We recommend that you carry USD$350 dollars with you to Tanzania in mixed notes. There are some ATMs where you can withdraw cash using a credit card. Please try to bring dollars broken up into small notes. The reasons being that it is hard to find a place that will give you change for $100 and also it is easier for the guides to divide the tips equally if they have lots of small notes. Also, try to bring dollars that were printed after 2004 if possible as these get a better rate of exchange in Tanzania.

Weather

Temperatures on the expedition may vary from 0 to 30 degrees during the day and -20 to 10 degrees at night. It’s best to be prepared for lower temperatures due to wind chill or the weather turning bad. Usually the days are hot and the nights are cold. You should be ready for inclement weather at all times as the weather can change rather quickly at high altitude. For accurate weather information please review these two websites;

Mountain Forecasts: www.mountain-forecast.com Norwegian Meteorological Institute: www.yr.no

Altitude Considerations

Jason Black is Ireland’s leading specialist in high altitude climbing and mountaineering. The human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of barometric pressures and there is plenty of oxygen even at the highest point of this expedition. However, the process of adaptation or acclimatisation does take time and the most important rule is to gain height slowly. Keeping well hydrated is also a huge factor in avoiding AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). You will be encouraged to drink at least three litres of water per day. Five litres per day is ideal. You should eat well, snack regularly between meals and do not under any circumstances try to diet on this expedition. This will keep your energy levels high throughout the expedition. Although frustrating at times, remember to keep your walking pace slow and steady which will in turn have the same effect on your heart rate. It is those who can set and maintain the correct pace on the approach days that are strongest at higher elevations.

AMS is brought on by lower oxygen levels at higher altitudes. Symptoms include breathlessness, headache, poor sleep, nausea & dizziness. AMS is treated simply by not ascending to higher elevations or in more severe cases descending to lower elevations, where in most cases the symptoms are quickly relieved. This itinerary has been designed to minimise the chances of you experiencing altitude sickness. Our staff are highly experienced in these matters and will be able to give you good advice to help minimise any temporary discomfort that you might experience. Please note it is common for most people to experience mild headaches at higher elevations. Always keep your guide informed on how you are feeling.

At high altitude, and especially in dry conditions, it is essential you protect your airway. This means walking with a bandana covering your mouth and nose, often in hot weather, or when you are breathing heavily. Getting used to covering your airway while walking takes some time, so you should practice prior to departure.

Diamox (Acetazolamide) is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. In simple terms Diamox causes the kidneys to excrete more bicarbonate which causes the blood to become more acidic. Acidifying the blood stimulates ventilation, which increases the amount of oxygen in the blood which reduces the chances of getting AMS. We recommend all participants, especially those who have had AMS in the past, to take Diamox prophylactically (as a preventative) on this expedition, starting on the first day of trekking. Current guidelines suggest 125 mg twice per day (in tablet form not capsules). You should try taking Diamox for two days at some stage prior to departing Ireland to ensure you don’t suffer any of the more serious side effects. Numbness and tingly fingers and toes are common but in some cases users can suffer from nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. If you experience any of the latter three side-effects we would advise against using Diamox. Always consult and follow the advice of your own doctor about Diamox or any other medication.

Your Dietary Requirements

We will try our best to cater for those with dietary restrictions. If you have any dietary restrictions, please declare them when booking. We will organise for you to have a suitable meal on your flight where meals are supplied by the airline. It is not possible for us to source specialist gluten or dairy free products locally. We will endeavour to provide suitable alternative carbohydrates, for example potatoes or rice rather than bread. If you want to have specialist food like gluten free bread and pasta or lactose free milk you will need to bring them with you on the expedition.

Vaccinations 

We are not qualified to answer all your questions about travel health directly. We recommend consulting your GP or The Travel Health Clinic (www.travelhealth.ie) for the most up-to-date medical advice.  
Although we can’t give medical advice but good guidelines are here: https://www.masta-travel-health.com/Booking/Travel. 

Tourist Visa

All Irish participants are required to have a visa to enter Tanzania. You must have at least two free pages in your passport and ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months after you return to Ireland. At the time of writing this document, EU passport holders could obtain a tourist visa upon arrival in Tanzania. The visa fee is US$50, payable in cash.