Cash and cheques will no longer be accepted by Tanzania National Parks who have introduced an electronic payment system for park entrance fees. The new electronic cards for Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Kilimanjaro and Arusha National Parks are available in Arusha.

When you say the cards are available in Arusha what does this mean if you are out at Ndutu and decide to go into the Serengeti. In the past we just handed over cash for the extra entrance fee??
Thanks
J

jules -

Coordinate beforehand with your tour operator. Apparently no "on-the-spot" decisions will be permitted.

Interesting Sandi. Last year those on the spot decisions were easy and we did do that a couple of times. Sometimes the animals wander across park borders! I will be interested to see how this works. It is a little (read too long!) while before we will be there again but still interested because it was something we did do & imagine it would be something we would possibly do again but it depends on the conditions on the ground so to speak.
Thanks J

luangwablondes,
How does this work exactly. Can you buy the electronic card and use it on any of the days you choose? We will be a Ndutu in a couple of weeks and I had planned to decide once there, which days I would go into the Park. If I can buy a pass that can be used on any day htat would be good, ohterwise I'll have to take a chance and select the days before we leave Arusha. Has this new electronic card system already gone into effect and if not when will it take effect?
Regards-Safarichuck

The electonic card system is very inconvenient for tourists for all the reasons you mention above.

It's only done so that cash doesn't go missing at the park gate.

It's really too bad the Tanzanian authorities have so little trust in their park fee collectors... that they have to create more hassle and complications for the fee-paying tourists.

It's amazing how debillitating corruption can be.....

Safarichuck
I have no idea how they plan on doing this. It is new development. I have heard that it has been an inconvience to quite a few people in Kenya. But it should have the least effect on those going on tour with an operator.

Since this is such a busy time at the parks, pehpas one of the returning Fodorites can report on how this new regulation is working.

simbakubwa,
Attorneys have a saying, "Bad cases make for Bad Law". I think you are right, this is a good example of a bad law created to prevent a few thevies from stealing park fees. Too bad the tour industry is not objecting, with one very loud voice, to these sorts of policies. For the record, I'm not an attorney, I just like some of their sayings.
Regards-Chuck

Your tour operator will take care of the electronic passes needed for particular parks/reserves. Your guide will have all along with your hotel and air vouchers.

For individual travelers - from what I've heard but can't confirm - there is a place or two (believe a bank) in Arusha where electronic passes can be purchased in advance of your safari.

For specifics, suggest you discuss with your outfitter, before heading out on safari, especially in the case of those considering crossing between Ndutu/Serengeti.

this is terrible news, many times....have changed travel plans...adding a day or two at one park... what..would u do if u added a day.... and if u deducted...would the park fees be refundable

Can anyone say whether or not a pass can be purchased ahead of time for an unspecified date and then used at the discretion of the pass. In other words can the owner of a one day pass use it on any day or must they designate the particular day when they purchase the pass? This makes a big difference when planning activities.
Chuck

Followup:
Our agent has just informed us that the electronic pass that is obtained in Arusha is typically carried by the guide and can be swiped, electonically and used as a debit card at park entry points. So it appears that at least for those accompanied by a guide from one of the tour companies, this new regulation will not prove too limiting (I hope). We leave in less than a week.
Cheers-Chuck

When it went into effect in Kenya, there were stories of guides and their clients showing up without a card. Made for quite the mess till the operators were trained.

Worse for the self drive. This will be interesting as the guide books take a while to collect information before they are published. So the poor souls showing up at the gates may need to go to Arusha to buy a card.

Well your "heads up" on this matter proves the value of this forum. Thanks for the notice and any other news relative to Kenya or East Africa for that matter.
Regards-Chuck

No worries. I like the new system. Surely beats running to the bank getting $10,000 in cash for large groups!

The system works as follows:

For the Northern Circuit there are two banks Exim (Manyara, Serengeti, Tarangire) and CRDB Bank (for Arusha NP and Kilimanjaro NP).

Ngorongoro is still cash (or pre-arranged company check)

1. Private cars can pay in cash or with a Visa card. I guess you can go stand in line at the bank to buy a prepaid card but at this time why bother? I pay in cash all the time.

2. Most outfitters have 2 accounts at these banks - a Dollar acc for clients and a Tsh acc for guides/cars. They get two sets of debit cards (Tsh and USD) with their company names emprinted on the cards. These accounts require a minimum balance each.

3. At the parks there are two card machines (Tsh and USD). Park official complete the park forms and guide hands over the two cards to pay accordingly and then gets two printed receipts

4. If there is not enough money in the account the guide "may" be able to pay in cash (or Visa actually) but cash is discouraged and unpopular.

5. If the network is down the guide must complete a special form (mostly prefilled) authorizing batch-style processing afterwards.

Smaller outfitters can also buy prepaid cards that can be replenished with a small commission fee. There are no worrying time limits.