11 Things You Need to Know Before Going on a Tanzanian Safari

Tanzania is the best country for an authentic Africa Safari and is ranked among the bucket list destinations for an Africa safari, according to several surveys by both tourists and expert travelers done regularly Tanzania is rated as the top safari destination.

A Tanzania Safari is on top of many travelers’ bucket list and this is for a good reason. Tanzania is home to two of the most well-known and amazing places for wildlife viewing – Ngorongoro Conservation “Ngorongoro Crater” and Serengeti National Park.

Ngorongoro Crater is a magical place as it is the world’s largest intact caldera encompassing 100 square miles/259 square kms. Because the crater wall presents a natural barrier, the animals do not leave the crater, so it is possible to see lots of animals including about 25,000 species in just one spot.

Serengeti National Park is a renowned Tanzania Safari Destination and the most famous wildlife park in the world, the Park’s named is derived from the Maasai language and means “endless plains”. It spans approximately 12,000 square miles and is renowned for its annual migration of nearly two million wildebeests.

Other famous national parks in Tanzania include Tarangire National Park, Arusha National Park and Lake Manyara National Park. Each of these parks has its own attractions, Tanzania safari experience and are found in the country’s popular Northern Circuit.

Nature shows on televisions and various wildlife documentaries are well edited story line featuring spectacular footage acquired over many months of filming, lion battles a pack of hyenas after wandering into their territory. A cheetah running down a darting antelope in a high- speed chase, these shows are entertaining but it is not as exactly in the parks.

A real safari in any Tanzania’s national parks cannot visually compare to a high budget production you see on TV, what you see can’t compare to the raw, unscripted action that plays out before your own eyes on a live safari. Witnessing a successful hunt is one of the most thrilling and potentially brutal events that can be experienced. In the animal kingdom, the harsh reality is that animals prey on other animals every day. However, the majority of the occurrences happen well out of sight. Seeing the kills are not common.

Your chances of observing a hunt increase as you spend more time in the find, it is just a matter of being at the right place at the right time and your safari guides know better.

Inside the Tanzania parks, roads are unpaved consisting of dirt and rock similar to the roads between the parks. In short be ready for a bumpy ride day in and day out while on your Tanzania Safari. The constant bouncing around in your car seat is often referred to as an African Massage, you will be treated to one on a day (unfortunately it is not an actual massage).

Along with the bumps comes the dust, especially in the dry season. Following behind other vehicles or passing oncoming cars means driving through clouds of dust, don’t expect to stay spotless in your Tanzania Safaris.

We recommend bringing something to cover your nose and mouth such as a Buff, neck gaiter or bandana in case it gets bad or for people with some respiratory issues.

Safaris can be surprisingly tiring as you will be spending most of your day in the car. It is nice to be able to get some modest rest between animal sightings or while transferring to a different park. to sleep easier in the vehicle, carry a quality neck pillow.

Vehicles used to conduct safaris in Tanzania are custom made, four wheel drive Land Cruisers with pop up roofs. When in the park, the roof is open and there is no barrier between you and the animals.

Do not be alarmed, the safaris are not dangerous and guides carry no guns. Though the animals are indeed wild, they are also accustomed to the presence of humans in vehicles. For their entire lives, they have seen vehicles regularly driving across the savannah and have grown to ignore them. The animals do not attack tourists, their non-reaction is what allows us to observe them freely in their natural habitat without disrupting their normal behavior.

There are times when the animals will interact with visitors, for instance lions will sometimes lay underneath the car to get some shade. A cheetah might jump on the vehicle to get a better view of its surroundings (if this happens, stay calm). These can make for very special moments to remember forever.

Caution: remember to stay in your vehicle expect for designated areas where it is allowed to exit as animals are not used to seeing a person outside the vehicle, as a result then humans can be a threat or a potential prey to them.

If nature calls, let your guide know so he can take you to a restroom or find a safe, clear spot for you to get out.

Our safari guides are professional with many years in the field and wilderness of Tanzania at hand, they are so experienced about Tanzania natural parks and have extensive knowledge of wildlife behavior, they know where to animals are likely to be or not to be at any given time.

Also, they are always in constant communication with other guides through the radio, this enables them know share valuable information on sightings that are occurring in a real time in the park. So though it might appear as if the guide is stooping to have a chat with his buddies, he is actually gathering information to help him decide where to best take you next.

During a Tanzania Safari, spotting elusive animals is part of the thrill, being able to find these animals is a skill and experienced guides can often see animals far away in a distance even as they are driving. While tourist with untrained eyes can’t identify an animal even after being shown where it is, but after a few days, your safari eyes tend to improve.

On a Tanzania safari you can see animals and they shall see you as well, each park has its own geography that bring its own mix of wildlife. Some animals are very easy to see as they are in plentiful, herd together and stay in open areas. Animals such as gazelles, zebras, wildebeests and buffaloes fall into this category.

By sticking close to one another, they collectively lookout for predators that seek to make a meal out of these herbivores. Other animals that are easily seen on a Tanzania Safari include hippos, giraffes, elephants, baboons, lions among others.

The Term Big Five refers to the animals that were classified hard to hunt on foot by hunters and they include lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos. Today, they represent the most sought after safari sightings.

So which animals are hard to find on a Tanzania Safari? The rhino, for one. There are so few left in Tanzania and the world as well that coming across one, especially at close range is an uncommon occurrence. Cheetahs are also hard to see as they are solitary hunters who stay well hidden in tall savannah grasses, the leopard is the most difficult to see of the big cats because they lurk up in the trees and they way to see them is look for their tail among the tree branches.

While on a Tanzania Safari remember that the safari guide is there for you and your party only, as our safaris are private therefore you decide what kind of animals to look for and once you find them, how long to observe them. If you have a particular interest in seeing a certain animals, let the guide know and he will be on a mission to locate it for you. Similar, if you are not interested in a specific animals, tell the guide so he does not needlessly search for or stop for it.

While engage in a wildlife sighting, feel free to stay and watch for as little or as long as you want. Just communicate with your guide so he knows how to provide the best, personal safari experience for you and your group. In case you have had enough game viewing for the day, ask to head back to your lodge or camp for the evening and retire early.

Our Tanzania Safari itineraries range from a day trip to seven days and more to suit any Tanzania safari interest, most travelers on a Tanzania safari are more interested in not missing Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater which are the most popular destinations in the country.

As already mentioned, Ngorongoro Crater is home to a high density of animals and diverse number of species. Here visitors can see many animals in a short period of time, thus making Ngorongoro Crater the place to go for those with a narrow window for a safari. Ngorongoro Crater is approximately 4 hours’ drive from Moshi, so it is possible to do a day visit, however all of our itineraries have more than one day visit to Ngorongoro Crater.

Further North, lies Serengeti National Park – the world best known wildlife sanctuary and Tanzania’s natural treasure, the park has been named as one of the seven natural wonders of Africa, unequalled for its unspoiled natural beauty. All of our itineraries consist of four days or more visit to Serengeti National Park.

Most of our frequently requested Tanzania Safari itineraries are five days safari with visits to four parks that is Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara. Safari goers on this Tanzania Trip will experience a satisfying variety of landscapes along with a good balance of game drives to travel time.

If you are looking for more adventure, add a hot air balloon ride to your Tanzania Safari plans. This unique opportunity available only Serengeti National Park, the balloon safari gives you a bird’s eye view of the park’s open landscape in areas where vehicle are not allowed. You might see a large herd of wildebeest, a pride of lions, a crowded hippo pool and more. In Tanzania every day is different.

The balloons launch as the sun rises and float in whatever direction the winds blow. The pilot navigates as much as possible, you can’t really steer a balloon by using the burner to gain or lose attitude, and sometimes flying higher than 3000ft/1000m and other times hovering as low as a few feet off the ground. The flight time is about one hour.

Though quite pricey, a Serengeti hot air balloon ride is sure to be one of the most memorable highlights of your trip. Our clients describe it as one of the most Serene and surreal activities they have ever experienced.

Hot air balloon rides must be booked in advance and are available as an add-on to safari itineraries of five to seven days.

There are several accommodation options in Tanzania ranging from standard lodges to more rustic tented camps, standard lodges are typical hotels we have all been to before. Tented Camps, on the other hand are large canvas tented set on top of a solid base.

Though they may look a bit primitive, they are actually very comfortable, modern setting. These accommodations have electricity, Wi-Fi and running water. Each tent is furnished with beds, tables and chairs, linens, mosquito netting and a covered porch. The en-suite bathrooms have flush toilets and hot showers.

The typical safari in Tanzania consists of a hot breakfast at the tented camp (or lodge), followed by a game drive or a drive to the next safari destination (which can vary from one to two hours). Picnic lunches are taken inside the park while a hot dinner is served back to your accommodations.

Most of safari travelers to Tanzania take part in climbing Kilimanjaro during their visit. As far as gear goes, there is no additional clothing or special equipment you need for the safari. Your tee shorts, base layers, pants and shorts you brought for trekking will work just fine.

If you want to sport the traditional safari look, a button down shirt and wide brimmed hat can complete look. Don’t forget to bring a fleece or hardshell for chilly weather, it can get cold in the highlands and in the evenings.

One thing you might consider bringing a pair of binoculars. However, the guide will usually have his own pair so it is not really necessary.

The recommended Safari Gear List is as below

Headwear

1 – Brimmed Hat, for sun protection
1 – Bandana, Buff or Dust Mask, for face coverage for dust (optional)

Technical Clothing

1+ Long Sleeve Shirt, for protection from the sun
1+ Short Sleeve Shirt, light-weight, moisture-wicking fabric
1+ Hiking Pants
1 – Soft Jacket, fleece or soft-shell, for cold temperatures at night
1 – Waterproof Jacket, breathable with hood
1 – Shorts (optional)
1 – Bathing suit (optional)
2+ Underwear, moisture-wicking fabric recommended

Footwear

1 – Hiking Boots or Walking Shoes
1 – Sandals or Flip-Flops (optional)
2+ Socks

Accessories

1 – Sunglasses
1 – Neck Pillow, for napping in the vehicle (optional)
1 – Backpack, small

Other

Sunscreen
Lip Balm
Insect Repellent, containing DEET
Headlamp or Flashlight
Camera, with zoom lens of 300mm or more (optional)
Binoculars (optional)