Tanzania Travel Forum

Hello!

I just booked my flight to east Africa yesterday and am very excited! I will be flying in and out of Nairobi, Kenya and my trip is 18 days. I am planning on spending one night in Nairobi and then I am meeting friends in Arusha, Tanzania for the remainder of my trip. I am curious if anyone has recently travelled to this region and has advice about the trip from Nairobi to Arusha, what to do in Arusha, what safari's to take, if I should go to Zanzibar, etc.? My primary concern is getting from Nairobi to Arusha by bus and what I need to do for visas. I have read that I am able to purchase visas for both Kenya and Tanzania at the border between the two (I am a U.S. citizen), is this accurate information? Should I purchase visas ahead of time prior to leaving? Thank you for any advice! Looking forward to my trip :)

Hello,
Travelling from Nairobi to Arusha, is easy,
The shuttle bus leave Nairobi at 0830h and arrive Arusha at 1330hrs. Daily.
You can book the shuttle on arrival in Nairobi depand on the sales point but cost 30US$ - 40US$.

VISA; you can get visa at the airport and Namanga Border (Tanzania/Kenya) No worry about your nationality. Make sure you will get transit visa to Tanzania if you will not go back home through Kenya.

For Safari you can do wildlife Safari serengeti and Ngorongoro

Regards
Calabash

Depending on what time your flight gets into Nairobi, you might want to prebook your shuttle bus. Our British Airways flight got in after 10pm and didn't get to hotel till after midnight because of long line for visas. We'd prebooked our shuttle and stayed at hotel across from shuttle bus stop. Somebody came over and got us at 7:30 and we left shortly after 8am. We booked the Impala Shuttle.
You can buy your visa ahead of time if you don't want to get stuck in line at airport, but it's cheaper to get it at the airport.

I have recently travelled to this area.
Nairobi to Arusha is easy. The bus is about 7 hours although at the moment they are doing roadworks therefore much of the trip is on a dirt road. I would suggest the Impala Shuttle. It's easy to book one or two days in advance.
Zanzibar is lovely if you have the time and money. I would recommend the White Sands Hotel or Kendwa Rocks. Both are until $25 per person per night and they are located on the nicest beach of Kendwa (also where they have the full moon party).
Visas for Kenya and Tanzania you should get upon arrival, not get them in the states as it will cost you more.
If your interested in safari in Tanzania I highly recommend African Scenic Safaris, their web site is www.africanscenicsafaris.com. It's run by an Australian girl and her Tanzanian husband. They are very reasonable for prices and run a very good quality but budget company.