What to expect on safari during rainy season in Tanzania

What to expect on Tanzania safari in the rain season is the usual safari adventures. Expect the grass in grasslands in most destinations of Tanzania to be taller but there is game to see although not plenty. The wet season of Tanzania is normally March to May and late October to November but most of the Tanzania safari destinations are not affected by extreme weather.

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In general Tanzania experiences humid and warm climate but the timing and pattern of the rain vary from place to place. Note that the top of Mountain Kilimanjaro is ice topped all year no matter the season.

Expect the tracks in the game parks to get messy in the wet season so you need to hire a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition to get you around these parks in Tanzania.

Sometimes the rains in Tanzania may rain almost the entire day and the temperatures drop so do not forget to carry some warmers.

The wet season is normally breeding season so expect to find some infants when on safari in the Tanzania game parks. Most of these infants accompany there parents during the great wildebeest beast migration in Tanzania especially in Serengeti National Park.

Expect to find less vehicles in the game parks and other Tanzanian safari destinations are less visited in the wet season too because it is normally the low tourism season in the country.

What are the Tanzania Safari destinations

Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is the genesis of the great wildebeest migration in Tanzania. The wet season is believed to be the preparation season that the wild animals use to get ready for the great wildebeest migration. The Zebras are believed to be the master minders of the starting of this great exodus that is one of the 8 natural wonders in the world even though the truth about it is not confirmed.

There are more infants wild animals expected to be born in the wet season because there is plenty or them to eat and these accompany there parents to the great pilgrimage to Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The tall grass act as the hiding pots for the vulnerable infants including those of the predators that are known to prey on other wild animals.

In Serengeti National Park, you may get the chance to see animals including wildebeest, impalas, giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, elands, cheetahs, lions, leopards, rhinos, buffaloes, zebras and many others

An array of birds are recorded as residents of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and these are present in the park all year.

Ngorongoro National Park

The Ngorongori National Park is situated on the southern border of Serengeti National Park. This park is located in the Ngorongoro caldera which is the largest in the world. During the game drive in Ngorongoro Park, you may get the chance to find animals including herds of elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, waterbucks, bushbucks, elands and others. The Ngorongoro National Park has one of the great historical sites in the world where the remains of early man that is a skull of early man was discovered by Dr Louis Leakey at Olduvai gorge.

A visit to the Masai community is more possible when on a visit to Tanzania while on a visit to Ngorongoro National Park. The Masai are unique people that are conservative with their culture as they are nomadic pastoralists.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire national Park is a mini Serengeti National Park in that it also experiences great animals migration although not significant. This parks is also a wildlife haven with chances of sighting a number of wild animals when you take on a game drive. Some of the resident animals of Tarangire National Park include lions, elephants, Rhinos, impalas, wildebeests, cheetahs, zebras, cape buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks and others.

While in Tarangire National Park, in the wet season, expect the ground around River Tarangire to get messy incase its tributaries flood. At the start of the rainy season, the birdlife of Tarangire National Park are easier to spot because they are busy constructing nests where they are to shelter as the season opens.

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is a great wild animal destination in Tanzania. During the game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, most animals tend to stay in hiding especially where they can find shelter from the heavy down pour. Since the grass is taller, chances of spotting the smaller park inWhat to expect on safari during rainy season in Tanzaniahabitants may be possible on the tracks than in the open plains.

While on game drive in Tarangire National Park, you may find elephants, zebras, impalas, wildebeests, buffaloes, bushbucks, waterbucks and others.

Mahale National Park and Gombe National Park

The chimpanzee trekking adventure in Mahale National Park and Gombe National Park is unforgettable experience. even in the wet season, expect to see the chimpanzees of Mahale National Park and Gombe National Park because these primates are first habituated then tests are made to confirm them as ready to meet other humans. The chimpanzees also live in communities that stage in a particular feeding location for a period until proved that food is insufficient for all community members.

The trails of Mahale National Park and Gombe National Park can also be explored in the wet season although expect them to be wet and slightly soggy since less sunlight is let in through the dense canopy to the ground.

Not that the chimpanzees and other forest dwellers especially the primates keep most of there time up in the trees.

Nyerere National Park

The Nyerere National Park is open for safaris too during the wet season. The Nyerere National Parkis known for hosting a number of wild dogs. While on game drive in this park you may come across animals including waterbucks, hippos, crocodiles, impalas, wildebeests and many others. During the wet season, there are generally less wild animals close to the tracks within this park because they pen most o the time in sheltered spots.

Zanzibar Island Visit

Even in the wet season, Zanzibar Island which is part of Tanzania is still open although there are less out door activities to do around the Island. In case the day is not wet, you can do some activities include swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, boat cruising, visit the former slave trade centers, sun bathing and many other activities.

During the wet season, there are normally less tourists visit the Zanzibar Island so you may have most of the beach area to yourself or the people travelling with. At some accommodations of Zanzibar, you may be the only or few visitors so the service is more personalized.

Mountain Kilimanjaro

Other than scenic viewing of the features around the mountain from the base of Mountain Kilimanjaro, during the severe rainy season hiking this mountain may not be recommended. This is because of the high gravity of water that is expected to flow from the top of the mountain. The gravitation force from the water that flows down the slopes of Mountain Kilimanjaro and this may push you back.

When expecting to do a photographing safari with Mountain Kilimanjaro in the background during the wet season expect the vegetation on the slopes of the mountain to be lush green.

Birding Safari in Tanzania

The start of the wet season is one of the best time for doing a birding safari in Tanzania. Most of the birds are quicker to see in the open plains at they are busy collecting materials to use when constructing nests where they are to spend time as the wet season intensifies.

Most of the birds in different safari destinations in Tanzania roam the wilderness freely and there presence is influenced by the presence of so many wild animals in the park.

Some of the great birding safari destinations in Tanzania include Serengeri National Park, Mahale National Park, Gombe National Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority Park , Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro National Park and others.

How Safe Are Tanzania Safari Destinations In The Wet Season

Tanzania safari destination are safe to visit in the wet season as on ground there are professional ranger guides from Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA). They are well trained to protect the wildlife parks and the visitors.

Every tourists visiting the Tanzania safari destination is expected to abide by the guidelines of the destination as these were set as one of the protective measure for tourists.

For personal safety, do not get out of your vehicle especially in the game park unless you are in company of the ranger guide. Even during the wet season when grass is taller and so some animals may be hard to spot you are not sure where they may be hiding. The ground tends to be messy especially the tracks ensure to drive or hire a vehicle that is 4x4 wheeled and terrain resistant. Ensure to have full gas tank before entering the game park because finding a gas station in the parks to refuel may be quite hard and you can get stuck in the middle of the game drive.

What Is The Cost Of Tanzania Safaris In The Wet Season

The wet season in Tanzania is normally the low tourism season of the country. Some times chances of finding discounts on some logistics may be possible in the low season. This is because many of them try to keep business a float especially the accommodation and transport providers.

In case you wish to receive an upgrade from some safari service providers in Tanzania, the wet season may open better chances. The costs of most safari amenities in Tanzania varies with category that is luxury, mid-range or basic.

Ensure to pay park entrance fees before entering the Tanzania National Park as they cut across all safari packages. At Encounter Africa safaris, we package our safaris according to Up-Market, Mid-range and modest.

How Sure Can I Be To Find The Big Five On A Tanzania Safari In The Wet Season

While on Tanzania safari, you may get the chance to see the big five that is lions, leopards, Buffaloes, Rhinos and Elephants however, seeing them in one safari is a probability. The game drives are not a sure deal to finding particular animals because they are free animals that roam the wilderness with nothing stopping them from traversing the wilderness.

In order to enjoy the Tanzania safaris especially game viewing, open your mind to seeing the animals that cross your eyes instead of specifying which one to see.

What To Are the Guidelines To A Tanzania Safari in The wet Season

• 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, donot 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 donot 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.

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