). There is also a Charging Station in the safari car.
All lodges offer laundry services and charge between USD$ 1 to 5 per item. We usually recommend to only make use of laundry services at lodges where you stay two days (most cloths are handwash and need a bit longer in regards to drying).
Manta has a free laundry service included.
Keep paper copies of all flights for your trip as well as Visas & travel insurance policies.
Internal flights are operated by Auric Air.
Seronera to Pemba:
Erick will drop you at Seronera Airstrip and hand you over to a representative of Auric Air, who then will check you in and later on allocate you to the correct plane. Upon arrival in Arusha and later in Zanzibar, again a representative of the airline will welcome you, bring you to terminal building and give you instructions upon pick-up/guide you back to the plane when it is time. You do need to worry about your luggage – the airline will take care of this.
Pemba Island Key Information
Short guide to frequently asked questions and information required to help make your journey that little bit extra comfortable.
Contact: Manta Hotel: +255 77 671 88 52, the resort front desk phone number is +255 715 077 125
Communication: Ed & Katie remain your H&F point of contact should anything be required.
You will arrive onto Pemba Island at 16h10 – 06.02.2026.
Upon your arrival at Pemba Airport, Manta’s designated local driving company will meet you for your 1.5 hour journey to Manta.
This is, in itself, a mini-safari! The route begins in the south of the island heading to the northern most tip, ending in the beautiful, ancient Ngezi forest on a rather bumpy yet scenic dirt road – you will see banana trees, coconut palms, rice paddies and potato patches, clove trees, mango trees and more along the way.
Waiting for you upon arrival will be a warm welcome and a delicious, chilled spice iced tea.
Please note that there is a new mandatory inbound travel insurance for Zanzibar (including Pemba), please find PDF in the Dropbox folder with info as well as FAQs about this. To arrange the insurance please follow this link.
Travel Insurance of USD$ 44 per person/for 90 days.
Note from Manta:
We recommend all visitors to Tanzania to be mindful of the above new regulation in order to have a smooth arrival experience and an enjoyable stay in Tanzania.
In an effort to prioritise the preservation of our environment, the Tanzanian government has taken an important measure to ban single-use plastic bags effective from the 1st of June 2019. According to the official government press release “all plastic carrier bags, regardless of their thickness are prohibited from being imported, exported, manufactured, sold, stored, supplied and used in mainland Tanzania… “The relevant authorities shall ensure that any plastic carrier bags entered in Tanzania in contravention of these Regulations, are confiscated at the point of entry and disposed of or recycled in an environmentally sound manner.” Ziploc bags which are designed to carry toiletries will be permitted as they are expected to be in the possession of visitors and are not expected to be disposed of in the country. Any other form of plastic bags will not be permitted into the country and will need to be surrendered at the airport or any other point of entry.
Casual throughout the day and evening. Manta would like you to feel as laid back as possible during your
time there. Please do respect local customs by not sun bathing topless. Also, should you happen. to visit local villages and markets it is customary for women to cover their shoulders and legs.
There is a free laundry service provided by the hotel, it is all air dryed so may sometimes take more than 24hr to be returned to you.
Manta Resort offers something different from most tropical islands — it’s not about five-star luxury. We have opted to highlight and put focus on the natural and authentic feel that this gem of an island has to offer. Your background music will be the ocean waves and the calls of the bush-babies, your gym our white sands and sea, and your television our sublime views, our beach bonfires, engaging Manta family and our picturesque resort.
