Tanzania
The Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Zanzibar
The Serengeti and the Maasai Mara are part of the same ecosystem, divided by a national border that the wildebeest ignore. A Tanzania safari and a Kenya safari can be two parts of the same story rather than simple alternatives. Where the herds are likely to be at a given time of year often determines which side of the border is the better fit.
Tanzania also offers experiences Kenya does not: the Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro from the climbing side, and Zanzibar for the days after a safari.
Plan My SafariSerengeti
Vast, open and the setting for the wildebeest migration for much of the year, the Serengeti has some of the highest lion densities in Africa. The plains are wide enough to watch wildlife activity unfold over long distances.
Where you stay matters here more than in most parks. The herds move through the year, so the right camp in February is in the south, while the right camp in August is in the north.
Travel time: About three to four hours by road beyond Ngorongoro, or a short flight from Arusha.
Ngorongoro Crater
A collapsed volcanic caldera holding a permanent, enclosed population of wildlife, including black rhino. Few places concentrate this much wildlife into a single view.
The crater floor is usually covered in one long day, so most clients stay one or two nights on the rim.
Travel time: About four hours by road from Arusha.
Tarangire
Tarangire has large elephant herds and old baobabs, with fewer vehicles than the Serengeti. The dry months draw animals towards the Tarangire River, making this one of the stronger parks in the country between June and October.
It is often the first stop on a northern circuit and one of the better-value parks.
Travel time: About two hours by road from Arusha.
Lake Manyara
A narrow park between the escarpment and the lake, with groundwater forest, flamingos on the shallows and a reputation for lions resting in trees. It is small, and most itineraries use it as a half-day stop on the way to Ngorongoro rather than as a destination in its own right.
Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and has a walkable summit that does not require technical climbing. The Machame, Lemosho, Marangu, Rongai and Northern Circuit routes vary in length, scenery and traffic.
Longer routes generally provide a better chance of reaching the summit because they allow more time to acclimatise. We would rather recommend a route that suits you than simply the cheapest option.
Zanzibar
Zanzibar combines Stone Town, spice farms and long beaches on the north and east coasts. Visitors can also snorkel or dive around Mnemba Atoll and take dhow trips at sunset.
Most clients come here after a safari rather than instead of one. Four or five nights is usually enough.
Travel time: A short flight from Arusha, the Serengeti or Dar es Salaam.
The Southern Circuit
Nyerere National Park and Ruaha receive a fraction of the visitors of the northern circuit. They offer boat safaris on the Rufiji River, walking safaris and far fewer vehicles.
This circuit suits travellers who have been on safari before and want space more than a checklist of the best-known parks.
December to March
The herds move in a loop through the year. The timing shifts with the rains, so these are patterns rather than guarantees.
The herds are usually on the southern Serengeti plains and around Ndutu for calving. February often brings high predator activity because large numbers of vulnerable calves are concentrated in one area.
April and May
The long rains. The herds begin moving west and north. Some camps close, roads become more difficult and this is generally the quietest and least expensive time to travel.
June and July
The herds move through the western corridor towards the Grumeti River.
July to October
The herds are typically in the northern Serengeti, and Mara River crossings can occur. This overlaps with the Kenyan side of the ecosystem, so the Maasai Mara is often the better choice in these months.
November
The short rains draw the herds back south.
Six to eight days covers the northern circuit at a sensible pace, including Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. With fewer than six days, too much of the trip is spent in transit.
Add four or five days for Zanzibar. Allow six to nine days on the mountain for Kilimanjaro, depending on the route.
Most northern-circuit trips run by road in a 4x4 with a driver-guide. The distances are long, but the drives pass through country worth seeing.
Light aircraft connect Arusha with Serengeti airstrips and Zanzibar. On shorter trips, flying at least one leg is worth considering.
From Nairobi, Kilimanjaro International Airport is about an hour by air. The road crossing at Namanga is the alternative and takes most of a day to reach Arusha.
International flights for the northern circuit arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Trips to Zanzibar and the southern circuit usually route through Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar.
Tanzania has its own entry requirements, and fees and conditions vary by nationality. We confirm what applies to you when we prepare your quote.
One point that catches people out on multi-country trips: the East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda only. Tanzania is not part of the arrangement. Leaving that three-country area ends the visa's validity, even if the 90 days have not passed, so a route that returns to Kenya after Tanzania may require new entry documentation. We build the paperwork sequence into your itinerary.
Yellow fever certification may be required depending on your route and where you have travelled before. Malaria precautions are advisable for the parks and coast. Zanzibar can have additional entry requirements, which we confirm at the time of booking.
Park and conservation fees are included in every quote we send.
Tell us when you can travel
Send us your dates and we will tell you where the herds are likely to be, and whether Tanzania or Kenya is the better side of the border for that time of year.