How to book a Tanzania safari in 5 easy steps
Deciding you want to go on safari is the easy part. But with so many destinations and wildlife reserves to select from, as well as a whole variety of different accommodation options, booking a Tanzania safari can feel overwhelming.
Should you travel during the
peak, dry season or do you want to take advantage of the savings during the
rainy period? Are you looking for family-friendly accommodation or a romantic,
couples-only safari lodge? Do you want to focus your attention on a single
wildlife reserve or explore along one of Tanzania’s famous “circuits”?
In this article, we’ll offer a
step-by-step guide to the Tanzania safari
booking process to help you plan your dream adventure. With the help of our
safari experts, you can rest assured you’re in the safest hands and will be
packing for your once-in-a-lifetime safari experience in no time.
1. Decide on your safari destination(s), preferred dates and
budget
First
and foremost, you need to decide where you want to go in Tanzania or the kind
of safari experience you want to have. Do you want to experience the Great
Wildebeest Migration in the Serengeti and go wildlife watching in the
Ngorongoro Crater or perhaps you prefer to get off-the-beaten-track in
Tarangire and Lake Manyara national parks. If it’s your second time to Tanzania
and you’ve already done the Northern Circuit, maybe you’re considering some of
the parks on the little-visited Southern Circuit.
In
addition to deciding on your preferred wildlife destinations, you may also want
to add on a beach break after your safari on the island of Zanzibar. If you
want to continue the animal experiences, you could include a trek to see the
mountain gorillas of Rwanda or Uganda, both of which are an easy flight from
Tanzania.
After
determining a rough idea of where you want to go, you also need to decide when
you want to visit and the budget you have available. Keep in mind that a dry
season safari between June and October will generally be more expensive than a
rainy season safari between November and May. The latter is a great option for
keen birdwatchers as migratory species flock to Tanzania’s wetlands while the
wildebeest can be seen calving in the southern Serengeti during January and
February.
Your
budget will determine which accommodation options are available to you, with
most having contrasting prices for the high and low seasons. While you might
think that East Africa is a generally inexpensive destination, the remote
setting of many of Tanzania’s safari accommodations, coupled with the services
of highly-experienced guides, means that you should allow for at least US
$3,500 per person for a seven-day itinerary. The overall price will reflect the
style of safari and the accommodation selected, as well as what’s included,
such as internal flights, activities and/or alcoholic drinks.
2. Send an email
enquiry to create a customized itinerary
Once
you’ve established the above, it’s time to send an email enquiry to one of
Vencha Travel’s experts so they can work their magic. As they know the country
inside-out, they’ll be able to come up with a suggested itinerary, based on
your preferred destinations, budget and travel dates.
The
Vencha Travel website’s tailor-made safari link includes various tick boxes and
prompts to help determine the type of safari you’re interested in. But don’t
hesitate to send a more detailed explanation if you already have an itinerary
in mind. Don’t have everything set in stone? Don’t worry! One of Vencha
Travel’s safari experts will be able to make recommendations, based on your
profile.
Travelling
with kids? Let us book you into the best family-friendly safari camps that
Tanzania has to offer. Looking for a luxurious, bespoke experience? There is no
shortage of high-end lodges designed specifically for couples wanting gourmet
cuisine and on-site spas. Prefer to “rough it” a little while following all the
action on a migration safari? We can organize an unforgettable experience
following the herds at one of Tanzania’s well-equipped mobile camps.
After
your safari expert has received all of your information, they’ll reply with a
suggested itinerary that you can tweak until you’re 100% satisfied. Want to add
on another day here? No problem! Decided that a beach break after your safari
is too good to refuse? We agree! You can email back and forth with your
consultant until you arrive at a final decision and the booking can proceed.
3. Secure your booking by paying a deposit
When
your itinerary is finalized, we’ll send you a booking form that you can fill in
and send back. After we receive it, we’ll send through an invoice, including any
deposit that needs to be paid immediately and when the remaining balance should
be received. All of our prices are in US dollars and we accept most major
credit cards. It’s important to note that prices are dynamic in nature and
subject to both availability and fluctuations in currency exchange rates. So if
a booking isn’t secured shortly after invoicing, it may need to be re-priced at
the time you are ready to make your reservation.
4. Book your international flights
Once your safari package and dates have been
confirmed, it’s time to book your international flight. Your safari expert will
let you know your arrival and departure airports, as well as recommend the
latest time you should arrive in the country. If you want to give yourself time
to overcome any jet lag, don’t hesitate to arrive a day or so early. We can
help you to book additional night accommodation and/or recommend some
activities to do while you’re catching up on rest.
Tanzania is served by a number of international airports, including the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar. The Kilimanjaro International Airport in the north of the country is the closest for connections to the Northern Serengeti while Dar es Salaam is the gateway to the Southern Circuit.
Kilimanjaro Airport is served by a number of international airlines, including Condor, Ethiopian Airlines, Fastjet, Kenya Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Precision Air, Safarilink, Turkish Airlines, RwandaAir and Fly Dubai. Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam receives flight from Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad, Fastjet, FlyDubai, Kenya Airways, Malawian Airlines, Precision Air, Qatar Airways, South African Airlines, Turkish Airlines.
Your safari expert will be able to make flight
recommendations based on your home country and your arrival airport in
Tanzania.
5. Start packing!
Now that your Tanzania safari booking is
finalized, it’s time to start packing for your East Africa adventure. Going on
safari is not like any other holiday, so it’s essential that you don’t leave
your packing to the last minute as you may need to purchase additional
clothing, accessories or equipment.
Other things to consider include lip balm, moisturiser and eye drops, as well as any prescription medication you usually take. It’s also a good idea to bring a basic first-aid kit, including painkillers, antiseptic cream and bandages, although your lodge will probably have a well-stocked first-aid kit on-site. Some travellers to Tanzania will need to have vaccinations prior to travel, so make an appointment to see your doctor a few months before departure. During this appointment, you can also chat with your doctor about taking malaria precautions and the best option for you.
Lastly, Gorilla Trips strongly recommends that all safari visitors purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy to cover them in case of any unexpected situations. While the chance of something happening is highly unlikely, it’s always better to be safe than sorry!
Should you need a help booking your Tanzania Safari please contact us.
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