15 Best Tanzania Safaris, Tours, and Packages (Tips & Travel Guide)

If there is one destination in Africa that you need to see in this lifetime, it would be Tanzania — the land of safaris! (Tanzania Safaris)

With wonderful attractions such as that of the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area (not to mention that of Mt. Kilimanjaro too!), the country is a treasure trove of diverse wildlife, scenic landscapes, captivating cultures, and yes: even idyllic beaches.

Tanzania safaris give visitors the chance to see all of the ‘Big Five’, along with other countless beautiful and rare creatures that fill up the vast plains, especially that of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ngorongoro which is lauded for having the highest density of wild animals in the world! If you time your visit well, you can also witness the ‘Great Migration‘ in the Serengeti which is the largest herd movement animals on the planet. Lake Manyara is famous for its huge flocks of pink flamingos; whereas the Mahali and Gombe parks have a huge population of chimpanzees.

Without a doubt, Tanzania has just about anything for anyone, and if you want an amazing experience, it is a must to book a reputable tour company for either a safari or an expedition. To date, there are over hundreds of travel operators in Tanzania and I know how dizzying of a task it can be to choose one — but do hear me out on this… If you want to be with an organization that has the experience, the reputation, and the proper safety protocols in place to give you the best there is to offer in the country, you should definitely book with Altezza Travel.

Here’s why!

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» Who is Altezza Travel?

Established in 2014 by just four people, Altezza Travel has now evolved into one of the main tour operators in the country with over a thousand staff and field professionals (making them the largest employer in Tanzania’s tourism industry!).

• ESTABLISHED REPUTATION. For years, they have built themselves a prime reputation through all the successful tours that they have done. Moreover, they have even built a name for themselves for doing safe expeditions or climbs to Mt. Kilimanjaro. In fact, did you know that they were the ones who organized the first base jump off of Mt. Kilimanjaro? Yes, they are that well-known and you bet that they are trusted internationally to lead any special activities that there may be!
• TRAINED, EXPERIENCED, & COMPETENT STAFF. No one can show you Tanzania safaris, landscapes, and cultures better than the Altezza Travel guides. Every single member has underwent strict training and detailed teachings (even more so for those who guide Kilimanjaro climbs) to help you get the most out of your trip.
• PROPERLY LICENSED. Every year, Altezza is certified the the Tanzanian Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism; as such, for your added peace of mind, the company has all the necessary permits — they definitely do NOT cut corners especially when it comes to abiding by local laws.
• PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCES. Altezza takes great pride in how hands-on their Tanzania safari tours and expeditions are planned and organized.
  • For instance, Altezza Travel does not offer group Tanzania safaris because they believe that each experience should be planned for each individual group of travelers!
• TOTAL SAFETY & COMFORT. Altezza Travel does not skimp out in giving you high-quality people and modern equipment at all times, no matter if it’s a safari tour or an expedition! Their partner hotels, lodges, and camps are also regularly reviewed to ensure that they are on par with the high quality standards that every traveler deserve.
• BEST VALUE. They may not be the cheapest but if you want a good-for-value travel experience in Tanzania that will give you the best bang for your buck, they are your #1 choice — guaranteed.

With that said and done, if you’re looking for the best Tanzania safaris, go and take your pick from the following packages as dependent on the number of days you’ll have in the country!

Best Tanzania Safaris

» Standard Inclusions

All Altezza Travel Tanzania safaris tours will include, as a standard, the following perks:

• New vehicles SUV (2016-2022) Land Cruiser 4×4 with pop-up roof
  • Their safari fleet comprises the newest Land Cruisers (manufactured in 2016-2022)
  • Every vehicle features a fridge, power station, ergonomic seats and Wi-Fi
• Experienced English-speaking safari guide
• All hotel or lodge accommodation under your program
  • You can choose your accommodation from packages: Classic, Luxury, Premium
• All park fees
• Three (3) meals per day on the safari
• Bottled water and soft drinks throughout the tour
• Thermos with hot tea/coffee
• Wet wipes
• Medical kit
• Binocular (1 per SUV)
• Air Ambulance Service by AMREF Flying Doctors
• 24/7 phone support

NOTE: If you’re looking for day trips, Altezza travel does not offer those; after all, if you want to do so, you won’t be able to see much of anything at all. For example, the drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area takes too much time and though many other tour companies may offer a day trip to this location, you won’t have much time to enjoy the safari.

As such, it is much better to set at least 2 days and most of the time, these multi-day Tanzania safari tours of Altezza Travel will already include Tarangire or Lake Manyara National Parks — places that you’ll be passing by on the way to Ngorongoro. With this setup, you will definitely get the most out of your travel experience!

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» Standard Attraction Stops

Cover and top photo by: Shutterstock

••• ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK

Found in the northeastern part of Tanzania, Arusha National Park is known for its Mount Meru which is a prominent volcano with an elevation of over 4,566 meters — making it the second-highest peak after Mount Kilimanjaro.

Visitors can get to enjoy a variety of sights and experiences here that is not limited to a rich variety of wildlife. Though it’s not the same as its bigger neighboring national parks such as the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, you can still sight a number of animals such as zebras, giraffes, monkeys, and many others.

If you go further in the west, you can find another attraction which is the Meru Crater funneling the Jekukumia River; whereas somewhere in the south you will find the Ngurdoto Crater which is mostly grassland. Lastly in the northeast is the shallow alkaline Momella Lakes which are known for its varying algal colors and wading birds.

Cover and top photo by: Shutterstock

••• LAKE EYASI

As the largest body of water in Arusha, it is a seasonal shallow salt lake found on the floor of the Great Rift Valley.

In here, you will find a number of bushmen: the Hadzabe, Datoga, and Mbulu tribes. With Altezza Travel, a visit to these places will be quite worthwhile as they share with you their ancient customs and traditions in which they live entirely off the bush and bowhunting.

Cover and top photo by: Shutterstock

••• LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

Often combined with trips to the Serengeti, Tarangire, and/or Ngorongoro, this is a habitat that holds over 350 bird species including pink flamingos, hornbills, pelicans, and storks (but you can also sight lions and leopards if you’re lucky!). Sure enough, this is a great stop that should be on your safari itinerary if you’re a bird aficionado.

Plus, if you visit from July to September, you’ll find a lot of pink flamingos gathered for nesting — they spread across the landscape like pink seafoam which is quite unique!

Cover and top photo by: Shutterstock

••• LAKE NATRON

Lake Natron is a mineral-rich soda lake found in the northern part of Tanzania. For starters, what makes it unique is the high alkalinity which can burn the skin and eyes of animals — except for lesser flamingos who have made it their breeding ground and who have also adapted to the water’s pH levels.

Additionally, the lake’s salinity has welcomed microorganisms such as cyanobacteria that carry different pigments, most of which make the water a striking red.

A visit to Lake Natron will also grant you views of the Ol Doinyo Lengai, a soaring active volcano in the Rift Valley.

Cover and top photo by: Shutterstock

••• NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA

This is an amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site which is a protected area in the northern Arusha region within the Crater Highlands.

It is one of the ‘Seven Wonders of Africa’ as well, and moreover, is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world! If you want to witness the most number of wildlife, this place is a must to include in your safari; after all, it has been often referred to as the number one place on earth where you can find the highest density of animals.

Elephants, gazelles, hippos, hyenas, jackals, lions, rhinos, wildebeests, zebras — the list goes on!

Cover and top photo by: Shutterstock

••• SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

Renowned worldwide for its wide expanse, the Serengeti is a World Heritage Site that is a must to see in Tanzania.

For years, countless wildlife and species have been witnessed in its plains and it is even home to the ‘Great Migration’ — the world’s longest overland migration wherein by March, over 2 million wildebeests and zebras start to migrate to the north towards Maasai Mara in Kenya. Needless to say, this is quite a sight to see and which you must witness at least once in your life!

Did you know? The name “Serengeti” is an approximation of the word ‘siringet’ which is used by the Maasai people which means “the place where the land runs on forever”.

Cover and top photo by: Shutterstock

••• TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

Tarangire National Park’s name is derived from the Tarangire River that crosses the expanse and as their primary source of fresh water, a lot of wild animals pass through the park especially during the annual dry season.

Often called as the ‘Small Serengeti’, Tarangire is famous for its high density of elephants and baobab trees; so, do make sure that you’ve packed your cameras to immortalize all the epic moments that you’ll see!

Did you know? The oldest known elephant to give birth to twins is found in Tarangire.

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» 2-Day Safaris

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» 3-Day Safaris

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» 4-Day Safaris

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» 5-Day Safaris

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» 6-Day Safaris

KUDU
LINK: [click]
PRICE: Starts from $2,585
TOUR STOPS:

• Tarangire National Park
• Lake Manyara
• Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Serengeti National Park (3 days)

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» 7-Day Safaris

ELAND
LINK: [click]
PRICE: Starts from $3,183
TOUR STOPS:

• Tarangire National Park
• Lake Manyara
• Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Serengeti National Park (3 days)
• Lake Natron and Ngare Sero Waterfall

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Tanzania Travel Guide

» Best Time to Visit

It will depend entirely on your preference…

• June to October: If you want to witness the ‘Great Migration’, this is the perfect time to go with Altezza Travel! Other than that, the density of animals are at their highest especially near rivers and other sources of water so there will be a lot of interesting sightings to see.
• November to May: these months are ideal for those who want to witness hunting scenes especially since predators are notably more active around this period. Ornithologists would also love to see the National Parks’ migration of birds which would be at its peak season! Rain is more frequent in March to May — but the upside is that there are lesser crowds and you’ll see the Tanzanian terrain in its greenest state.

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» Getting in to Tanzania

By air. There are two major airports that you can choose from: Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport (IATA: DAR) and Kilimanjaro’s Kilimanjaro International Airport (IATA: JRO). In order to find the best flight deals from your point of origin, I recommend browsing through Skyscanner.

By train. If you’re coming from Zambia, you can ride the TAZARA which operates twice a week between Zambia’s New Kapiri Mposhi and Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam.

By bus. From Kenya’s Nairobi, you can catch a bus to Arusha which is a great base for Tanzania Safaris’ Mount Meru and Ngorongoro Crater. There are also buses that go to the country from Malawi, Uganda, and Rwanda. If your destination is someplace else, just use Google Maps to map out your train route.

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» Visa for Tanzania

For most nationals [link], a visit of up to 3 months will be visa-free — if you’re not a part of this list, you can obtain a visa on arrival for $50 (length of stay will be determined at ports of entry). Citizens of some countries [link], however, will be required to obtain a visa at the nearest immigration office in their locale.

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» Where to Stay (Tanzania Accommodations)

To search for the best hotel accommodation in Tanzania at the best prices, I suggest cross-checking hotel prices between Agoda and Booking.com. But if you’re rather interested in renting comfortable houses or apartments, you should search through AirBnB.

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» Tanzania Currency

Tanzanian Shilling (TSH) wherein TSH 2,300 is equal to about USD $1~ / €0.85~ / Php 45~ (this is as of March 2022). In the event that you want to exchange your money for TSH, I highly advise that you do NOT exchange your money at the airport since the rates there are not competitive.

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» Cost of Travel in Tanzania

To give you an idea, you should expect to travel in Tanzania with an average daily cost of about USD $30~ per person on a budget, or at least $80~ if you want to experience more comfort on activities, tours, hotels, and more. (Values below show low budget to medium budget ranges).

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» How to Get Around Tanzania

The bus is the most common way to travel around the country, but do take note that most roads are poor and not well-maintained. There are also three-wheeled tuktuks that go around towns, if not private taxis. Nevertheless, if you book with a tour operator like Altezza Travel, you won’t have problems navigating yourself through Tanzania.

Otherwise, when you’re mapping out your day-to-day route, just use Google Maps because it will show in detail the fastest connections you can do (by walking, by car, by bus, and by train).

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» Staying Connected in Tanzania

In order to stay connected online at all times during your trip, I recommend getting your own pocket WiFi or an eSIM (use code ‘AILEEN684’ at checkout to get $3 credit).

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» Safety in Tanzania

Tanzania is a relatively safe country and it becomes even safer if you’re part of a reputable tour operator who will help guide you through organized Tanzania safaris. Nevertheless, take note that in big cities, petty theft may happen but it can be easily avoided if you stay street-smart.

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» Helpful Swahili Phrases

Swahili or Kiswahili, is the official language of Tanzania. Though English also has official status and thus spoken by many, but it doesn’t hurt to learn the local language!

Hello: Jambo
Thank you (very much): Asante (sana)
Yes: Ndiyo
No: Hapana
Please: Tafadhali
Goodbye: Kwa heri

There are no problems: Hakuna matata
Excuse me (getting attention) / I’m sorry: Samahani
Do you speak English?: Unazungumza k`iingereza?
Help!: Msaada
Cheers!: Ishi vizuri!

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