Destinations
Tanzania
The Serengeti and Ngorongoro, remote wilderness in the south and west, chimpanzees on Lake Tanganyika and the beaches of Zanzibar.
Why Tanzania
Tanzania is where I have spent much of my working life, and it is still the country I would choose for almost anyone's first safari, and for many people's fifth.
Few countries offer so much variety in one trip. In the north, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater have some of the greatest concentrations of wildlife on earth, and the Great Migration moves through the region all year. Alongside them, private concessions such as the Grumeti Reserves, Mwiba and Chem Chem offer the same wildlife with walking, night drives and almost no other vehicles. In the south, Ruaha and Nyerere are wild, big and quiet, with walking and boat safaris. In the far west, Katavi and Mahale feel like the Africa of a hundred years ago, with huge herds of buffalo and wild chimpanzees. And at the end of it all, Zanzibar's beaches are an hour's flight away.
Tanzania also rewards careful planning. Where the herds are, which camps are open, and how the parks link together by air all change through the year. Getting those details right is the difference between a good safari and a great one, and it is what I spend my time on.
Where to go
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- 2Grumeti ReservesPrivate concession on the western corridor, with Singita's lodges.About the area · Safaris here
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- 10KilimanjaroAfrica's highest peak, and the elephant plains of West Kilimanjaro.About the area · Safaris here
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When to go
A guide only: the herds follow the rain, and the timing moves a few weeks from year to year.
Experiences
- Great Migration
- Game drives
- Walking safaris
- Boat safaris
- Night drives
- Fly camping
- Balloon flights
- Chimpanzee trekking
- Horseback safaris
- Cultural visits
- Beach and diving
Tanzania safaris
10 Days Naboisho, Eastern Serengeti and Ruaha
Nairobi › Naboisho › Eastern Serengeti › Ruaha
From US$17,654 pp · 2026 rate
A flying safari across Kenya and Tanzania, staying in a private conservancy, a remote corner of the Serengeti and Ruaha, Tanzania's great southern wilderness
9 Nights Chem Chem, Ngorongoro and Northern Serengeti
Arusha › Burunge WMA › Lake Manyara › Tarangire › Ngorongoro › Northern Serengeti
2027 rates on request
A private-guided safari through three of northern Tanzania's most distinct landscapes, travelling by road through the north and flying to the far northern Serengeti
9 Nights Tarangire, Serengeti and Masai Mara
Arusha › Tarangire › Southern Serengeti › Masai Mara
From US$13,450 pp · 2026 rate
A flying safari across one great ecosystem and two countries: Tarangire's elephants, the Serengeti migration and the Masai Mara, staying at three camps chosen for their wildlife
10 Nights Usangu, Ruaha and Nyerere
Dar es Salaam › Usangu › Ruaha › Nyerere
From US$10,500 pp · 2026 rate
A flying safari through Tanzania's wild south, with a different way of exploring at every camp: night drives and boating in the Usangu wetlands, walking from a private camp in…
Ngorongoro’s Rim to Serengeti’s Herds – 7 Days
Ngorongoro › Southern Serengeti
2027 rates on request
7 Days Privately Guided Safari to Northern Tanzania visiting: 3 nights Ngorongoro Crater at Entamanu Ngorongoro and 3 nights Southern Serengeti at Kusini Serengeti. Drive in / Fly out
Passage to Kusini – 7 Days
Tarangire › Randilen WMA › Ngorongoro › Southern Serengeti
2027 rates on request
This 7 Day Privately Guided Safari to Northern Tanzania, visits Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Southern Serengeti National Park. Your skilled guide will collect you from Kilimanjaro airport and…
Where to stay
Serengeti, Tanzania
Namiri Plains Camp
$1,400 – $2,320
Serengeti, Tanzania
Sayari Camp Serengeti
$1,030 – $2,320
Ngorongoro, Tanzania
Entamanu Ngorongoro
$1,920 – $2,250
Tarangire, Tanzania
Chem Chem Lodge
$1,560 – $2,000
Ruaha, Tanzania
Jabali Ridge
$880 – $1,660
Katavi, Tanzania
Chada Katavi Camp
$910 – $1,190
Mahale, Tanzania
Greystoke Mahale
$2,170 – $2,365
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Elewana Kilindi
$719 – $861
Combine with
Kenya
The Masai Mara and its private conservancies are the northern end of the migration, and an easy flight from Arusha.
Rwanda
Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, a short flight from Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam.
Zanzibar
Beaches, reefs and Stone Town, an hour from the parks, and part of Tanzania.
Practical notes
Visas
Most visitors need a visa for Tanzania. Apply online in advance through the official Tanzania immigration e-visa website, and check the current rules for your nationality.
Health
Malaria is present in most safari areas, so ask your doctor about prevention. A yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from, or have transited through, a country with a risk of yellow fever.
Flights
International flights land at Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar. Light aircraft link the parks, with a baggage limit of usually 15 kg per person in soft bags.
Park fees
Park, concession and crater fees are included in every safari price we quote. See the current park fees
Money and tipping
US dollars are widely used; bring recent, undamaged notes. Most lodges accept cards, sometimes with a surcharge. Tipping guides and camp staff is customary, and we send guidelines with your travel documents.
Safety
Tanzania is a welcoming and generally safe country for visitors. Take the usual care in towns, and follow your guide's advice in the parks.
Insurance
Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is essential, as many parks are far from hospitals.
Questions
When is the best time to go on safari in Tanzania?
June to October is the dry season and the best time for most parks. January to March is calving season in the southern Serengeti. The long rains in April and May are quiet, and some camps close.
How many days do I need for a Tanzania safari?
Eight to fourteen nights is typical. A first northern safari works well in eight to ten nights; add more to include the south or west, or a few days on Zanzibar.
Is Tanzania or Kenya better for a safari?
Both are excellent and they share the Great Migration. Tanzania has more variety and bigger, wilder parks; Kenya's private conservancies offer walking, night drives and very few vehicles. Many trips combine the two.
How much does a Tanzania safari cost?
Most private safaris we plan cost from about US$700 per person per night, including accommodation, meals, activities, park fees and flights or vehicles between parks. Costs depend on the season, the camps and how you travel. Our park fees page lists the current park, concession and crater fees.
Can I combine a safari with Zanzibar?
Yes. Zanzibar is about an hour's flight from the northern and southern parks, and most of our Tanzania safaris can end with a few days on the beach.
Plan a safari to Tanzania
Tell us roughly when and how you would like to travel, and we will reply with ideas and a detailed quote within one working day.