What to expect on a Tanzania Safari
Many people dream of going on safari in Tanzania, consistently voted the best safari country in Africa. For some, it’s a bucket list adventure, for some it’s a once in a lifetime experience, and to others it’s a passion that needs to be fulfilled. One thing is for sure - you will never forget the first moment you see African animals in the wild! Whatever the reason for traveling, many people don’t quite know what to expect and it can be intimidating to plan. With that in mind, here are a few things you can expect on your Tanzania safari:
DIVERSE LANDSCAPES
Tanzania has a diverse ecosystem that ranges from golden savannas and plains to mountains and forests to waterfalls and walled cities to islands that offer visitors an unequaled paradise. You will be able to drive on unpaved roads while enjoying the gorgeous natural scenery.
One of the most visited natural sites is the Ngorongoro Crater (located in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Africa’s “Garden of Eden”. The crater is the biggest intact volcanic caldera in the world and provides a safe haven to 25,000-30,0000 large animals including black rhinoceros, elephants and lions. Water is never scarce and its gorgeous vistas make it a must-visit to be included in any Tanzania safari checklist. Another attraction is the famous Serengeti National Park which is home to the Great Migration, the biggest migration of land mammals in the world. And for anybody who is looking for a physical challenge, how about conquering majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak and the world’s tallest free-standing mountain!
WILDLIFE GALORE
Tanzania has always been popular and is world-famous for its diversity of wildlife and variety of bird species. It is not unusual to find a herd of zebras along with wildebeest in one corner and then a pride of lions and a cackle of hyenas in another. Due to the parks’ vastness, animals can be hard to spot if you don’t know how and where to look but thanks to our professional and knowledgeable driver guides, you will be brought to where the action is. One legendary spectacle is the Great Migration in the Serengeti, where millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelles move across the East African plains in an endless cycle in anticipation of rains and better grazing. This happens year-round so whatever month you are looking to visit the Serengeti, you will surely be able to experience this spectacle as long as you have an experienced guide to navigate your Tanzania tour.
LONG DRIVES AND Bumpy Roads
Since most national parks are huge and nature has its own way of showing up, you might need some time to find the best spots to see animals. You'll spend most of your day inside the safari vehicle keeping your eyes peeled for some amazing animal sightings. Since there are no paved roads in the national parks, be prepared for a lot of bumping and bouncing around (safari massage at no extra charge)!
Since we only offer private safaris, every day can be planned to your liking. From trees pushed over by elephants, blocking the road, to watching a lion cub frolic and play with its mother, time is not a concept in the wild: we recommend leaving your watch at home! If you would like to follow a herd of elephants for hours, you can do that. If you want to head back to camp early, no problem! Most animals show the greatest activity just before sunrise, so typically your safari will start early in the morning. Animals in Tanzania roam free so if you want to see lions, giraffes, zebras and cheetahs, sometimes it takes a little patience to be rewarded. Another thing to keep in mind is that everything can always change in an instance - you might drive for a long time without seeing much and just when you want to give up something extraordinary happens - we have experienced this many, many times! It is an adventure!
RICH CULTURE
Most people come to Tanzania to see its wildlife, but they fall in love with Tanzania’s people. Our mission is to introduce our guests to the country’s diverse village life and many different people…Maasai and Hadzabe, Datoga, Iraqw people and Zanzibaris, all of whom will greet you as friends. Tanzania has 120 different tribes so getting to know some of them is a must-do on any Tanzania safari!
CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS
Tanzania is near the equator so it only has two seasons: wet and dry. But its weather can be unpredictable at times. Sometimes showers can last as little as 5 minutes, sometimes the rains last for a few hours, and other times it can rain all day (typically only in the rainy season though).
The summer months can become hot, the winter months (dry season) tend to get dusty!
Believe it or not, it can get very cold in certain areas of Tanzania during the dry season (between June-October)! So a light scarf, warm jacket and a beanie for morning game drives are not an over-reaction! The wind-chill factor in an open 4x4 can add to the cold temperatures in the morning. Usually, as soon as the sun comes up the temperature warms up and you can take off the warmer layers of your clothes.
INCONSISTENT PHONE AND WIFI CONNECTION
When it comes to connecting to the internet, almost all camps and lodges have WiFi so you can still go online in the mornings and evenings to check your e-mails or post photos. However, the internet connection can also be intermittent or unreliable so if you require a high bandwidth, don't expect too much. Besides, why would you want to stare at your screen for too long if you have the beautiful African savannah as backdrop?
VARIABLE FOOD QUALITY
Food quality in the lodges is usually excellent but when you’re out on your safari you are typically provided with a lunchbox for which options can be limited because it has to last several hours. Lunchbox items often include sandwiches, fried foods (chicken), boiled eggs and some fruit. But back at the lodge/camp, breakfast and dinner more than make up for it, as the chefs prepare both local and international cuisine.
SUNDOWNERS
Sundowners have become a ritual for Africa safari-goers. The tradition consists of enjoying a beverage, often with alcohol for those of age and juice or soda for kids, while the sun slowly sets on the African horizon and turns the sky red, pink and orange…an unforgettable backdrop to bathing elephants, parading wildebeest, or zebras quietly snuggling…!
SOMETHING FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELER
When you go on a safari there are other activities you can certainly enjoy besides game drives. Whether you travel alone, with your significant other, with your family or with friends you can experience incredible activities that include walking safaris, bush picnics, a visit to a local village or a hot air balloon ride to spot wildlife high above the plains. Or perhaps you'd like to have a bonfire in the wild where you can relax and exchange stories with your fellow travelers. There's mountain trekking and you can even end your Tanzania safari with an excursion to the beach. The opportunities for special activities and experiences are endless, but when you travel with Sababu Safaris, you will always travel with purpose.
A PURE SENSE OF ADVENTURE
When nature suddenly calls while you’re on the road, you’ll have to “go to the loo” behind the nearest bush (it is a good idea to carry tissues or wet wipes), since there are very few bathrooms around. But not to worry, it might only take some getting used to at the beginning. Your guide will plan to stop for regular ‘comfort’ breaks but if you need to 'go' at any other time you only need let your guide know and he will find a suitable location where you will be afforded a proper toilet (likely ranger posts).
In the heart of the wild you’ll be surrounded by the amazing sounds of nature, and at night you will feel like you’re close to the stars as they appear to be just within your reach. A large selection of accommodations in the different national parks and reserves are situated overlooking water for views of the wildlife arriving to drink each day (especially in the dry season), so expect to fall asleep and wake up to animal sounds.
UNIQUE ACCOMMODATIONS
The simple ambiance of a Tanzania safari does not mean an uncomfortable experience. Instead, you will find accommodations featuring rooms with hand-carved wooden beds or thatched bomas, traditional enclosures reflecting superb quality and comfort. Many of them have ecologically friendly concepts that are essential to communities across the country. Materials are taken from the local environment and blended into the landscape, and solar panels provide hot water and power to camps and lodges situated hundreds of miles from the nearest road or village.
Lodging in Tanzania range from mid-range tented camps mainly used by travelers on a budget, to luxurious lodges and extravagant tented camps. Private verandas and/or plunge pools, communal campfires, or a boma meal under the glittering Tanzanian sky often become remarkable vantage points to observe wildlife in the immediate vicinity of your camp.
Depending on your choice of accommodation, you will either stay in an exclusive area surrounded by stunning vistas or you’ll be in camps/lodges strategically located along areas of frequent wildlife encounters because animals roam free and there are no fences. There is no limit to how extravagant or special an accommodation can be - Tanzania offers a wide range!
SMALL BUSH PLANES
Get ready for small single-engine charter flights into short dirt airstrips. They are perfectly safe – but it is not a bad idea to be mentally prepared. Flights through the middle of the day can sometimes get bumpy. There are no on-board toilets on these flights either, so be sure to go to the bathroom before you board!
Pesky Critters
Tsetse flies and mosquitoes are likely going to be a part of your safari. Tsetse flies are particularly unsettling as they can bite and are devious little buggers. They have the unnerving ability of landing so lightly on your skin that you do not feel a thing until they bite! They can get you through your clothes, too! On top of all that, they are truly tricky to kill as you can squash them flat between thumb and forefinger and they will merely get up and fly off! Unfortunately, the moving vehicle and dark places like (the foot-well) tend to attract them, so be sure to wear light-colored clothes.
Of course mosquitoes are prevalent in many safari areas (although less so through the winter months) – be sure to bring bug spray and cover up in the early evenings to avoid being bitten.
A Typical day on Safari
On most days in the African bush, you wake up early with the first rays of sunlight and to an orchestra of animal sounds. Breakfast will be served at your tent or at the common dining area of your camp/lodge. Sometimes you might opt to have breakfast on the road (your guide will pack breakfast and lunch boxes for you) to make the most of your day and to catch that early morning magic when it is still cool out and the animals are the most active. You will start your day by exploring the parks and searching for spectacular animal sightings, enjoying a breathtakingly beautiful sunrise over the plains of the golden savannah. If you’re lucky, you will get to witness predator-prey or predator-predator interactions. Around lunchtime, you can opt to have a picnic in the bush or you can head back to camp for a hot lunch. Food will be prepared by a chef and you will be able to enjoy a hearty meal right in the middle of the wilderness.
After lunch, you can continue with your game drives, stay out all day and return to camp just before sunset. Or, if you wish, you can go back to your lodge in the early afternoon for your own leisure time. In some places you can go biking, hiking, engage in other add-on activities or even just take a nap surrounded by nature! Dinner will then be served at the lodge/camp and you can either retreat to your room or you are free to join other safari goers for a bonfire or a few drinks at the bar.
THE SOUTHERN, WESTERN AND NORTHERN SAFARI CIRCUITS
The northern safari circuit in Tanzania is the most popular area. It includes Arusha National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Lake Eyasi, Lake Natron and Mount Kilimanjaro. The southern and western circuits are more remote and typically provide a more untouched landscape. The southern circuit consists of Selous Game Reserve, Ruaha National Park and Mikumi National Park, the western circuit includes Mahale Mountains National Park, Gombe National Park and Katavi National Park.
A Tanzania safari is an experience of a lifetime
An African safari vacation is unlike any other trip you will ever take. And every single adventure in Tanzania is different. In fact, even avid safari goers still find something surprising each time. So, while you can prepare for basic essentials there will always be surprises coming your way on a safari.
It is near impossible to describe the feeling of being on an early morning game drive. Watching the sun rise, the acacia trees making beautiful silhouettes, an elephant chewing on a branch for its breakfast, birds chirping, the fresh, cool air warming up... it is breathtaking. Even after a lifetime of exposure to African images, most of us can barely believe the thrill of experiencing these fascinating animals up close, wandering freely in their beautiful, ancient homeland!
A Tanzania safari is truly one for the books and certainly something each person should experience in their lifetime! It is very addictive!