When is the best time for a safari in Tanzania?

June to October, the long dry season, is best for general game viewing and the Mara River crossings. January and February are ideal for the calving season in the southern Serengeti. The April and May rains bring lower prices and fewer visitors.

How many days do I need?

Five to seven days covers the classic northern circuit of Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. With eight to ten days you can slow down or add Zanzibar, and a three-day safari from Arusha gives a good short taste.

Do I need a visa for Tanzania?

Most visitors need a visa, which you can apply for online before you travel. Your passport should be valid for at least six months with blank pages. Rules change, so check the official Tanzania immigration website before booking.

Which vaccinations do I need?

A yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from, or transit through, a country with a yellow fever risk. Malaria prevention is recommended for most safari areas. Speak to a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you go.

Is Tanzania safe for travellers?

Tanzania is generally very safe for visitors, especially on a guided safari. Take normal city precautions in Arusha, Dar es Salaam and Stone Town, and follow your guide's advice in the parks. Our team is on call 24/7 during your trip.

What money should I bring?

The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling, and US dollars are widely accepted (bring notes printed in 2009 or later). Lodges take cards, but carry some cash for tips, markets and small purchases.

How much should I tip on safari?

Tipping is appreciated but always optional. As a guide, many travellers give their driver-guide about US$20–30 per day per vehicle and around US$10 per guest per day for lodge staff, using the camp's tip box.

Can I combine a safari with Zanzibar?

Yes. Daily flights link Arusha and the Serengeti airstrips with Zanzibar in one to two hours. Three to five nights on the beach is the perfect way to end a safari.

When is the best time for a safari in Tanzania?

June to October, the long dry season, is best for general game viewing and the Mara River crossings. January and February are ideal for the calving season in the southern Serengeti. The April and May rains bring lower prices and fewer visitors.

How many days do I need?

Five to seven days covers the classic northern circuit of Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. With eight to ten days you can slow down or add Zanzibar, and a three-day safari from Arusha gives a good short taste.

Do I need a visa for Tanzania?

Most visitors need a visa, which you can apply for online before you travel. Your passport should be valid for at least six months with blank pages. Rules change, so check the official Tanzania immigration website before booking.

Which vaccinations do I need?

A yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from, or transit through, a country with a yellow fever risk. Malaria prevention is recommended for most safari areas. Speak to a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you go.

Is Tanzania safe for travellers?

Tanzania is generally very safe for visitors, especially on a guided safari. Take normal city precautions in Arusha, Dar es Salaam and Stone Town, and follow your guide's advice in the parks. Our team is on call 24/7 during your trip.

What money should I bring?

The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling, and US dollars are widely accepted (bring notes printed in 2009 or later). Lodges take cards, but carry some cash for tips, markets and small purchases.

How much should I tip on safari?

Tipping is appreciated but always optional. As a guide, many travellers give their driver-guide about US$20–30 per day per vehicle and around US$10 per guest per day for lodge staff, using the camp's tip box.

Can I combine a safari with Zanzibar?

Yes. Daily flights link Arusha and the Serengeti airstrips with Zanzibar in one to two hours. Three to five nights on the beach is the perfect way to end a safari.

Tanzania Safari Guide: Parks, Best Time & Tips

Tanzania safari guide

Tanzania is one of the world's great wildlife destinations, with around a third of its land set aside for national parks, conservation areas and game reserves. In the north lies the classic safari circuit: the endless plains of the Serengeti, where the Great Migration plays out year-round; the Ngorongoro Crater, a collapsed volcano sheltering one of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa; and Tarangire, famous for its elephants and ancient baobabs. Above them all rises Kilimanjaro, at 5,895 m the highest mountain in Africa and the world's tallest free-standing peak. Further south and west, parks such as Ruaha, Nyerere and Katavi offer true wilderness with very few other vehicles. Tanzania is also warm and welcoming, with a rich mix of cultures, from the Maasai of the plains to the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers of Lake Eyasi. Most safaris begin in Arusha, the gateway to the north, and many end with a few slow days on the beaches of Zanzibar, a short flight away. Our team is based here, which means local knowledge, fast support and guides who know every corner of the country.

Northern circuit

The Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara form a loop you can drive from Arusha. This is where the Great Migration plays out and where the Big Five are easiest to find, so it is our first choice for a first safari or a shorter trip.

Best for: First safaris, the Migration
Typical length: 5 – 9 days
Getting there: By road from Arusha
Season: Year-round

Serengeti guide

Wild & quiet

Southern circuit

Nyerere (the former Selous) and Ruaha are vast and lightly visited. Boat safaris on the Rufiji River, walks with an armed ranger and Ruaha's big lion prides make the south a favourite second safari. Mikumi is the easiest park to reach from Dar es Salaam.

Best for: Repeat visitors, solitude
Typical length: 5 – 8 days
Getting there: Light aircraft from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar
Season: June – October

Nyerere guide

Remote

Western circuit

On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, the Mahale Mountains are one of the few places in Tanzania to trek wild chimpanzees, while nearby Katavi fills with buffalo, hippo and elephant in the dry season. Few camps, charter flights only and a real sense of being off the map.

Best for: Chimpanzees, true wilderness
Typical length: 6 – 10 days
Getting there: Charter flight
Season: July – October

Ask us about the west

Tanzania