KIKULETWA HOT SPRINGS

OUR TRAVEL SUMMARY:

In October 2022, we spent about 4 weeks in Tanzania: 1 week climbing Kilimanjaro, 4 days on a safari, a few days staying at a banana farm in Arusha, and 2 weeks at a Workaway in Arusha. Transportation-wise, we relied on private transfers (included when doing a tour), then public transit getting around Arusha. We stayed in the northeast of the country, leaving for any excursion from Arusha — the center of the country's tourism industry. Besides our Workaway, we stayed at hotels and campsites arranged by our tour operator. We didn't cook at all, given meals were really cheap to eat out or already included in our tours or Workaway.

Traveling in Tanzania means experiencing the two extremes of costs. Taking a major excursion (e.g., climbing Kilimanjaro or doing a safari) will be pricey no matter how you slice it, given fixed permit and entrance fee costs to the national parks. But, prices outside of excursions -- as long as you avoid the tourist hotspots — tend to be really cheap. Likewise, they also tend to not be set in stone: from tours, to phone plans, to tuk tuk costs, near everything is up for negotiation. As a visitor, don't be afraid to barter on prices, but do expect that you will almost certainly pay higher prices than locals (the tourist tax). See below for our experience-specific guides!