How to pick your best Safari in Tanzania?

If you are imagining that you are watching a beautiful sunrise, you are in the wild hearing the sounds of elephants and lions roar across the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, or witnessing the great wildebeest migration or relaxing on the beaches of Zanzibar, then that is possible especially in Tanzania. Tanzania has a lot of safari destinations and wonderful wildlife, and therefore it is great to know how to choose the safari package

Choosing a safari package sometimes may be a challenge especially when you have so many great and beautiful destinations. The challenge comes as in the process of choosing the destination, you will have to scroll a lot of websites, getting worried over prices, and sometimes wondering if you will get scammed.

From the perspective of a tour operator that has operated and served different customers for more than 12 years, I would like the easy way on how to pick your dream safari in Tanzania. Here are what you have to consider:

1. Decide on your safari style & budget

Not all safaris are the same in terms of budget and style. Your experience of the safari will be different depending on whether you choose a budget camping safari, mid-range lodge tour, or luxury private safari. Here is how they are different:

Budget Safaris.

For a budget Safari, you are going to have to do the following:

• Accommodation: You will have to sleep on basic tents or public campsites (with clean but shared bathrooms).
• Transport: You will have to share Group vehicles. The maximum number of people per group in the car is 7 people.
• The budget Safari is best for Backpackers, solo travelers, or those prioritizing wildlife over comfort.

Mid-Range Safaris.

For mid range safaris, you will get the following:

• Accommodation: You will sleep in comfortable lodges or permanent tents with private bathrooms.
• Transport: You will be transported on 4x4 vehicles with guaranteed window seats. You may choose whether to have to share Safari with others or you want to travel privately.
• This is the best choice for: Couples, families, or those wanting a balance of comfort and adventure.

Luxury Safaris.

For this service, you will get the following:

• Accommodation: 5-star lodges or boutique camps (private decks, pools).
• Transport: Private 4x4 jeeps with expert guides.
• This is the best choice for: Honeymooners, photographers, or travelers seeking wants exclusive services.

2. Research & Compare Tour Operators

Not every tour operator can be trusted on the internet. A trusted and reputable operator will ensure your safety, will be reliable, and will offer ethical wildlife viewing. Scams on the internet still exist, especially those who come with offers that seems to be of good and better services and prices than normal.

Now, how do you select the best tour company? Here is how you do it: Read Reviews from trusted sources such as

• SafariBookings.com, google reviews and TripAdvisor. These have verified and trusted traveler reviews.
• Go to the website of the company, look at the team, look for detailed feedback about services, guides, vehicles, and accommodations.
• Check on the internet of their physical address is there.

Here are the red flags of the people who want to scam you and you have to be careful if you see any of these: If they have no physical office in Tanzania and can not be seen anywhere on the internet on google maps, and also if they are demanding full payment upfront. In Tanzania, a reputable company rarely take full payment. A reputable company will demand only a deposit as advance payment.

3. Understand what is included and what is not included in an offer

Be careful that once you have found a reputable tour operator, on his package proposals for any safari, that proposal should include the price. And that price should state clearly what is covered and what is not covered by that price. To avoid any unnecessary hustle, the price must include and cover the essentials expenses such as Park Fees, Accommodation (where will you sleep), Transport (what type of car will be used) and Meals & Water (Are all meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) and water)

4. Choose the Right Time to Visit

Tanzania’s best wildlife viewing do vary by season. There are seasons you won’t get the best experience on your safari. The best times to visit are

Dry Season (June–October): On this season many animals do gather at waterholes, and therefore it offers easily the best wildlife sightings. Although at this season the national parks like Serengeti or Ngorongoro become crowded and the accommodations at this period are a bit expensive.

Green Season (November–May):During this season you will see a beautiful lush scenery, there are fewer tourists and there are even lower prices on accommodation. The disadvantage about this season is that, some roads on the national parks may be muddy and if you want to see great wildebeest migration, the migration may be less predictable. For more on wildebeest migration, visit this site.

5. Private Safari or Group Safari?

Your choice of whether you want a private safari or you want a group safari will affect the cost and your safari experience.

For Group safaris, they are usually cheaper, they have pre fixed schedule that you will have to follow and they offer social experience since you meet different people as you travel together in a group. Group safaris are best for Solo travelers, budget-conscious adventurers.

On the other hand, a Private safari is expensive, it offers a customizable safari, that is you may decide where you want to go and sleep, and they are exclusive only for you. The private safaris are the best for Families, photographers, honeymooners.

Finally there are important things to check and ask in any tour operator that are often overlooked. You will have to look for the following:

• Check their cancellation policy. Check what do they say on getting a refund if plans on your side change.
• Vehicle Quality: You may ask them to send pictures of their pop-up roof safari cars.
• Check their guide experience: do they have wildlife experts or just normal drivers (You may check on their website)

Final Advice: If you want to have a Tanzania Safari, it is best to Book Early! Top lodges and guides usually sell out and become full 6–12 months in advance, especially for peak season (June–October).

Conclusion

Choosing the right safari package will make your Tanzanian adventure unforgettable. By following these steps, you will avoid scams, you will enjoy wildlife sightings, and you will create and have unforgettable memories.

Ready to book for your safari? Start researching operators today!