Tanzania overview and best spots

• Best wildlife in East Africa.  If you're looking for diversity, culture, safari-beach combinations, family safaris or a first time trip to Africa then think Kenya first...but for wildlife, Tanzania.

• Our safaris are ideally based out of Arusha for either a "northern circuit" or the Katavi-Mahale combination (west) or out of Dar es Salaam for the "southern circuit" .  We don't run any low budget trips in Tanzania because there's too much risk (with two exceptions for adventurers...Kilimanjaro or Crater walking). 

• Given half a chance we'll recommend our mobile guided trips anywhere and under just about any circumstance...we have access to best guides in the quietest areas - simple.

• The biggest trick in the north is to avoid the crowds.  There IS a solution.  [...see notes on planning a migration safari]

• Seasonal variations are critical when planning.  If you're aiming at the migration alone then travel mid-December to April-ish.  The dry season between June and November is a better time to get into the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater to avoid the crowds - June and October/November are best.

• The Katavi and Mahale or Ruaha and Selous combinations are the closest we can get to the perfect safari spots in Tanzania - ideally accessed in August, September and October.

• Best spots are Katavi and Mahale in the west, Ruaha and Selous in the south, the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire in the north.  

• go to the maps, get to grips with the migration in the Serengeti

Best spots

• The Serengeti and Northern Circuit
  • the Serengeti is home to huge volumes of plains game especially when the short grass of the southern region is sweetest between about December and March/April. 
  • Resident game is good year round - Moru Kopjes, Rongai, Seronera, Lobo riverlines and the northern sector in particular.  No nonsense - this area offers amongst Africa’s most spectacular game-viewing with phenomenal photographic opportunities.
  • When we talk about the Serengeti we really mean the "Greater Serengeti".  It encompasses hugely diverse habitats within the Lake Manyara, Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks (kopjes, plains, woodlands and riverine glades all influenced pretty heavily by seasonal changes); Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area (an absolutely amazing landmass interspersed by extinct and one seriously active crater, granite kopjes, gorges, shifting sands, light volcanic ash plains, fertile depressions and arid pans - 95% or more of which are never seen by the average tourist); the Loliondo area in the east and Grumeti Reserves in the western corridor.
  • Our ‘Greater Serengeti’ safari starts out of Arusha and can be tailored to suit time available and budget, using either light aircraft or 4x4 vehicles to drive between the main areas.
  • The ideal season is from November-March with a smaller surge June-September when the migration is crossing the Serengeti. The Ngorongoro Crater remains popular year round.  Very best is June and October/November (best weather, beat the crowds, get the very best of the migration whilst mobile and catch the migrant birds at the end of the season.)
  • Planning a hike up Kilimanjaro?

• Ruaha and Selous
  • Our wilder southern circuit is easily accessed out of Dar es Salaam by scheduled flight and focuses on Ruaha and the Selous.
  • Home to the big five and boasting some of the largest populations of wildlife and birds in Africa, the Selous Game Reserve is one of the continent's biggest wilderness sanctuaries - well known for its first class guides.
  • Ruaha National Park covers an area just smaller than the Serengeti but, thanks to its relative remoteness, offers an incredible and authentic wilderness experience.
  • The southern circuit is best during the dry season between June and October when walking safaris and fly camping are a real highlight.

• Katavi and Mahale
  • This is our ultimate wild west combination.  By the best or worst African standards it's remote - Katavi is a 2 day drive from Dar, the nearest road point to Mahale camp is 100km away.  That's after you've been to Katavi.  Flying time from Arusha to Katavi is 4 hours including loo stop at Dodoma (we don't recommend the flight from Dar via Arusha)
  • At nearly a third in size to the Serengeti and Ruaha, and with the least visitors in Tanzania, Katavi is Tanzania's wildest safari destination by far. The park lies in the Rukwa Rift just east of Lake Tanganyika. The park has massive herds of buffalo, elephant, zebra, giraffe and other smaller beasts in the woodlands and plains - most are pretty scared by the local lion population...always peckish and playful, never really hungry, always lethal. Some people brag about the Zambezi and Luangwa hippo populations....only because they don't know Katavi!
  • From Katavi it’s a short flight due north west over the Mahale Mountains to a small airstrip on the edge of Lake Tanganyika.  Mahale's main draw is its unparalleled chimpanzee encounters in the most amazing surrounds (within deeply forested mountains climbing 2500m above a lake 1 mile deep).
  • There's no shortage of action in Mahale and it’s true that the waters of Lake Tanganyika are as clear as gin. 
  • If action isn't what you want then Mahale is still the place...beach, fresh water and tropical forest...all safe and secluded (knocks the socks off Zanzibar)
  • With access very restricted in the rains, Katavi is a classic dry season reserve between June and November when game concentrations are at their greatest. Tsetse fly and dry heat during the season are small prices to pay for intense game viewing without crowds. A good time to visit Mahale for the chimps is September/October/November when they are often in the foothills.
  • Aircraft access into Katavi and Mahale is strictly Mondays and Thursdays from Arusha.
  • This is an expensive destination suited to serious safari enthusiasts who prefer to have it mostly to themselves.  Regarded by us as one of Africa's most extraordinary safaris....

Best time of year

• December to March: prime season to catch the migration in the southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater conservation area.
• early July-ish to mid-November-ish: catch the migration when it's least predictable, it's moving/moved north into areas away from the central Serengeti - join our "greater Serengeti safari" - no crowds and best guides
• June to October: dry season in the south is best for exploring Ruaha and Selous.  Katavi is best May and October/November, simply excellent June to September.
• The wettest months are late April and May - most of the country goes on leave so forget it unless you're looking for birds in Udzungwa.
• August to March: best time for the beach....Zanzibar if you must but think Lamu if you can...

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