FAQ

FAQ

Are safaris in Tanzania safe?

Tanzania has been one of the most stable countries in Africa, with friendly people staff who will take care of you, and after your day of wildlife viewing, you will get to relax at lodges or tented camps.

What injections should I take before travelling?

For medical advice, it’s always best to consult your doctor. You require a vaccination for yellow fever and anti malarial pills. Keep in mind that you’ll be staying in camps and lodges designed to accommodate American and European guests having mosquito nets.

Despite the fact that Tanzania does not require you to be vaccinated against Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio or Hepatitis A&B, we would strongly advise to have those shots up to date. For more detailed information on prophylaxes and the effects and possible side effects, please contact your doctor or travel clinic.

Make sure you advise us of any medical condition you have prior to your safari. It is your responsibility to take medical and travel insurance for your safari.

Food on Safari

Meals are included as stated in your program. All other drinks such as soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are excluded and need to be settled by yourself.

You will dine at the respective accommodations. For breakfast, a buffet is usually set up, whereas a three course menu is typically served for dinner. Lunch is mostly enjoyed en-route in form of pre-packed lunch (lunch-box) consisting of sandwiches, boiled eggs and fruits or grilled chicken thighs.

Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements or food allergies and we will do our outmost to cater for them (only possible with advanced notification).

You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety of food on our safari. The food is often prepared with western palates in mind (some local dishes are included). Most vegetables and fruits are organic.

Is it okay to eat salads, fruits and drink the water?

It is okay to eat salads, fruits on safari as they are well cleaned. In the safari vehicles we provide 1 bottle per person per day, you can also purchase some at the lodges and tented camps.

Can special diets be accommodated?

With advanced notice, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and diabetic-friendly meals can easily be arranged. Make sure to inform us when booking your trip.

Are there a lot of bugs in Tanzania?

Like any other tropical Country, Tanzania has mosquitoes and bugs, all hotel and tented camp rooms are sprayed. We strongly recommend you put on insect repellent spray during your trip.

Wildlife Viewing

Where is the best place to go for wildlife viewing in Tanzania?

Northern Tanzania! Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage Site, has one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife in the world. The vast plains of Serengeti National Park also host a majority of wildlife, especially during the wildebeest migration.

What kinds of wildlife will I see on safari in Tanzania?

A variety from herbivores to carnivores. You will see the animals you’ve always dreamed of encountering on safari—zebra, elephant, hippo, giraffe, lion, warthog, wildebeest, and so much more. Look out for the Big five.

When is the best time of year to go on safari in Tanzania?

Tanzania has the best year-round wildlife viewing, and we adjust our itineraries, departure dates, and accommodations based on wildlife migration patterns. In Tanzania, any time is a wonderful time to be on safari. Of course, there are seasonal variations, but you’ll always see a lot of animals.

What is the Great Migration?

The Seronera Plains, which lie in the southeast of the National Park and extend into the western Ngorongoro Conservation Area, form the main ungulate calving grounds of the Serengeti. The wildebeest typically disperse into the Seronera plains during the short rains, which fall in late November or early December, before calving in January, and staying put until the end of the long rains from January to early May. Towards the end of April, the wildebeest start to congregate on the southern plains in the preparation for the 800km northward migration.

The major obstacle faced by the wildebeest on this migration is the crossing for the Grumeti River through the western corridor, which typically occurs from June into early July. From July to October, the ungulates disperse again, with about half of them crossing the Mara River into Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve and the remainder spreading out through the northern and western Serengeti. By late October the animals have generally started to plod back southward to the Seronera Plains, to arrive there in late November when the cycle starts all over again.

The Great Migration is a year-round phenomenon where vast herds of mammals, mainly wildebeest, gazelle, and zebra, move around the Serengeti in search of food and water. The driving force of the migration is rain, making it difficult to predict.

But even if you do not see the Wilderbeast Migration, there are plenty of awe-inspiring moments present themselves whenever you travel and you’ll still see an abundance of wildlife.

Safari Weather

Whats the climate like?

Tanzania’s climate is typically sunny, dry, and warm, though there are variations. December through March is warmer (70ºF – 80ºF) with a higher chance of occasional short rains. May through November is cooler and drier (60ºF – 80ºF). April, like in North America, usually brings more rain.

Safari Questions

What clothes should I bring on safari and items required for safari?

Sun hat, sweater (for cold windy nights out in the wild – about 10 Celsius at Ngorongoro), waterproof/ wind proof anorak, light shorts and trousers, swim suit, personal toiletries, sandals/flip flops, casual shoes, safari boots, duffle bag, backpack, flashlight, sunglasses, anti-malaria tablets, sunscreen, money-belt, camera, insect repellant, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, travel smart adaptor (220V & UK plugs type are used in Tanzania.

Can I make my own itinerary?

Absolutely. Just contact us to start the process. We’ll listen to your needs and give expert recommendations based on your interests, timeline, and budget. Leave the details to us!

Can I take my children on safari?

There is no age limit, but we strongly recommend for families with young children to take a private family safari or one Taylor made to suit your budge and pase. We think taking your whole family on safari is a wonderful way to learn and grow together. That’s why we offer family safaris designed for families traveling with kids six years of age and older.

Will I stay in tents or lodges?

We offer you a selection of accommodation and know how important choice is when planning a Do, you want to stay in all tents? All lodges? A combination of both? It’s completely up to you. Make sure to check the accommodations section of our itineraries to see what’s offered.

What size are your safari groups?

We specialize in small group travel (about 7 people or less), Our vehicles can take a maximum of 7 people and should the group be bigger than that, more than one vehicle will be used.
The exact size varies trip to trip. One thing’s for sure is you will have a guaranteed window seat and a pop up roof for game viewing.

Safari Packages

Itinerary Disclaimer

While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

Will I have a chance to interact with local people of Tanzania?

Many of our trips provide opportunities to visit local villages and interact with the people. However, if your itinerary does not include these visits, you’ll still gain valuable local insight from your expert guide, a native of Tanzania.

What additional costs can I expect when traveling in Tanzania?

Your safari land packages will include all accommodations, and on wildlife-viewing drives, 4 Wd safari vehicle and fuel, park fees, and services of guides and drivers.
Additional costs not provided may include: tips for your guides/drivers/staff, bar beverages, laundry service, phone calls, passport and visa fees, souvenirs, and travel insurance (if you choose to purchase).

• Visa/Master Credit Card – Lodges usually charge an extra 5% of the total bill to cover bank charges.
• Cash payment – Incur no bank charges however, only post 2006 USD bills are accepted
• We sometimes do accept cash on arrival if your deposit has covered a large and important area of your trip.

Meals & Accommodation

Accommodation

Please note all accommodation listed is not guaranteed, but is indicative of the types of accommodation used, we may be forced to change accommodation based on lodges availability. The accommodation standards can be different from what you are used to in your home country, which is part of the appeal of adventure travel.
Note:

1. Under certain circumstances we reserve the right to change accommodation and provide something slightly different to what is described, though it will always be of similar or better standard/level.
2. All lodges and camps are self contained with en suite bathrooms.
3. All lodges and tented camps do not have 24hr electricity – they usually run on generators which are routinely shut off overnight from approximately 10pm to 5am.
4. Internet is available at most accommodation during your safari and can be for a limited period of time.
5. Lodges and camps are NOT equipped with fans or air conditioning due to the electricity constraints listed above.

Meals

These meals are provided at the hotels, lodges and camps in which you are accommodated. When a meal is not included, your hotel will have a restaurant or your will be advised of a good local establishment. All meals you have during your trip will be prepared from fresh local produce. All hotels cater to vegetarians; however, any other dietary requirements need to be specified prior to arrival. Please note all bottled drinking water will be at your own expense.

Drives & Transport

Drives & Transport

Drives are not physically demanding journey; however, travelling can be difficult, as long drives and poor road conditions are the rule as opposed to the exception in Tanzania.

A safari is about travelling to see animals, so we cover long distances crossing the country to visit different game parks. Once there, we spend the majority of the time viewing game while driving in the parks. This translates to a lot of driving.

Despite this, the diversity and scenery of the Tanzanian landscape, the local culture and abundant wildlife are all well worth the experience.

This trip is done in private 7-seat 4×4 safari vehicles in Tanzania. With sliding windows and a large pop-up roofs, these vehicles are designed for game viewing. If there is a large group, 2 vehicles will be used, and the group will be split up.

Road conditions can run the full range of conditions from new to very poor, and during dry seasons, the roads can become very dusty. This style of travel is the best under the local circumstances, as the seats are comfortable and having our own private vehicle allow us the flexibility of making stops when needed, and to stay and watch that crouching lion prepare for an attack.

If you are travelling to Nairobi from Arusha at the end of your safari and have pre-booked your “shuttle” you will travel in a public shuttle; these are large mini buses with seating for 22-24 passengers.

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