Choosing Your Safari
5 Questions To Ask Yourself
- What level of luxury am I looking for? Am I happy with a tented camp or a mobile migration camp, or do I want a luxury lodge?
- How much am I willing to spend? As a good rule of thumb, you should expect to pay around $800/person/day out on safari, and $500/person/day in Zanzibar.
- How long do I want to travel for? We generally recommend 10-12 days as the optimal time for a safari and beach trip. This allows you to combine a few parks and have a few days on the beach at the end to unwind.
- Do I want to see the migration? If you want to see the Great Migration - in particular a river crossing - then you'll want to travel in August and be in the north of the Serengeti. The camps and lodges here are generally more expensive, so if the migration isn't a priority for you there is exceptional safari in Central Serengeti.
- Where do I want to be in Zanzibar? If you value privacy and exclusivity, we recommend staying on the eastern coastline where there are a number of stunning private villas and lodges (but the beaches are tidal). If tideless beaches are important to you, we recommend the northern tip of Zanzibar where there are some fantastic 5* beachfront hotels.
Photos from Brilliant customers
Our Brilliant guides, Northern Serengeti
Lion in the Serengeti, photo by Brilliant customer Don
Ella and her family on safari in the Ngorongoro Crater
A sea of wildebeest, Serengeti National Park
The beauty of the Serengeti
Male lion in the Serengeti
Danielle & Joseph honeymooning in beautiful Zanzibar
Rhinos stopping for a drink, Serengeti National Park
Hyenas on the hunt in the cool afternoon
Views from the hot air balloon, Serengeti National Park
Zebra in the Ngorongoro Crater
Wildebeest herds at sunset, Serengeti National Park
Danielle & Joseph spotting a lion in the Serengeti
Joseph and a curious wildebeest, Serengeti National Park
Lion cubs in the Serengeti
Hot air ballooning in the Serengeti
Thrashing hippos in Lake Manyara
Ella and family on horseback safari
A resting lion, snapped by Brilliant customer Melissa
Jake & Rose, cocktails at Tulia Zanzibar
Giraffes in Tarangire National Park
Lion stopping for a drink
Popular Safaris in Tanzania
The tours below showcase just some of what is possible. Use these itineraries as starting points, or to draw inspiration. Then get in touch, and let our expert team help craft the perfect itinerary for you.
Why we love safaris in Tanzania
- Safaris in Tanzania can be considerably cheaper, and more secluded, than in neighbouring Kenya.
- There are 16 national parks and countless private game reserves to discover. Whether you're coming for the views, the wildlife, the culture, the activities, or the accommodation, you'll find it and so much more in Tanzania.
- It's easy to combine a safari in Tanzania with a few days on the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar.
- Each national park has its own highlights and advantages. Safaris are split between the Northern and Southern Safari Circuits, and Tanzania's domestic flight network makes it easy to combine a few national parksalong a single itinerary, offering incredible variety of scenery and wildlife.
What does a day on safari look like?
Safaris take place in the morning and late afternoon. This is when temperatures are cooler and so the animals are most active. It also lines up with sunrise and sunset, providing a staggeringly beautiful backdrop.
Times are not set in stone. Each evening, you will discuss with your guide what time you want to start your safari the next day. Some people like to get out at the crack of dawn, others are happy to go slower.
Each ‘game drive’ (the common term for going out on safari) lasts 3-4 hours. Depending on which park you are in, you will either have a picnic lunch out in the ‘bush’ (the common term for the parks), or you’ll head back to the lodge for lunch.
In the middle of the day you can relax around the lodge. Enjoy the views, have a drink, a dip in the pool, or a siesta. Then, around 3-4pm, you will head back out in search of more wildlife and enjoy the views.
One thing you will want to consider is whether you want a private vehicle and guide or if you are happy to share with a group. Sharing brings the costs down and you will still have a guaranteed window seat and unobstructed views of the wildlife, but you won't have as much flexibility to dictate the pace and direction of your safari.
The Northern Safari Circuit
The Northern Circuit is the most popular route, and it includes the famous Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara, and the beautiful Ngorongoro Crater.
Tanzania's domestic flight network makes it easy enough to connect the dots along the route. The roads are generally in good condition (although there are plenty of bumpy patches), so the road trips aren't too strenuous.
The circuit is very popular, which means that the demand for lodges and flights is high during the peak season. If you're looking to travel to Tanzania's northern circuit, you'll need to book well in advance.
Serengeti National Park
Possibly the most famous national park in Africa, the Serengeti is an incredible safari destination and the site of the annual Great Migration.
It is a vast area with huge amounts of wildlife and a wonderful selection of luxury lodges.
There's so much on offer in the Serengeti, and you should carve out 3-4 days to do it justice. It's the northernmost national park in Tanzania, and it is accessible via a domestic flight and a c. 2-hour road trip.
Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Crater is a stunning, 102-square-mile crater, and the result of the explosion of an ancient volcano.
It is home to a broad variety of wildlife, and many of these animals stay at the crater year-round, rather than migrating to and from as with many other national parks in Tanzania.
The crater covers a relatively small area, so you can explore it in a day or two. It also connects well with the Serengeti National Park and the other parks on the Northern Circuit.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is most famous for its high population of elephants. Too often overlooked in favour of the Serengeti, the park is quieter and less expensive to visit than its bigger sister, but it is no less beautiful.
For a real secluded safari experience, head to the south of the park, a region seldom visited but truly stunning.
The north of the park is home to the Tarangire River that gives the park its name. The river attracts plenty of wildlife in the dry season, making Tarangire a year-round destination.
You'll want at least 2 days to explore the park, 3 or 4 days if you're heading to the south.
Lake Manyara National Park
This park’s centrepiece is the beautiful Lake Manyara that attracts flamingos, pelicans and many other birds year-round.
The park is also home to a number of tree-climbing lions, a rare behaviour with a number of possible explanations, but nothing universally accepted.
Despite the park’s small area, the ecosystem is incredibly diverse, and the landscapes beautiful. There's enough here to keep you occupied for 1-2 days along a northern circuit.
The Southern Safari Circuit
The Southern Safari Circuit is much less visited than the northern circuit, and is often described as Tanzania's best kept secret.
It has just as impressive wildlife and often cheaper accommodation, although there are a fewer luxury lodges available here. It's the seclusion of these parks that make them so special. You often feel like you have the parks all to yourself, and it's easy to go days without seeing another safari vehicle.
The two major parks on the southern circuit are Ruaha National Park and Selous Game Reserve, but some would also count the Mikumi National Park and the areas in the far west to this circuit.
Selous Game Reserve
Originally a hunting reserve, Selous is a massive game reserve once had the crown as the biggest game reserve in Africa, before a part of it was cut off to create a new national park.
The size of the park means it has enormous wildlife numbers, including 35,000 zebras, 40,000 hippos and 120,000-150,000 buffalo, among many others.
It is also known for being home to the wild African dog, a rare animal in Tanzanian national parks. The Rufiji River Delta brings yet more wildlife, and makes for great boat safaris.
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha receives fewer visitors than Selous, although it is the biggest national park in Tanzania and has some of the most interesting wildlife.
The park is known for its rolling hills and vast plains. The leopard, normally hard to spot, can often be seen running across these grasslands.
It is particularly good for photographic safaris as the remote scenery here is extraordinary.
It combines Eastern and Southern African ecosystems, leading to impressive wildlife numbers.
Diary From The Serengeti
The sun is barely over the horizon, but we're already miles from camp.
Conditions are perfect today, the morning sun painting the sky in reds, oranges, and blues. To the left you can see a couple of hot air balloons, and to the right a herd of zebra, taking no notice of us.
By noon, we've seen more game than I could count, and at least half a dozen elephants.
From our picnic spot, there's nothing but savannah for miles around, encompassed by mountains that line the horizon. In the middle of nowhere, watching everything play out in front of us.
A couple of beers later, and we're back on the road. It's not long before we spot a pride of lions, basking in the afternoon sun.
3 reasons to book with Brilliant
1. Highest-rated safari company on Trustpilot
So you can book with confidence knowing you're in safe hands.
2. A fully bespoke service and expert impartial advice
Planning a trip to East Africa is complicated. Brilliant makes it easy. Our team have spent decades in the region so we can help you find the right trip - and we don't charge a fee.
3. Exclusive access at the best rates
We have exclusive access to the best value-for-money camps and lodges at rates you won't get anywhere else.
Melissa and team ready for safari
Popular Safaris in Tanzania
The tours below showcase just some of what is possible. Use these itineraries as starting points, or to draw inspiration. Then get in touch, and let our expert team help craft the perfect itinerary for you.
Travel with Brilliant Africa
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