Where and When To Go Tanzania Safari

Experience Tanzania

Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa, and almost one-third of its land is protected for wildlife conservation. It’s home to world-famous safari destinations that attract many tourists and lesser-known reserves that feel wild and remote.  

The Serengeti is the site of the Great Migration, where around 2.5 million wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle follow the rains in a never-ending cycle around the park. The most dramatic stage of the journey is when the herds cross the Mara River, facing starving crocodiles, territorial hippos, and swollen waters.

The Ngorongoro Crater, a caldera created 2 to 3 million years ago, is one of the most game-rich areas of East Africa. In the crater basin, you’ll find grazing Thomson’s gazelle and wildebeest, stalking lion and leopard, and maybe even elusive black rhinos browsing the thickets. Outside the crater, Maasai people share the land with wildlife.

Most tourists favor the better-known northern parks, so those who travel to the baobab-studded Ruaha National Park and the vast, wild Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) in the south have the privilege of an exclusive safari experience.

Adventure abounds: Fly out to Rubondo Island National Park in Lake Victoria to trek through the forest looking for wild chimpanzees or spend a few days hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. Then, treat yourself to a well-earned break on the palm-lined shores of Zanzibar.

 

Seasons

Dry: Late Jun – Mid Oct and Late Dec – Mid Mar

Wet: Apr-May and Late Oct – Early Dec

 

Fly to

Kilimanjaro, Dar Es Salaam

 

Languages

Swahili, English, and > 100 local dialects

 

Currency

Tanzanian Shilling (TSH) and USD ($)

 

Tanzania Regions

Almost one-third of Tanzania is protected, with 17 national parks across the country and its oceans.

One-fifth of Africa’s large mammals are found within its borders, including lions, elephants, hippos, zebras, and, of course, the wildebeest, whose mass migration is one of the world’s most famous natural events. 

Serengeti

The Serengeti is one of the most iconic destinations in the world, so it’s no wonder it’s one of Tanzania’s top attractions. The park, the subject of many nature documentaries, hosts the dramatic Great Migration, during which millions of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles must cross the Mara River.

 

Tarangire

One of the Northern Circuit parks, Tarangire is famed for its giant baobab trees and massive herds of elephants. It’s also one of the least visited northern parks.

 

Ngorongoro

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, home of the Ngorongoro Crater, has a high concentration of wildlife and staggering volcanic scenery.

 

Ruaha

One of the largest national parks in Africa, southern Tanzania’s Ruaha remains blissfully off the beaten track despite being home to around 10% of the world’s lion population.

 

Rubondo Island

The extraordinary Rubondo Island in Lake Victoria was made a haven for endangered chimpanzees. Other animals, from elephants to sitatunga antelope, are also found there.

 

Nyerere (The Selous)

Located in the south of Tanzania, Nyerere National Park is a vast, wild reserve—larger than Switzerland—with just a scattering of small camps.

 

Lake Manyara

Encompassing varied landscapes, including soda lakes, mountain regions, and dense woodlands, Lake Manyara National Park offers scenic beauty and exceptional birding.

 

Arusha

Located at the base of Mount Meru, Arusha is considered the gateway to Tanzania’s top safari destinations and Mount Kilimanjaro.

 

Dar es Salaam

A vibrant commercial port and the largest city in Tanzania, Dar es Salaam is a cultural melting pot.

 

Highlights

It isn’t easy to talk about Tanzania without mentioning the Serengeti. Many people think of this when they imagine an African safari – vast savannahs across which cheetahs sprint, lions prowl, and great herds of wildebeest kick up dust as they thunder through. Completing the northern circuit are the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, and Lake Manyara National Park. Those with the legs and lungs can summit the continent’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro. Further south, Ruaha National Park and Selous Game Reserve are two of the most underrated safari destinations in East Africa, offering a wilderness experience without the crowds. Lake Victoria’s Rubondo Island is unmissable as a wildlife destination.

Wildlife

One-fifth of Africa’s large mammals are found within Tanzanian borders, including lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, and the Great Migration wildebeest herds of the Serengeti.

Aside from these vast migration herds, the Serengeti is famed for its prolific big cats. However, 10 percent of the world’s wild lions live in and around Ruaha National Park in southern Tanzania. This park is also home to an important cheetah population and the third-largest population of African wild dogs.

Chimpanzees in western Tanzania, including the now-wild group on Rubondo Island, are the offspring of chimps initially reintroduced from European zoos in the 1960s.

 

Culture

Tanzania has more than 100 ethnic and tribal groups, including the Maasai and the Hadzabe. Christianity and Islam are the main religions.

The official languages are Swahili and English, with more than 120 indigenous languages interwoven throughout the country. Arabic is widely spoken along the coast and in Zanzibar.

 

General Safety Tips

• The official languages are Swahili and English.
• The Tanzanian shilling is available from ATMs or currency exchange bureaus. You can also use US dollars in safari camps and lodges.
• Greet people properly before starting a conversation, even if it’s just asking for directions. It’s common to shake hands upon meeting, and hand contact might take longer than you’re used to.
• Please ask permission before taking a photograph of someone.
• In safari lodges and on Zanzibar beaches, shorts, T-shirts, and beachwear are OK, but dress modestly in towns or cities, covering shoulders and knees.
• If you’re looking for a great deal, travel outside peak season when camps reduce their rates, and you’ll have far fewer other visitors with whom to share wildlife sightings.
• Pack light. Small planes have strict luggage restrictions, usually meaning you can only check one soft-sided bag with a limit of around 15kg. 
• Tipping is entirely your call, but as an example, we suggest around US$15-20 per person per night for a guide (you can hand that over to your guide on departure) and US$10-15 per person per night for the camp staff (this is usually put in a communal tip box and shared equally between the staff). You can tip in shillings or US dollars.

 

Cuisine

Tanzanian cuisine varies according to region—for instance, a coast with many seafood and spicier flavors.

Nyama choma (grilled meat in Swahili) is a popular meal. It is usually served with ugali, which is like polenta, made from maize or cassava flour. Vegetables include okra, beans, cassava leaves, and chicha, similar to spinach. Fried plantains are a typical side dish.

Tanzania has a strong Indian influence, so expect to find plenty of chapatis, pilau rice, and biryani.

At most safari camps, you can sample many Tanzanian dishes and familiar international cuisine, as well as homemade bread and pastries, Western-style breakfasts, fresh salads, and fruits.

At most safari camps, you can sample many Tanzanian dishes and international cuisine, homemade bread and pastries, Western-style breakfasts, fresh salads, and fruits.

 

 

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