Safari Planning ~ the basics ~ tips ~ info ~ links

Starting off - the planning stage

1. A typical itinerary will be a tour of National Parks usually in this order - Tarangire - Ngorongoro Crater - Serengeti - Lake Manyara. This is a logical order of parks for a safari in the north. .

2. Try not to do and see too much in a short time. If you insist in covering many bumpy miles you will see and experience less and be so fed up with the safari you will be counting the days for it all to end. Take time and experience the land, people, culture and the animals slowly slowly.

3. Choose your Safari Agent with care and ensure you are not just been fobbed off with what is easiest and cheapest for the operator. If you don't look carefully for the right safari operator you may well end up with a lack luster itinerary or worse in an overcrowded vehicle that is apt to break down and visiting areas that have more safari vehicles than animals. So a little research is needed and use an operator that knows their stuff!

4. The Serengeti some say is overcrowded - sure areas of this vast national park can get busy in high season but there are vast areas of this park that are seldom explored by tourists.

The National Parks of the Northern Circuit

The Tarangire is often used as a first day stop on the safari trail. Lots of elephants here. Most folk only experience half a day here but this park in has year round water and is a draw for the animals during the dry season - read more about the Tarangire. Occasionally you may here stories that the Serengeti is overcrowded; this maybe the case for some in high season - primarily because some ground operators play it safe and take clients to the central Serengeti area only as there is an abundance of animals year round and because this location maximizes profit with with minimum effort. There are many different habitats in the vast Serengeti that are fascinating and come into their own at different times of year; such as the southern grass plains where the vastness of this National Park is so apparent. The Grunmeti Western Corridor stretches almost to the shores of Lake Victoria and is an important part of the migratory routes. Lobo Northern Woodland is where the wildebeest move from June-December to feed on the longer grasses that persist in the area. This is also where the swollen Mara River is found bristling with crocs. Loliondo is along the eastern edge of the park and offers walking safaris and night drives.

Serengeti Balloon Safaris -

Imagine sitting at a table under the shade of a classic umbrella tree on the Serengeti Plains. The table is laid with bone china and silver cutlery.
The flight is for about one hour depending on conditions, and eventually you must land. You celebrate in the traditional manner with champagne (well, an excellent sparkling wine) before sitting down to a full English breakfast.

The balloon flights are in the central Serengeti. Additional flights for 2011 have been introduced with Serengeti Balloon Safaris adding flights in the southern Serengeti close to the Ndutu plains and also in the Serengeti Western Corridor. Each flight in each area costs US$499 per person including the champagne breakfast

Leave your lodge for the balloon at 5h00 and return to your lodge by 09h30 in time to rejoin your planned game drive - Book through your agent, or direct through the Arusha office or there is also an office in the Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge - places are limited so it is wise to book in advance.

Parks Continued

The Ngorongoro Crater heralded by many as the 'eighth wonder of the world' - an awe-inspiring collapsed volcano; enclosed by near sheer walls the crater is breathtaking; as is the steep descent onto the creator floor in your 4x4 Safari Landrover This small area is often likened to a mini Serengeti; with a lake, savannah and forest and in such a small area it is possible to see many animals in varied habitats in just a short time. 

Last but not least on the northern circuit is the Lake Manyara National Park which is home to millions of flamingos, pelicans, storks and other bird life, as well as many, many hippos that can be observed at close range. Hot springs trickle into the shallow waters. Lake Manyara's famous tree-climbing lions are another reason to pay this park a visit, along with the largest concentration of baboons in Tanzania. It is possible to hire canoes and paddle across the lake [water levels permitting] which offers sights of the park from a unique perspective.

Safari, Ground Operators & Eco Lodges/Camps

Many of the lodges that offer something special unfortunately often equates to expensive - but not always. We will add to the featured lodges and camps over the next few months and we especially welcome any personal reconditions you may have.

Links Coming Feb 2011 : Eco Lodges in the National Parks

Safari Operators recommended to us by you!

Parks Adventure - professional, boutique safaris - willing to go the extra mile, excellent service and locally owned.
The Nomad Mobile Safaris - highly recommended for an quality authentic safari experience. The small semi-nomadic camps in the best locations to focus on some of Tanzania's greatest wildlife in style and comfort.
Naipenda Safaris - recommended. by several visitors to this site

Aardvark Adventures - locally owned, great service at fantastic prices!
Hoopoe Safaris - hot on community based tourism and projects

Long & Short Rains Explained

The ‘long rains’ are from roughly late March to early June and the ‘short rains’ are from November to mid December. The great migration passes through the central Serengeti during the rains. The good news about the rains is the air is clear of dust, and the bad news is the vehicles may battle a little with the mud. It will normally rain late afternoon and during the night. However, it can rain and rain and rain all day. The landscape is transformed and is lush and green. I would add some comments about the two rainy seasons. Some years it can rain more in the so called dry period [end of December to end of April] than the two rainy seasons put together. I remember last year finding and reading an old Abercrombie and Kent safari brochure from the early 1980's stating the same problem - so this is not [I think] a new phenomenon. The brochure goes on to say it is probably best to think of the rains as one long rainy season from November to June that often [but not always] has a dry period from January to March.