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The Maasai are known to walk for days to get to a destination. However, you may seem them on the local buses or riding bikes as well.
Getting there
Transportation
Please make sure you have all the necessary visa and travel documents before going to the airport. You can check with the Tanzania Embassy and the US State Dept. of all the relevant restrictions.
If Tanzania is your first destination, we recommend that you fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), not far from Moshi and Arusha. The Kilimanjaro airport is 23 miles from Moshi and we will arrange for your transportation to and from this airport to our private hotel in Moshi. At this time, KLM is the only major international carrier that flies into Kilimanjaro Airport. There is another airport, Dar es Salaam International Airport, but it's about 7-8 hours away from Moshi by car, or a 1 1/2 hour flight. Although this may be a good option if you plan to visit Zanzibar; you might try to get a ticket that flies into Kilimanjaro and leaves from Dar Es Salaam.
You can fly into Nairobi and then take the 6-hour shuttle to Moshi. However, keep in mind that you will need to pay for an additional multiple trip visa to go in and out of Kenya if you are taking the shuttle each way. This adds an extra $100 to the cost, not to mention the approximately $70 round trip shuttle fare and additional travel time.
The most popular shuttle from Nairobi is the Davanu Shuttle that will pick you up if you're at a major hotel downtown (check with your hotel first). The trip takes approximately 5 hours to Arusha, Tanzania with stops at a gift shop and the Kenyan / Tanzanian border. In Arusha, after an hour break you will need to change to another bus to take you to the rest of the way to Moshi. You can grab lunch at the Novatel hotel in Arusha or at one of the restaurants across the highway while you wait for the ride to Moshi.
Note: Don't be surprised if you book the "Davanu Shuttle" and a bus with another name comes to take you away. Several shuttle companies pool together to offer the shuttles and will use each other's vehicles interchangeably. Just show your receipt and confirm that you are indeed going to Moshi, and you'll be fine. We recommend you avoid the overnight shuttles from Nairobi. Some of these have been robbed while en route.
Visas
A visa is required to enter Tanzania. The cost for a single entry, tourist visa is $50 per person, good for six months. It's best to obtain your visa before you arrive, but you can also get one at the airport.
The process for getting a visa is simple. You can download the visa application form here or go to the Tanzanian embassy (www.tanzaniaembassy-us.org), where you can get more details or even stop by in person. If you mail in your application, you will need to send you passport, a recent passport photo, and a money order. Personal checks are not accepted. Go to a local grocery store or a place where you can get the money order cheaper than at a bank. It will take about 3 working days for the embassy to process your request. We recommend sending your application and passport via Priority Mail with a stamped, self addressed Priority Mail envelope enclosed.
If you choose to get your visa at the airport you'll need US$50 cash and your completed application form. Once you get off the plane go right to the Visa window to the right of the passport control area. Once your visa has been processed you can go right to the baggage area. You do not need to wait on line for passport control.
4x4 jeeps will get you around the national parks quite comfortably