How to experience Tanzania safari on a budget

To experience the Tanzania safari on a budget, you need to select which destinations to add to your itinerary. Tanzania has a variety of options to choose as safari activities but having a strategic plan on how to navigate them is very important in order to avoid backtracking and wasting the limited resources.

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During a Tanzania Safari, you may choose to do game drives, birding, chimpanzee trekking, community tour, walking safaris, water activities and others. Tanzania is a very vast country and so getting from one destination to another may take long hours or a day, so be mindful of what means to use to navigate the country’s safari destinations on a budget.

To cut the safari costs, you may also join group Tanzania tours where you get the chance to share costs like transport, accommodations with others. You may travel for Tanzania safari as a group or request a scheduled Tanzanian group tour through a tour operator. At Encounter Africa safaris, we are here to make your dream of an African safari come true and memorable. Contact Us

As you plan for the budget safari in Tanzania, be mindful of the season when you hope to travel because during the peak season which is normally June to October the cost of most logistics that support tourism in the country are high. This is because more tourists are received in Tanzania and especially those heading for the Great Wildebeest migration season in the Serengeti National Park.

Do not forget to include the cost of Park entrance fees in your budget especially of you are to tour the Tanzania National Parks. Park entrance fees are compulsory to every tourists no matter the Tanzania safari package category you choose

What To Do And Where To Go For Tanzania Safari On Budget.

Game safari in Tanzania

Tanzania is a game rich destination to choose for an African safari. It is the genesis of the Great wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park which is one of the 8 natural wonders in the world. During the Great Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti National Park, multitudes of animals move towards Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya seeking greener pastures. What triggers these animals to move and when the great Wildebeest migration in Tanzania starts is still a mystery.

Tanzania has a variety of destinations to visit for game safaris including Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro National Park, Nyerere National Park, Ruaha National Park and others.It is possible to visit all the Tanzania game parks on budget however be mindful of the number of day to take on this African safari and how to get to these destinations.

Some of the animals that you may possibly see during the game drives in Tanzania include lion prides, herds of elephants, herds of buffaloes, giraffes, elands, impalas, zebras, waterbucks, bushbucks, wildebeests, gazelles, warthogs, leoprads, kudu, oribi and others.

Even though all these animals are not found in all the Tanzania Game Parks, when planning the Tanzania Safari, you may seek advice of where you may have chance to see that particular animal. Our safari consultants are always ready to provide the most appropriate advice according to the experience they have on different safari parks in Tanzania.

Do not forget to consider the Park entrance fees when planning the game safari in Tanzania as it is compulsory for every tourist no matter which plan you choose to travel.

Chimpanzee Trekking in Tanzania

Tanzania is one of the few hosts of chimpanzees in the world as these are endangered primates that have lost their habitats to human activities. To do chimpanzee trekking in Tanzania, you need to book a permit to Mahale National Park and Gombe National Park.

Mahale National Park and Gombe National Park offer untamed jungle experience as you move through the thick forest with numerous trees and limited undergrowth. The dense canopy of the trees' tops permits less sunlight to the ground so there are more creepers on the tree trunks. More than 700 chimpanzees have been recorded as residents of these forests.

To do chimpanzee trekking in Tanzania, you must attend briefing first where you go through the rules of chimpanzee trekking and other related issues. Wear your chimpanzee trekking attires because the wilderness has some hush conditions that may be rough on your body. The ranger guide with some protective gears leads the way but endure you follow the trail that he or she takes so that you are not lost in the forest.

Look out for other animals that also live in the park including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys and others forest inhabitants. A number of forest birds may be identified in the forest in case you are an enthusiastic birder.

Finally, when you find the chimpanzee troop, one hour is allowed with them so that they can be left to carry on with their daily activities. Human presence disrupts the daily life of the chimpanzees and other forest dwellers so it has to be regulated.

Water Activities To Do On Tanzania Safari At A Budget

Tanzania has a coastline at the Indian Ocean where different water activities take place. Some of the water activities to do at the coast in  Tanzania include kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, cruise shipping, sunbathing by the beaches, staycation and others.

To enjoy the activities by the beaches in Tanzania, you need advance booking for accommodation which are within your budget and has a great view of the ocean.

Hiking Kilimanjaro Mountain on Budget

Hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro is on the bucket list of most adventure seekers. This all year snowcapped mountain is situated on the border of Tanzania and Kenya. To hike mountain Kilimanjaro may take some days so you need to pack the necessary gear to use for mountain climbing. Do not forget to include the cost of food supplies and other necessary items related to this adventure.

To keep memories of the hike up mountain Kilimanjaro, you can carry camera to capture every moment that may interest you. The highest peak of mountain Kilimanjaro is called Uhuru at 5895 meters above sea level is worth every time and money you spend on this adventure. More people hike Mountain Kilimanjaro in the dry season so expect to share the same space with other tourists in case you book in this period.  To climb Mountain Kilimanjaro, you need to bear some level of fitness as this adventure is quite hectic. In case you get some altitude sickness while halfway the adventure up mountain Kilimanjaro, it is better not to return to the ground.

Zanzibar Island Tour on Budget

Zanzibar is part of Tanzania but it is situated in the Indian ocean. Zanzibar Island is also know as the specie island where many of the African species are grown like gloves, pyrethrum and others. Most of the best water activities and moments of Tanzanian tour are enjoyed from this Island

Visit the former slave market, enjoy the cool breeze from the Indian Ocean, have a taste of Zanzibar fish and may other adventures. Do not forget to carry some costumes to use during the water activities including swimming costume, floaters and others. In case you are to spend the night at Zanzibar Island, you need to reserve accommodation in advance.

Cultural experience on Budget During Tanzanian Safari

Tanzania is a multicultural country with people from different origins including Arabs. The main local language spoken in Tanzania is Kiswahili but there are other indigenous languages. The most exciting community is that of the Masai warriors who have stuck to their culture to date. The Masai also live in Kenya. On a visit to Tanzania for a safari, you may also make plans to spend time with the Masai community where you get to engage in there day to day life including cattle keeping, milking, making ornaments from beads and much more.

For the Masai people you just say jump and they reply how high as this is one of their dance style that you may try to engage yourself in during the community visit. Try to be open minded with the local people so that they get free interact with you and get skeptical.

Tanzania Walking Safari On A Budget

Change the dynamics of doing a safari in Tanzania by opting to do a Walking safari. In company of a ranger guide, use the trails constructed by the regular visitors in the Tanzanian game parks to get up close with nature. Enjoy the animals that spend time in the grasslands of the park feeding on the grass and as other prey on the herbivores.

Having some level of fitness is very important during the Tanzania walking safari and wear the wilderness friend attires. Do not feed the animals on the way because they are wild animals that must not depend on human supplies but on the wilderness where they live. Carry a camera to take photos of the features and animals that may interest you on the way.

When Is The Best Time To Book A Budget Safari In Tanzania

The best time to book a budget safari in Tanzania is the dry season even though Tanzania safari destinations are open all year. The dry season in Tanzania in general is normally June to October when less rains are expected in the country. This is the peak tourism season in the country however the high costs that are normally charged in this period must not scare you from booking the Tanzania safari because all categories from upscale to basic are catered for.

More people normally book safari to Tanzania in this period so you need to reserve all necessary logistics in advance to avoid getting disappointed. As a tourist traveling on budget, you may choose to share the safari expenses with other tourists by joining a group Tanzania Safari to cut costs. Ensure to clear all expenses in advance because your partial booking at the accommodation, vehicle hire may end in being sold off to another client who may be offering a better deal. This advice is especially for those who organize the Tanzania safari by themselves.

The wet season in Tanzania that is normally March to May and October to November should not scare you from planning and doing a Tanzania safari. At this time some facilities at the Tanzanian Tour destinations may discount their costs as they try to break even. There are fewer crowds in the wilderness during the wet season low season in Tanzania. Chance of witness new births are also more possible

Guidelines For A Tanzania Safari

• Do not expect a smooth ride while on safari in Tanzania because the roads in the countryside are marram and dusty during the dry season. In case you have road sickness, swallow some pills where need be.
• Carry just what is necessary for your time on Tanzania holiday so that you are not inconvenienced by the limited legs room in case you are sharing the vehicle with others.
• When in the park, do not hoot or make noise because you may scare the wild animals and push them into hiding yet others would like to see them too.
• In case you have children on safari donot let them out of sight as the parks have savages that may pounce on them.
• Drive a speed that is recommended by the Park authorities so as not to cause any accident to the animals or yourself.
• Do not dangle your limbs or get out of the car during the game drive because you do not know what awaits you in the bushes.
• Take some anti-malarial before travelling for a safari in Tanzania because this is a tropical country
• No feeding the wild animals while on safari because they are wild animals that must search for there own food and not depend on human provision.
• Never dump garbage like wraps, cans, foil in the wilderness because this alters the nature of the environment where wild animals thrive.
• During the walking safaris, wait for the ranger guides to lead the way because you may easily be terrified by the wild animals.
• Never drive off track as this may calls for a penalty and if you have to do so, seek permission from the authority.
• Do not leave your engine on when you locate the wild animals because you may scare them.
• Respect others while on a game drive so that you can all have the chance to enjoy the wild.
• Carry nothing from the Tanzanian safari destinations other than the photos as memories and leave nothing but only the marks of your vehicle.

For more information about how to experience Tanzania on a budget, kindly get in touch with our team.