Are you thinking about taking an African safari? Here are 12 helpful things to know about what to expect on a safari in Tanzania, followed by info about our accommodations, Safari tips and FAQs.
When we booked our Safari, I had visions in my head about seeing animals in the wild, hunting and eating their prey, gathering in herds by the thousands before thundering across the river as part of the Great Migration. It was all going to be a magnificent National Geographic special, right?
Thankfully, some parts of my vision were accurate (and totally amazing), but there were other aspects of the experience that never occurred to me before we left. Here’s what to expect on a Safari in Tanzania:
The safari we chose was 9 full days of guided game drives in a Toyota Land Cruiser. We visited 5 national parks (Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater) and we stayed at mid-range accommodations. If you chose a different type of safari, different accommodations or a different time of year, your experience may be different.
I wrote another post called What’s a Tanzania Safari Really Like? All the amazing (and not-so-great) parts – it contains detailed information in a different format, sharing our 9-day itinerary, with more photos of our lodging, our vehicle, and our experience.
What To Expect On A Safari In Tanzania
Here’s the good, and the not so good parts about a Safari in Tanzania
#1: You can get up close to the animals
I was thinking we’d probably need to use binoculars and the zoom on our cameras to see the animals way off in the distance, like across the plains of the Serengeti.
But for the most part, the animals were quite close to the road and we were able to get right up near them with the Land Cruiser, often within 50 feet or so.
The animals really didn’t seem to care that we were there. They just continued to go about their business as if we weren’t there at all.
The one exception for us were the Black Rhinos – they were seen waaaay across the valley, more than a half-mile away.
We have always heard that the best (only?) time to find animals is in the early morning or late afternoon/evening. But we found tons of them, right in the middle of the day. They were often sleeping or resting, but we also got to see them moving about, hunting, eating, bathing and playing as well.
#2: You will get fantastic photos and videos
Photography is my passion, and I knew I wanted to capture every moment of every day with my camera. Our guide Stewart was awesome about getting us into the best position to take amazing photos and videos of the wild animals and birds.
THIS is when it really felt like National Geographic!
Being able to climb up on the seats and shoot out the raised roof of the Land Cruiser gave us great and unobstructed views. We also rolled the windows up and down so we could safely shoot out to the sides from inside the vehicle.
Look at this awesome video footage I shot of the Wildebeests crossing the river:
I shot thousands of (mostly) fantastic photos and videos during our 9 day tour and I will enjoy looking at those memories for the rest of my life.
See all my safari photo tips in this blog post and view my safari photo album here.
It was nice (and kind of surprising) that we didn’t need to wear seat belts in the Land Cruiser. It made it much faster to climb up and stand on the seat when an animal suddenly came into view.
#3: We felt pretty safe, except when…
Even when we were within a few feet of lions or elephants or leopards, we always felt safe. Stewart watched closely for any signs of aggression in the animals, but as long as they remained calm, we got to stay close.
But a couple of times, they got a little too close for my comfort:
- At Tarangire National Park, a large curious elephant started walking right towards us in the Land Cruiser. Just before he reached our vehicle, he turned and passed right by our front bumper. It was both exhilarating and heart pounding to have him that freaking close!
2. Our second close (and really scary) encounter involved two big male lions and an ENORMOUS elephant. You can read about and see video from that experience here.
#4: We got really lucky with our fellow safari goer
We knew we were going to have another person joining us in the Land Cruiser for the 9 day safari. Would it be someone nice? Or would it be someone really annoying?
Charis turned out to be a great and wonderful young woman from Hong Kong who we enjoyed getting to know.
We traded stories about life in the US and life in Hong Kong. Also interesting stories about the different places we’ve traveled.
Thankfully, our travel styles seemed pretty compatible, which is great since we were together non-stop for 9 whole days. So I’m grateful that we didn’t get stuck with someone annoying or irritating!
#5: A great guide makes all the difference
Stewart (our guide and driver for 9 days) knew where to go in all the parks. That’s especially important because most of the roads didn’t have any signs and he didn’t use GPS. And he knew how to get the Land Cruiser into a great position for us to take photos.
He listened to the other guides on the CB radio to learn if a unique animal had been spotted. But when we found something unique, he didn’t share it with anyone else until we were done taking pictures.
Stewart also waited patiently for us to finish taking our photos, only starting the vehicle when we said we were done and ready to go. And he also knew where to find a washroom when I had an unexpected emergency!!
#6: Unexpected wonderful surprises
I was so focused on the animals and birds, that some other things caught me by surprise. At the beginning and ends of the long days, we saw brilliant sunrises, gorgeous sunsets, wonderful cloud formations and millions of stars in the dark skies.
Are you getting a good idea of what to expect on a
Safari in Tanzania? Keep on reading for the rest of the story!
#7: The days are really long
With this type of safari, you head out on game drives after breakfast and don’t return to the lodging until late in the afternoon. A few washroom breaks (that’s what they call the bathroom), and maybe lunch, are the only opportunities to get out of the Toyota Land Cruiser during an 8-10 hour day.
Most days, you see tons of animals so you are jumping up and down all day to take photos and videos. But sometimes, you might go for hours without seeing anything which can get a little boring (and cramped).
If you are someone who requires or desires a lot of physical activity, this might be a challenge for you.
#8: Getting an “African Massage” on bumpy roads
The roads in the Tanzanian National Parks are super bumpy. So you spend 8-10 hours a day bouncing around a lot. The locals call it an “African Massage”.
You also are constantly hanging on to the hand rails and sometimes bracing to keep from falling out of your seat. Here’s a video to show you what it’s like at times.
I started taking an Aleve in the morning to reduce the pain in my hips and knees. Our safari company provided pillows in the Land Cruiser so that helped soften the bounce somewhat.
To be fair, it wasn’t ALWAYS bouncy, but a good 80-90% of the time, it was rocking to some degree. See more pictures of the inside of our Land Cruiser here
#9: It’s really Dusty too
We were there in the dry season and the wind was blowing a lot (which did help keep things cooler in the non-airconditioned vehicles). In the parks, none of the roads are paved – it’s all dirt.
So there is a lot of dust blowing and swirling. At times, it was bad enough that some of us put masks on over our faces to make it easier to breathe.
If you are someone who suffers from asthma or other breathing difficulties, be prepared!
#10: The food got mixed reviews
Which camps/lodges you stay at will totally drive the quality of the food. Some camps are just better at it than others.
We always had Breakfast at the Lodge/Camp before heading out for the day. This consisted of eggs made to order – scrambled, omelets, over easy, sunny side up, however you wanted them made.
And then a selection of sausage or bacon, fresh cut fruit, breads and pastries, coffee, tea, orange juice. It was usually pretty good and a pretty tasty way to start the day.
About 1:30 or 2:00, we would stop to eat our box lunches (provided by the lodge/camp). Half the time, we stopped somewhere with picnic tables where we could safely get out of the Land Cruiser to eat. Other days, we had to eat inside the Land Cruiser because there were too many wild animals around.
The box lunches were honestly the least appetizing and least tasty part of our food while on safari.
Back at the Lodge/Camp, dinner was served about 7:00 or 7:30. It usually consisted of a broth/soup, one or two entrée choices, sauteed vegetables, a potato or rice, and then a small dessert.
I will say the food always looked really good and the presentation was beautiful, but the tastiness was hit or miss. Sometimes, it was dry and hard to chew. But sometimes it tasted fabulous after a long day of sight-seeing.
Again, which camps you stay at will determine the food offering. I’m just saying our experience was hit or miss. Yours might be amazing!
At all the camps/lodges, there was a usually bar available (albeit with a somewhat limited selection) if you wanted dinner or evening cocktails. We instead chose to buy Rum in Arusha and brought it with us for drinks in our own room.
I also knew from my research that my favorite Diet Pepsi wasn’t going to be available while on safari. So we bought a bunch of bottles in Arusha and brought them with us to fuel my caffeine addiction.
#11: It takes a long time to get from the US to Africa
It’s a 24-40 hour flight and a 7-10 hour time zone difference, depending where you start from in the US. You will have serious jet lag!
We arrived 2 full days before our safari started so we had time to adjust. You don’t want to sleep through the first few days of your adventure!
#12: A tour means that everything is taken care of
It was super nice not to have to think about where we were going, where we were staying, how we were going to get there. Compared to the travel that Bill and I normally do where we have to organize, plan and navigate every little detail, this was really nice.
For even more info about what to expect on a safari in Tanzania, read my longer detailed post about what our 9-day safari experience was really like.
Our Accommodations
As I said, we stayed in mid-range accommodations. They were fancier than a sleeping bag in a tent on the ground, but were by no means luxurious. I would describe them as basic, but comfortable and they certainly met our comfort needs just fine.
Three of the five places were tented safari camps (which is the most typical of what to expect on safari in Tanzania), and two were more traditional hotels or lodges. Here are a few photos of each place so you can get a flavor.
Didas Villa Hotel in Arusha
A small, boutique hotel in Arusha. It has just 7 rooms and a restaurant on-site. We stayed there 4 nights at the beginning of our trip and two nights after the safari.
Lake Manyara Safari Lodge
The Lake Manyara Safari Camp offers a variety of tented accommodations, ranging from The Safari Comfort (where we stayed) to Premium Bungalows and Luxury Glamping.
It also offers a dining area, a swimming pool, a workout facility, a bar with a pool table, a gift shop and a campfire area. There were baboons and monkeys everywhere in the trees, and tons of birds on the property.
Intimate Camp – Seronera
The Intimate Camp – Seronera was my personal favorite of all the places we stayed. Featuring 12 platform tents, spread out with views of the Serengeti plains, it felt like we were all alone in the wilderness.
It offers a dining tent, a lounge tent and a large campfire area for guests to relax before dinner.
Kenzan Tented Camp
The Kenzan Tented camp is a mobile camp of 28 tents that move to follow the migration patterns of the herds. It was a little more rustic than the other facilities, but the Wi-Fi was great and the food was good. Count that as a win!
Rhino Lodge
The Rhino Lodge was a more traditional lodge structure with hotel-like rooms and a huge restaurant overlooking a beautiful valley.
Kia Lodge Resort
This lodge was NOT part of our safari plans, but when all our flights back to the USA got cancelled at the last minute, the airline put us up here for 2 days until our new flights departed.
It was a lovely place to wait near the Arusha Airport. We visited with the other stranded passengers, shared safari stories and celebrated Bill’s birthday there.
Safari Travel Tips
We learned so much during our trip that I want to pass these tips so you can make the most of your safari experience.
#1: Pack light
You really don’t need much stuff. Some basic clothes, a great camera and a toothbrush. Well, maybe a few more items, but seriously, do not pack all that extra stuff you think you “might” need. Here’s my recommended packing list for an African safari
#2: Stop and Appreciate
At least 2-3 times a day, stop what you’re doing/thinking and take the time to really appreciate where you are. I woke up several mornings and thought “OMG – we’re in the Serengeti!!” And then I thought about how very lucky we are to be able to see and experience things like this in our travels.
#3: Take Notes
You probably think you will remember every last detail, but I promise you, you won’t. I used the notes app on my iPhone to jot things down throughout the day. But you could also bring a paper notebook and pen with you
I noted things that happened, which animals and birds we saw, interesting things Stewart said about the animals, what I liked about the new camp, stories that other travelers shared with us and more.
#4: Pack Your Patience
My good friend Della gave me this advice before we left on our trip around the world and I have needed it more often than I can remember. On a safari, you:
- might go several hours without seeing any animals
- may have to wait around for 30 minutes while your guide checks you in at the park entrance
- may be hungry after a long day of game drives, but dinner is not going to be served for another 2 hours
- may face uncertainty if your flights home get canceled at the last minute
Safari FAQs
A lot of questions keep coming up when people are considering whether to go on an African safari. Here are a few of those questions with how I would answer them.
How many days is enough for Tanzania safari?
The perfect answer depends on your goals and your budget. We did a 9-day safari where we had game drives every single day. We saw a ton of animals over those 9 days, but it would have been nice to maybe have a day “off” in the middle of it?
If you fly all the way over to Africa from the US, you don’t want to do a 3-day safari and then fly right back. I’d say a 5-day safari is the bare minimum I would recommend, and then the more days you can add, the more you’ll see.
Also pay close attention to the safari description. Some of the days included in their number might not include game drives, but rather traveling to and from Tanzania and then getting to the parks. Learn more about how to pick the perfect safari for you and why we choose the one we did.
What should I wear on safari in Tanzania?
The goal is to “blend in” with nature and not stand out in any way that the animals are disturbed by your presence. So colors like brown, khaki, green, olive and cream all work really well.
Stay away from bright colors like red, yellow, orange, pink, or busy patterns – that might make the animals move farther away from you. And with all the dust in the air, I wouldn’t recommend wearing white, although I saw lots of people doing that.
I had read that wearing black and blue were bad because they attract the tsetse flies. But I wore black and I didn’t have any problems with the flies.
It’s very smart to dress in layers. It’s cooler in the mornings and then warms up throughout the day. Wear things that are easy to add or take off as needed.
I have lots of recommendations about what to pack for a safari, including things I wish I had brought, and several things I brought but never used.
What is the best month for a safari in Tanzania?
The two main seasons for safari are the Dry season which runs from June – October and the Wet Season in January – February. Both feature a migration of animals on the move, but the Dry Season one is the main one, usually peaking between July and August. Ours ran from July 30 – August 7.
But you can still have a great safari experience year round. And with less people around in say the Fall or the Spring, you get a more natural, less crowded experience.
How do you go to the bathroom on a safari?
Your guide will stop a couple of times a day at an established washroom in the park. Do not miss the opportunity to take advantage of it whenever the opportunity is made available.
I highly recommend carrying toilet paper in your pocket. While the park washrooms were generally clean, they often lacked having any toilet paper available.
We did have to make one emergency “bush toilet” stop for me during our safari. It was certainly doable, but also quite stressful. Guys, of course, have it easier than we girls do.
Conclusion: Is it worth it?
1000% yes. For me, a safari has been at the top of my Bucket List for a long time and is something I have always wanted to experience. Seeing and photographing all the wild animals (and birds) was like a dream come true for me as a travel photographer.
Are there some headaches involved? For sure. The bumpy roads and dust are super annoying. But the good outweighs the bad in my opinion and its absolutely worth it to make the trip to Tanzania to go on Safari.
More Tanzania Posts
Here are some more posts about Africa, Safaris and Tanzania, including some that I’m still working on. If you’d like to receive emails when I’ve posted new content to the site, please complete the short form above.
- Best Camera for Safari? Simple to Use & Stunning Results
- Amazing Animals In Tanzania: A Safari Photo Adventure
- How to Take Amazing Wildlife Safari Photos – 20 Easy Tips
- What’s an African Safari really like? All the Good & Not-so-Good Parts
- What To Expect On A Safari – 12 Helpful Things to Know
- What to Pack for an African Safari (+ What to Leave at Home)
- Tanzania Travel Facts & Important Tips – Everything you need to know about currency, visa, time zone, driving, language, and so much more
- Coming soon: What animals can you see?
- Coming soon: Safari FAQs
- Coming soon: Birds Seen in Tanzania – A Photo Album
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