Frequently Asked Questions

The best time for a Tanzania safari is during the dry season from June to October, when wildlife concentrates around water sources, making game viewing exceptional. However, Tanzania offers great safari experiences year-round. The wet season (November-May) features lush landscapes, newborn animals, fewer tourists, and lower prices. The Great Migration calving season in January-March is spectacular in the southern Serengeti.

We recommend a minimum of 3 days for a quick safari experience (like our Big Five Express). For a comprehensive experience covering multiple parks, 5-7 days is ideal. If you want to combine safari with Zanzibar beach time, plan for 8-10 days. Our 10-day Ultimate Grand Safari offers the most complete Tanzania experience.

Tanzania is generally very safe for tourists, especially on safari. Safari lodges, camps, and national parks are secure, and professional guides ensure your safety throughout. In cities like Arusha and Dar es Salaam, standard travel precautions apply — avoid walking alone at night and keep valuables secure. Tanzania has a long history of welcoming tourists warmly.

The Great Migration is the annual circular movement of approximately 2 million wildebeest, plus hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. It happens year-round in different locations: calving season in the southern Serengeti (January-March), moving through central Serengeti (April-June), dramatic Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti (July-October), and returning south (November-December).

Absolutely! This is one of the most popular ways to experience Tanzania. Our Safari & Zanzibar Beach Combo (8 days) is specifically designed for this. After your safari, a short domestic flight takes you from Arusha to Zanzibar in about 90 minutes. It's the perfect way to combine African wildlife with tropical beach relaxation.

We recommend booking 3-6 months in advance, especially for peak season (July-October) and holiday periods (Christmas/New Year). Popular lodges in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro fill up quickly. However, we can sometimes arrange last-minute safaris — contact us to check availability. Tailor-made safaris may need more lead time for custom planning.

Our safari packages typically include: a 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, professional English-speaking guide/driver, all national park and conservation fees, full-board accommodation (breakfast, lunch, dinner), airport transfers, 1.5L bottled water daily, and game drives as per itinerary. Some packages include domestic flights and special activities.

Yes! We specialize in tailor-made safaris. You can modify any of our standard packages or create a completely custom itinerary. Adjust the duration, choose specific lodges, add activities (hot air balloon, walking safari, cultural visits), combine destinations, or upgrade accommodation levels. Visit our Tailor-Made Safari page to start designing your dream trip.

Yes, we offer scheduled group joining safaris for solo travelers and small groups looking to share costs. These depart on fixed dates with a maximum of 6 people per vehicle. Contact us for upcoming departure dates and pricing.

Our cancellation policy varies by timing: more than 60 days before departure — full refund minus admin fee; 30-60 days — 50% refund; less than 30 days — no refund. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip cancellation. In case of extraordinary circumstances, we work with clients on rebooking options.

We use custom-modified Toyota Land Cruisers — the gold standard for East African safaris. Each vehicle features a pop-up roof for 360-degree game viewing and photography, charging ports for devices, a cooler box, binoculars, wildlife reference books, and comfortable seating for a maximum of 6 guests (window seats guaranteed).

The Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino) are all present in Tanzania. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the best places in Africa to see all five in a single day. Lions and elephants are commonly seen across all northern circuit parks. Leopards require patience and a skilled guide. Black rhinos are endangered but can be spotted in the Ngorongoro Crater.

We offer three tiers: Budget — comfortable tented camps with basic amenities; Mid-Range — well-appointed lodges and permanent tented camps with en-suite bathrooms; Luxury — premium lodges and camps with top-tier service, gourmet dining, and stunning locations. All options provide a genuine safari atmosphere. We can mix levels within one trip.

Wear light, neutral-colored clothing (khaki, beige, olive, brown) — avoid bright colors and white. Layers are essential as mornings can be cold (especially at Ngorongoro Crater rim). Bring a warm fleece or jacket, comfortable walking shoes, a sun hat, and sunglasses. Long sleeves and pants for evening mosquito protection. Smart casual for lodge dinners.

Most mid-range and luxury lodges offer WiFi, though speeds vary and may be limited to common areas. Budget camps may have limited or no connectivity. We recommend embracing the digital detox — disconnecting is part of the safari magic! You can buy a local SIM card (Vodacom or Airtel) in Arusha for mobile data.

Yellow Fever vaccination is required if you're arriving from a Yellow Fever endemic country. Recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Tetanus, and Polio. Consult your travel doctor at least 6-8 weeks before departure. A Yellow Fever certificate may be checked at immigration.

Malaria is present throughout Tanzania, including safari and beach areas. We strongly recommend anti-malaria medication (consult your doctor for the best option). Additionally, use DEET-based insect repellent, wear long sleeves/pants in the evening, and sleep under mosquito nets (provided at all lodges and camps).

Yes — travel insurance is mandatory for all our safari clients. Your policy must cover medical evacuation (important in remote safari areas), trip cancellation, baggage loss, and emergency medical treatment. The Flying Doctors service (AMREF) can evacuate from remote areas to Nairobi hospitals. We can recommend insurance providers.

Do not drink tap water in Tanzania. We provide 1.5L bottled water per person per day on safari. Bottled water is readily available at lodges and shops. Use bottled water for brushing teeth as well. All lodges serve safe, filtered water and ice.

We accept payments in US Dollars (preferred), Euros, and British Pounds. The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS), but USD is widely accepted for tourism services. Bring clean, newer bills (2006 or newer for USD). Credit cards are accepted at larger lodges but carry cash for tips and local purchases.

We accept bank wire transfers (preferred for final payment), credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard — processing fee may apply), and PayPal. A 30% deposit is required to confirm your booking, with the balance due 60 days before departure. For last-minute bookings, full payment is required at booking.

Yes! All national park entrance fees, conservation area fees, crater service fees, and concession fees are included in our safari package prices. These fees represent a significant portion of the total cost and are paid directly to TANAPA (Tanzania National Parks Authority) and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority.