A Beginner’s Tanzania Safari Guide Book According to Experts
A Beginner’s Tanzania Safari Guide Book According to Experts. Our Tanzania Safari Guide shows you when to go to Tanzania, how to combine the best safari destinations, and how to get the best value for money. An excellent Tanzania Safari Guide will enable you to make an active and educated decision when organizing your Tanzania safari, but it won’t replace the guidance and support of one of our Africa Safari Experts.
In this Beginner’s Safari Guide to Tanzania, we focus on the tips and insights that will help you make the most of your time and money.
What happens on a Safari in Tanzania
Imagine riding in a car with a roof that pops up and lets you see the view from all sides. Animals often get close enough for great photo chances.
You’ll spend the night in a safari house or a mobile tented camp, where you’ll eat and sleep. The next day, your trip continues, taking you deeper into Tanzania’s natural beauty. Hollywood classics like “Hatari!” and Walt Disney’s “Lion King” were both based on the country’s beautiful scenery and diverse wildlife.
There is more to an African safari in Tanzania than just animals. It’s also a cultural trip. You can learn about Maasai traditions by visiting their villages and see amazing historical places like the Olduvai Gorge, which is known as the “Cradle of Mankind.”
For a different view, go on a walking tour through the savannah to get close to nature. Want to go on an even bigger adventure? Take off in a hot air balloon and see beautiful scenery from above. Kabira Safaris offers these and other unique activities that will make your trip more memorable.
Tanzania Safari Tips – How To Have An Incredible Safari In Tanzania!
Wildlife Safaris in Tanzania
Tanzania, located in Africa, is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. It is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and abundant wildlife. Visitors can experience the awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater and the expansive Serengeti National Park, which are home to the famous Big Five and numerous other species. From elegant giraffes and playful hippos to elusive caracals, African wild dogs, and various other lesser-known animals.
A Tanzanian safari offers more than just observation; it allows visitors to become part of the natural environment. Animals roam freely, providing an authentic glimpse into their daily lives. Even after dusk, the adventure continues as guests relax in comfortable lodges, serenaded by the unique sounds of the savannah. Tanzania’s landscapes are as diverse as its wildlife, ranging from the dry plains of the Serengeti to the lush forests of Ngorongoro. Every corner of the country offers a distinct natural experience, ensuring a rewarding and unforgettable wildlife journey.
Why We Love Tanzania
It’s easy to fall in love with Tanzania’s rich cultures, big game attractions and natural beauty. As safari experts, what we value most about this country is the old-school service, the authentic safari style and the level of luxury you’ll experience here. Not to mention the incredible game viewing in Tanzania’s heavyweights like the Serengeti!
Tanzania Safari Packages
Luxury Tanzania Tours
An opulent take on the traditional safari is available on a Tanzanian luxury safari. The outstanding resorts on these safaris are what really set them apart. Their excellent food and attentive staff are reminiscent of the best hotels in Europe. Luxurious gourmet cuisine from around the world, as well as the best organic produce from the area, are available at these lodges for your indulgent dining experience. A wide variety of gourmet cheeses, cured meats, and wines are all part of this. Elegantly adorned with handcrafted furnishings, the rooms in these lodges radiate luxury with their vast interiors. A lot of famous people and affluent tourists like them because of how luxurious they are.
Budget Tanzania Safaris
Safaris in Tanzania are on the list of must-dos for many tourists, and with good reason. Some of the world’s most famous sights, traditions, and animals call this nation home. It can be overwhelming to think about all the options for safaris and how to begin making plans. So, to help you find the perfect Tanzania safari for your budget, the experts at Tanzania Budget Safaris have compiled this comprehensive guide. We can assist you in organising the ideal vacation, whether you are seeking a tranquil lodge stay or an exciting camping excursion. Following is a list of our favourites!
Hot Air Balloon Flights
A luxury safari wouldn’t be complete without a hot air balloon trip. It offers a spectacular vantage point for seeing animals as it floats above the grasslands in Tanzania. You can have this once in a lifetime experience at two of Africa’s most famous national parks—Serengeti and Tarangire—in the country’s northern regions. Air safaris were a hit with many of Kabira’s customers.
Camping in Tanzania
Marvel at the Great Rift Valley’s breathtaking scenery while seeing animals roam freely throughout the savannah. You will go to the Serengeti under the guidance of an accredited safari guide in pursuit of amazing wildlife in its native environment. You may get a better look at the local wildlife and learn about the culture quickly and affordably at full-service campgrounds. Our compact safari vehicles cut down on travel time and increase the likelihood that you’ll get a picture-perfect sight of one of the “big five.”
Tanzania Guided Group Safari
Enthralling big game views, iconic landscapes, and cultural notes are all part of this seven-day safari that combines Tanzania’s “must-see” northern game reserves onto one uncomplicated itinerary. While journeying through the homeland of the traditional Maasai herders and their towns, you will have the opportunity to explore game reserves and be amazed by a variety of sights, such as large herds of wildebeest and big cats, as well as enormous volcanic craters and lakes that are illuminated by sunsets.
Self-drive Tanzania Safari
If this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you, Kabira Safaris can craft an exciting and varied schedule for your vacation to Tanzania. Get in touch with us if you need assistance organising your rental car, park permits, and lodging for a well-planned road trip. You can opt for a self-guided tour or hire a local driver-guide for a more personalised experience. Rest your head at one of the many picturesque lodges or campgrounds that are part of our self-drive excursions after a day on the road. We take special care to seek out remarkable locations, and we give preference to eco-friendly boutique hotels that offer the most value for money.
Location: Where is Tanzania?
Tanzania is the second largest country in East Africa and one of the continent’s stalwart safari destinations. It lies on the idyllic Indian Ocean coast and shares borders with other incredible safari destinations like Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
Top Experiences in Tanzania
1. Excellent Year-round Game Viewing
SERENGETI GAME DRIVE | Tanzania
Tanzania is home to a great diversity of wildlife, fascinating cultures and natural, scenic beauty. It’s a dream destination from the classic, sweeping savannah of the Serengeti to the flamingo-lined shores of Lake Manyara, world wonder Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa’s highest mountain).
It also offers bucket-list experiences that like chimpanzee trekking in the rainforests of Mahale and Gombe, and game viewing in the far-flung wildernesses of Katavi, Ruaha and Nyerere National Park (Selous).
Tanzania’s best wildlife safari destinations are:
- Serengeti National Park: Witness the Wildebeest Migration, High density of big game like elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and giraffe
- Mahale Mountains National Park: Trek for chimpanzee in remote mountains, Sunset boat cruises on Lake Tanganyika
- Nyerere National Park (Selous): Remote, raw and phenomenally wild, See animals in very large numbers – elephant, buffalo, hippo and giraffe, Home to rare wild dog
- Ruaha National Park: Undiscovered and off the beaten path, See the biggest elephant herds in East Africa, Superb predator sightings, especially wild dog
- Lake Manyara National Park: Boat safaris, Excellent bird watching, especially flamingos, Spot tree-climbing lions
- Tarangire National Park: See huge numbers of elephant, buffalo and giraffe (June to October), Fantastic bird watching – over 550 species
- Ngorongoro Crater: Best place in Tanzania to see the Big 5, Incredible cliff-top lodges
It’s worth noting that Tanzania combines beautifully with other safari destinations in East Africa like Kenya (home to the Masai Mara), and Uganda and Rwanda (exhilarating gorilla trekking adventures).
2. The Wildebeest Migration
Without a doubt, Tanzania’s greatest wildlife attraction is the annual Wildebeest Migration, which sees almost two million wildebeest and zebra follow seasonal rains across the Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem each year. Tanzania hosts the lion’s share of the Migration – two main events take place in the Serengeti:
- The mass calving season when almost a quarter of a million babies are born in the southern Serengeti.
- The dramatic Grumeti River crossings.
If witnessing the Migration is on your bucket-list, then knowing when to go is all-important:
Great wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River between Masai Mara and Serengeti [Kenya-Tanzania]
3. Bush-and-Beach Holidays
Tanzania offers superb safari-and-beach combinations, thanks to its long tropical coastline and coral-fringed islands. You can easily fly from a safari camp after breakfast and be on a powder-soft beach in time for sunset cocktails.
Tanzania’s top tropical islands are:
- Zanzibar – one of the world’s most romantic honeymoon destinations.
- Mnemba Island – a private island holiday paradise.
- Pemba Island – among the world’s best diving sites.
- Mafia Island – swim with migrating whale sharks (about October to April).
Which Tanzania Safari parks are best to visit
Those taking a safari in northern Tanzania will surely visit the country’s most famous parks. The south and west of the nation, on the other hand, are worth exploring for seasoned tourists or those seeking variety. Experiences that are less common and more exotic await you there.
Northern Parks
Anyone visiting Tanzania for the first time or who hasn’t had the chance to explore all of the northern parks should do the northern safari circuit.
The expansive vistas and abundant wildlife of Serengeti National Park have brought it fame. The Central Serengeti is a fantastic place to see animals at any time of year. A must-see event, the Great Migration’s most dramatic moments take place in July and August at the Northern Serengeti river crossings. Thousands of wildebeests give birth in January and February, bringing life to the seemingly endless plains of the Southern Serengeti. The Western Serengeti, on the other hand, is ideal for wildlife photography due to its contrasting terrain of thick vegetation and woods.
Along with Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The famous crater formed by a huge volcanic eruption is one of the best parts of safaris in Tanzania’s Northern Circuit. The Ngorongoro Crater looks like a scene from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Lost World,” and it is a must-see for an unforgettable safari experience.
Thousands upon thousands of pink flamingos come to the beaches of Lake Manyara National Park every year, creating a breathtaking sight. The wildlife of Lake Manyara National Park is quite diverse. It stands out from other parks because to the lake, which provides a picturesque and tranquil backdrop.
Every safari traveller to Tanzania should make time to visit Tarangire National Park. There are a variety of animals that inhabit this area, including antelopes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, and large prides of lions and elephants. Tarangire National Park also offers the rare opportunity to see lions scaling trees.
Safaris in Tanzania often begin in Arusha National Park. Arusha National Park is ideal for individuals who are short on time because it provides an excellent safari experience in a single day. Visitors to Tanzania can experience a one-of-a-kind animal encounter at this park thanks to its walking safaris.
Southern Parks
Safari itineraries frequently highlight Tanzania’s northern parks. One must not, however, ignore the circuit in southern Tanzania. Those returning to Tanzania for a second time may find these lesser-known safari locations very intriguing.
The second-largest national park in Tanzania is located in the southern region, and its name is Ruaha. The majority of Africa’s elephants call this area home. With its abundance of giraffes, cheetahs, leopards, lions, and antelopes, Ruaha is a wildlife lover’s dream. If you’re seeking a safari that is less touristy, it’s a fantastic option.
The largest national park in Tanzania, Nyerere (previously Selous Game Reserve) is ideal for safari goers looking for less crowded paths. The region was declared a national park, and all hunting was subsequently banned. Peacefully seeing animals in their own environments has never been easier than at Nyerere National Park.
Western Parks
The only way to reach the remote parks in western Tanzania is via plane. These parks are perfect for people who have been to other parts of Tanzania or who are taking a long vacation and want to make the most of their time there.
Mahale Mountains National Park:
One of the most isolated parks in Tanzania is Mahale Mountains National Park, which is close to Lake Tanganyika. The landscapes in the southern parks are drastically different from those in the north due to the presence of Lake Tanganyika. For a chance to observe a wide variety of primates, including colobus, vervet, blue, and red-tailed monkeys, yellow baboons, and chimpanzees, Mahale Mountains National Park is an excellent choice.
The unspoiled natural haven of Katavi National Park lies in Tanzania’s western region. Its biggest herds of buffalo are its claim to fame. A wide variety of habitats can be found in this mostly uncharted park. Woodlands, vast grasslands, deep woods, and seasonal lakes with a pristine clarity contrast with reed-filled floodplains inhabited by hippos and crocodiles.
Gombe Stream National Park, located adjacent to Lake Tanganyika, achieved renown due to Jane Goodall’s pioneering chimpanzee study. The park is a popular location for chimpanzees. Additionally, it harbours additional primate species such as blue monkeys, olive baboons, and numerous colobus monkeys. Furthermore, this location offers sightings of several avian species, bush pigs, hippos, and even leopards, who are the primary predators of the park’s monkey population.
What else can you do in Tanzania
Climb Mount Kilimanjaro
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The appeal of Tanzania extends beyond its wildlife safaris. Many are also attracted by the challenge of ascending Mount Kilimanjaro. This ascent requires meticulous preparation, usually lasting approximately 7 days. Additionally, there are other remarkable hiking options, such as Mount Meru. If you have additional time, they can assist you in preparing for Mt Kilimanjaro.
Visit Zanzibar and other Indian Ocean islands
Tanzania provides a variety of experiences beyond those found on the continent. Additionally, it serves as the entrance to the captivating islands of the Indian Ocean, such as Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia Island. The Zanzibar Archipelago is highly regarded for its rich historical allure and stunning coastlines. Indulging in the tranquil beaches and discovering Stone Town is an ideal way to relax after a safari. Pemba and Mafia islands, which are not as well-known, provide unspoiled coral reefs, exceptional diving opportunities, and a serene getaway.
