Most local guides will arrange itineraries, but for customized tours, choosing the right route is a very important part of preparing for a safari. According to the guide’s introduction, the choices for safaris include:
🕯️ Entry-level Experience
Lake Manyara Recommendation: ❌
I’ve seen a statement: if any local guide recommends Lake Manyara to you, you can directly pass on them.
Of course, different people have different opinions, and there are certainly those who like it, but I don’t recommend it. If you have plans, do more research and make a decision after gaining a deeper understanding.
Lake Natron Recommendation: 🌟🌟
Better than Lake Manyara, the attached waterfall hike is quite adventurous, but also dangerous. It passes through some well-known attractions such as the Great Rift Valley. It’s a great place to watch the sunset, but seeing the red lake and flocks of flamingos as in documentaries largely depends on luck.
Due to the terrain, hotels are very prone to attracting bugs (all kinds of insects).
Tarangire Recommendation: 🌟🌟🌟
Tarangire is often the first stop, serving as an appetizer for the safari, which fits its positioning.
The park claims to have three thousand elephants, but it’s actually difficult to see them, though encountering a few elephants is relatively easy.
Of course, the most worthwhile are the walking safaris and night safaris in Tarangire. These two special activities are only provided by some hotel camps, but in Tarangire, you can easily experience them at a reasonable price. If you don’t plan to try these, there’s not much need to go to Tarangire.
💡 Key Experiences
Serengeti Recommendation: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
A world-famous place, with the only drawback being its vast size, so besides the guide’s skill, it also depends on your luck.
Central:
A place worth visiting no matter when, and it should be a must-have part of your itinerary.
North:
Famous for migration viewing, the wildebeest herds crossing the Mara River back and forth, which is very spectacular.
July to November is a good time to see this, but it also requires luck. It’s said that someone saw thousands of wildebeests wandering around for a day without crossing the river.
South:
Ndutu. This is a transitional area, combining the southern Serengeti and northern Ngorongoro. From January to March, it becomes very lively, as it’s where animals gather to give birth.
Wildebeests also migrate here, attracting various predators. Additionally, there are fewer hotels in this region, so it’s even more necessary to book in advance.
Ngorongoro Recommendation: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
My personal favorite place, smaller than the Serengeti, so the animals are more concentrated. With lakes, grasslands, and mountains, it creates a diverse ecosystem.
If you’re lucky, you can see all of the Big Five here. The ecological environment forms very interesting scenes, even seeing lions resting next to a herd of zebras, making it a very worthwhile place to visit in Tanzania.
Next, let’s dive into the hidden gems of Tanzania that are well worth exploring beyond its famous national parks! From vibrant coastal towns to historical sites brimming with culture, there’s so much more to discover in this incredible country.
