Travel advice for safari in Tanzania

If traveling for a safari in Tanzania, you must check the season when you wish to do a safari in Tanzania and plan in advance. During the peak Tanzania tourism season that is June, July, August, September, December and January, there is usually high influx of tourists so demand for safari logistics is high.

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During the great wildebeest migration especially July to September period, most of the service providers sell out their products causing scarcity at the last minute. We advise clients to make their reservations for the anticipated great migration period in advance to avoid inconveniences at the last minute.

Apply for your Tanzanian tourist visa in advance online, at the embassy in advance. Although it is possible to get a visa on arrival, the process of getting it at immigration may be long and tiring especially after the long flight.

The main local language spoken in Tanzania is Kiswahili so you can try to learn a few words in case you wish to blend easily with the local people. At least the greetings and thank you. This helps you blend with the local people and reduces the tension between you and the service providers.

In case you must inoculate for particular diseases, ensure you get all the shots in advance before travelling in to Tanzania just to be safe. Purchase travel insurance too before travelling to Tanzania for a safari in case of an emergency.

Do not walk around with your precious belongings during your Tanzanian safari to avoid attracting the wrong company. In case you need direction, request help from your driver guide a trusted person but not just a stranger.

For Transport to the Tanzania safari destinations, in case you are to charter, you need to make advance planning so that all the necessary clearances and on ground arrangements can be done.

Request for more details about the documents you must have before travelling to Tanzania for a safari from your travel agency.

Where to Go in Tanzania

Serengeti National Park

The safari highlight of Tanzania is the mysterious great wildebeest migration from Serengeti National Park to Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Although the starting time of the Great wildebeest migration is an assumption having the opportunity to witness it is a once in lifetime adventure.During the Great wildebeest migration, you have an opportunity to spot millions of animals on an exodus including ungulates like impalas, gazelles, zebras, wildebeest, hartebeests, lions, leopards, cheetahs, gazelles and so many others. Carnivores also join the voyage like lions, cheetahs, hyenas, leopards and others.

The most exciting spot of this wild animal journey is the Mara River crossing where hundreds of animals struggle to get to the other side while merciless crocodiles, lions and other savages strip others apart. Crossing from Serengeti National Park to Masais Mara National Reserve is the most dramatic and bloody point of journey. 

The Serengeti National Park hosts a number of animals that you may be in position to see even during other seasons of the year. 

Ngorongoro Conservation area

Ngorongoro conservation area is located on the floor of the vast Ngorongoro dry caldera in the northern part of Tanzania south of Serengeti National Park. This park is the only animal conservation area in Tanzania where humans share the same environment with wild animals, but humans are only allowed to do substance farming.

While on safari in Ngorongoro conservation area, you have an opportunity to see animals like hartebeests, cape buffaloes, topis, gazelles, elands, impalas and so many others.

Olduvai Gorge where the greatest human discovery was found in the 1950s by Louis Leakey and wife. The discovery of early man’s skull in Olduvai Gorge changed the look of this area. 

You can visit the Masai homesteads during your visit to Ngorongoro conservation area. The Masai are cattle keepers and live in Mayattas. They are artic too and in case you wish to purchase some souvenirs, you can use the opportunity on a visit to the Masai.

Mahale mountain and Gombe stream National Parks.

Chimpanzee trekking is done in this forested area close to Lake Tanganyika. In Mahale Mountain and Gombe Stream National Park, you have an opportunity to spot other primates like black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, and others.

Look out for numerous birds that live in the evergreen forest and spend their day searching for the free supplies of this forest. Although Lake Tanganyika is a rift valley lake, the forest lies on the escarpments that overlook this lake.

Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park is located west of Iringa and Tanzania’s largest conservation area. The Ruaha National Reserve acquires its name from the great Ruaha River. The area of this park was expanded after adding the Usangu game reserve.

During the game drive in this park, you may spot animals like elephants, Kudus, wild dogs, cape buffaloes, hyenas and several others.

More than 571 birds are so far recorded as residents of Ruaha National Park, including foreign migrants.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is another dramatic park in Tanzania with opportunities to experience mild wildebeest migration, even though not as massive as that in Serengeti National Park.

Although Tarangire National Park experiences a dry climate all year around, the presence of River Tarangire and its tributaries keeps some green in the park that is fed on by several animals. Some of the animals you may encounter while on game drive in Tarangire National Park include elephants, gazelles, elands, hartebeests and so many others.

 The presence of different vegetation types in Tarangire National Park makes home to different animals. Some of the vegetation of Tarangire National Park include acacia woodland, baobab, elephants grass, and much more that is supported by the water supply from the rivers and swamps that flow in Tarangire National Park.

Lake Manyara National Park

For spectacular game viewing experience, Lake Manyara National Park is the place to be giving you an opportunity to spot animals like herds of elephants, cape buffaloes, leopards, tree climbing lions, giraffes, elands and so many others.

The Lake Manyara banks provide a safe haven for a number of birds that love feeding from the marshy banks. A variety of birds live in this park including pelicans, flamingos and others.

Mountain Kilimanjaro

For the world class mountaineering adventure, hiking mountain Kilimanjaro is on top of the list.

This mountain is the world’s highest single standing block with an all year around snowcapped top. To do mountaineering on Kilimanjaro the best season is the dry season that is June to September. This is when less rains are expected to be experienced and trails are more passable.

Along the way, you may spot several birds, unique vegetation, encounter some animals and so much more. You need to bear some level of fitness to enjoy the entire experience of hiking mountain Kilimanjaro. You need to also make advance preparations so that all necessary arrangements can be done in advance.

Nyerere National Park

This is the former Selous National Park but is now Nyerere National Park. This park is famous for habitant to the wild dogs. During a game drive in Nyerere National Park, you may spot crocodiles, hippos, lions, crocodiles and others.

When is the best time to do A Tanzania Safari?

Tanzania is open for all safari activities all year but the dry season attracts more bookings. The dry season which is normally June to September is most sought after. This is the season when the great wildebeest migration is in high gears. The wild animals are easier to spot because the grass is generally lower, and other beautiful features of the parks are easier to spot.

Since demand for most Tanzania safari destinations is high in the dry season and so are accompanying amenities like accommodations, vehicle hire, driver guides and others. You need to make reservations in advance because choices run out as the season breaks in. Expect more vehicles in the game parks and you have to wake up early to get the best sight of game.

The low Tanzania season is normally the wet season too which is March to May and November all factors kept constant. There is generally less demand for safaris over this period and in case you have a limited safari budget but a Tanzania safari is on your bucket list, you may use this opportunity.

Chances of getting discounts on safari logistics or an upgrade are more open in the low season because many service providers want to break even. Even the attention you receive while on safari in the low season is more than the high season because you are few or just you in the facilities.

Guideline for a safari in Tanzania

• 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, do not let them out of sight as the parks have savages that may pounce on them.
• Drive at a speed that is recommended by the Park authorities so as not to cause any accidents 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 their food and not depend on human provision.
• Never dump garbage like wraps, cans, and 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.

 What to Pack For a Safari in Tanzania?

• Safari hat to wear while on safari in Tanzania and it must be foldable so that you can easily pack it.
• Binoculars to get a clear picture of fur hidden animals and birds.
• Sunscreen to protect your skin from sunburns and to apply while at the pool in case your lodge has one.
• Small backpack to carry with your belongings so that they do not scatter while you are on safari 
• A torch just in case lights go out at night and because most accommodation facilities use solar sometimes the panels may run short of power.
• Foldable water bottle where you can carry drinking water to take while quenching thirst.
• When the dry spell heats Tanzania National Park that is expected between June to September, and Mid December to Mid-January, temperature may rise. You need to pack some light wear like sleeveless and shorts with flip flops. The color of clothes to pack must be dirt friendly like Khaki.
• Try to avoid bright colors because they may look suspicious to some wild animals and cause them to charge at you. The wild is dusty at times which may make your clothes dirty in case they brightly colored. 
• A camera for taking memories of your honeymoon adventures in Tanzania. 
• Some hard cash to exchange into local currency in case you need to have an on ground transaction.
• Carry an extra fully charged battery to switch with in case one runs low.
• Insect repellant as the wilderness has stinging insects that may hurt your skin. 
• First Aid kit for just in case of any illness that is known to you.

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