Planning a Tanzania safari can feel overwhelming. With so many companies, parks, itineraries and price points, we struggled to know which safari is actually worth booking.
After spending 7 days on safari through the Serengeti, Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, we can say this was one of the best travel experiences weโve ever had. This Tanzania safari itinerary covers Serengeti National Park, Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater during the Great Migration season.
In this guide, we share our exact 7-day Tanzania safari itinerary, total costs, accommodation, wildlife sightings, honest review of the safari company and whether this itinerary is worth it for first time visitors.
Table of Contents
Quick Overview
| Category | Details |
| Duration | 7 Days |
| Best Time | July – October |
| Parks Visited | Serengeti, Tarangire, Ngorongoro |
| Great Migration | Yes |
| Big 5 Seen | 4/5 |
| Safari Type | Private Mid-range |
| Starting Point | Arusha |
| Cost | $3,350 USD pp |
| Balloon Safari | Optional Add On |
| Best For | First Time Safari Travellers |
Table Of Contents
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Who We Booked Our Safari With
We booked our private Tanzania safari with Safari Soles. Our safari included:
- private 4WD safari jeep
- professional guide
- all park fees
- luxury/mid-range tented camps & lodges
- meals and drinks
- airport transfers
The experience exceeded our expectations, we would absolutely book with them again.
How Much Does A Tanzania Safari Cost?
Budget Safari: budget camping options start around $1,500โ$2,500USD
Midrange Safari: between $2,800โ$4,900 USD total
Luxury Safari: starts around $8,000 and up to $18,000 for luxury fly-in options.
Balloon Safari: adding a balloon safari experience usually costs between $500-$1000 USD and usually includes a champagne breakfast.
Park Fees: ~ $75USD per person per 24 hours, concession fee to stay inside the park ~$60 USD, vehicle fee ~$200USD, depending on the car etc and an 18% VAT tax applies to all fees. These are the basic fees, although there could be more. These will all be covered by your safari tour company.
Tipping: The rough guide (per person/per day) is between $10-$25 for the guide/driver and $5-$10 at lodges placed in a tip box (no individual tipping to staff). If you have a chef and other staff with you (usually budget camping groups do) they are tipped at $10 per day per person.
Full Cost of our Tanzania Safari
Our safari cost: Our private Serengeti safari in lodge accommodation costs $3,350 USD per person. It was all-inclusive, we didn’t need to pay for anything unless it was an extra souvenir or item we wanted. All our food, drinks, accommodation, transport, guide permits and game drives were included. It was excellent! I highly suggest checking availability as it does book out. You can add a balloon safari directly with them once you have booked. It was incredible value and we were very happy with the entire experience.
Is This Tanzania Safari Worth It?
Yes – especially for first-time safari travellers wanting a comfortable private safari with excellent wildlife sightings without the ultra-luxury prices.
Pros
- saw 4/5 Big 5
- Great Migration sightings
- Excellent private guide
- Beautiful tented camps
- All-inclusive pricing
- Felt very safe
Cons
- Long driving days
- Expensive flights to Tanzania
- Early mornings
Who This Safari Is Best For
This itinerary is ideal for:
- first time safari travellers
- couples
- photographers
- people wanting Great Migration sightings
- travellers wanting comfort without ultra luxury prices
- people nervous about safety while on safari
- travellers wanting a private safari experience
This itinerary may not be suitable for:
- backpackers on a very tight budget
- travellers wanting luxury fly-in safaris
- people wanting ultra fast 3-day safaris
How To Choose The Best Tanzania Safari Company
Choosing the right Tanzania safari company can completely change your experience. With hundreds of operators offering different routes, accommodation styles and prices, it is important to know what matters before booking. These were the main factors we considered when choosing the best Tanzania safari company:
Private vs Group
We knew we wanted a private safari if it was within our budget. Having a private jeep gave us much more flexibility during game drives, better wildlife viewing positions and the ability to ask our guide questions throughout the day without competing with other travellers.
Lodge vs Camping Safari
While budget camping safaris are cheaper, we personally wanted lodge and tented camp accommodation for comfort. After long game drives, having proper beds, hot showers and excellent meals made a huge difference in the overall experience.
Great Migration Timing
Seeing the Great Migration was one of our biggest priorities, so we chose travel dates that fell in the usual migration patterns. July to October is considered to be the best time for migration sightings in the Serengeti.
Hidden Safari Costs
Some safari companies advertise prices but then exclude important costs like park fees, transfers, accommodation upgrades. We looked for a tour company that had transparent pricing with everything included and no surprises.
Safari Guide Quality
Your guide can make or break your safari experience. We wanted an experienced guide who could spot wildlife easily and also explain animal behaviour all while making us feel safe throughout the trip. This was one of the most important factors for us and our guide was exceptional.
Safari Jeep Comfort
We knew we would be spending hours in the jeep each day, so we wanted something that was as comfortable as possible and also very reliable. A 4WD was essential as was enough space to move around.
Park Fees Included
Tanzania national park fees are expensive, especially for the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. We preferred to have these fees included upfront so we could properly budget out our trip.
Domestic Flights vs Driving
Some Tanzania safaris use domestic flights between parks, while others drive. We chose a driving safari to reduce costs and actually loved seeing the changing landscapes along the journey.
After comparing multiple Tanzania safari companies, we chose Safari Soles because they offered the best balance of price, comfort, itinerary quality and private safari experience. Looking back we would book with them again, our safari was a perfect match.
Best Time To Visit The Serengeti National Park
We wanted to go in the best time for the weather, animals and also the great migration. We chose to go in July (10th to 17th July) as it seemed to be a good fit for us. The weather was excellent, slightly cool but not cold, blue skies and almost no rain. The animals were plentiful and the great migration was definitely on its way.
That said, we were a little too early for the full migration to be underway and had we been a week later or in August, it would have been in full swing. Of course, this will change yearly and your booking has to suit when you can actually get away as well. We were really happy with our experience and were glad we went when we did. I didn’t want to be there in the rainy season as it would have made game drives less enjoyable.
What Animals Did We See On Our Tanzania Safari? (Big 5 + Great Migration)
During our 7 day Tanzania safari we saw 4 of the Big 5 including lions, leopards, elephants and buffalo. Some of our most unforgettable sightings included:
- a leopard walking directly under our jeep
- a cheetah jumping onto our vehicle
- thousands of wildebeest during the Great Migration
- a lioness teaching her cub to eat a fresh kill
- crocodiles hunting zebra at the Mara River
We also saw:
- giraffes
- hyenas
- hippos
- flamingoes
- zebra
- mongoose
- pumba (warthogs)
- honey badgers
- countless birds
| Animal | Seen? | Best Location | Difficulty To Spot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lion | Yes | Serengeti | Easy |
| Leopard | Yes | Central Serengeti | Hard |
| Elephant | Yes | Tarangire | Easy |
| Cheetah | Yes | South Serengeti | Medium |
| Rhino | No | Ngorongoro | Rare |
| Hippo | Yes | Ngorongoro | Easy |
| Crocodile | Yes | Mara River | Medium |
| Honey Badger | Yes | Ngorongoro | Rare |
Check out everything we saw of the animals of the Serengeti page; these are all our own photos of most of the actual animals we saw.
Private Safari vs Group Safari
We would recommend a private safari over a group safari every time. We were considering a group safari due to the cost at first, until we stumbled upon our safari! Our private mid-range safari was so affordable for what we got and the experience of having one-on-one time with our guide. The main benefits were being able to ask any questions at any time, to move around the jeep and sit anywhere we wanted, while watching animals we didn’t have to struggle and try to get in a good position as it was just the two of us we could both get excellent vantage points easily. We didn’t have to work around anyone else’s preferences and could just relax when in the jeep. It is the best way to do a safari!
Our African Serengeti Safari Itinerary
Our itinerary was across 7 days. 5 days were spent on game drives in national parks, one before and one after, within the town of Arusha. I am not exaggerating when I say this safari was one of the highlights of my life so far. It was so unbelievably good that I would redo it all now in a heartbeat! The whole tour ran according to this timeline:
Day 1
On day one, we were picked up from our hotel in Arusha (alternatively, you can be picked up from the airport) and taken on a tour of Arusha and then to a hotel with dinner included. We went to see the Maasai Market of Curios and Crafts, which is a vibrant experience with lots of Maasai people selling beautiful jewellery, material and handicrafts.
The guide then took us to the Cultural Heritage Center, where you will see lots of art, craft, masks, jewellery, spices and more. This is a huge place to wander through; you can buy from here and some of the money goes back into the community as well.
Finally, we went to the local market, full of fruit and vegetables. The guide will show you around and help you understand this local experience. It is all hustle and bustle with the busyness of everyday life.
We were dropped off at our accommodation for the evening, Njiro Legacy Guesthouse. It was clean and comfortable and the perfect place to relax before starting the following day. We ate a big dinner and got an early night as the adventure of our lifetime started the next morning, bright and early!
Day 2
Our first real safari day! We were picked up by our main guide Freddy, instantly we knew we were in good hands. He was friendly and organised. We loaded up our luggage and got comfortable in his jeep, our home for the next 5 days! This is when we realised early on that having a private tour is absolutely the best way to do a safari. We only had to share the jeep space between us, giving us the room to walk around during game drives and view the animals from whatever area of the car we wanted to.
Our first game drive
We set off for Tarangire National Park and suddenly entered our first game drive. It was an exciting moment, as we slowly drove through the park we started getting glimpses of our first animals! We saw some very cute mongoose and giraffe before finding a family of elephants. They were huge and happily frolicking in the river.
Lunch at Tarangire National Park
We stopped for lunch overlooking a river at a picnic site. Lots of other jeeps were there for lunch and it was a jovial atmosphere with guides greeting each other and sharing moments from the day. Freddy served us an incredible hot lunch, all silver service on reusable crockery and cutlery. With lots of dishes to choose from we had a little buffet served up right there in the park! Lunch was perfect; we ate hungrily while appreciating the views. The jeep also had an esky full of soft drinks, wine and beer. We were able to enjoy a white wine with lunch, Mike loved having a beer in the afternoon while driving.
As we moved on, we found more elephants eating trees, stopping we watched as they slowly moved toward us, a family of 3 happily eating and totally unconcerned that we were sitting in a jeep watching them. They came so close to our jeep that I couldn’t believe it was real. You could see every inch of them so near, their gentle eyes scanning us before turning back to their food. It was truly the first of many magical moments.
We spent the night at an incredible guesthouse called the Farm of Dreams, and it was just that. We slept in the cutest little bomba and the service and food were excellent! I was catered for as a coeliac perfectly as well. The whole property was stunning; it would have been easy to spend a few days here.
Read my article on why this safari was the perfect gluten-free safari for me.
Day 3
Day 3 and we were up and about early. We had an excellent breakfast and headed out to meet Freddy and find out where we were going that day. We were to enter the Serengeti! After a long drive we passed the very significant Olduvai Gorge site where the oldest skeletons have been found. We visited the small museum there before continuing to pass through the gates to the Serengeti National Park. It was such an exciting moment; we had been thinking about it for so long.
Entering the Serengeti
Another few hours of driving took us into the thick of the park. It was a true Savannah, with plains as far as the eye could see. We took a game drive towards the north, where we would be spending the night. Along the way, we saw African Buffalo, pumba and giraffes.
We were making our way slowly around some trees when something caught Freddy’s eye. It was a mother and baby lion sitting under a tree, eating a fresh kill. We pulled up and were able to sit and watch in silence as the mother panted, exhausted after her hunt, gazelle at her paws.
Slowly, she recovered and the baby that had been playing near her suddenly took interest as the mother began to eat. Freddy explained that usually the female will take the kill back to the pride; this kill was done to teach the baby how to eat. The little lion cub followed his mother and started ripping at the gazelle while the mother helped.
Another car noticed us and joined, their presence slightly annoying to the lion who bared her teeth in warning. Standing watching them eat, such a natural thing yet so incredible to us was a moment we won’t soon forget. We were closer than I ever imagined to such a powerful animal and it was exhilarating.
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Lunch in the Serengeti and the beginning of the Great Migration
We stopped at another picnic site for lunch and lingered over our meal, remembering the lions and feeling so lucky to have witnessed them. As we began the journey north, we suddenly came across hundreds of zebra and wildebeest also heading north for the Great Migration! Stopping the jeep we were surrounded by them. It was the first time we had ever seen so many in one place and it was breathtaking. We watched them crossing the road ahead of us and milling about while Freddy explained about the Great Migration, how the animals move and where. We also saw some beautifully coloured birds and pumba.
Our first tented camp
In the afternoon, we headed further north towards our camp for the night. We were staying in the northern Serengeti National Park at a migration camp. We weren’t sure what to expect as we drove along the bumpy 4WD track into the camp. Pulling up we were faced with possibly the prettiest camp set up we have ever seen. Large tents set up around a central tent for reception and restaurant. Lanterns twinkling in the evening light it was perfect. Our tent was unbelievable. It was huge and contained a king-sized bed (one of the most comfortable of our whole trip), pristine linen sheets and proper bathroom attached with warm running water. We couldn’t believe that this was all set up and moved each season. Set in the deep Serengeti, we felt like explorers from yesteryear.
We ate at the restaurant and were served a three-course meal, the chef coming out to greet us and check we were satisfied. Each course was delicious and filling, exactly what was needed after a long day of driving. Freddy was able to join us for dinner and we recounted our excitement of the day.
As we were in the Serengeti we needed an escort to walk between the main house tent and our camp tent, the lovely Maasai guards were on hand to escort us, checking the ground and surrounding bush for animals.
Big 5 Sightings
- โ Lion
- โ Leopard
- โ Rhino
- โ Elephant
- โ Buffalo
Day 4
We woke up early and enjoyed the sunrise over the Serengeti plains. This was a breathtaking moment, surrounded by the wilds of Africa, hidden away in the little migration camp, we were watching in silence as the sun lit up the sky.
After a big buffet breakfast of eggs, sides, juice and coffee ( and some divine gluten-free pancakes! ) we were ready to go. Today we were heading to the Mara River, the Great Migration hot spot known for wildebeest water crossings. While we were early in the season there were lots of wildebeest around and we hoped we might see the start of a run.
Mara River, home of the Great Migration!
We made it to the Mara River and checked out some of the vantage points. Thousands of wildebeest were surrounding us, everywhere we went they would move back and forth around us. Apparently, they mill around for days on end before deciding to cross. I had no idea of exactly how many there were. There were hundreds and hundreds of them.
We ate lunch in our jeep while we watched the wildebeest go back and forth, surrounding us. It was so interesting watching them decide what to do. Freddy set up our buffet along the front area of the jeep and we had our picnic with the animals!
We watched as some wildebeest and zebra started to cross. Sadly there was a huge 5m crocodile in the water and it snatched up a zebra. Pulling it down and under so quickly we could barely blink. In a really rare sighting a hippo came over to the crocodile and started trying to eat the zebra. Hippos are usually herbivores, but there have been some reports of a hippo eating meat. Our guide was astonished to see this live. He said it was so rare and hadn’t seen it himself ever. We watched for a while before it was time to head back into the centre of the Serengeti, toward our next camp.
Incredible animal sightings
On our way back through towards the central Serengeti National Park we passed a pack of lions who were on the move and two males that were tracking a zebra, which luckily realised what was happening and got away. As we moved on there was suddenly a group of cars and we went over to check it out.
Freddy noticed that in the distance there was a leopard, one of the more difficult of the Big 5 to spot. He decided to move to a quieter position for us to watch…his instincts were exceptional because the leopard started walking right toward us, eventually walking right under our jeep! Silently, we stared at each other with massive grins on our faces, everyone around us taking pictures as it is so rare for a leopard to get so close to cars. The leopard was beautiful and we watched as it strode off into the distance heading for a tree to rest in. Two days on safari and we had already checked off 4 of the Big 5!
Safari Haven Tented Camp
We kept heading towards our next camp and arrived at yet another gorgeous tented camp. This is a permanent camp and it was every bit as beautiful as the night before. A full-sized bed complete with bathtub, bathroom and an extra outdoor shower, it was perfect. We felt that same giddy feeling that comes when you realise you are in the Serengeti, staying in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by exotic landscape and animals. There really is something special about being in nature and this is one of the most spectacular nature experiences you can have.
Our dinner that night was as good as the day before, eating as we recounted our experiences that day. The leopard and Mara River crossing featuring heavily amongst our highlights. The buffet was filling and before long we were heading for bed, dreaming of our incredible experiences. As we were staying in the national park we had to be escorted to our tent by a Maasai warrior guard at low light times.
Day 5
After an early buffet breakfast we were off, hitting the road to game drive the central and south Serengeti before ending our day in the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation area.
Cheetahs
We drove towards the south with Freddy scanning the plains to spot any wildlife, he slowed and stared into the grasslands. We couldn’t quite pick up what he saw until he pointed it out with binoculars. A cheetah! We parked up and waited to see what it would do when we noticed there were two cubs in the grass as well. The mother and babies were play-fighting, having a ball.
We watched in awe as the babies raced around chasing each other when the mother unexpectedly leapt up on the back of our jeep! Mike’s head was mere centimetres from the cheetah! Freddy was calm and told us that this was something they liked to do to get a higher vantage point across the grass. We were not in danger and she would get down when she had decided that she was satisfied with her view.
The babies were trying to get up on the back as well, their tiny legs too small to jump yet, only succeeding in scratching a little of the jeep. The mother cheetah jumped down and slowly wandered off with her cubs. We were in shock, what an absolutely mind-blowing experience!
Driving further on we saw some more lions, the baby cubs even crossing the road in front of us as we stopped and watched them walking through the grass. The Serengeti is really an incredible place full of life.
Ngorongoro Crater Camp
Sitting in silence as we drove, we tried to process the event of the day. We drove back over the main road out of the Serengeti and I was sad to leave. It felt like such an incredible few days that I could have stayed a week in there. We headed towards the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation area and the air turned chilly. This area is higher and quite cold. Our home for the night was Angata Ngorongoro Camp, located right on the rim of the crater. We arrived and were shown to our tent. It was really pretty, sitting overlooking the lush greenery of the area. Mist started rolling in and the temperature dropped further when we scuttled out to dinner. Dinner started at 7 pm sharp, a 4-course meal that was served with precision. Everything was delicious, while we ate Freddy filled us in on the following days itinerary.
Day 6
Our last day of safari arrived and I was hit with a sadness that would soon finish. I was enjoying it all so much I longed for more time! Early morning before the sun rose we were driving through the mist toward the crater entry point. We were one of the first jeeps in line. The entry point has one way in and out and the road is quite demanding on the driver. Freddy expertly manoeuvred the steep entry and we descended into the crater.
Ngorongoro Crater is one of the must visit locations in Tanzania, a large volcanic caldera, famous for scenery and abundant wildlife. This is one of the few places you have the opportunity to see the rare black rhino! Sadly we just missed a sighting but the rest of the crater more than made up for it. As it was dry season there wasn’t as much greenery but the animals were still abundant. We saw some honey badgers that Freddy excitedly told us were very rare to see!
We had breakfast by the Hippo Pool, a huge lake that attracts the big animals and it was a beautiful location. There was even a coffee van there selling coffee and snacks. Eating our big breakfast served up in such a stunning location, it was hard to believe we would soon not be dining in such amazing locations.
Lions
We spent the rest of the day driving around watching more incredible animals. Driving further in we saw a big pack of hyenas, zebra, wildebeest, lots of hippos and flamingoes. There was a huge pride of about 24 lions including big males, females and cubs of varying ages all lying by the river, lazy after eating.
Eventually, we headed out of the crater and back towards civilisation. It was a sad moment when we realised we were no longer going to wake up in incredible tented camps overlooking the savannahs of the Serengeti.
We ate lunch along the way and arrived at our guest house for the next two nights, Arusha Farm House. We said a sad goodbye to Freddy, who now felt like a long-lost friend, and hope to come back and do another tour with him soon!
Arusha Farmhouse was an excellent base for the next stage of our tour. It was clean, comfortable and the food was great!
Day 7
The final day of our safari had come and today was different! We met our guide for the day, Enock, who was young and ready to go. He was to take us to the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro, where we would hike to a waterfall and take part in a coffee plantation tour before finishing our day at some hot springs. During the drive to Mt Kilimanjaro we talked about the similarities and differences of life in Tanzania and Australia and learnt as much as we could from his perspective.
Before we knew it he was kitting us out with gumboots as a recent rain had turned the path in to a muddy track. We started our hike to the waterfall and slid our way along the muddy track. When we arrived we were met with huge cascading falls. We raced out for a photo to take in the ferocity of the water before heading back to the coffee boys.
Coffee Plantation
Upon arrival, we joined up with another group and watched a demonstration of growing, harvesting, roasting and grinding the coffee to become the beans we use in our drink. It was interesting to see, particularly learning about the history of where the original coffee plantations came from. The ‘coffee boys’ sang songs while roasting and grinding the beans which was so well done and entertaining. We all got to take part in pounding the beans as well which was fun.
We sat down to drink some of the fresh brew which was lovely before being served up a delicious meal. This was one of the best we ate on our trip! A buffet of dishes served in clay pots were waiting for us, including the unique banana soup which was delicious!
Hot Springs
After lunch we went to the hot springs, a natural waterhole where locals come to swim. It was lovely and warm and we spent a good couple of hours relaxing in the water and floating through the passage between the two pools. There is a rope swing you can jump from if you are game and tires to hire for floating if you are not a confident swimmer. This is a pretty spot and we were glad to rinse off after the morning muddy hike.
Enock left us at the Arusha Farmhouse where we were ready for another lovely dinner. We finished our night by the outdoor fireplace and enjoyed coffee and ice cream before turning in. This was such an incredible experience. We couldn’t fault Safari Soles and truly recommend them for your safari experience, we both can’t wait to return to Tanzania and the Serengeti to do another safari. It has stolen our hearts, Safari Soles made our safari dreams come true!
Is Tanzania Safari Safe?
We felt completely safe on our Tanzania Serengeti safari. Our guide was experienced and confident. He was so knowledgeable and kind that we trusted him completely and didn’t question his decisions. We were kept safe yet able to witness some incredible wildlife, while maintaining safe distances (unless the animals chose otherwise!) Our guide drove very safely and his vehicle was well maintained, we didn’t have any problems with it. If I had done this trip without Mike and had our guide I would still have felt safe. Freddy was the absolute best and I would ask to go with him on our next tour. All our travel vaccinations are up to date, and we did take malaria tablets during this trip.
Tanzania Safari At A Glance
| Best time to visit | June to October |
| Duration | 7 days |
| Cost | $3,469 USD |
| Parks visited | 4 |
| Safari Style | Private Mid-range |
| Best for | First time safari |
| Comfort Level | Medium high |
| Big 5 Sightings | Yes |
| Great Migration | June – August |
| Balloon safari available? | Yes for additional add on |
| Family Friendly? | Yes |
| DIY possible? | No |
What To Pack For A Tanzania Safari
There are a few main things that you absolutely need to pack for safari, make sure to take breathable fabrics and comfortable clothes that you can sit in for hours as you’ll be in the car for a long time driving on game drives. We didn’t need to bring snacks as we were fed very well at each meal and drinks were included. We did bring our own binoculars and we were glad we did. I also brought a basic medical kit (which I always travel with) and a beanie and gloves for the chilly early mornings. Make sure to wear covered shoes.
Before visiting Tanzania, read our full Tanzania safari packing guide.
Tanzania Safari Tips For First Timers
These are some of our top tips for your first safari. Mornings and evenings can get cold, especially in Ngorongoro Crater you will want a beanie, gloves and a jacket. There are toilets at the eating areas, at your lodges of course and if you need to use a toilet at a different time your guide can get you to one pretty easily.
In terms of electrical equipment, our safari jeep had a charging plug but we brought a big battery pack that we used to charge and it was excellent! Drones are not allowed to be flown in the national parks at all, I travelled with my Sony a7c and a 70-200mm lens, it was really good but I would have liked to have a little bit of a longer zoom. We brought our own binoculars and were glad we did.
Finally, we wished we had brought more cash for tipping, we didn’t realise how incredible the service would be, not only from the guide who deserves a great tip, but also from each lodge. The service is second to none and I would have liked to leave more than I could. General advice is between $10-$25 USD per person/per day for the guide and $5-$10 USD per night/per room for the lodges.
Read our full guide on all the tips you need to know to go on safari!
Is A Balloon Safari Worth It?
We didn’t add on the balloon safari because we wanted to experience the safari as is. Focusing on spending the time on the ground. However, when I do my next safari I will definitely add it on as I think it would bring a unique perspective to a safari.
Serengeti Safari vs Kenya Safari
A Serengeti safari takes you through diverse iconic landscapes and a more immersive animal experience, along with an almost year-round migration. The Kenyan safari is more affordable and the infrastructure is very organised to make it easy to access from Nairobi. The experience in Kenya will be more crowded due to the smaller area, so you will see other jeeps more frequently. The Serengeti National Park is huge, you have a less crowded experience, see less jeeps (except at the Mara River area which is a smaller strip) and have more time feeling like the only people there.
Tarangire vs Serengeti
These two national parks are very different, Tarangire has a high density of elephants and you will get the opportunity to see them up close. The landscape is more jungle-like, with lush thick trees and plant life. The Serengeti consists of plains and savannahs. It is more open and feels so big that you can really escape the crowd. Going to both is ideal so you get to see both landscapes and have different animal experiences. Our first full game drive day was in Tarangire and it was the perfect introduction to what a day on safari involves.
What We Didnโt Love
There wasn’t much we didn’t like about our safari experience, the top 5 things we didn’t love about it were:
- the long drive times across the main dusty Serengeti road (although necessary)
- it is a tiring experience as you are on game drives for about 8 hours a day
- limited WiFi
- it was hard to get out of bed on the cold crater mornings
- the flights to Arusha were expensive
FAQs About Tanzania Safaris
Is 7 days enough for Tanzania safari?
7 days is a perfect amount for a Tanzania safari, especially your first one! You get to experience everything from gorgeous stays to jaw-dropping wildlife moments.
How much does a Serengeti safari cost?
Serengeti safaris usually range from $1,500 USD for budget camping tours up to $15,000+ USD for luxury fly-in safaris. Our private mid-range safari cost $3,355 USD per person including accommodation, meals, park fees and game drives.
What is the best month for the Great Migration?
The best month to see the Great Migration is usually August. We were there in early July and it had started but they weren’t ready to cross yet.
Is Tanzania better than Kenya for safari?
Tanzania has the largest and most diverse landscapes and the biggest number of animals so a safari there is going to be amazing and less crowded.
Can you see the Big 5 in Tanzania?
Yes! We saw 4 of the Big 5, just missed the rhino which is pretty rare anyway. We had the most incredible animal experiences.
Are Serengeti safaris safe?
Yes, we were completely safe on our Serengeti safari. At no time did we feel nervous or concerned with either the situation or the animals. We felt safe and comfortable the whole time.
Is Ngorongoro worth visiting?
Yes, Ngorongoro Crater is an incredible place, we saw lots of animals and had a fantastic time.
Do you need malaria tablets for Tanzania?
We did take malaria tablets while we were in Tanzania, for a safari and also in Zanzibar.
What should I wear on safari?
Comfort is key here! I would stick to neutral colours, no blue or blacks. Lightweight, breathable clothing is best, wear long cargo style pants, shorts or athletic wear, a t-shirt with long sleeves over the top to protect against the sun or cold. Wear covered shoes, either hiking-style shoes or our regular sneakers were fine as we weren’t hiking. Our packing guide has everything you need to know about what to wear on safari. Basically- you want to wear what you can sit in for hours comfortably.
Is a private safari worth it?
Absolutely yes! For me this is now a non-negotiable, we had just the two of us in the jeep with our guide and it was perfect. There was no jostling for position while viewing animals, we could stand wherever we wanted and had all the space while driving to be comfortable rather than squashed in with others.
Final Thoughts On Our Tanzania Safari
Our safari included private game drives, luxury tented camps and lodges, all meals, park fees and airport transfers, and was excellent value. We genuinely could not fault the experience and are confident in saying that it was absolutely worth it.
Plan your trip:
Read next: Is a Serengeti Safari worth it?
Plan your trip: The ultimate safari packing list you need!
Donโt miss: 7 Reasons the Serengeti Is the Best Safari in Africa
Want to see it all in action? Watch our full safari series on YouTube (subscribe to our channel to stay up to date with our travel guides) and follow along on Instagram @passport_nomads and @kelly___buckley for real-time travel tips, guides, and behind-the-scenes moments.
