Whoever wins the sweepstakes gets the opportunity to take a guest to Tanzania to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with guide Macon Dunnagan. Dunnagan is an experienced climber who literally wrote the book on climbing Kilimanjaro. Well, a book, at least-his novel Sons of Kilimanjaro is about 4 men climbing the 19,340 foot mountain, and he’s made the climb at least 16 times himself.

The winner will also be protected from the elements with Polarmax clothing and gear, obviously, and will get to star in a climbing video for the Polarmax site. Airfare and 4 nights in a nearby hotel is included as well.

Sure, it’s a long shot, but entering is a cinch-all you have to do is go to the Sweepstakes website and enter your contact information in the online entry form.

Whether you win or not, successfully climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro requires training and preparation. For more helpful hints about how to prepare for the climb, see A Tanzanian Visa: Your First Step To Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Whether you’re going as a contest winner or you are paying for the trip on your own, you’ll need both a valid passport and a Tanzanian visa. You can apply for a Tanzanian visa in the airport when you arrive, but you’ll be able to leave the airport and get to your hotel more quickly if you get yours in advance.

Here’s what Tanzania requires you to have in order to apply for a tourist visa:

• 1 completed visa application form
• 2 passport photos
• A copy of a recent bank statement
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate
• A travel itinerary or a bank statement showing a minimum balance of $2,000.
• If you’re going on an organized tour, you will need a letter from the tour operator showing you are paid in full.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you get a Tanzanian visa, as well as any other visas you might need for your journey. We make the application process easy by providing you with personal guidance and helpful checklists. Then, we deliver your paperwork directly to the embassy for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Tanzanian visa today!

1. Mt. Kilimanjaro: The tallest mountain in Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro ’s three snow-capped, volcanic cones tower over the surrounding landscape. Whether you choose to appreciate its grandeur from a distance or test your strength and endurance in an attempt to summit, the mountain is definitely worth seeing.

2. Old Zanzibar: The old stone buildings of Zanzibar are nothing if not charming. The historic center of the town preserves buildings and architectural styles that date back to the 1830′ s.  Old Zanzibar is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

3. The Serengeti:Serengeti National Park is the oldest national park in Tanzania.  It is home to over a million and a half wildebeest and 250,000 zebra. Their annual migration is a spectacle right out of “The Trials of Life.”  The northern section of the park has more hills and trees and is a perfect habitat for elephants and giraffe.

4. Kalambo Falls: Located along the border between Tanzania and Zambia, Kalambo Falls is the second-highest waterfall in Africa. Plummeting 772 feet into the Kalambo Gorge, the falls are definitely a sight to see. The area is also a fascinating archaeological site, with artifacts and other evidence of human habitation that stretches back 250,000 years.  A large breeding colony of Marabou storks live next to the falls. Interestingly, despite that old story about storks delivering human babies, the Marabou stork is actually a scavenger that eats carrion as well as preying on smaller animals and birds. In other words, a stork would probably sooner eat a baby sooner than deliver it.

5. Gombe Stream National Park- This national park is Tanzania’s smallest and is only reachable by boat. The park is home to many different types of primates, including the family of chimpanzees that Jane Goodall made famous.

If you’re an American citizen, you do need a visa to visit Tanzania. Although you can get a visa on arrival, the US Department of State recommends getting one before you leave the US, in order “to avoid long delays at entry points.”

For more information about getting a Tanzanian visa, see Tanzanian Visa Requirements for Tourists.

RushMyTravelVisa can make applying for a visa much quicker and easier. We’ll examine your itinerary to make sure you have the right travel documents for each stop, so that there are no unpleasant surprises. Then, we’ll assist you with the paperwork and expedite your application for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Tanzanian visa today!

Tanzania has been blessed with  a rich variety of natural and cultural attractions. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain on the entire continent, while the Serengeti features some of the most spectacular wildlife viewing in the world. Zanzibar features spectacular beaches, and Gombe is one of the best places to  see our wild chimpanzee cousins-in fact, it is the place where Jane Goodall first began to study the animals.

The best tourist facilities, naturally, are located in the major cities or popular wildlife preserves. However, according to the Lonely Planet guide, it is both rewarding and relatively safe to travel off the beaten path to see lesser-known gems like ancient Swahili villages and the Katavi wilderness.

Tanzanian visas are required for American citizens. You can get one ahead of time or at the airport on arrival. Either way, here’s what you need:

• 1 Tanzanian visa application form
• 2 passport photos
• A copy of a  recent bank statement
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate
• A travel itinerary. If you don’t have one yet, you can substitute a bank statement showing a minimum balance of $2,000.
• If you’re going on an organized tour, you will need a letter from the tour operator showing you are paid in full.
• Your US passport, which be valid for at least 6 more months after the date you obtain the visa.

Many travelers prefer to have all their visas in order before they attempt to travel so far from home. RushMyTravelVisa can help you by researching your itinerary, ensuring that you have the necessary paperwork for each stage of the journey.  You’ll also get one-on-one attention and help from a knowledgeable visa specialist, reducing the chance of common application mistakes that can delay the Tanzanian visa process.  Finally, we hand-deliver your visa application to the appropriate embassy or consulate to keep processing times as low as possible.

Apply for your Tanzanian visa today!

Zanzibar is located on the island of Unguja. According to Wikipedia, people have been living here for almost three centuries, but the stone buildings that make the old town so distinctive today date back to the 1830s.

The old town consists of large stone houses, mosques and bazaars, all connected by a maze of narrow alleys. Walking is essential here, as most of the alleyways are too skinny to take a car down. One of the most interesting architectural features of the city is the elaborate doors on many of the houses.  The wealthy Arab traders and businessmen who originally owned the houses competed to see whose house had the grandest, most elaborately decorated door.

Before Africa was colonized by Europeans, the city was one of the trading centers between Africa and Asia. UNESCO calls it “outstanding material manifestation of cultural fusion and harmonization.”

To visit Zanzibar’s Old Stone Town, you will need a Tanzanian visa. To apply for the visa, you’ll need the following documents:

• 1 copy of your Tanzanian visa application form
• 2 passport-sized photos
• A copy of a  recent statement from your bank.
• An international yellow fever vaccination certificate.
• A travel itinerary OR a bank statement showing a minimum balance of $2,000.
• If you’ll be visiting Zanzibar as part of an organized tour, you need proof that you have paid the tour operator in full.

If you’re planning a trip to Africa, RushMyTravelVisa can help you research your visa requirements to make sure that you have all of the travel documents you need for your trip. As part of our services, we also provide clear, easy to understand instructions to walk you through the application process, step by step. Finally, we submit your application to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest processing available.

Apply for your Tanzanian visa today!

However, it’s important to bear in mind that “walkable” does not mean “cakewalk,” even with porters to carry your baggage.  Every year people try to conquer Kilimanjaro and fail. According to Wikipedia, each year 10 climbers and 10-20 local porters die on the mountain.

To maximize your chances of success, here’s a list of things you’ll need to do to prepare:

• Start training. You’ll need to be in top shape to tackle Kilimanjaro.
• Book your trip through a reputable guide service. You can’t climb Kilimanjaro without a guide, but the quality of different guide services can vary considerably.
• Allow yourself enough time to acclimatize to the change in altitude as you climb. You are more likely to get altitude sickness and have to turn back if you try to ascend too quickly.
• Apply for a passport early, and consider applying for a Tanzanian visa before you leave as well. You can obtain a visa on arrival, but after spending so much time on a plane, you’ll probably want to clear customs and get to your hotel as soon as possible.

Here’s what you need to get a Tanzanian tourist visa:

• 1 completed visa application form
• 2 passport photos
• A copy of a  recent bank statement
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate
• A travel itinerary. If you don’t have one yet, you can substitute a bank statement showing a minimum balance of $2,000.
• If you’re going on an organized tour, you will need a letter from the tour operator showing you are paid in full.

RushMyTravelVisa can research your visa needs, help you with your paperwork and submit your application to the right embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.  With RushMyTravelVisa.com, you can ensure your trip gets off to a good start.

Apply for your Tanzanian visa today!