Tanzania, in East Africa, offers diverse landscapes, including the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro and pristine white-sand beaches. Its safari experiences are authentic and luxurious. The Serengeti National Park, with its endless plains, hosts the Great Migration, an annual spectacle of 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra. Predictable migration patterns allow for unforgettable wildlife viewing.
Tanzania is a country that appeals to all safari enthusiasts. Not only is Tanzania home to some of the most historic and beautifully vast national parks, it’s standard of guiding, safari experiences and accommodation is at a consistently high standard. The usual suspects of elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion, cheetah, hippo, zebra, and much more, can be seen regularly, paired with the most stunning backdrop.
Approximately 1.5 million wildebeest make the annual pilgrimage around the Serengeti and Masai Mara National Parks in search of fresh rains and green pasture. Because of their repeated movement patterns, it is possible to predict where the herds will be located at particular times of the year, ensuring an incredible wildlife spectacle for visitors.
Our experts know Tanzania like the back of their hand, and having travelled extensively around the country, they have put together some trips and tours, and some of the best safari camps and hotels to get you inspired. All of our trips are tailor-made and can be customized to suit you – our aim is to curate the perfect luxury safari for you, and with our friendly and knowledgeable specialists, we are confident we will.
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As a country, Tanzania has so many truly unforgettable safari experiences. The north of Tanzania is home to two of the most iconic national parks – the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Often combined in an itinerary, these parks offer reliable sightings for species like elephant, lion, wildebeest, antelope, hippo, and zebra, among others. A drive descending into the caldera of the Ngorongoro also gives you an opportunity to see rhino too, but this is never a guarantee. The Ngorongoro Crater is also one of the places where the largest tusker elephants can be found (elephants with tusks that are so big they almost
touch the ground).
The other iconic park is the Serengeti National Park. This expansive ecosystem is home to a wealth of resident wildlife and a diverse portfolio of bird life, flora, and fauna. While game-viewing is good across the Serengeti, each area offers something slightly different, for example the eastern plains excel in cheetah and big cat numbers, while the western plains are made up of private and more exclusive conservancies. The wildebeest migration herds can also be seen year-round, migrating clockwise around the plains of the Serengeti and Masai Masa.
Other unforgettable safari experiences in Tanzania include a hot-air balloon ride above the Serengeti, a walking safari in Ruaha National Park, a boat safari in Nyerere National Park, and a safari to the habituated chimpanzees in Mahale National Park.
The Serengeti, Tanzania’s famed park, is renowned for the Big Five and the epic wildebeest migration. While the best times are January-March for calving and July-September for river crossings, herds can be spotted year-round. Mobile tented camps track the migration closely.
Serengeti National ParkNgorongoro Crater, Earth’s largest inactive caldera, hosts diverse wildlife, including the Big Five. Rim-to-floor drive offers vistas. Stay at rim lodges like Entamanu, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, or tranquil highlands lodges like Plantation, the Manor, and The Highlands.
The Ngorongoro CraterZanzibar, or Unguja, off Tanzania’s east coast, features Stonetown’s colonial history and southern diving spots. The north and east host luxury hotels on pristine beaches. Explore Jozani forest and spice farms on the “Spice Island.” Stay at various accommodations, from boutique spots to larger beachfront resorts.
Zanzibar IslandNyerere National Park, southern Tanzania, has become more accessible with a 30-minute flight from Dar es Salaam and easy extensions to Zanzibar. Prime game viewing around Rufiji River, including boat safaris. Great chance to spot African wild dogs. Off-the-beaten-track safari with riverfront camps immersed in wildlife sounds.
Nyerere National ParkRuaha National Park, Tanzania’s largest, offers a less-trodden safari experience along the Great Ruaha River. It’s a prime location for lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, kudu, and African wild dog sightings. Combining well with the Selous Game Reserve, Ruaha is favored for its authentic, ‘wild’ atmosphere and tented camp accommodations like Jabali Ridge and Ikuka.
Ruaha National ParkIn northern Tanzania, Tarangire pairs well with the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti. Known for elephant herds July-October, it offers diverse landscapes, from plains to swamps. Rustic tented camps like Oliver’s and Kuro enhance the wilderness vibe. Ideal for short or extended safaris with an easy drive from Arusha, allowing multiple park combinations in the north.
Tarangire National Park
The best time to visit Tanzania is during the dry season from June to October. This is a fantastic window for game-viewing in both the northern parks – the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park, as well as the southern parks like Ruaha and Nyerere National Parks. That said, the Great Migration herds can be seen year-round across the plains of the Serengeti, with opportunities to see potential river crossings and the calving season.
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Tanzania is a country of jaw-dropping landscapes. There is an abundance of safari activities – including game drives, bush walks, hot-air balloon rides, chimpanzee trekking and much more. For those combining the beach with a safari, Zanzibar Island is filled with history and culture, forests to explore, and oceans to dive and snorkel in.
Game drives are the primary safari activity in Tanzania, providing excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Typically, game drives follow a consistent schedule across national parks. Early morning drives are ideal for observing active animals, especially big cats. The Serengeti allows full-day drives for river crossings during the June to October window.
Boat safaris offer a slower-paced game viewing experience, primarily in Nyerere National Park. These safaris allow you to cruise along rivers, lakes, and waterways, perfect for bird watching and observing smaller wildlife. The boat rides provide glimpses of hippos and crocodiles in the water, while antelope, giraffes, and zebras gather on the riverbanks.
Local to northern Tanzania and southern Kenya, the Maasai are an ethic group of people, known famously for their colourful clothing, decorative beads, and their impressive high-jumping displays. The Maasai people live in close-knit communities and live in traditional small huts made of mud and cow dung.
The wildebeest migration herds move in a clockwise direction around the plains of the Serengeti National Park, so it’s possible to see them at all times of the year. The period between July and October, the herds are in the very northern plains of the Serengeti before crossing the mighty Mara River into Kenya’s Masai Mara. This is an excellent time to be in the northern Serengeti as there are over 10 crossing points to witness a famous river crossing. The period between January and March is also a fantastic time to see the herds as it is calving season down in the Ndutu plains (southern Serengeti).
Whether it is your first safari or tenth safari, I would always recommend a minimum of 3 nights in one camp on safari. This gives you enough time to get to know the setting, the guides and the staff. If you are combining safari destinations, then 6-7 nights on safari is a good guideline. This will give you sufficient time to experience a wealth of safari sightings and experiences.
There is a wide range of safari accommodation to choose from. As an overview, the two main types of safari accommodation are tented camps, and safari lodges. Lodges are often permanent structures, larger and more hotel-like. Safari tented camps are much more rustic, but can still be as luxurious and comfortable as lodges – if not more. These are canvassed tents but often have very elegant features, like ensuite bathrooms, free-standing baths, chandeliers, the list goes on. For those who are keen to see the migration herds, mobile tented camps are a good option. These are safari camps which pack up and move every couple of months, to be in the best location for the herds.
Yes definitely. Tanzania is often regarded as one of the best destinations for a honeymoon because of its exceptional safari experience, but also the ability to combine it with the paradise island of Zanzibar. With regular internal flights, honeymoon couples can be on safari in the morning (in the Serengeti, Selous or others), fly to Zanzibar and be on the beach sipping cocktails by the afternoon. The guides and staff in all of the safari camps are also very accommodating with honeymoon couples, and plan lots of surprises along the way to make it truly special.
With 15 national parks, there is a big choice in Tanzania but it completely depends on what you safari you are looking for. For those who are wanting to tick off the most iconic parks, then combining the northern parks like the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater is a great option. For those who are wanting a safari experience off the beaten track, the southern parks of Selous and Ruaha are absolute gems. There is also Katavi and Mahale which are southern/western parks, offering that authentic and wild experience.
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