A Beginner’s Safari Guide to Tanzania

Location: Where is Tanzania?

Tanzania is the second largest country in East Africa and one of the continent’s stalwart safari destinations. It lies on the idyllic Indian Ocean coast and shares borders with other incredible safari destinations like Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.

Top Experiences in Tanzania

1. Excellent Year-round Game Viewing

Tanzania is home to a great diversity of wildlife, fascinating cultures and natural, scenic beauty. It’s a dream destination from the classic, sweeping savannah of the Serengeti to the flamingo-lined shores of Lake Manyara, world wonders Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa’s highest mountain).

It also offers bucket-list experiences recommended on every Tanzania safari guide, like chimpanzee trekking in the rainforests of Mahale and Gombe, and game viewing in the far-flung wildernesses of Katavi, Ruaha and Nyerere National Park (Selous).

Tanzania’s best wildlife safari destinations are:

2. The Wildebeest Migration

Every safari guide will tell you that Tanzania’s greatest wildlife attraction is the annual Wildebeest Migration, which sees almost two million wildebeest and zebra follow seasonal rains across the Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem each year. Tanzania hosts the lion’s share of the Migration – two main events take place in the Serengeti:

• The mass calving season is when almost a quarter of a million babies are born in the southern Serengeti.
• The dramatic Grumeti River crossings.

If witnessing the Migration is on your bucket list, then knowing when to go is all-important:

3. Bush-and-Beach Holidays

Tanzania offers superb safari-and-beach combinations, thanks to its long tropical coastline and coral-fringed islands. You can easily fly from a safari camp after breakfast and be on a powder-soft beach in time for sunset cocktails.

Tanzania’s top tropical islands are:

• Zanzibar – one of the world’s most romantic honeymoon destinations.
• Mnemba Island – a private island holiday paradise.
• Pemba Island – among the world’s best diving sites.
• Mafia Island – swim with migrating whale sharks (about October to April).

The Best Time to Go to Tanzania

Deciding when to visit Tanzania depends entirely on what it is that you want to experience.

Most Tanzanian travel guides note that peak game viewing in Tanzania is in the dry winter season (about June to October). This is the ideal time to explore the Serengeti, Ngorogoro Crater and Lake Manyara because game is concentrated around water sources. The Wildebeest Migration river crossings also take place between July and October. If you’d prefer to avoid high-season crowds, we recommend combining Ruaha and Nyerere (Selous) with a beach break on the coast or heading to Lake Victoria to combine chimp trekking in Mahale and Gombe with game viewing in the Katavi.

During low or Green Season (about November to March), there are baby animals everywhere, the days are deliciously hot, the dust is settled by afternoon thundershowers and, best of all, you’ll enjoy the very best value for money and crowd-free game viewing. Game viewing is still excellent after the short rains in November but, for the best value, travel before 15 December to avoid the Christmas crowds (and prices!).

For keen photographers, this quiet period offers very special advantages: expect lush green landscapes rather than the dull browns of winter; dramatic cloudy skies rather than winter’s endless pale blue skies; and much more relaxed game viewing conditions, which means more time to get that winning shot.

The best time to summit Kilimanjaro is between July and October or between January and March – which makes it easy to combine a mountain trek with both game viewing and relaxing on a tropical island.

Combine your big game safari with Tanzania’s islands between August and October. We don’t recommend the coast or islands during the long rains from March to May when it’s very wet and humid.

Budget: What Does a Tanzania Safari Cost?

It’s always tricky to give exact costs for a Tanzania safari, as there are variables that influence costs:

• The time of year you travel.
• The level of comfort you prefer at accommodations.
• Whether you drive or fly between destinations.
• Extra activities – like hot-air ballooning, spa treatments and cultural tours – that you’d like to add on.

At Go2Africa, we don’t sell one-size-fits-all safari packages. We prefer tailor-made safari itineraries that match your unique travel wishes and budget. That being said, here are some ballpark figures for a Tanzania safari, with transfers and accommodation included on a price-per-person-per-night (PPPN) basis:

Leave a Lasting Impact On Your Tanzania Safari

Tanzania’s wildlife and natural beauty makes it an unforgettable safari destination – and if you would like to contribute to its conservation for future generations to enjoy, we have a few itineraries that offer the best of both worlds. From participating in research activities to meeting and engaging with Maasai tribes, our trips with a purpose in Tanzania ensures you enjoy the best of an African safari while leaving the wilderness better than you found it.

Why We Love Tanzania

We Know Because We Go

It’s easy to fall in love with Tanzania’s rich culture, big game attractions and natural beauty. As safari experts, what we value most about this country is the old-school service, the authentic safari style and the level of luxury you’ll experience here. Not to mention the incredible game viewing in Tanzania’s heavyweights like the Serengeti!

Our Favourite Tanzania Tours and Safaris

Our Recommended Tanzania Accommodation

More About Tanzania

Learn more about what a visit to Tanzania has to offer with the below resources on the East African country:

Ready to Turn This Safari Guide into a Real Adventure in Tanzania?

With over 25 years of traversing safari destinations under their belt, our African Safari Experts are perfectly positioned to craft a Tanzania holiday that ticks all your boxes. Get in touch and start planning the safari of your dreams: