Tanzania Top Ten Traveling Tips

Tanzania Safari Travel Advice

At Mj Safaris, we live and breathe providing our clients with unbiased advice and extraordinary safari experiences.

Our Africa Safari Experts are permanently based in Africa, are well travelled, and have extensive first-hand knowledge of the destinations they recommend.

They regularly inspect new lodges, experiences and activities to ensure these offerings meet our clients’ expectations.

There’s nothing like up-to-date, relevant travel information direct from someone who’s been there.

Tips for Planning Your Tanzania Safaris

• Plan your timing carefully: if you want to see the Wildebeest Migration on your safari or enjoy the best beach weather in Zanzibar,

make sure your itinerary matches your travel wishes.

• Book early for high season: Tanzania’s sought-after safari destinations and well-located camps at Wildebeest Migration hotspots

get booked out early, often a year in advance.

• Choose your activities: morning and afternoon game drives are standard safari activities, but excursions like night game drives, guided bush walks and hot-air balloon safaris are only allowed in certain areas or camps.
• Expect other visitors in high season: Tanzania’s heavyweight national parks like the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire can attract a lot of visitors from about June to October. Consider visiting during low or Green Season (about November to March) if you want to escape the crowds and still enjoy great game viewing.
• Go private: if it’s exclusivity you want, then head for one of Tanzania’s private reserves. The accommodation is superb, game viewing is as good as the main parks, and extra safari activities (see number 3) are occasionally offered.

Currency of Tanzania & Zanzibar

US Dollar Notes Issued Earlier than 2009 Are not Accepted for Currency Exchange and Payment

Tanzania’s unit of currency is the Tanzanian Shilling, but our advice is to use US Dollars only – and in cash: credit cards and traveler’s cheques (although accepted in most establishments) incur transaction fees. ATMs are found throughout the major towns and cities in Tanzania, but not in the national parks and game reserves.

Note: US Dollar bills printed before 2006 are not accepted in Tanzania.

Tipping lodge staff and drivers/guides is customary for good service on a Tanzania safari, but check first to see whether a service charge has been added to your bill. Tipping is always in addition to the price quoted by your operator and the amount varies depending on the size of your group, the level of luxury of the safari and whether you thought an exceptionally good job was done. When travelling in the major Tanzania cities, a 10% tip is customary in restaurants and bars when a service charge is not included.

Going on safari is the trip of a lifetime, follow these tips to ensure you get the most out of your holiday.

• Where do you want to go? Are you looking for mountains, craters, and plains, or, wetlands, deserts, coastlines, rivers, and waterfalls?
• Deciding when to go is as important. The rainy season can make roads impassable.
• Money matters. National Park Safaris are often much cheaper as you can go it alone. A Game Reserve tends to be higher in price due to the closer proximity of wildlife and fewer crowds.
• How many days do you want to spend within the area? Decide if the better option is flying or driving.
• Purchasing a guidebook is obvious and essential. Most guidebooks include a section on history, culture and wildlife.
• National Parks usually require traveling time to and from the area, as lodging is scarce. Game Reserves have accommodations inside.
• Do you want to go it alone or be led by an experienced guide? A guided safari will offer you more opportunities to understand what your looking for i.e. tracks, watering holes etc…
• Remember to pack wisely. Don’t forget, sunscreen, rain gear, first-aid, and a well-worn pair of boots.
• Appreciate all that you see. Many smaller and lesser-known animals are often overlooked in favor of the bigger and more popular ones.
• Lastly, don’t expect to see everything, animals and weather are unpredictable. Take it all in and enjoy.