Planning an African Safari to Tanzania

Viewing Africa’s wildlife may have been piqued by a National Geographic documentary, magazine article, a visit to a zoo, or watching “The Lion King”. Due diligence by the novice explorer turns endless choices into a successful safari. One option is contacting a ‘safari expert’ tour operator to arrange the itinerary OR one can become an informed traveler, and research what is important to see and experience on a wildlife safari.

An African safari involves several wildlife game drives, staying in remote locations, and observing the behavior and survival skills of Nature’s inhabitants. For 2 weeks, the novice explorer chooses to be electronically unplugged from the modern world (internet is available, but ignored; turned off the cell phone; no newspapers, radio or television), no fast food chain restaurants, no vehicular traffic, no crowds of people, no manmade noises - an alien world in today’s fast-paced, modern hurly burly. Each day on safari is a series of spontaneous, unexpected, natural events.

Before even starting to plan a safari in Tanzania, ask yourself a few crucial questions. What kind of experience are you looking for: budget or luxury safari, or perhaps something in-between? When are you willing to go? How many national parks you’d like to visit? Identifying your own needs is the first step of careful safari planning. After that, you can either contact our safari expert or start sketching the itinerary on your own. Contact one of our African safari expert here

Best Time To Visit Tanzania For Safari

We're often asked "When is the best time to go to Tanzania", and the answer is often complex. It will depend on many things including your interests, exactly where you want to visit and why you're travelling. One person's best time can be another's worst!

We have endeavored to sum up what you should expect at each time of the year as well as giving you a few of the best accommodation and location tips based on our many years of travelling out to this fantastic country!A huge country with much regional variation in geography and climate plus two distinct rainy seasons, the question of when to go to Tanzania depends on what it is that you want to experience. Read more here

Getting There and Around

A Tanzania safari offers some of the most exciting and best wildlife viewing in Africa. Safaris to Tanzania are memorably rewarding, with Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater as well as other extensive national parks toping the list of the most popular destinations in Tanzania.

Tanzania is served internationally from Europe by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam); British Airways (London-Heathrow) and Swiss International Air Lines. The Middle East and Asia by Emirates, Qatar Airways and for the thrifty traveler, Air India; and in Africa by South African Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways from Nairobi. Carriers originating from Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe also maintain regular flights to Dar es Salaam. Read more

Tanzania Safari Accommodations

Travelling with Interlink Trails is a little bit different. We endeavour to provide travellers with an authentic experience to remember, so we try to keep accommodation as unique and traditional as possible.

Home to the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater plus a host of other parks and reserves, Tanzania is one of Africa's classic safari destinations and its accommodation reflects this: luxury safari lodges, remote tented camps and popular safari hotels make up most of our recommendations. But our selection of Tanzania accommodation showcases both the luxury lodges and the more affordable camps, ensuring everyone gets a taste of this fascinating and diverse country. Read more

Health and Safety on Safari in Tanzania

Tanzania is, overall, a safe country to visit. This is even more so if your visit is primarily an organized safari. Almost a million tourists visit Tanzania every year and most visits are trouble-free. There have been several terrorist attacks in the past, but the last one, where a hotel was bombed, was in 2002. Unfortunately, terrorism has become part of life and it is very difficult if not impossible, to safeguard against it. Fortunately, incidents are very rare and the chance of being a random victim is almost negligible. As with many third-world countries, theft and muggings are relatively common, but most incidents are in cities like Dar-es-Salaam and Arusha. Walking alone around the city is not recommended. An overnight stay at a reputable hotel or an organized visit to one of the many attractions in or around the city is fine. Read more

Tanzania Safari Destinations

Tanzania, located in central East Africa is known for its vast wilderness areas and encompasses two of the most famous wildlife parks in the entire world. Tanzania boasts of its massive concentration of wild life. There is no other country in Africa that can compete with the sheer number and density of wild animals residing here.

When planning to visit Tanzania, you should note that Tanzania safari destinations have different timings for visiting depending on their location in Tanzania. These locations and national parks are sub divided into circuits namely, the Northern Circuit, Southern Circuit and Western Circuit which host the most popular and frequently visited parks, mountains and tourist sites including Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro crater and Zanzibar Islands.

Each of Tanzania safari parks is uniques and offers it’s special taste of adventure. Read more

Domestic Airlines & Flights to Tanzania

There are direct and one-stop flights from overseas to Dar-es-Salaam, Kilimanjaro (near Arusha) and Zanzibar Island. Arusha town is the starting point for Tanzania's most popular Northern Safari Circuit. Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is situated 46km/29mi east of Arusha. Tanzania's main airport is Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) located 13km/8mi southwest of Dar-es-Salaam. The latter is the entry-point for visitors to the southern parks. Domestic and charter flights between parks are usually booked by us as part of the tour package. However, if you would prefer to arrange your own flights, or book with air-miles or the like, then feel free to do so. If you organise the flights, we are happy to just make your ground arrangements. Read more

Wildlife and Animals

Tanzania is iconic Africa. Where the snowclad summit of Mount Kilimanjaro surveys the plains of the Serengeti, wildlife abounds in staggering numbers. This is the site of one of the world’s most remarkable natural spectacles: the annual Great Migration when nearly two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle traverse the savanna in pursuit of water and new grass. Predators like lion and cheetah stalk in their wake. Farther south, in Tarangire National Park, vast herds of elephant outnumber people. With some of the continent’s greatest concentrations of wild animals, Tanzania is duly famed as a top safari destination. Read more