Many tourists consider it that safaris in Tanzania are so similar with those of Kenya and South Africa, since they both have a common factor of mass tourism. Tanzania receives huge numbers of tourists to Serengeti and the Ngorongoro crater, the main concern in this country conservation of the animals as well as the plant species for a long term rather than trying to get as many camps as possible in there. Below are the questions to ask yourself and the links through to be able to cover each.
How much time do you want to spend on your safari in Tanzania?
This is also an important question to consider before choosing a safari to Tanzania. It’s known that a Tanzanian safari to the northern parks of Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro crater, Tarangire National park is not possible in less than 5 nights due to the driving time and distance. This means that the northern safari itinerary tends to be at a higher price than those in the Southern parks. The other effect is the budget since this is one of the most expensive holidays since the longer you spend the more expensive the itinerary.
We therefore recommend you look for a safari vacation to Tanzania for a week and this will allow you to visit all the national parks in the northern side of the country. But in case you find less driving deserving, the southern parks will work for you. And for those who are interested in a few days of their safari, the best option would be selous for a few nights and also enjoy the Zanzibar beach.
When you should go for the safari in Tanzania?
This is an important question to ask yourself when deciding to travel to Tanzania. We have also managed to cover the main period of the year and where the best to travel to since most of the animal movement is determined by the access to water, there are some times of the year that are good and those that are not. This also means that we can help you out to select the right spots and the camps since we are well knowledgeable about all of them.
What animal species to see on a Tanzanian Safari?
The national parks in Tanzania have got variety of animal species including the wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, leopards, lions, as well as the cape buffaloes. Some national parks have some species that are not common in other national parks. The overview of these national park is as below.
Serengeti National Park
The park is mainly famous for the many wildebeests that migrate through the national park as well as the zebras, gazelles, predators like the lions and the leopards.
Tarangire National Park
In the months of June to October, the park is the main meeting for the many elephants that come from the far flung locations as the Amboseli in Kenya. This is also very interesting as the migration herds with in the Serengeti.
The Ngorongoro Crater
This is the most stunning volcanic crater and its home to the best views of the black Rhinos in Africa. This is a must visit for those interested in viewing them.
The Selous Game Reserve
This is a beautiful park found in the southern part of Tanzania and its one of the destinations were you can find the Africa Hunting dogs aka wild Dog. This national park also features variety of water based animals like the crocodiles, hippos, elephants as well as the leopards.
The Ruaha National Park
This is one of the best National parks in Tanzania in case you are interested in viewing big prides of lions. It’s also good for viewing the cheetahs and wild dogs. Since it shares a border with Zambia, it gets variety of southern African wildlife.
The Mahale National Park
Mainly famous for the chimpanzees and many other types of monkeys.
The safari activities to engage in
Tanzania has got variety of safari activities and many of them include the following below;
Walking Tours
With the walking tours, you are able to adventure the bush, and this will allow you to experience the environment with all your senses. Even though you might not experience lots of game like in a vehicle safari, this is a real adventure. The great parks for this include Selous game reserve, Serengeti and Ruaha National park.
Boating Safaris
Many of the animals are less suspicious in case you come near them by the boat and like, this will be very peaceful and so interesting to adventure into your safari. The good national parks here are Selous Game reserve.
Vehicle Tours
This is the most common type of safari in Tanzania and the vehicles that we recommend here are either closed 4x 4 vehicles or the open sided 4 x4. With this, you will be able to cover the ground with lots of animals and also get close to them. The good parks here are in the north and the southern parks
What type of accommodation facilities are you looking for?
This will mainly depend on the budget as more of the expensive properties are more permanent ones and those that are lower might also exclude some facilities. There are the luxury tented camps that will make you adventure the wilderness near you. Some of the camps include; Sayari Mara camp, Singita Sasakwa, the Tarangire treetops, the Lake Manze camp, the Oliver’s tented camp, the greystoke’s Mahale and the Beho Beho Camp.
15 Days Climb Kilimanjaro & Tanzania Safari
Mount Kilimanjaro‘s snow-capped peak is usually veiled by clouds but on clear days the sight of the summit is one of the most arresting on the continent. Kilimanjaro is not only the highest mountain in Africa but it’s also the largest free-standing mountain in the world – rising nearly six vertical kilometres from the surrounding plains – making a Mount Kilimanjaro safari a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Made up of three peaks – Shira, Mawenzi and Uhuru – Mount Kilimanjaro, or Kili as it is affectionately known, is a relatively young mountain and was formed by volcanic activity about a million years ago. It’s an iconic, evocative destination and from an altitude of 2 700m the entire mountain falls under the protection of the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park.
This is a double adventure that takes you climbing Africa’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, and after rapid descent of 4,500 feet, relax and catch your breath on a 4 day wildlife game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro National Park and the magnificent Serengeti National Park before you head home to tale the Tanzania safari stories.
Arriving in Kilimanjaro International Airport and seeing the behemoth geomorphologic structure that is Mount Kilimanjaro rise into the African heavens like one giant pimple on the Tanzanian landscape, it is hard to imagine not wanting to set foot on its highest peak. Leaving, without having done so, would in a way feel ‘wrong’!
Soaring above the rippling tea plantations and low hills of northeastern Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro (19,340′) is Africa’s highest peak. Follow the less traveled Shira Route up the western slope, hiking eight days through the spectacular landscapes of five temperate zones. On this once-in-a-lifetime trek, take in extraordinary views extending hundreds of miles, and experience the sunrise from the roof of Africa.
Best time to climb Kilimanjaro
There are two main trekking seasons on Mount Kilimanjaro – January-March and June-October. The former season is generally colder than the latter but is also often quieter.
- June-October is the busiest season on the mountain as it coincides with summer holiday period in Europe and N. America.
- April, May and November are the wettest months and not ideal for trekking.
- December is fast becoming a popular season, despite being very cold on the summit.
- Snow cover on the mountain is highest during November-May
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrival in Arusha
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to your place of overnight stay. Dinner and Overnight at Planet Lodge.
Day 2 Machame Gate / Machame Camp
Early morning after breakfast, start with a drive to Machame gate. Begin trekking though the rain forest on a winding trail for 5-7 hours, and then continue past fist hut to the Machame Hut Campsite at 3100m for dinner and overnight.
Day 3 Machame Camp / Shira Camp
After breakfast, leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing a little valley and walking along a steep rocky ridge covered with heather until the end of the ridge. The route then turns west onto a river gorge at 3658m (5-7hours) for dinner and overnight at the Shira Hut campsite at 3800m.
Day 4 Hira Camp / Barranco Camp
From the Shira plateau, continue trekking east towards the lava tower called (the shark’s tooth””). Shortly after the tower, you come to a junction leading to the arrow glacier. Continue to Barranco Hut campsite at 3950m for dinner and overnight (5-7hours walking).
Day 5 Barranco Camp / Karanga Valley Camp
After breakfast start with a tailspin into the Gorge, before you climb its eastern wall and you will delight in views of Kilimanjaro’s ice fields, an equatorial anomaly. Go on hiking until you reach your camp in Kilimanjaro Karanga Valley at 13,900 feet, (4-5 hours of walking).
Day 6 Karanga Valley Camp / Barafu Camp
After breakfast hike through the Karanga Valley, the trail turns steadily uphill, following the lava ridge to the Barafu camp. The temperature will grow colder and the landscape more sparse as we approach Barafu Camp. Barafu Camp is set on a bantam, exposed flat area on a ridge, acting as a base camp from which you will make your summit attempt at midnight. Barafu Camp is at 15,200 feet, ( 6-7 hours of walking).
Day 7 Barafu Camp / Uhuru Peak (Roof Of Africa!)
Just after midnight trek to Stella point (5745m) on the way to the summit, the UHURU peak, and this part of the climb takes about 8hours. Here you will have reached the highest point in Africa (5895m)!
From the summit, descend to Mweka Hut campsite at 3100m for dinner and overnight. (5-hours walking)
Day 8 Mweka Camp / Mweka Gate
This day is spent descending to the Mweka park gate (3-4hours).When you get to the gate you will be awarded your climbing certificate and there after your driver will be there ready to transfer you to Planet lodge for late lunch, dinner and overnigh
Day 9 Arusha National Park
After breakfast drive to Arusha National Park for a game drive with picnic lunch. This park has lots of giraffes, antelopes, and flamingos in the Momela Lakes. You will also look for the rare black and white Colobus Monkey in this park. After lunch you will do 2 hours of canoe riding in the Momela. Dinner and Overnight at Planet Lodge
Day 10 Mtowambu Village
After breakfast drive to Mtowambu village for a guided village walk. In this small but very busy tow you will get an opportunity to interact with the local people. People from all the 120 tribes in Tanzania live in this small village. Here you will visit a local alcohol (banana beer) bar seat and drink with the local people (if interested), visit a nursery school, visit banana/rice farms see how people work in their farms (try work with them if interested). You will then continue to Twiga lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you will do bike riding across the villages to Lake Manyara where you will see animals from distance (wildebeests, zebras, buffalo, impala and flamingos), guided by a local guy from the area. You will return to Twiga lodge for dinner, and then depart a night game drive with special night drive vehicles to look for nocturnal animals. Dinner and Overnight at Twiga Lodge
Day 11 Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast our 15 Days Climb Kilimanjaro & Tanzania Safari continues on the 11th day. You depart for a game drive in Lake Manyara national park. This park has the largest concentration of baboons in North Tanzania, tree climbing lions and others. It is also the best place to see flamingos and other birds. You will then return to Manyara Twiga lodge for a late lunch and a little rest. In the afternoon drive to a traditional Maasai village to explore their culture (you will visit a typical village and not the ones set for tourists). Dinner and Overnight at Twiga Lodge
Day 12 Serengeti National Park
After breakfast drive to Serengeti national park for game drive with picnic lunch. Serengeti is the park with the largest concentration of big mammals in the world. Here you will see most of your animals in your trip including lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, impalas, giraffes and many more. Dinner and Overnight at Serengeti Bush Camp
Day 13 Serengeti National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives in Serengeti national park with early departures, trying to look for active cats/hunting predators. All meals and overnight will be at Serengeti Bush camp.
Day 14 Ngorongoro National Park
After breakfast drive to Ngorongoro National Park for a game drive in the crater with picnic lunch. This is the best place to see the endangered black rhino (less than 1000 black rhinos are left in the wild in the world). The crater has also many other animals like zebras, wildebeests, hippos, gazelles, hyenas and many more. Dinner and Overnight at Eileen Trees Inn
Day 15 Departure
After breakfast drive back to Arusha for lunch, then continue to the airport for your departure after this amazing experience.
