Sample Tanzania Safaris
This sample safari is specifically designed to be undertaken in the dry season months of July to Oct. The Tarangire National Park comes into its own during the dry season when large herds of game attracted to the permanent waters of the Tarangire River make this
reserve every bit as attractive to the tourist as the Serengeti. The park is particularly famous for the huge elephant herds that congregate along the river during the dry season.
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This sample trip is designed to give you a full Northern Circuit Safari Experience at
a reasonable price. The accommodation is either in tented camps or lodges with all meals included. We have also included a tag on 6 days in Zanzibar at the end
of the trip as well. This is simple an example of how you may like to spend your time.
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The safari portion of this sample trip has you exploring the wilderness regions of Southern Tanzania. The benefit of a Southern Circuit Safari is firstly far fewer vehicles, secondly a far more remote and secluded experience and thirdly you can get out of the vehicle! By this
we mean that you can vary your safari activities to include boat trips, fly camping and walking safaris in addition to the traditional game drives.
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The following is a sample holiday taking in a northern circuit safari and a Zanzibar beach stay. In the Serengeti portion you will be staying in a mobile tented camp. These camps move through the southern, central and northern Serengeti every couple of months to follow the famous wildebeest
migration. These are small, intimate camps in carefully positioned locations. Following the safari it is time to relax on the gorgeous beaches of Zanzibar
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The safari portion of this sample trip has you exploring the wilderness regions of Southern Tanzania. The benefit of a Southern Circuit Safari is firstly far fewer vehicles, secondly a far more remote and secluded experience and thirdly you can get out of the vehicle! By this
we mean that you can vary your safari activities to include boat trips, fly camping and walking safaris in addition to the traditional game drives.
view itinerary to read more
This holiday is for people looking for something a little off the beaten track. Saadani is the only wildlife reserve in east Africa with an Indian Ocean beachfront
and combined with the Selous Game Reserve ensures that you have a comprehensive and
different wildlife experience. The safari is combined with a few days in Zanzibar for a bit of relaxation after all the activity.
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Contact Mahlatini for your personalised holiday to Tanzania
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Sample Tanzania Honeymoons
Tanzania exudes a natural honeymoon environment and is one of the most romantic destinations in the African Continent. Visit the Tanzania Honeymoon section where you will find out more about travel to this country. As a Twin Centre Tanzania & Zanzibar work in harmony to create an outstanding honeymoon.
Contact Mahlatini for your personalised holiday to Tanzania
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Sample Tanzania Family Holidays
Tanzania is a fabulous location for an alternative family holiday, the Tanzania Family Holiday section will provide you with relevant information and ideas on how and when to travel as a family. If a family Safari is your ideal trip Namibia is another fantastic alternative.
Contact Mahlatini for your personalised holiday to Tanzania
Overview of Tanzania
As the largest out of all the countries in East Africa Tanzania offers a vast and varied landscape which has been carefully preserved within its national Parks. Safari is a must have experience if you are venturing to this beautiful landscape where the Wildebeest Migration is comparable to a performance across the Serengeti. Explorers can take advantage of the range of Safari’s available in Tanzania as they form part of a circuit which proceed through various parks. In the north the stark contrasts of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater can be brought together in one excursion over the course of several days. Alternatively those wishing for a more individual experience can go off the beaten track with the Southern Circuit route.
Tanzania’s eastern coast is met with several islands of the Indian Ocean including Zanzibar and Pemba. With the provision of pristine beaches and white sand met by the turquoise waters many travellers choose to finish off a safari along this majestic coast. Tanzania combined with Zanzibar is a fashionable choice for honeymooners as it provides a contrast of romantic activities and environments. Tanzania is a popular choice for the intrepid adventurers wishing to climb Africa’s most famous mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, at the same time it offers plenty of exploration activities for the novice explorers. From romantic honeymoons to action packed family holiday Tanzania will not only accommodate all of your needs but leave you with lifelong memories.
Many of the specialists at Mahlatini have taken the time to personally visit and explore the lodges, camps and parks Tanzania has to offer, which has allowed them to develop a first-hand experience and knowledge of this fabulous destination. When designing your personal trip we draw from our own experience and knowledge to provide the most efficient ground staff and the most knowledgeable guides. We have hundreds of happy customers who can attest to this.
Northern Circuit
A Northern Circuit safari is a fine introduction to safari at any time of year. The parks
included in the circuit are the Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti, the Tarangire and Lake Manyara. You can visit all or any of the parks in various combinations. We can help you choose the best location to base
yourself in each park, based on seasonal game movements. When planning a trip to the Serengeti in the Northern Circuit many travellers will choose to base it around the Wildebeest Migration, a fabulous performance which takes in the natural instincts of this herd of animals. Watch in delight as they course through the “endless plains” making their way to appropriate grazing areas, our experts will ensure you get the best seats in the house.
Most people spend between 4 – 7 days on a Northern Circuit safari before spending a few
days at the beach. The Northern Circuit is not only an excellent introductory safari but will draw seasoned safari travellers to its parks again and again. Honeymooners
love the romance of luxury camps and the dinners under the stars; families love the safari adventure and amateur photographers find appeal in the North's incredible
diversity and its prolific wildlife.
Accommodation in the Northern Circuit ranges from larger lodges to luxury tented camps,
both permanent and mobile. Forget all previous notions you may have about camping. This is the ultimate in camping! Most 'tents' consist of large bedrooms and bathrooms
including all the modern amenities that you would expect in a luxury hotel. You just happen to be sleeping under canvas instead of concrete, in our opinion the
best way to experience Africa - up close and personal with nature.
Activities on offer in the Northern Circuit generally include game drives. Hot air balloon safaris are popular in the Serengeti and walking safaris are offered
in some of the privately-owned concessions on the outskirts of the parks.
My northern circuit safari was an entirely memorable experience for me. I will never forget our vehicle being
charged by an elephant in Lake Manyara, being surrounded by the wildebeest migration in the
Serengeti and marvelling over the incredible views of the Ngorongoro Crater.
The Northern Circuit safari in Tanzania is a wildlife experience second to none in my extensive African travels.
- Sarah Chatteris
Southern Circuit
Accommodation in the Selous and Ruaha is largely in secluded camps with outstanding personal service. The majority are the last word in luxury, not only in terms
of food, facilities and furnishings but also due to their incomparable locations; affording a truly intimate bush experience.
The Southern Circuit (or indeed a visit to one of the parks) can be a fantastic first-time safari and seasoned safari travellers will appreciate the difference
from the more beaten track safaris. There are generally far fewer vehicles than in the Northern Circuit which to many is an added advantage allowing for game sightings to be largely private. Activities on offer are diverse from traditional game drives
and walking safaris to boat trips and fishing excursions.
The Southern Circuit Safari can also easily be combined with beach time on Zanzibar or the Tanzanian mainland coast in the Ras Kutani area. Another interesting combination offered is a twin centre luxury safari and beach holiday in
exotic Mozambique.
The Selous, Ruaha and Saadani reserves are the most popular of the parks situated along the southern circuit and it is recommended to visit between June and November to get the most out of your Safari. These parks are much more remote than those in the North and are generally more suitable for those wishing to have an individual experience or perhaps the more seasoned explorers who have previously visited parks along the Northern Circuit.
- Sarah Chatteris
When to travel
Due to its varied landscape and range of wildlife/ game attractions Tanzania is a suitable destination almost any time of the year and your time of visit will depend on individual interests. During the wet season the plains of the Serengeti bloom with lush plant life and buzz with the sounds of new life as it is the climate for new wildebeest calves. The birdlife is also at its highpoint with plenty of opportunity to observe the various species.
The dry season in Tanzania provides plentiful opportunities to spot animals as the grasses are much lower in the aris atmosphere and the game flock around available water pools and streams in large numbers. This time of year is much more popular for those wishing to observe a vast range of wildlife as they are much easier to locate.
Although Tanzania has two rainy seasons during November to December and March to the end of May it does not become impassable at any stage. As the wet season brings the abundance of new life along with fertile landscapes you will still be provided with many amazing sights. Many people who choose to travel at this time will find they are met with a more intimate safari experience and travel at a significantly lower price. For more information on the wildlife highlights throughout the year view our safari calendar.
Contact us about your specific interests and we will advise you on
the best time of year to travel to the region which suits you best.
How to travel
There are four main areas of interest that visitors to Tanzania would explore: The Northern Circuit parks, the Southern Circuit parks,
Mount Kilimanjaro and the beaches of Zanzibar and the surrounding islands. We will help and advise you
on which area would best suit your requirements. You will either fly into Kilimanjaro Airport for a Northern Circuit Safari, Dar es Salaam Airport for a Southern
Circuit Safari or Zanzibar Airport if you are heading straight to the beach.
Wildlife is the biggest attraction in Tanzania and you can easily visit a couple of national parks/reserves during the course of a few days or a week. The parks
in the Northern Circuit are incredibly diverse in their scenery allowing you to move from one to the other and see hugely different terrain and wildlife. You can
spend a week or more on safari in Tanzania and never feel like you have seen enough. Our safaris in the Northern Circuit are generally private tailor-made trips where you will have your own driver guide to escort you for the duration of your trip.
The Southern Circuit safari begins in Dar es Salaam and can include one or more of the more remote
southern parks. Usually these safaris are fly-in safaris and game viewing activities are usually shared with other guests, unless private vehicles are specifically
requested.
Following a safari, most visitors will then add some beach time in Zanzibar, its surrounding islands or one of the other
coastal locations along East Africa such as the Ras Kutani area. These twin centre holidays allow you to combine an action-packed safari adventure with a relaxing
beach stay and are particulary popular with honeymooners.
Sometimes there are large distances involved to travel from region to region. These journeys are usually overcome with light aircraft flights which allow you to
see the incredible Tanzanian scenery from a bird's eye view. Equally, any drives in Tanzania are an adventure in their own right. There is so much to see along
the journey from an abundance of wildlife to the Masai herdsmen tending their cattle, as well as endless vistas and stunning sunsets. Your camera will never be
out of your hand!
Sample Tanzania Beach Holidays
This sample trip is an extension designed to be added onto the start or the end of a safari in Tanzania. A Northern Circuit safari would end in Arusha where you would catch a light aircraft flight to Zanzibar. From the Southern Circuit, the starting or ending point would be Dar es Salaam. Of course this trip can be done as a purely beach only trip as well. The chosen accommodations
to feature are simply ideas; there are plenty of options to explore.
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Contact Mahlatini for your personalised holiday to Tanzania
Every year countless numbers of journalists, filmmakers and tourists camp out paparazzi style on the banks of
the Grumeti and Mara rivers eager to witness what must surely be one of nature's most documented spectacles, the annual migration. Here, up to two million wildebeest
face a ravenous and prolific crocodile population as they embark on the hazardous river crossing, mention the migration and it is this image that springs to mind.
- Sarah Chatteris
Wildebeest Migration
There is little that has not been previously written about the region and this remarkable phenomenon. Yet ask a few friends where the Great Migration takes place
and you will undoubtedly receive a few blank stares or vague mumbled replies, 'Africa' or 'Kenya'. Despite all the hype very little is actually known about this
incredible spectacle. So here is a brief guide to the greatest show on earth.
Tanzania's Serengeti National Park and Kenya's Maasai Mara are all part of the same ecosystem. In the Maasai language Serengeti means endless plain and this classic landscape can
be found in the southern part of the region but the Serengeti offers a range of habitats. As you journey in a clockwise direction you will pass through moist wooded
savannah, lush riparian woodland interspersed with huge granite boulders before arriving at the rich rolling grasslands of the Mara Plains. A fine setting for the
big event when up to 2 million wildebeest herd together and are joined by thousands of zebras and gazelles to form super herds which follow the rains in search
of lush new grass.
Zebra and Wildebeest are found together often as the Zebra tend to feed on long tough grass stems preparing them for the broad muzzle of the wildebeest more suited
to close short grasses. The wildebeest of this territory seem to be ruled by the widely varied seasons by heading towards the south-east of the Serengeti during wet season and taking up residence in the more plentiful grounds of the woodlands in the north east during the dry months. As the migrations move in such large herds it is clearly apparent that the wildebeest themselves shape their chosen environments to their specific needs.
Although the migration is often portrayed as an intense phase of activity the 800 km pilgrimage is actually an ongoing cycle of movement and dispersal. Lions and
other carnivores do not migrate with the grazing animals but feast on them when their paths cross. Each year over 250,000 wildebeest alone will die as a result
of injury, exhaustion or predation.
The Migration is not a continually forward motion. As the wildebeest need to drink daily their movement is very much dominated by the accessibility of water and
they seem to have a sixth sense in following the storms.
Planning your trip
There is never really a right or wrong time to visit as each season offers its own highlights but it is important to be in the right area according to season.
Dependent on rainfall, the timing of the cycle is never totally predictable, but generally around April/May prompted by vanishing water the migration sets off North
West to the Masai Mara. Between June and July the migration splits and one column passes west to Lake
Victoria, another passes north through Lobo before crossing the Grumeti River before finally dispersing on the Mara Plains.
One of the most popular times to visit is late January to early March when the wildebeest calves are born over a 3-5 week period. Most calves are born within a
'calving area' before midday. They quickly gain their feet and begin nursing within 3 - 8 minutes. If the mother moves away at this time, it will run beside her.
The defenseless young provide easy picking for lions, hyenas, and other predators but because so many calves are born in such a short time the predators do not
have time to eat them all. Ndutu Safari Lodge and Kusini Camp provide the best viewing for this but due to the popularity you really need to book a year in advance.
As a spectacle, the Migration offers so many varied views but perhaps the most poignant image is the famous crossing at the Grumeti and Mara Rivers. This spectacle
has been well documented by some excellent photography from the likes of the BBC and National Geographic. Forced on by the power of the herd the wildebeest have
no choice but to take a suicidal plunge into the crocodile infested waters often drowning in their thousands. One report from the migration this year estimated
between 5 and 10 thousand died at one place, amazingly this natural tragedy was simply attributed to a poor choice of crossing.
Kirawira Tented Camp and Grumeti River Camp are excellent locations for viewing the Grumeti crossing but luck has to be on your side to choose the right dates
as the crossing is over quite quickly.
From August to October the migration is usually in Kenya's Maasai Mara before returning south across
the Tanzanian border in November and usually by December the wildebeest disperse on the southern plains of the Serengeti.
In general East Africa is busiest and therefore most expensive in the dry season (July – October). As the water dries the animals flock to the remaining water
holes and rivers, the foliage is less dense and game viewing is made much easier with more frequent sightings. The Migration during these months is usually found
in the Northern Serengeti in Tanzania and the Mara in Kenya.
Early booking for these locations is essential as accommodation is limited.
The wet season, sometimes called green season due to the abundance of life offers value for money with sometimes 40% difference in price compared to peak season.
Although the green season is offered at a much lower rate than peak season some visitors would consider it a better time to visit with an abundance of bird life,
lush green vegetation and healthy looking wildlife. The long rains usually fall between mid-March through to May, these tropical thunderstorms tend to arrive in
the afternoon and usually disperse after a couple of hours so travel at this time is possible and offers excellent value for money.
Kenya and Tanzania offer a daunting selection of accommodation styles and Mahlatini can offer everything from luxury lodges and classic tented camps to simple
bush camping. Generally, lodges are much larger and not as personal as the other options but offer more amenities such as swimming pools, shops and perhaps a choice
of restaurants, just like a large hotel. One of the most important considerations is location, for example the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge has superb views of the Crater and the Mara Serena Lodge has a prime setting for the wildebeest crossing
of the Mara River. These lodges offer good value and an abundance of scenery and game viewing which is especially important for families and groups.
Tented camps are the perfect way to experience the African bush and this is the most popular choice with Mahlatini's discerning clients! Sleeping under canvas
reminds you that you are in Africa, but there is no need to compromise on comfort. Indeed most of our luxury options are tented, for example Kirawira Tented Camp and Kleins Camp in the
Serengeti. The Masai Mara is famous for its luxury camping options. The Governors Camps are synonymous with this Hemingway inspired tented safari and along with Elephant Pepper, Cottars 1920's and Saruni
Camp offer unparalleled exclusivity and tranquility. Luxury is just as much about experience as material extravagance. In these camps you are guaranteed personal
friendly service from people with a passion for the surrounding wilderness and wildlife.
Mobile safaris enable you to get into the heart of the African bush.All of the mobile camps we recommend boast luxury and privacy for each individual guest with rustic or luxury options available throughout. Camps are moved from location to location and facilities will depend of which end of the pricing scale you have chosen. The more luxurious options will offer amenities such as hot showers, a personal chef, luxurious beds and a mobile bar. The more basic camps will still provide many of the previously mentioned facilities on a shared basis along with comfortable mattresses and opportunity to dine under the stars depending on season. Travellers embarking on this style of safari can gain a much more eventful experience as they move with the tide and flow of the migration and become immersed in the shared habitat of the wildebeest themselves. A favourite of Mahlatini experts are the Asilia camps such as Olakira and Sayari in the Serengeti.
Flights between London Heathrow and Nairobi are daily and take about 8 hours.