The Best Tanzania Safari Tips : Tanzania is one of the best safari destinations in Africa where everyone can go to explore and have a wonderful and unforgettable safari experience. Tanzania is best known for being the best wildlife safari destination in Africa with some of the best national parks in Africa, such as Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Also, Tanzania is home to the largest mountain in Africa—Mount Kilimanjaro—which offers the best hiking safari experience. Again, Tanzania is home to some of the best and cleanest white sand beaches in Zanzibar Island that offer fantastic vocation and honeymoon safari experiences and also cultural safaris in Stone Town.
When planning a Tanzania safari, proper and well-organized planning is the key to a successful safari experience. As a result, in this article we will provide you with the best tips, advice, and recommendations that will help you plan and organize a Tanzania safari tour in a more professional and proper way to help you have a wonderful and amazing safari experience. At Focus East Africa Tours, giving our customers unbiased advice and exceptional safari experiences is what we live and breathe. Our East Africa Safari Experts are well-traveled, permanently based in Africa, and have in-depth first-hand knowledge of the places they suggest.
The following are the tips, and advice for successful and unforgettable safari experience in Tanzania:
- Tips and advice for a Wildlife Safari
Tanzania is a well-known safari destination and the site of the stunning yearly wildebeest migration in the Serengeti, one of the world’s finest natural spectacles. Watch as thousands of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles make it through the grueling voyage across murky river waters teeming with crocodiles, while on dry land, predators lurk around every corner as you take in this breathtaking natural display.
There are many reasons to travel to Tanzania besides the great migration, including the amazing wildlife, mountain climbing, cultural interactions, breathtaking scenery, lovely beaches, and much more. For the best safari experience, Tanzania is the ideal location to combine two or more of these safari experience.
Tanzania’s national parks and reserves offer wonderful year-round opportunities for wildlife viewing. Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park, and Tarangire National Park are a few of the well-known parks of the Tanzania northern circuit. These very biodiverse locations are among Tanzania’s top safari destinations and are home to a variety of animals and bird species. The national parks of the southern circuit, which include Selous Game Reserve, Nyerere National Park, Ruaha National Park, and Mikumi National Park, are less well-known and less frequently visited but are nonetheless very desirable.
If you want to fully avoid crowds, visit hidden jewels like the Nyerere National park, Mahale Mountains National Park, Saadani National Park, Katavi national park, Ruaha National Park and Rubondo Island, to name a few. Some of the most popular wildlife locations have busier times of the year.
- Tips and advice for Beach Safari
Visit the islands off Tanzania’s coast to cross another item off your bucket list. Due to its historical significance and abundant marine life, Zanzibar Island continues to be a popular tourist destination especially for honeymooners and people who are looking for water sports like diving, swimming and snorkeling.
After spending hectic wildlife safari days in Tanzania’s national parks and game reserves, the Zanzibar beaches will provide you a restful vacation. Explore the woodlands in search of colobus monkeys, spend time relaxing on gorgeous beaches, go snorkeling and boating in the clear water, keep an eye out for dolphins and other marine life, and learn about the renowned spice plantations that give Zanzibar its nickname, “The Spice Islands.”
In April, Zanzibar celebrates Ramadan, one of the most lavish Islamic celebrations in the country. Furthermore, it is among the ideal times to travel to and visit Zanzibar. You must adhere to some of the fundamental Ramadan manners in order to honor these customs. Expect loud parties and a noisy neighborhood at night. After a full day of fasting, people gather to eat and play games. Loud drum beats and melodies from the streets serve as a signal to the crowd that it is time for a midnight snack.
Stone Town is a must-see safari location in Zanzibar because of its spectacular, crowded marketplaces and wonderful restaurants. Book a room in one of the Swahili houses that have been transformed while you stay in Stone Town and further explore the Swahili culture.
Zanzibar receives a considerable number of visitors, so if you want to escape crowds, consider traveling to tranquil Pemba Island, which is located north of Zanzibar. Adventure seekers will love Pemba, which offers activities like diving and snorkeling. If you decide to include both Pemba and Zanzibar in your holiday plans, there are daily flights between the two. Two other islands in Zanzibar with gorgeous sandy beaches are Mnemba and Mafia.
TIPS AND ADVICE FOR PACKING LIST IN TANZANIA
Because Tanzanians have fervent religious convictions, certain customs must be observed in both Tanzania and Zanzibar. Pack some long-sleeve shirts and long pants because visitors must dress modestly. Additionally, they are useful for preventing insect bites, The Best Tanzania Safari Tips .
Pack some beachwear if you’re going to the coast and swimsuits for any safari lodges or camps that have swimming pools, even though you should dress conservatively in the major towns to respect the local culture.
Avoid donning camouflage gear that resembles military gear. In Tanzania, it is against the law to wear them.
Bring sturdy walking shoes—they’re a must on wildlife safaris especially if you’re going to do a walking or hiking safaris. Include a pair of sandals or flip flops for the beach.
Also, you’re advised to leave your large laptop at home and instead, carry a smartphone or light tablet.
An important note: US currency printed before 2006 is not accepted in Tanzania. Use cash to make purchases and to give employees and tour guides tips. There are ATMs in major cities, towns, and airports where you can withdraw money. Avoid utilizing traveler’s checks because they could result in transaction costs. Ask your bank whether there are any fees that could apply while using a credit card.
TIPS AND ADVICE FOR TRAVEL SAFETY IN TANZANIA
Tanzania is vigilant about protecting everyone, despite the fact that there haven’t been any occurrences of terrorism issues, yellow fever and other dangerous diseases in recent years. If you are traveling through or coming from a country with active yellow fever, you must get vaccinated.
Ask your neighborhood doctor about additional immunizations and malaria preventatives. Although most lodges and camps have taken precautions against malaria and are likely to have mosquito nets and sprays, you should always carry a bottle or two of your own insect repellent just in case.
Be cautious and secure your personal possessions if you travel through built-up areas, The Best Tanzania Safari Tips .
Another very important piece of advice for your safety on a safari in Tanzania is to pay attention to whatever advice your guide gives you because they are professionals with superior understanding of Tanzania than you do.
TIPS AND ADVICE ON THE BEST TIME TO VISIT TANZANIA: WHEN TO VISIT?
The best months to visit most of Tanzania’s national parks are from June to September, but wildlife viewing is possible all year round. Plan your journey between June and October, when the wildebeest migration herds are in the Serengeti, if you want to see the wildebeest migration. You might also schedule your vacation around the wildebeest calving season, which lasts from January to March. During this time, predators are active and waiting to pounce on the helpless mother and calf.
Bird watching safaris: Tanzania’s untamed areas are home to a variety of migrating bird species throughout the wet season. Tanzania begins to bloom when it receives rain, changing the wilderness into a picturesque spectacle. It makes the months of November through March ideal for bird watching.
Zanzibar Beaches: The best time to visit the Zanzibar beaches is during the dry season, which lasts from June to September. These and January and February, the second dry season, are the best times to see dolphins.
Hiking Safaris: Just like Tanzania wildlife safaris, hiking safaris in Tanzania on Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru are best done from June to October, when the trekking trails are pleasant, good, and provide the best opportunity for a successful ascent to the peak.
OTHER IMPORTANT TRAVEL TIPS AND ADVICE IN TANZANIA
Every traveler to Zanzibar must meet the country’s fundamental visa criteria in order to enter. Consult your booked tour operator or travel guide for a thorough explanation of visa requirements.
Flights to Zanzibar: The only airport on the island is Abeid Aman Karume International Airport, which is situated in Stone Town, the cultural hub of the country. Visitors must take direct flights from Nairobi, Kilimanjaro, or Dar es Salaam to get to Zanzibar.
Traveling within Zanzibar: Visitors can rent scooters and motorcycles in Zanzibar to ride through the streets of Stone Town and tour the island, in addition to using the local buses or dala-dalas.
TIPS AND ADVICE ON PLANNING/ ARRANGING YOUR SAFARI IN TANZANIA
Make sure your safari itinerary/ package accommodates/matches your vacation goals if you want to watch the wildebeest migration on a safari or experience the greatest beach weather in Zanzibar.
When planning a trip to Tanzania, start early. Popular safari destinations and lodges near hotspots for the Wildebeest Migration frequently sell out a year in advance.
Choose your excursions carefully: while morning and afternoon game drives are conventional safari activities, other outings like night game drives, escorted bushwalks, and hot-air balloon safaris are only permitted in specific locations or camps.
The Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire are heavyweight national parks in Tanzania that can draw large numbers of visitors from around June to October. If you want to avoid the crowds while still enjoying fantastic game viewing, consider going during the low or green season (about November to March).
If exclusivity is what you’re after, go private and visit one of Tanzania’s private reserves. As in the big parks, the animal viewing is excellent, and additional safari activities are occasionally provided.
MONEY AND SPENDING IN TANZANIA SAFARI
The Tanzanian Shilling is the country’s official currency, but it is best to only use US dollars when paying in cash because credit cards and traveler’s checks, while generally accepted, have transaction fees. Tanzania’s major towns and cities are all equipped with ATMs, but the country’s parks and game reserves are exempt.
Note: Tanzania does not recognize US dollar bills printed prior to 2006.
On a Tanzanian safari, tipping lodge employees, drivers, and guides is common for good service. However, check to see if a service charge has been added to your bill beforehand. Tipping is always added to the price your operator quotes, and the amount you leave depends on your party size, the safari’s level of luxury, and whether you feel a particularly good job was done.
FLIGHTS AND GETTING AROUND TANZANIA
The Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara are serviced by Tanzania’s second international airport, Kilimanjaro International Airport. For charter flights to these safari locations, you must transfer to the neighboring Arusha Airport. International aircraft frequently land at Kilimanjaro Airport late in the day, necessitating an overnight stay in Arusha city.
The primary airport of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar-es-Salaam, serves as a hub for travel to the Indian Ocean coast, Zanzibar, Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous), and Ruaha National Park.
SAFARI VEHICLES USED IN TANZANIA SAFARI
In Tanzania, game drives and guided road transfers are done in covered 4x4s with large windows and pop-up roofs, while travelers to places like Mahale will appreciate a boat journey across Lake Tanganyika. Since Tanzania’s safari sites typically have substantial road networks, closed vehicles are typically used for long-distance road transport between airstrips, camps, and hotels. Three rows of seats are typical in a closed 4×4 game drive vehicle, which also has a pop-up roof hatch that can be raised for game watching and shooting pictures , The Best Tanzania Safari Tips .
PASSPORTS AND VISAS REQUIREMENTS IN TANZANIA
A visa is required for almost all visitors to Tanzania. To find out the entry criteria for Tanzania and to make arrangements for the required permits and visas, you must get in touch with the relevant issuing authorities well in advance (preferably, several months). All clients traveling to Tanzania through Kilimanjaro International Airport are highly advised to apply for their visas online at the Tanzania Immigration Department before traveling there. It may take two to three weeks to receive an e-visa.
Visitors visiting Tanzania are required to have a passport that is still valid six months after their intended departure date.
MORE INFORMATIONS ABOUT TANZANIA
The History and Economy of Tanzania
The history of Tanzania is, in many ways, the history of humanity. According to fossils discovered in Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, Tanzania may have been inhabited by hominids for more than 2 million years. European and Arabian traders, missionaries, and slavers followed the Iron Age migrations from West Africa, and by the middle of the 1800s, Zanzibar had emerged as the hub of the East African slave trade. In 1961, mainland Tanganyika attained peaceful independence after being colonized first by the Germans and later the British. The modern state of Tanzania was founded in 1964 with the addition of Zanzibar.
Tanzania’s economy is dominated by agriculture, which employs 75% of the workforce and generates 50% of the nation’s GDP despite being rich in natural gas and mineral resources. The main exports of Tanzania are cotton, cotton products, coffee, and tea. But the largest source of foreign exchange earnings for the nation is tourism, which is becoming more and more important every year.
Culture and People of Tanzania
Africans make up a portion of Tanzania’s 120 ethnic groups, along with sizeable populations of Asians, Arabs, and Europeans. Tanzania has long promoted a peaceful national culture based on a subtle but strong social code of civility and respect despite the diversity of ethnicities. The two official languages used in Tanzania are Swahili and English.
Landscapes and Wildlife in Tanzania
Tanzania’s vast central plateau, which is located between the two arms of the Great Rift Valley, is bordered on the west by Africa’s great lakes; on the north by mountains (including Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak); and on the east by the Indian Ocean. Although the majority of the nation is made up of grassland, open woodland, and savannah, there are sizable pockets of rainforest in isolated mountain ranges, The Best Tanzania Safari Tips .
Tanzania is one of the best places in Africa to see wildlife because it is home to 20% of the continent’s huge mammals. Tanzania has several of the largest animal reserves in the world, and more than 25% of the nation is dedicated to conservation. The most well-known and easily accessible animal reserves are in northern Tanzania, which is where most tourists go. However, the vast, largely unexplored savannah and rainforest areas in south and central Tanzania are where you can go on true off-the-beaten-path safaris.
