Planning a safari in Tanzania

Tanzania is famous as a safari destination andTanzania lost a while back. The big hotspots are
boasts some of the finest wildlife areas anywhereSelous and Ruaha and these compliment each
in Africa.  However a Tanzania safari trip isother perfectly but areas like Saadani, Udzungwa
something that needs a lot of planning if you wantand southern Highlands all have their highlights
to get the most out of what is for most tourists,too.  These are typically smaller and simpler bush
a once-in-a-lifetime trip. When planning a safari incamps but here you have many more
Tanzania, it is vital to know the best locations toopportunities to go on a walking safari or a boat
visit and the best times to go there.safari, than you do in Northern Tanzania. The
Northern Tanzania offers many world class wildlifemajority of safari tourists usually fly between the
areas within a relatively small area. Serengeti,main areas rather than drive.
Kilimanjaro and Ngorongoro are the best knownWestern Tanzania is a small hidden gem in Africa.
regions but Tarangire, Natron, Manyara, and EyasiMore and more people recognise this and perhaps
are also well worthy of consideration. Tanzaniatalk about it with reverence but you'll find that
can offer some stunning scenery, incrediblevery few have visited it in any great depth.
diversity and enormous variety andKatavi and Mahale National parks are the main
concentrations of wildlife. Almost four in everyareas but the rest of Lake Tanganyika is worth
five visitors to Tanzania visit this Northern regionconsidering, along with places such as Rukwa,
alone, most of them on jeep safari or drivingMalagarasi and Ugalla.
safaris. But most of these safari touristsStrangely, the Tanzania Coast can sometimes be
concentrate only on the well known hotspots andignored by visitors. This is unfortunate since the
miss out completely on the very best areas andcoast of Tanzania includes Zanzibar and the other
experiences.offshore islands of Pemba and Mafia. It also offers
The success of any safari to Northern Tanzaniasome of the finest beaches, diving and game
largely depends on the Serengeti element of thefishing available anywhere in the Indian Ocean.
trip and this area is the best illustration of howWhether it’s a beach holiday with a few days
you need to understand not just the park butsafari added on, or the reverse, the combination
also the dynamics of the different areas withinof beach and safari holiday is about as good as it
the park. For example, you should treat the busygets on the coast of Tanzania.
Serengeti Central with caution and, whereverWithin all the regions of Tanzania there are many
possible look at visiting the quieter areas, inlesser known options in the peripheries that should
particular the Serengeti North between Augustbe considered along with the main game parks.
and October or the southern Serengeti Plains andAn experienced safari tour operator should be
Loliondo between December and May. able to take you through all these options and find
Southern Tanzania has really opened up a lotthe best matching safari trip depending on your
within the last decade but still retains a charm andrequirements of a Tanzania safari.
sense of wilderness that some parts of Northern