A Guide to planning a Holiday Safari Trip in Tanzania and Zanzibar : Tanzania, which is located on Africa’s east coast, offers the best safari vacations that may be easily paired with a variety of Indian Ocean beaches. According to us, it’s the ideal vacation spot in Africa to combine a big five safari with a wonderful beach vacation. Additionally, traveling around the nation is very simple thanks to the abundance of light aircraft flights that connect the various regions.
There are three key components to a safari vacation in Tanzania: the north; the south; and its diverse beaches and islands. The iconic Serengeti, where the Great wildebeest migration takes place, the Ngorongoro crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the lesser portions of Lake Manyara and Tarangire are all included in the northern Tanzania safari circuit.
Ruaha National Park, Nyerere national park and Selous Game reserve are three of the less well-known parks in the southern safari circuit, and Mahale and Katavi national Park are two even more remote parks. Most travelers go to Zanzibar Island, an island known for its spices, for beaches. Still, there are many other options, such as the mainland coast and other nearby islands, A Guide to planning a Holiday Safari Trip in Tanzania and Zanzibar.
A SAFARI HOLIDAY TRIP IN NORTHERN TANZANIA
Most travelers that arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport spend their first night in Arusha city. The Ngorongoro Crater is accessible the following day after a brief journey through the culturally diverse Ngorongoro highlands. With notable concentrations of the big five, impressive as a crater is, it draws hordes of people. So, before taking a flight to the Serengeti National Park, we don’t advise spending more than a full day on a game drive here, with an overnight on each side.
Probably Tanzania’s top safari attraction, the Serengeti offers amazing wildlife watching. The big five and huge cats can be seen there. As a result of the reserve’s extensive short grass plains, watching wildlife is simple. Numerous movies, like The Lion King and Out of Africa, have made the Serengeti renowned. The enormous wildebeest migration, which you can observe all year long, is the most remarkable. The river crossings, however, are unique to the Serengeti’s northern region and only take place in the summer.
The Serengeti is where you should spend the majority of your safari time. Let’s say your safari vacation in Tanzania lasts longer than a week. If so, you can also stop at Tarangire and Lake Manyara on the way to the crater for a leisurely warm-up. Manyara can be seen in a single afternoon. However, Tarangire requires a few nights to make the safari journey worthwhile, and the best time to visit is in the summer when the elephants travel through the park.
Some people’s trips to Tanzania for a safari vacation include a significant stop at Mount Kilimanjaro. Depending on the route taken, the mountain can be climbed in seven to eight days. The best views of the mountain, nevertheless, are from a distance if you don’t intend to climb it.
THE COST
In terms of price, safaris in the northern parks can cost anywhere from about $300 per person per night at budgeted safari lodges to $600 per night at luxury safari lodges. Sasakwa, one of the priciest camps in Africa, may cost up to $2,700 per person every night.
PLANNING SAFARI TRIP TO SOUTHERN TANZANIA
In this case, you can fly into Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport and leave for a safari the same day. In addition to regular game drives, Ruaha National park provides strolling and night drives. The Selous game reserve is a sizable park where you can boat, hike, and camp out under the stars.
Southern Tanzania is the best region for travelers looking for an experience off the beaten path with tranquil privacy because there are as few as eight camps in each park. The wildness and authenticity of southern safaris are beyond description. We adore combining Selous with Ruaha. It’s uncommon to see another car, and the game watching is superb. The Great Wildebeest Migration does not occur in the south, though.
THE COST
With lodges ranging from $400 per person per night for the Selous Serena, to $700 per night for Jongomero, to $1,100 per person per night for Beho-Beho, the south offers exceptional value for the money,A Guide to planning a Holiday Safari Trip in Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Fewer people travel to the Mahale Mountains and Katavi in the southwest of the country, primarily because internal flights are expensive and infrequent. However, Mahale is one of the best locations in Africa for seeing wild chimpanzees, and during the summer months for safaris, Katavi offers amazing wildlife. Consider going on a safari vacation to one of Africa’s most isolated locations, where you can only reach it by boat and enjoy emerald beaches and dense jungles.
BEACHES AND ISLAND HOLIDAYS IN TANZANIA
Nothing compares to some time on the Indian Ocean beach before, after, or even both of your safari vacations in Tanzania’s countryside. The most popular vacation spot is the island of Zanzibar, which has amazing beaches, terrific diving, and charming boutique hotels. However, much of the shoreline is quite tidal, and a lot of the hotels are only passably decent.
Only a few of the hotels in Zanzibar come highly recommended, so it definitely pays to consult a Tanzania safari travel specialist to be sure you’re picking the appropriate one. The prices for hotels in Zanzibar range from $180 per person per night at a top-notch beach hotel like Pongwe to $500 per person per night in one of Xanadu’s private villas.
If you want to experience some culture, head to Stone Town in Zanzibar. However, it can be quite busy. Therefore, we advise staying here for no more than two nights. You can also take a day trip from your beach hotel to Stone Town if you don’t want to stay in the commotion.
If you prefer a more sedate setting than Zanzibar you should have a look at the mainland coast, which is mainly undeveloped except for a few lodges. One such place is Rus Kutani, which, at $400 per person per night, is one of our top picks and what we consider to be the ideal honeymoon destination.
The islands of Pemba and Mafia, which provide excellent diving and underwater sports, are less frequently visited. However, compared to Zanzibar, the beaches are far inferior. Last but not least, there are a few private island choices, such as Fanjove ($400 per person, per night) and Mnemba Island ($1,700 per person, per night). In our opinion, these two lovely islands rank among the greatest in the entire Indian Ocean,A Guide to planning a Holiday Safari Trip in Tanzania and Zanzibar.
TANZANIA WILDLIFE SAFARI AND MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING IN UGANDA/RWANDA
Gorilla trekking in Uganda and a wildlife safari in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park are two of the most well-known safari vacation experiences in Africa. We made a guarantee that you would remember Africa for the rest of your life. Your close relationship with wildlife will be forever altered by a hike into the foggy tropical jungles of Uganda, hunting for mountain gorillas, and then spending an amazing hour sitting a few meters away silently. A top African bucket list adventure is seeing that, in addition to the millions of wildebeests traversing the Serengeti plains while being pursued by numerous predators, including big cats.
For another thrilling safari vacation in Tanzania, connect your aircraft from Kigali to the Serengeti National Park. As an alternative, you can go on a gorilla habituation trip in Uganda and spend more than four hours with the gorillas.
After arriving in Kigali by air, stay the night there before traveling to Volcanoes National Park, where you’ll spend the next two nights at a charming woodland lodge. The following morning, go on a gorilla trekking adventure before coming back to the lodge for a leisurely evening. Physical preparation is required for jungle treks, so start a few months before your trip.
THE COST
In comparison to Uganda, Rwanda has more expensive gorilla permits and lodging. Uganda charges $700 for a gorilla permit, compared to $1,500 in Rwanda. Each person must pay $1,500 for the gorilla habituation experience in Uganda. Luxury lodges like Bisate, Virunga, and Singita Kwitonda charge a high price of roughly $1,700 per night for lodging in Rwanda’s volcanoes. In Uganda, gorilla resorts are less expensive, with some lodges in Bwindi charging roughly $300 per person per night.
Conclusion: There you have it, then. We hope that this travel guide will make it simple for you to arrange an unforgettable safari vacation in Tanzania. Browse our comprehensive internet guide for more details on creating a private vacation, or even better, contact us by phone or email to talk about your options.
