Tanzania safari

Tanzania Safaris

A great deal of Tanzania safari tourism has tended to focus on minibus package holidays. These minibuses take six or eight people and are driven quickly and rather unimaginatively by people, many of whom are simply drivers rather than guides, following the same routine. Whilst there are not huge numbers of these minibuses the fact is that they do tend to congregate together moving not very far afield from the lodge accommodation. We are not involved in this type of Tanzania safari holiday because of the relatively large numbers and lack of imagination involved, though it has to be said that because of the obvious economies of scale it is a relatively inexpensive Tanzania safari.

Top quality luxury Tanzania safaris

When we arrange a luxury Tanzania safari you are provided with a top quality four-wheel drive vehicle, which would be for your exclusive use enabling you to go where you like when you like, and you would be led by a Tanzania safari professional and most experienced guides, enabling you to keep off the beaten track.

A Northern Tanzania safari is what many people visiting Africa expect it to be like. The "endless plains" of the Serengeti National Park stretch for hundreds of miles, with flat-topped acacia trees and rocky kopjes and this marvellous wilderness region is home to literally millions of animals, including the annual wildebeest and zebra migration, which itself numbers in excess of two million creatures. Alongside the Serengeti is the ten mile wide, 2000ft deep Ngorongoro Crater which is surrounded by other live and extinct volcanoes. Some of these smaller volcanoes have had their sides blown out and others have sunken floors and this whole region is in an upland area between five and eight thousand feet above sea level.

Further east of this crater region you have the great East African Rift Valley with its lakes and abundant water birds. Then comes the 14,000ft Mount Meru and the snow-capped 19,340ft Mount Kilimanjaro. Finally to the south lies the Tarangire National Park, dotted with huge baobab trees which, during the dry seasons from December to March and June to October, is home to many migrant species enjoying the permanent water of the Tarangire River. So, in terms of breathtaking scenery and massive numbers of animals, a northern luxury Tanzania safari has no equal.

See Kilimanjaro on your Tanzania Safari

Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world.  It is a must see during any Tanzania Safari. People come from all over the world to climb this mountain and in recent years it has been a popular destination for celebrities to do charity climbs. Whilst Kilimanjaro is one of the more easy mountains to climb in the world, it is still 5,895m high at its summit and is a very challenging ascent. The mountain is made up of three volcanic cones called Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. The highest summit is located on Kibo’s crater rim and is known as Uhuru Peak.

Kilimanjaro wildlife on a Tanzania Safari

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a unique experience as you switch from the tropics to the arctic during the ascent. There are lots of different types of forests on the different slopes of Kilimanjaro and each one has its own unique species of animals and plants. This means that on a Tanzania safari you could have the opportunity to see an incredible range of climates, environments and creatures. The main animals that you are likely to spot if you choose to climb Kilimanjaro are monkeys. Black and white colobus monkeys are common as well as blue monkeys. You can also see a variety of birds. However, you are unlikely to see any big mammals on Kilimanjaro due to the high number of visitors and the different terrain. This shouldn’t trouble you as a well planned Tanzania safari is sure to take in at least one national park and you will have plenty of opportunities to see big game. Once you reach over 4,000m you enter an alpine desert which has little life in it. On reaching the peak you will enter a winter wonderland filled with snow and ice and the most incredible views.

Climbing Kilimanjaro as part of a Tanzania Safari

Most tour operators will provide you with a lot of guidance if you are planning to ascend Kilimanjaro. You need to bring the right equipment and be mentally and physically prepared for the challenge. Although it is a relatively simple climb it is still something that requires preparation. You will require a number of different layers of clothing to enable you to be comfortable during all the different climates you will meet, you will also require a good sleeping bag as well as a very good pair of hiking boots. The biggest mistake you can make when packing for a Tanzania Safari and the Kilimanjaro trek is to pack too much. You can hire a porter to carry your bags but most porters can only carry up to 15kg of items. With regards to the physical preparation the best thing to do is go on a lot of hikes (make sure you wear the boots you plan to climb in) and you should start preparing at least two months before your planned ascent. It is advised that you have a full medical check up before departure, especially if you are not a spring chicken, and while a Tanzania Safari requires good health it is rewarding.

Big Game on a Tanzania Safari

Going on a Tanzania safari is an amazing experience where you are likely to be able to see a breathtaking array of animals in their natural habitats. Tanzania boasts some of the best wildlife parks in the world including the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This means that during a Tanzania safari you are almost guaranteed to see one of the big five animals; buffalos being one of the most common large animals in the region. Tanzania also has some of the world’s critically endangered species including the black rhinoceros, the desperate shrew, the Pemba flying fox, the Peter’s musk shrew and the Telford’s shrew.

Tanzania Safari to the Serengeti Plain

You will probably be familiar with the Serengeti National Park from all the times you might have seen it from your sofa during wildlife documentaries. However, nothing can prepare you for the wonder of seeing it in real life during a Tanzania safari. It is Tanzania’s oldest and most popular national park and is a world heritage site. There is an entrance fee for the Serengeti National Park and you will require a guide so it is recommended that you visit with a professional tour company as part of your Tanzania Safari. You don’t want to miss out on seeing anything so an experienced tour guide could really make a difference! The Serengeti is famous for the great migration but there is a lot to see even if you miss the migration including leopards, cheetahs and all three African jackal species. There is also 500 or more species of birds. One of the things that you will enjoy during a trip to the Serengeti is the vastness of the plains. The Serengeti is 5,700 square miles and after the rainy season is transformed from sunburnt savannah to green fields with the occasional wildflower. It really is an opportunity to be truly close to nature and escape the crowds and concrete of city life.

See the Great Migration on a Tanzania Safari

The Serengeti plays host to the world’s largest mammal migration which is also one of the ten natural wonders of the world. Around October every year approximately two million mammals travel from the northern hills to the southern hills in search of water and then return back to the northern hills in April. The journey is arduous and incredibly dangerous for the animals taking part and involves crossing the Mara River which is filled with crocodiles. Approximately 250,000 wildebeest will die each year during the migration. If you plan a Tanzania safari to Serengeti specifically to see the migration then make sure that you visit at the right time of year and allow plenty of time as the migration times are not hugely predictable. You will also need to inform your tour company as it will be more costly and may require travelling deeper into the plains, especially if you wish to see any of the big predators.