Tanzania Safari Travel Advice

At Makisala Safaris, we are passionate about creating unforgettable journeys and offering our guests honest, first-hand advice. Our Safari Experts live and work in Africa, travel extensively, and personally explore the destinations they recommend. They regularly visit lodges, try new activities, and inspect safari experiences to ensure everything meets the high expectations of our travelers.

There’s simply nothing like up-to-date travel tips from someone who’s been there themselves.

Tips for Planning Your Tanzania Safari

Plan your timing wisely: Want to witness the Wildebeest Migration or enjoy perfect beach weather in Zanzibar? Make sure your safari itinerary aligns with your goals.

Book early for peak season: Tanzania’s top safari spots and prime camps near the Migration fill up quickly – often a year in advance. Early planning ensures you don’t miss out.

Choose your activities: Game drives (morning and afternoon) are the norm, but extras like hot-air balloon rides, night drives, and guided bush walks are only possible in certain areas.

Be mindful of crowds: Popular parks like the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara attract many visitors from June to October. For a quieter experience (with equally great wildlife sightings), consider the Green Season from November to March.

Go private: For exclusivity, private reserves offer superb lodges, excellent game viewing, and often additional safari activities – with fewer people around.

What to Pack

Pack light, comfortable clothing in neutral colors, along with a warm jacket for evening game drives. Practical, casual wear works best year-round. For a full checklist, see our Africa Safari Guide.

In Zanzibar and coastal towns, modest dress is important out of respect for local Muslim culture. Women are advised to wear T-shirts that cover the shoulders, along with long skirts or capri pants instead of shorts and tank tops. On beaches and at resorts, swimwear and lighter clothing are perfectly acceptable.

Etiquette

Religion plays an important role in Tanzania, with Christianity and Islam being the most practiced faiths. Zanzibar and coastal towns in particular are more conservative, so visitors should dress and behave accordingly – especially in places like Stone Town.

Tanzanians are famously warm and friendly. As a courtesy, always ask before photographing people. You can learn how to say a word or two in Swahili from this guide.

Flights and Getting Around Tanzania

Main International Airports

• Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO): Serves the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara. Many flights arrive late, so an overnight stay in nearby Arusha is often required before connecting to safari airstrips.

• Dar es Salaam International Airport (DAR): Tanzania’s busiest airport and gateway to Zanzibar, the Indian Ocean coast, and southern safari gems like Nyerere (Selous) and Ruaha National Parks.

Regional Airports

• Arusha Airport: About 30 km (18.5 miles) from Kilimanjaro International, this smaller hub handles most charter flights to northern safari destinations.

Safari Vehicles

Safaris in Tanzania are conducted in closed 4x4 vehicles with large windows and pop-up roofs for excellent wildlife viewing. Most have three rows of seats, ensuring everyone gets great views.

In destinations like Mahale, you may also experience boat transfers across Lake Tanganyika – a unique way to start your adventure.

Visa and Passport Requirements

• Almost all visitors to Tanzania need a visa. We recommend applying online in advance through the Tanzania Immigration Department. E-visas typically take 2–3 weeks to process.

• Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry.

More About Tanzania

History & Economy

Tanzania is often called the cradle of humankind, with evidence of early human life found at Olduvai Gorge. Over centuries, it became a crossroads of African, Arab, and European influence. After periods of German and British colonization, mainland Tanganyika gained independence in 1961, later joining with Zanzibar in 1964 to form Tanzania.

Today, agriculture employs most of the population, but tourism has become the country’s leading source of foreign income. Gold, coffee, tea, and cotton are also major exports.

People & Culture

Home to more than 120 ethnic groups – alongside Asian, Arab, and European communities – Tanzania is a cultural mosaic bound together by courtesy and respect. Swahili and English are the official languages.

Landscape & Wildlife

Stretching between Africa’s Great Rift Valley and the Indian Ocean, Tanzania’s landscapes range from grassy plains and open woodlands to rainforests and snow-capped peaks like Mount Kilimanjaro.

With 20% of Africa’s large mammals and over a quarter of its land dedicated to conservation, Tanzania is one of the world’s premier safari destinations. While most travelers visit the famous northern parks, the vast and lesser-known southern and central reserves provide a true off-the-beaten-path safari experience.

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