How to organize a safari in Tanzania?

La Tanzania is a flagship destination for a safari in Africa. This is theone of the most popular destinations and more famous. It must be said that this country well deserves its reputation for safaris. Indeed, this magnificent country offers magnificent landscapes and abundant wildlife in the various parks that can be found in the country. 

Obviously, organizing a safari is not easy when you do not really know where you are going to set foot. 

So here are some tips on how to best organize your first safari. 

Organizing a safari in Tanzania: the choice of the organizer

 

Before you start going into more detail about organizing your safari, it is important to know that several possibilities are available to you regarding the organization. 

Indeed, you have the possibility to opt for:

• The organization of your safari by a French tourism agency (or your country)
• The organization of your safari by a local agency
• The organization of your safari without agency with a guide
• The organization of your safari without agency and guide

Here is a table which summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of each of the solutions. But for more information, I advise you to go see this article on the different agencies that exist to organize a safari in Tanzania. 

Organization of the safari	Highlights	Weak points
By an international agency (from your country)	- tailor-made safari - Easy because no need to take time to organize because the agency takes care of it from A to Z - Contact persons in the agency who speak your language - Guide speaking your language Easy to find agencies in your city or on the internet	- $$
By a local agency	- Easy to find local agencies on the internet - Cheaper than the first solution	- $$ (cheaper than the first solution because there is one less intermediary - requires a little more time to organize and inquire about safaris - Guide who may not speak your language (but at least English) - Negotiations and exchanges with the local agency often in English
Without agency but with a guide	- $ - Negotiation with locals (nice experience but can be exhausting) - Greater freedom in the organization	- requires you to organize with your guide - Guide who may not speak your language (but at least English) - Difficult to find guides when you don't know any
Without agency and guide	- $ - Typical local experience / real immersion in the country in "backpacker / resourceful" mode - Total freedom as to the organization	- organize yourself from A to Z - Take a lot of time to organize / educate yourself - Sometimes it can be difficult to communicate if you meet people who do not speak English

If you want more information or have contacts with local guides, do not hesitate to contact me at this address: [email protected]

 

Organize a safari in Tanzania: means of transport

 

When planning your Tanzania safari it is important to know what you want regarding the means of transport. 

Indeed, several possibilities are available to you regarding the means of transport: 

• By 4X4 or car 
• By bus
• On foot
• By boat or canoe
• In a hot air balloon

Here is a summary of the advantages and disadvantages depending on the means of transport chosen: 

Means of transport	Highlights	Weak points
X 4 4	- freedom and autonomy - CalmDiscretion	- $$
Bus	- $: costs shared with others - For travelers alone or not having too much time or a tight budget	- group dependent - Difficult to see sometimes - Day safari - Many people sometimes Not possible in all the parks
On foot	- $ - Ecological - Unique experience - Close to nature	- day trip - Animals observed limited
Boat or canoe	- original experience - Ecological (canoe)	- not accessible in all parks - Limited observation of some animals
Ballooning	- unique experience - Nice view	- $$ - Not accessible in all parks (inquire)

Organize a safari in Tanzania: the choice of the park

 

Obviously, one of the essential points when you want to go on a safari in Tanzania, it is important to choose the park (s) you want to visit. In fact, in Tanzania there are many national parks in which to go on safaris. The choice of park will depend on what you are looking for.

For more information on this subject, I advise you to read my article on "where to go on a safari in Tanzania?" ".

In summary, many choices available to you:

• Northern Parks
• Western Parks
• Southern Parks

Tanzania Parks	Parks and reserves	Highlights	Weak points
Northern Parks	- Serengeti - Ngorongoro Crater - Tarangire - Lake Manyara - Arusha Parks	- Most beautiful landscapes - Most important fauna - Very large - Big five	- more touristy / better known - $$ - Very large
Southern Parks	- Selous - Ruaha - Mikumi - Udzungwa	- less frequented - Smaller - Unspoiled fauna - A little cheaper than the northern parks	not easy to see the big five
Western Parks	- Katavi - Mahale - Gombe	- A little cheaper than the northern parks - Little visited	not easy to see the big five

For my part, I went to the Northern Parks since I was already in Arusha to climb Kilimanjaro. I loved it, I had the chance to see the Big Five and it was an amazing experience. 

Organizing a safari in Tanzania: the choice of accommodation

The choice of the type of accommodation is a important element to take into account when planning your safari. Indeed, according to your budget but also according to the degrees of comfort that you want to have during your safari, several possibilities are available to you:

• Camping
• Lodges
• Luxury lodges 

Type of accommodation	Highlights	Weak points
Camping	- $ - As close as possible to nature simplicity / authenticity	lack of comfort
Lodge	- comfort  - Pleasant after days of "Game drive"	$
Luxury lodge	- luxury comfort - Pleasant after days of "Game drive"	- $$

In my opinion, choosing the type of accommodation that is right for you is simple. Just you ask the question, how important is comfort to you. Are you ready to save as much as possible on this point to have a safari at the lowest possible price or is comfort important to you and so you are ready to put your hand in the wallet in order to have more comfort?

This is specific to each one so I'll let you ask yourself the question 🙂

For my part, having a really tight budget and not being too careful about "comfort", I chose to go on a camping safari. Note that in some places for me it is a “luxury” campsite, I found this experience as well as the comfort very correct. 

Organize a safari in Tanzania: the duration of the safari

 

Obviously, this element is essential to organize your safari in Tanzania.

Depending on your time, budget and desires, the number of days you will have to devote to a safari may vary. 

The longer you stay, the higher the price of the safari will be. 

If you are already lucky enough to be able to go on a safari, that's great!

The longer you stay, the nicer it will be. 

After that you should also know during a safari, there is a part of luck. Indeed, you can stay 3 days and see all the animals you want and conversely, you can go on a 15-day safari and not see as many ... So keep in mind that the "luck" parameter is quite important. 

Also know that contrary to appearances where one might think that a safari is a ballad where one does not get tired because one stays in the car all day…. A safari is very tiring. After days of driving in all directions, of being constantly on the alert so as not to miss something ... it really tires!

After your days of driving, you will be happy to be able to rest a little 🙂

When I started to inquire about going on a safari, I was hesitant about the number of days. Obviously, I could not afford to afford two weeks of safari, but I hesitated between 5, 6 or 7 days… After having discussed well with the locals and having a rather limited budget as well as a limited time, I decided to leave for 5 days. 

Guides had advised me by telling me that 5 days was neither too short nor too long, it was a good compromise to go on a safari and have a good overview.

Looking back, I am delighted with my decision, obviously I had the chance to see everything I wanted, I did not leave frustrated.

Organizing a safari in Tanzania: my little tips

Obviously, I do not claim to be the queen in the organization of safaris since I only do one. 

However, I thought it might be interesting to share some tips with you on how to best organize your safari. 

If you choose to go with an agency:

• Choose an agency with which the first contact and exchanges are pleasant to you. It is important to feel secure and have confidence when embarking on this adventure. 
• do not forget to inquire and look at the comments and opinions on this agency on the internet. You can even try to contact old customers through forums for example. 
• Compare with the different agencies: compare prices but not only. Look at the program in detail, the accommodation offered, the parks etc.

Another important tip: Negotiate!

This is important if your budget is tight! Whether you go through an agency or not, know that you can have real negotiating room for the price. Also, if you want to leave during the low season, the negotiation may be all the more important. 

Also, the patience and calm are required on safari. Indeed, you will have to be patient and wait to observe the animals in their natural habitat while being calm so as not to disturb them. 

To finish, bring the right material ! Indeed, it would be a shame to find yourself in front of these majestic animals without have the right equipment to capture those moments.