Prepare a safari in Tanzania: a guide

© Abir Anwar / CC by 2.0

Besides the famous Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, the Tanzania is very superb network of natural parks and preserved areas. The spectacle of wildlife there is a diversity and beauty almost unparalleled, and is a highlight of any trip to this country. You have this project in mind? Here is the guide for how to prepare your safari in Tanzania.

Reservation

There is no better place that Arusha to organize a tour in the parks of the north. Operators based in Mwanza also organize safaris in western Serengeti. The offer is less centralized regarding parks of southern Tanzania, but the agencies are based in Dar es Salaam. Kigoma is the main base for independent travelers on a budget and preparing a journey through the parks and mountains Gombe Mahale; almost all high-end safaris to these parks and in the Katavi from Arusha are organized in the form of all-inclusive vacations (Katavi and Mahale or, as a supplement to an all-inclusive in the park of Ruaha safari) . Mwanza and Bukoba are perfect for the visit of the National Park Rubondo Island locations.

That said, we strongly advise you to book and pay for your safari before you leave, especially if you are traveling in high tourist areas in high season, in all, booking a safari involves a low budget increase of 5 to 10% of the tariff, but it avoids having to deal with professionals who can show touts aggressive enough.

When booking on site, it is better to study carefully the offers available and do not act in haste.

Elephants, Tanzania. Gabi

Cost of a safari in Tanzania

Most estimates include entry parks, lodging and transportation to / from and within the park. Usually drinks are counted in addition, although some tour operators provide a bottle of water a day. Typically, the formula does not include tent rental sleeping bags (from $ 5 per day to $ 20 per trip).

Choosing a simple hosting solution involves paying extra to watch the animals, whether by car, boat or on foot. You can make one or two of these "activities" in one day (two to three hours each). Expect $ 30 USD per person per activity, $ 250 USD per day per vehicle for a game drive.

Budget

Most economic safaris are in a tent, and involve camping outside national parks or boarding houses cheap. To reduce transportation costs, agencies usually take groups with a high number of people. The savings are also realized at the expense of meals (basic) and staff (reduced). For most budget safaris, game drives and for many middle class, limited daily mileage is imposed on vehicles.

Expect 150 to $ 200 USD per person per day for a budget safari with a licensed tour operator. Do not accept those offering less than these rates, or get ready to face problems. Drinks are expensive in the parks and their surrounding areas: bring your own to save money (especially bottled water). Remember to bring snacks, extra food and toilet paper. In low season rates safari lodges are often similar to those camping safaris.

Category Average

Overall, safaris in this category are reliable, a quality / price ratio reasonable, and offer basic comfort: accommodation lodge, with a nice room and meals in restaurants. Only downside: it sometimes seems to participate in a tour. Better to choose carefully the agency and accommodation, in particular by inquiring about the number of participants, and avoiding large crowded lodges in high season. For a safari lodge mid-range, it takes 200 to $ 300 USD per person per day.

Senior Class

Private lodges, luxury tented camps and sometimes private mobile safaris ... All in this category are designed to offer the most authentic Tanzanian bush experience in comfortable conditions at the height of the price of the service (from 300 to 600 US $ or more per person per day). Guides, such as the delivery are excellent. Each customer receives personalized attention. Even in the most remote countryside where running water is a luxury unknown, you'll get your hot shower, a comfortable bed and fine dining in an intimate atmosphere (less than 20 beds in most cases) .

When to go?

In general, travel in the country is easier in the dry season (July to September and November to February, the parks of North and Centre). In many parks, this is the time when we see more easily animals near waterholes and rivers. The foliage is less dense, which promotes compliance. However, this season, partly overlapping the peak tourist season, lodges and camps are crowded and prices are at their highest. Warning: some lodges and camps, mainly in the Selous Game Reserve and in the parks of the West, closed about a month around April-May.

The rest depends on the affinities of each. For bird watching, all seasons are favorable, although the rainy season (October-November and April-June) is the best from this point of view. Safari-hiking, it is best to go to the dry season.

The starting period also depends on the choice of the park: large sections of the Katavi, for example, are only accessible in the dry season (when huge herds of buffalo, elephants and other animals jostle around the few water points), and almost all camps closed during the rainy season. The Tarangire National Park, but accessible all year round, is more interesting in the dry season, the animals are more numerous. In the Serengeti However, it is during the rainy season that can observe herds of wildebeest and zebra in the southeast of the park (the dry season, however, remains the best time to observe lions and other predators). If you plan your safari based on particular events like the wildebeest migration of the Serengeti, know that seasons vary from year to year and are difficult to predict accurately.

Types of safaris

Motorized Safaris

In many parks, because of the regulations, it is still the only option. In the northern parks, motor safaris must be carried on board "closed" vehicles (doors and windows), but it can almost always open the roof and stand up for a better view and take pictures. These apertures may consist of simple hatches that is lifted or dragged, or roofs that can be raised (as is best solution remains in the shade). In nature reserves of Selous, some parks and South Katavi National Park, safaris aboard open vehicles are allowed. This is of high vehicles, with two or three seats placed at different heights, and covered completely by a roof but open at the sides and rear. If you have a choice, opt for these vehicles, which are more spacious and offer a wide variety of viewing angles. Finally, minibuses are sometimes used, especially in the North. They are the least satisfactory option: there are too many to really enjoy the trip, the roof hatch leaves only a few passengers at a time, and some will be stuck on the middle seats with a very restricted view .

Whichever option you choose, avoid crowded vehicles. Sitting for several hours, crammed against each other, on rough roads, making the experience much less enjoyable. Most formulas work with groups of 3 or 4 passengers. This is the maximum employment to travel comfortably. Some agencies are into 5 or 6 passengers in a standard 4x4 for a small economy that does not offset the extreme discomfort.

Night drives are allowed in the national park of Lake Manyara in neighboring natural areas and the Tarangire Tarangire - reserved for the latter to residents of some lodges .

Walking safaris

The Selous Game Reserve, National Parks of Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ruaha, Mikumi, Katavi, Tarangire and Arusha used to meet the "big game." Also note that several parks - especially those of Kilimanjaro, the Udzungwa Mountains of Mahale Mountains and Gombe - will be visited on foot. It's easy to organize a short hike in the national park on the island Rubondo.

Most walking safaris consist of short steps 1 to 2 hours, held early in the morning or late afternoon. At the end of the hike, we returned to the lodge or choosing the main camp, or a traveling camp. It is sometimes possible to arrange longer rides. Compared to a real hike, it does not cover much distance. We advance with a measured, we stop to watch or the time that the guide mark the track of an animal. Some of these safaris take place in parks and reserves, others in adjoining areas as part of the ecosystem. The multi-day hikes are possible in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park and the Selous Game Reserve.

The hikes are always done with a guide, reinforced the principle which we must not go away.

Boat safaris and canoe

The Rufiji River in the Selous Game Reserve, offers the best boat safaris. The Wami, bordering the Saadani National Park, wildlife is less plentiful. For the canoe version visit the Momella lakes in the Arusha National Park, and Lake Manyara.

Itineraries

During the preparation of the safari, do not succumb to the temptation to overload the route. Distances are long and move too quickly from one park to another will leave tired, feeling of having scratched the surface of things. Instead, try to provide for relatively long periods in only one or two parks you can explore in depth. This will also allow you to take advantage of opportunities for cultural events and excursions.

A safari in Tanzania, it is also an opportunity to observe magnificent birds. David Berkowitz

Tanzanian parks

Northern parks

National Park Arusha is ideal for a day trip, those Tarangire and Lake Manyara them being readily available at the time of day trips plus one night from Arusha, but all richly deserve that we spend more time. For route 3 or 4 days, focus on one of northern parks (on the Serengeti, that the outward or return flight well worth a long day on the road separating Arusha) or the Ngorongoro Crater combined with the Park Lake Manyara or Tarangire one. Just a week just to go the classic route Lake Manyara-Tarangire-Ngorongoro-Serengeti, but it is better to focus on three of these destinations at most: the Serengeti alone or coupled to the Ngorongoro Crater, has plenty to satisfy visitors for a week. Many agencies offer a standard circuit 3 days including Lake Manyara, Tarangire and the Ngorongoro (or circuit 4 to 5 days with the Serengeti extra). Be aware that the distances required to reach the Ngorongoro and Serengeti are long and this tour will leave you feel like you have spent your time to rush from one park to the other instead of having devoted to the observation and exploration of nature.

In addition to these conventional routes, there are countless possibilities to combine other activities to observe wildlife. One can for example start with a motorized safari in the Ngorongoro crater and then make the climb of Ol Doinyo Lengai, schedule a walk around the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, relax in a lodge nearby Karatu or go to Lake Eyasi, or even visit national parks Rubondo Island and Serengeti during a trip along Lake Victoria.

Parks South

National Parks of Mikumi and Saadani are good destinations from Dar es Salaam when only 2 or 3 days. A period of 3 to 4 days is ideal for Selous or Ruaha National Park, provided they travel by air. Selous may also be associated with Saadani during a tour 4 to 5 days (the interest is then to enjoy the beaches of Saadani, after visiting Selous). National Parks of Mikumi and Udzungwa Mountains can combine safari and hiking. When you have one week, it may be interesting to visit both Selous and Ruaha, Katavi and Ruaha or, in western countries, these two itineraries for two very different environments wildlife. The formula Ruaha-Katavi is enjoying growing thanks to regular flights between the two parks success. The extension of the air network that connects parks South and West to the coast opened the way for new longer routes combining a trip to the coast or islands with a safari in Ruaha, Mahale and / or Katavi. For those who want to combine the pleasures of those safari to the beach, it is also possible to combine a visit to the Selous Mafia and Zanzibar.

Western parks

For Katavi National Park, it takes two to three days. Katavi and Mahale are well suited for route 6 to 7 days (flight included many formulas offer this combination). Pace yourself a few days off on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. It is possible to group Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale provided you have September-October days. Gombe, plan two days. Reckless walkers include the National Park Rubondo Island in their itinerary of Western Tanzania. The island is to spend at least two days.

Other regions

Mkomazi National Park is a fascinating stop for lovers of avifauna traveling on routes connecting Dar es Salaam or the northeast coast in Arusha and the northern parks. It is possible to combine a visit with that of the coast or a hike in the Usambara Mountains. Visiting the National Park Kitulo may be part of a route in the Mbeya region-Tukuyu. As for the reserve-Lukwika Lumesule, it is recommended to robust travelers already in the region of Masasi. Finally, it is easy to foresee some diving in the Marine Park of Mafia Island during a stay on this island.

Organize one's own safari

It is quite possible to visit the parks in their own vehicle without a tour operator. However, unless you are based in Tanzania, master driving bush mechanics, modest savings do not outweigh the comfort and lightness of spirit that those who know the logistics delegate to an agency.

In almost all parks and reserves, you'll need a 4x4. In addition to park entry fees, must pay $ 40 USD per day for a foreign vehicle (Tsh 10,000 for vehicles registered in Tanzania). The guides are not mandatory in most major parks, unless otherwise stated. However, it is recommended to hire one, so it helps you find your way in the bush and find the corners where we see the most animals.

It must also carry fuel because we do not find in any park except at Seronera in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, where it is very expensive.

You can rent safari vehicles in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, Mto wa Mbu and Karatu, Ngorongoro as well as (where it is possible to rent a car with driver at the park office NCAA, booking is essential). Sometimes you can also rent a car at the office of Katavi National Park. No other park or reserve in offers.

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Ahmed Khalidi

My name is Ahmed, I'm 23 and I'm passionate about travel. I try to travel regularly while continuing my study. I created this blog to share my travels, my tips and my travel tips. Feel free to comment on my articles or contact me if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer you. Follow and join us in Fb : fb.com/traver24trip in Google+ : +AhmedKhalidi1 .

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