Does Tanzania Have The Best Safari Tours?

Safaris are not just tourist attractions – they are an important way to help preserve and protect the animals as well as the habitat they call home. Safari tours in Africa used to be a vacation only the rich and famous would consider, but in recent years things have changed! Although Africa safari tours are still expensive, more safari tour operators have begun offering trips, which has increased competition and driven prices down. From larger group tours to see Africa’s “Big 5” to smaller, more intimate outings at lesser-known game preserves, there is a safari for everyone!

But what is the best safari in Africa? If you want to have a memorable wildlife experience and have a relatively open-ended budget, Tanzania may be the place for you! One of the biggest draws of Tanzania for safari-goers is that Tanzania is part of East Africa’s annual Great Wildebeest Migration. It is also home to the largest elephant population in East Africa, as well as flamingos, big cats, and hyenas. And with two dozen national parks, Tanzania can rightly lay claim to having some of Africa’s largest unfenced wilderness areas.

The Pros And Cons Of Tanzania Safaris

Tanzania is an amazing place for African safari tours. If you are considering Tanzania for your Africa safari, here are a list of pros and cons:

• Pros – Tanzania is a warm and welcoming place, with some of the friendliest people you will ever meet! The country offers plenty of opportunities for game viewing, and a good variety of safari types – from basic to niche. In addition, the country also offers visitors a wide variety of things to see and do outside of big game viewing.
• Cons – Tanzania’s most famous park, the Serengeti National Park, is huge! If you’re short on time, it will be difficult to see everything you should see in this amazing park. The country’s parks are also notoriously difficult to navigate (and GPS rarely works on primitive roads), so a tour guide and driver are absolute necessities. The cost of Tanzania safari tours is also slightly higher than the cost of a safari tour in Kenya, for example.

Is Tanzania A Good Place For A First-Time Safari?

The answer is yes – Tanzania is a great place for safari novices as well as more seasoned safari veterans! First-time safari goers may want to consider starting their Africa safari at the Ngorongoro Crater, where Africa’s Big 5 are easy to spot. The Ngorongoro Crater is a great spot to see lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, and leopards in a single morning’s game drive. As an added bonus, you’ll be able to take in the landscape of the Serengeti as you drive to the crater!

Tanzania is just as interesting for those who have already been on safari in the country, though! If you’ve already hit the highlights of the major parks on your first visit, consider heading to less visited areas like Namiri Plains or the Grumeti River on your second trip into the bush. Or, you can visit the Selous Game Reserve, where you can scan the trees for Tanzania’s famous climbing lions or look for the endangered wild dogs of the Serengeti.

The Best Time For An Africa Safari In Tanzania

The best time for safari tours in Tanzania is during the dry season from late June through early October. Keep in mind as you’re planning your trip that Tanzania has two distinct rainy seasons. April to May bring the “long rains,” which often flood out safari camps and make roads difficult to navigate, while the months of November and December see the “short rains.”

Here is a breakdown of the different safari seasons:

• The dry weather of the winter season, which runs roughly from June through September, is often considered the best weather for a Tanzania safari. During the months of June and July, you can see the great herds of animals stop their annual migration at the Grumeti River in preparation for the first river crossing. This dramatic event is very popular with safari goers. The later part of the winter season finds the herds at the Mara River, preparing to cross into the Masai Mara’s northern region. Safaris to watch the migrating herds cross both rivers are very popular, so reserve your spot well in advance if this interests you!
• The rainy months of the green season (January and February) are usually the hottest time of year. The landscape is lush and beautiful to look at as a result of the rains, but bear in mind that the rain also brings insects! Mosquitoes are out in full force during the green season, especially in the bush, so take that into consideration when you are planning your Africa safari.
• Shoulder season is the time between the high season and the green season, or March to May and October to December. This can be a great time to visit Tanzania, as the weather is more temperate and the rain storms are minimal. It’s also a great time to travel because many tour operators will drop their costs as tourist activity slows down from the peak season. However, there are still plenty of opportunities to see wildlife, so shoulder season is a great alternative for the budget-conscious traveler who wants to avoid crowds.

The Best Safari In Africa Is In Tanzania

Tanzania is an extraordinary place for many reasons – its unique landscape, diverse wildlife, and welcoming people. And, from a safari perspective, the Great Migration is an annual event that just can’t be missed! When you add the incredibly vast plains of the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater’s amazing biodiversity to the picture, it’s easy to see why Tanzania has made the list of top safari destinations year after year. What is the best safari in Africa? Hands down, the answer is Tanzania!