Are you thinking of going on a safari in Tanzania? What a brilliant idea! After all, you’re in for an unforgettable journey, as well as the chance to witness nature and creatures in their native habitat.
Do you want to go on an organized trip or a self-guided safari in Tanzania? There are advantages and disadvantages.
We’d like to share some important information with you about how to organize the perfect safari in Tanzania, how much it costs, and which national parks you may visit.
Why go on safari in Tanzania?
Tanzania, unlike many other African countries with many wild animals, is a relatively safe place where you can travel on your own. Furthermore, because it is less congested and less ruined by tourists, safari prices in Tanzania are lower than in neighboring Kenya.
Another reason to choose a safari in Tanzania is that you may mix a beach vacation in Zanzibar, mountain trekking on Kilimanjaro, and a safari in unique parks. Tanzania truly has everything you need for a fantastic vacation. The most important thing is to properly allocate time.
What is the cost of a safari?
Safari is a costly joy, as most people are aware. If you purchase a multi-day planned tour, you must realize that, in addition to hotel, food, and driving services, you must pay for national park admission. It’s also not cheap. There is also an additional price for the jeep. In addition, the safari fee includes meals and lodging for the driver, cooks, and gasoline.
As a result, the cost of a safari in Tanzania is determined by:
- The number of days of the safari.
- The number of passengers in the vehicle.
- Will it be a private tour or will other tourists be present?
- Type of lodging: tents or lodges of medium or premium class.
- Safari, either self-guided or organized.
So, on average, a budget safari for 5 days in a group of 6 people will cost around $1400 per person. This is the standard pricing, which includes a visit to 2-3 national parks (Serengeti, Tarangire, and Ngorongoro Crater), a driver, and a jeep for 6 people, as well as tent overnight and meals.
A middle-class Tanzania safari that includes lodge rooms and more agreeable conditions than camping starts at $2400 per person and goes up from there.
If we are talking about a luxury safari with accommodations in luxurious lodges, the cost of such a safari will be much higher – starting at $3,500 per person and increasing from there when booking for four people.
A self-guided safari is a very different story. Here, you pay roughly $250 per day to rent a car and divide it among the number of people in your group or pair, as well as pay for national park admission and lodging. Campgrounds average $30 per person/day, while national parks range from $60 to $90 per day, with a car tax in some areas.
Tanzania: organized tour or self-guided safari?
Safari tours:
From our own experience, we can confidently state that 95 percent of the visitors we met on our journey chose to travel in Africa in this manner. Why?
The advantages of organized safari tours in Tanzania is that it is a great way to get the most out of your safari experience. The country has many national parks and reserves, and you can choose from many different activities such as walking safaris, boat trips, game drives, bird watching, mountain climbing, and more.
Organized safari tours in Tanzania have many advantages. The most popular one is the convenience. Tourists do not have to worry about any of the logistics, they just need to show up and everything will be taken care of. The second advantage is that organized tours are usually cheaper than DIY trips.
Tourists who go on organized safari tours in Tanzania can enjoy a lot of different benefits. They can see animals in their natural habitat, learn about the wildlife and culture, and get a taste of local food.
Advantages:
- Everything is set up for you. You don’t have to plan a route and worry about whether you’ll have time to travel somewhere or not.
- A private driver will look after you. You may unwind and look around without worrying about where you’re going.
- More chances to spot animals: drivers from all parks communicate on the radio and report the whereabouts of the more difficult-to-see animals.
- It’s less expensive for groups: tour operators typically offer discounts on lodging, so the tour will be less expensive than if you book on your own.
- Safety: many roads are in poor condition, and local drivers know where to go for assistance in an emergency.
Disadvantages:
- You’ll have to share a car with other tourists. Will you be seated by the window? And what if someone in the car is always cold or hot? In general, if you’re going to be traveling for several days and many hours with strangers, you’ll have to get used to their behaviors.
- You won’t be able to spend as much time watching the animals as you’d like because the tour has a time limit, so snap a photo and move on.
- Personal space: In order to retain your personal space on an organized safari, you will need to adapt your behavior to the participants, events and stages of the tour.
- You must adhere to the program and routine: even if you particularly enjoyed one of the parks, you will not be able to stay; a tour is a tour.
Self-guided Safari, a safari on your own:
A safari is a unique experience that you should not miss in your lifetime. You can choose to go on a traditional safari where you will be guided by an expert who knows the best spots and wildlife. Or, if you are more of an adrenaline junkie, you can go on a self-guided safari where you will have to find your own way and explore the African wild on your own.
The self-guided safari is less expensive than the traditional one but it also has its downsides. You will have to plan everything and make all of the arrangements yourself and that can be challenging for some people. But, if you are up for a challenge, this is the perfect opportunity for you!
The safari in Tanzania is a journey of self-discovery. You will be able to explore the nature and wildlife at your own pace, without being limited by any guide.
If you are looking for a unique experience, this might be the safari for you. This is an amazing opportunity to get away from the crowds and enjoy your time in Tanzania.
The following are some of the most popular attractions in Tanzania: Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Advantages:
- Complete freedom and independence – you are the only one in the car, and you are the only one who can determine where to go.
- Crowded safaris: we’ve seen lions practically encircled by 7-8 tourist cars on multiple occasions, and it turned out to be a picture shoot among dozens of tourists, not a safari. You determine where to stop for shots with your own car, and believe me, in Tanzania, you really want to capture everything around you!
- The opportunity to view much more beauty: in addition to being able to go about the parks in your car, not just along hiking routes, but also with your own transportation, you will be able to see the real Tanzania!
Disadvantages:
- Filling out paperwork at the park’s entrance: You should check ahead of time to see if you need specific permits to enter the parks. Car rental companies, on the whole, have this information and will assist you.
- It is not suited for a solo tourist; after all, driving alone in Tanzania is quite dangerous. On the roads here, anything might happen, and changing the wheel of a huge jeep alone is difficult.
To conclude, self-guided safaris are a popular way to explore Tanzania. It is the only way to get off the beaten path and find places that are not on any touristic map. With self-guided safari, you can decide where to go and what to see with no time constraints or group dynamics.
Organized safaris, on the other hand, are more structured and guided. You will have an experienced guide who knows the area well, and he will pick out destinations for you based on your interests and budget.
