Tanzania safari

Tanzania safari is a very sort after tour experience by many tourists from all over the world during their tours to East Africa. Activities done during Tanzania safaris include game drives which are carried out in the morning, afternoon and night, hikes, nature walks, hot air balloon safaris,  canoeing, bird watching, boat rides, cultural tours and many others.

How much is a safari to Tanzania?

The cost of a safari in Tanzania varies depending on different factors like duration of the safari, number of people for the safari, activities done during the safari among others.

Longer safaris in Tanzania tend to cost more as compared to short safaris around the safari destinations. Another factor which determines the cost of the safari is the number of people going for the safari in a way that the more people on safari, the less the costs of the tour and the fewer the people on safari the higher the cost of the tour.

The activity carried out during the safari also determines the cost of the safari in a way that some activities cost more than others. Some of the costs incurred during safaris around Tanzania include park fees, camping fees, accommodation costs, transport fees and also meal costs.

Where to go for a safari in Tanzania

There are many places to visit during safaris around Tanzania and they include national parks, hiking destinations, coastal areas, local villages, forests, lakes, rivers and many others.

1. national parks of Tanzania

Many destinations are visited during Tanzania safaris and they include Serengeti national park, the Ngorongoro crater, Lake Manyara national park, Tarangire national park, Arusha national park, Kilimanjaro national park, Ruaha national park, Selous game reserve or Nyerere national park, Kitulo national park, Gombe stream national park, Katavi national park, Mahale national park, Burigi- Chato national park, Saadani national park, Udzungwa mountains national park among others.

Wildlife viewing around Tanzania national parks and wildlife viewing areas is best done during the dry season around June to October when wildlife species can be seen around water sources or water points. This activity can also be carried out at any time of the year including the rainy season.

During Tanzania safaris, the northern part of Tanzania is more visited as compared to parks in the southern and western parks of Tanzania. The southern part of Tanzania is remote and is a little difficult to access during tours around Tanzania.

There are different ways to access the different national parks of Tanzania and these include driving and also flying. Some of the airports which are used during safaris to Tanzania include Kilimanjaro international airport in the northern part of Tanzania and also Julius Nyerere international airport in Dar es Salaam.

For the driving option during safaris in the northern part of Tanzania, safaris start from Arusha and in the southern part of Tanzania tours start in Dar es Salaam.

2. hiking destinations

Hiking is among the activities which are carried out during safaris in Tanzania and these hikes can be carried out during different months of the year.

Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru are among the popular hiking destinations in Tanzania. during hikes on the highest mountain in Africa is Mount Kilimanjaro which is at 5895 meters and there are different routes used for hiking on the mountain like Marangu route, Machame route, Lemosho route, Rongai route, Umbwe route and also the Shira route.

For Mount Meru hikes, it takes about 4 days to hike to the summit of the mountain and back. Mount Meru is the second highest mountain in Tanzania at 4566 meters. Hiking in Tanzania is done in many other places such as Empakaai crater and also Udzungwa mountains and other destinations.

3. coastal areas of Tanzania

The coastal area of Tanzania is also visited during safaris in Tanzania and Zanzibar island is among the popular destinations found along the East African coast.

Zanzibar island is known for its white sand beaches and diverse culture, rich history and also its spice farms. Tour to Zanzibar island can be done at any time of the year when visiting Tanzania and the dry season is said to be the best time for these holidays.

Places to visit around Tanzania during safaris to Zanzibar island include Stone town for an experience of the rich history and beautiful architecture of Zanzibar and also taking walks in the winding alleyways of the town, visiting the Prison island which is also referred to as Changuu island where the giant Aldabra tortoises can be seen, visiting the Spice farms of Zanzibar where you can see how the spices like cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla among others are grown and also taste local food prepared using the spices.

There are also a variety of water based activities which can be done during a tour on Zanzibar island such as snorkeling, swimming, diving, boat rides on traditional dhows among others.

4. local villages

Tanzania is also a country with diverse cultures and during a safari around the country, tourists can also visit the local villages and interact with the locals and get to know more about their way of life and culture.

These village visits also involve taking part of activities like taking part in traditional dance performances and experiencing the day to day lives of the locals, tasting local foods and learning how to prepare the foods among other experiences.

Some of the tribes to interact with during Tanzania safaris include the Maasai, the Hadzabe, the Datoga, and the Chagga among others.

Where to stay in Tanzania during safaris

There are different accommodations around Tanzania where tourists can spend their nights during safaris and they include luxury, midrange and budget accommodations.

When visiting the wildlife viewing parks of Tanzania, tourists can stay in the lodges found inside of the national parks or in the lodges at the neighboring towns. There is also an option of camping during the tours in Tanzania.

When to travel for Tanzania safaris

Tanzania safaris can be done at different months of the year including the dry season and also in the rainy or low season. The best time for safaris when the weather is also favorable is the dry season around June to October.

For a chance to see the wildebeest migration in Tanzania, you can visit Serengeti national park around January to March for the calving season in the Ndutu area, April and May for a chance to see the herds around the central part of Serengeti national park and also from June to August where the wildebeests move to the northern parts of Serengeti national park.

Visit Tanzania and enjoy an unforgettable safari across many destinations in different parts of the country.