Safaris in Tanzania

Where to go on safari in Tanzania

For anyone on a modest budget – in terms of time or cash – northern Tanzania is a good bet. It’s a one-stop-shop for safari experiences, boasting the Great Wildebeest Migration, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and classic Maasai culture. It’s brilliant for first time safari goers as it’s easy to get around, with most of the key attractions conveniently close to one another. The road network in northern Tanzania is less extensive than in Kenya, but main roads are as good as Kenyan roads, better in some cases. This means you can travel overland, rather than using expensive domestic flights, and pack a great deal into even just a week. It’s also convenient if you’re heading to Mount Kilimanjaro – or on into Kenya. There’s a great range of accommodation, too, including accessible campsites and lodges that won’t have you apologising to your bank manager on your return.

All of the above means northern Tanzania is popular, so during the peak months of July and August and in places like the Ngorongoro Crater, you won’t have it to yourself. If you want to be alone with the lions and leopards, head to the little visited south, where huge Selous Game Reserve – the size of Switzerland – and Ruaha National Park are hopping with wildlife, but receive very few visitors. There’s a reason, of course. Reaching these off-the-beaten-track locations demands a pricey domestic flight or a very long drive, which keeps time-pressed and budget travellers away. Accommodation tends to be at the exclusive, luxury end of the safari spectrum, too. Elegant tented lodges boasting swimming pools, spas and deluxe bathrooms tend to be the norm, rather than simple campsites.

Where to stay

Luxury lodges are peppered throughout Tanzania. Some feature unselfconsciously OTT décor – think brocade sofas and chandeliers – while others rock a more elegant, rustic vibe. Luxury tented camps with electricity, hot water, excellent service and wonderful, all-inclusive catering also exist, often with the environmental bonus of being semi-permanent, so they can be taken down to allow the landscape to recover. Many luxury lodges and camps offer the chance to fly camp for a night, too, for a really intimate experience of the bush.