At Kiwoito Africa Safaris, we live and breathe providing our clients with unbiased advice and extraordinary safari experiences. Our Africa Safari Experts are permanently based in Africa, are well travelled, and have extensive first-hand knowledge of the destinations they recommend. They regularly inspect new lodges, experiences and activities to ensure these offerings meet our clients’ expectations.

There’s nothing like up-to-date, relevant travel information direct from someone who’s been there.

 

Tips for Planning Your Tanzania Safari

1. Plan your timing carefully: if you want to see the Wildebeest Migration on your safari or enjoy the best beach weather in Zanzibar, make sure your itinerary matches your travel wishes.
2. Book early for high season: Tanzania’s sought-after safari destinations and well-located camps at Wildebeest Migration hotspots get booked out early, often a year in advance.
3. Choose your activities: morning and afternoon game drives are standard safari activities, but excursions like night game drives, guided bush walks and hot-air balloon safaris are only allowed in certain areas or camps.
4. Expect other visitors in high season: Tanzania’s heavyweight national parks like the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire can attract a lot of visitors from about June to October. Consider visiting during low or Green Season (about November to March) if you want to escape the crowds and still enjoy great game viewing.
5. Go private: if it’s exclusivity you want, then head for one of Tanzania’s private reserves. The accommodation is superb, game viewing is as good as the main parks, and extra safari activities (see number 3) are occasionally offered.

What to Pack

When packing for your Tanzania safari, light casual clothing in practical, neutral colours and a warm jacket for evening game drives are a safe bet throughout the year. For more on what to pack for a safari.

When visiting Zanzibar, it’s important for women to dress modestly in main towns out of respect for Muslim cultural beliefs. T-shirts that cover the shoulders, long skirts and capri pants are generally better options than tank tops and shorts. Beach wear and bathing costumes are acceptable on the beaches and in resorts

Safari Vehicles

Guided road transfers and game drives in Tanzania are conducted in closed 4x4s with big windows and pop-up roofs, although visitors to destinations like Mahale will enjoy a boat transfer across Lake Tanganyika. Most safari destinations have extensive road networks and closed vehicles are therefore the norm when doing long-distance road transfers between airstrips, camps and lodges in Tanzania. A closed 4×4 game drive vehicle generally has three rows of seating and features a pop-up roof hatch that can be raised for game viewing and taking photographs.

History and Economy

In many ways, Tanzanian history is the history of humankind. Fossils found at Olduvai Gorge, one of the world’s premier archaeological sites, suggest that Tanzania has been settled by hominids for over 2 million years. Iron Age migrations from West Africa were followed by European and Arabian merchants, missionaries and slavers, and by the mid-1800s Zanzibar had become the centre of the East African slave trade. Colonised first by the Germans and then the British, independence came peacefully to mainland Tanganyika in 1961. The addition of Zanzibar in 1964 created the modern state of Tanzania.

Rich in mineral wealth and natural gas, Tanzania’s economy is nevertheless dominated by agriculture, which employs 75% of the workforce and accounts for half the country’s GDP. Tanzania’s main exports include gold, coffee, tea and cotton. But it’s tourism, increasing in importance year after year, that is the country’s biggest foreign exchange earner.

People and Culture

Some of Tanzania’s 120 ethnic groups make up the African population, with a significant numbers of Asians, Arabs and Europeans too. Even with this mix of identities, Tanzania has long promoted a harmonious national culture, one that is based on a subtle but strong social code of courtesy and respect. English and Swahili are the official languages.

Landscape and Wildlife

Lying between the two arms of the Great Rift Valley, Tanzania’s huge central plateau is bounded on the west by Africa’s great lakes, the north by mountains (including Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak) and the Indian Ocean in the east. Most of the country is covered in grassland, open woodland and savannah, but significant pockets of rainforest exist in remote mountain ranges.

Home to 20% of Africa’s large mammals, Tanzania is one of the continent’s premier game viewing destinations. More than 25% of the country is given over to conservation and several Tanzania animal reserves rank among the biggest in the world. Most visitors head for northern Tanzania, where the most famous and accessible animal reserves are. But it’s in south and central Tanzania where you’ll find huge, virtually unvisited savannah and rainforest reserves that deliver genuine off-the-beaten-track safaris.

Why Should You Visit Tanzania?

Tanzania is a country surrounded by wildlife, beaches, archaeological discoveries, and a culture largely untainted by globalization. We will go into detail about the things you can do while visiting this unique country, but the main reason to spend time in Tanzania is to explore the untouched world. Many places like Katavi, contain wilderness that hasn’t been destroyed by progress or time. It is the ultimate escape from a fast-paced life.

When Should You Visit?

Tanzania has two seasons – wet and dry. The rainy season starts near the end of October and continues until January. It picks up again from March to June. Between these bouts of rain, is the dry season.

Visiting in the dry season (February, then July till September), means climbing mountains in a safe condition, and exploring areas in the beautiful sun of 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius). The roads will be easier to drive on and the wildlife will be around waterholes making them easier to spot.

However, if you want to see large movements of animals, you can also do this during the rainy season. The rain makes the wildlife happy, while the grassland will be colorful and luscious. You will develop the best photos and see a large variety of creatures. The experience will also be at its cheapest with fewer crowds to contend with. There are areas that can’t be reached in the rainy season, but the whole northern circuit will normally be accessible throughout the year.

Do You Need A Visa?

Yes. To travel to Tanzania, you will need a passport, a return ticket, and a single-entry tourist visa. This is true for most countries, although you can check your country’s status on this link.

The passport should be valid for at least 6 months before your arrival date, but the visa can be obtained at the airport.

Although you can wait until the last minute to receive your visa, this can cause delays and rejection. We advise applying for the visa in advance to avoid any raised prices and long waiting times with the immigration officers.