KARIBUUU

Over 5 years later, I’m finally getting around to writing the travel journal for our first trip to East Africa: Tanzania. *Polé Polé*, as they say! 😎

A trip I’d started planning just 6 years ago, in February 2019, for my post-internship exam vacation. After returning to South Africa in July 2019 with my family, this trip, planned for September 2019, would be all about discovery and a few firsts: first trip with friends, first trek, first time in East Africa. I really wanted to attempt the Kilimanjaro ascent, try to still see some of its "eternal" ice, and Alison wanted to do as much safari as possible. Unlike with the Zulus, Himbas, or San, visiting a Maasai village wasn’t on the agenda. Thanks to the Kessy Brothers agency, who were super responsive, Sandy from VF, and other members who helped prepare our trip, we settled on the following itinerary:

Day -1 (8/30): Departure from Pointe-à-Pitre Day 0 (8/31): Departure from Paris Day 1 (9/01): Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport / Ameg Lodge (Moshi) DAY 2 (9/02): Machame gate / Machame camp DAY 3 (9/03): Shira / Shira camp DAY 4 (9/04): Baranco / Baranco camp DAY 5 (9/05): Barafu / Barafu camp DAY 6 (9/06): Barafu + Summit at midnight / Mweka camp DAY 7 (9/07): Mweka gate / Sal Salnero Hotel (Moshi) DAY 8 (9/08): Arusha National Park / Kanga camp DAY 9 (9/09): Tarangire National Park / Kanga camp DAY 10 (9/10): Tarangire National Park / Twiga Lodge DAY 11 (9/11): Lake Manyara / Twiga Lodge DAY 12 (9/12): Ngorongoro Crater / Simba campsite DAY 13 (9/13): Serengeti National Park / Seronera campsite DAY 14 (9/14): Serengeti National Park - Uoga Kuria Camp DAY 15 (9/15): Serengeti National Park / Waso campsite DAY 16 (9/16): Lake Natron / Maasai Giraffe Ecolodge DAY 17 (9/17): Kilimanjaro Airport Day 18 (9/18): Zanzibar Day 19 (9/19): Zanzibar Day 20 (9/20): Zanzibar Day 21 (9/21): Zanzibar

As I mentioned in my first travel journal about our South Africa trip, I’ve had a special connection to Tanzania for a long time. Growing up in the Indian Ocean without ever visiting Africa, those wildlife documentaries on TV when I skipped my pharmacy classes... I imagined and dreamed about this land and country so much.

The original plan was to go just the two of us with Alison, but somehow—though I don’t quite remember how—we ended up organizing the trip with our friends Mélissa and Doriane, who joined us in Arusha after our Kilimanjaro trek for the last two weeks and their very first safari. I think it was Melissa who had the idea to crash our trip, and she was right to do so! 😉 Flights: Pointe-à-Pitre-Grand Case and Grand Case-Paris with Air Caraïbes. Flights: Paris-JRO and ZNZ-Paris with Kenya Airways (layover in Nairobi). Flight: JRO-ZNZ with Air Tanzania.



Safe travels! !

I’d like to travel with one or two others for these trips. For Senegal, I’ll take my car. For the other trips, we can plan them later if the first one goes smoothly and is fair for all backpackers. I travel light with minimal personal items and no pretensions. I love sharing and chatting without overthinking it. And I’m open to any initiative.

I won’t tolerate people who are too attached to their comfort or their personal cultural lifestyle outside their home country or country of birth. (Humility and tolerance) The world is about discovery and should feel new above all else.

I’m planning to go to Zanzibar from mid-January to mid-April. Looking for a comfortable, clean place with AC or a fan, really close to a beach (max 600m on foot). I’ll be traveling with my Jack Russell, who’s also a seasoned traveler.

Any tips, good deals, or recommendations are welcome! 😊 I spent 4 months in Zanzibar… 20 years ago!! Thanks in advance. It’d be great to find a travel companion. I know the trip might be a bit long for some folks 🤷🏽‍♀️

Hey everyone, so glad to see the group back up and running! I’d love to join an existing group of French speakers—ideally, but if there are any interested folks, why not start one for the Kili climb?

Hello. I’m looking for participants for a safari in Tanzania in the first quarter of 2026. I’m in direct negotiations with a local guide. Below is the description (via a draft service contract). If you’re interested, reply to me. We’ll then communicate via private email.

Between the undersigned:

Ms./Mr. (provide the provider’s name), representing the company (specify), whose registered office is located at (provide the address), Hereinafter referred to as The Provider

And,

Ms./Mr. (provide the client’s name and contact details), Hereinafter referred to as The Client

The following has been agreed:

I. Purpose This service contract covers the organization of a safari in Tanzania by The Provider for the benefit of The Client.

II. Duration This contract is concluded for a duration of (specify). It takes effect from day J1: (specify the date) and will end on (specify the date). Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties, this contract is not subject to any automatic renewal.

III. Execution Terms The Provider undertakes to carry out the tasks assigned by The Client with professionalism and rigor, in accordance with best practices. They also agree to comply with all applicable regulations and standards for their tasks. To fulfill their duties, The Provider will mobilize all necessary resources. The Client, for their part, agrees to collaborate with The Provider and provide all useful information for the smooth execution of the tasks. IV. Payment The Client will pay The Provider the sum of (specify), according to the following terms: (specify). In case of late payment, The Provider reserves the right to claim penalties in the amount of (specify). V. Confidentiality The Provider agrees not to disclose any information or documents provided by The Client. Upon completion of their task, they will destroy all documents in their possession. VI. Service Details Accommodation during the stay (excluding days 1, 2, and 9): participants will sleep in tents, with 2 people per tent. A sleeping bag and an inflatable mattress will be provided. They will have water for washing and access to toilets. Tents will be set up and taken down during each transfer. It will be possible to charge camera batteries. Day 1: ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER Welcome at Kilimanjaro Airport for transfer to Arusha and overnight at Green Mountain Hotel (breakfast included) - https://greenmountainhotel.co.tz/ Day 2: HIKE ON THE TRAILS OF KILIMANJARO. Pick-up from your hotel in Arusha to the village of Moshi Materuni, at the foot of Kilimanjaro. You’ll begin a day of hiking toward the impressive waterfalls in one of the country’s highest regions, where crystal-clear glacial water cascades from 70 meters high. The beautiful trail leads to the Materuni waterfalls, located at 2,500 meters altitude. To reach these falls, you’ll cross valleys and hills covered in tropical forest, coffee, avocado, and banana plantations. On a clear day, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of Kibo, the highest peak of Kilimanjaro. You’ll also learn how to prepare and taste coffee. In the evening, you’ll be picked up in Arusha and spend the night at Green Mountain Hotel. Day 3: HIKE IN A MAASAI VILLAGE After breakfast around 8:30 AM, you’ll be picked up from your hotel for a walking hike in the wild nature of the village. You’ll visit local primary schools, meet traditional healers, and discover their techniques. You’ll also visit one of the local livestock markets. Dinner and overnight at the Maasai village house in Boma. Day 4: WILDLIFE IN 4X4 ALONG THE TARANGIRE RIVER Around 8 AM, you’ll be picked up from your hotel in Arusha and drive for 2 hours to Tarangire National Park for a day of wildlife viewing. The park is known for its dense wildlife along the Tarangire River. It’s home to a large number of elephants in the northern circuit and hosts 550 bird species. You’ll also observe herds of impalas, hartebeests, wildebeests, kudus, oryxes, gerenuks, zebras, buffaloes, and giraffes. Predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and massive African baobabs can also be spotted. Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Fig Tree Lodge. Day 5: LAKE MANYARA PARK - WILDLIFE VIEWING IN THE RIFT VALLEY Around 8 AM, departure from your camp to Lake Manyara Park (at the foot of a 600-meter escarpment in the Great Rift Valley) for a day of safaris. You’ll see giraffes, buffaloes, groups of baboons, tree-climbing lions, and many other animals. Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Fig Tree Lodge. Day 6: WILDLIFE IN SERENGETI In the morning, you’ll drive for 5 hours to the magnificent Serengeti National Park, passing through the archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge. This park is arguably the world’s most famous wildlife reserve. It’s home to over 3 million large mammals, and you’ll quickly spot the "Big Five": buffaloes, elephants, black rhinos of the Moru Kopjes, lions, and leopards. Over 500 bird species have been recorded here. You’ll also witness the spectacular wildebeest migration in the western Serengeti. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Nyani campsite. Day 7: MAGNIFICENT WILDLIFE AT SUNRISE IN SERENGETI Stunning sunrise safaris in the golden savanna of the endless plains of Serengeti National Park, all day long, following the animals’ movements. You’ll spend the night at the campsite and share your exceptional experience so far at Serengeti Nyani campsite. Day 8: MAJESTIC EXCURSION IN THE SERENGETI PLAINS Wake-up at 6 AM, coffee at the campsite, then departure for a sunrise safari in the Serengeti. Our guide will take you to the best spots to admire the sunrise and observe predators, as most of them, like lions, are very active at this time of day. You’ll return to the campsite around 10 AM for brunch, then load your belongings into the jeep for a 2-hour safari on the way to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Simba Lodge. Day 9: SPECTACULAR EXCURSION TO NGORONGORO CRATER Shortly after breakfast, you’ll descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a sunrise safari in the world’s largest uninterrupted caldera, surrounded by steep walls rising 610 meters from the crater floor. This natural wonder measures 19.2 km in diameter and covers 304 km². You’ll go on safaris and discover rare species like black rhinos, wildebeests, giraffes, ostriches, bustards, lions, cheetahs, and flamingos in the Soda Lake. In the afternoon, you’ll return to Arusha, arriving in the evening for your private activities. Accommodation in half-board (dinner, overnight, breakfast) Day 10: TRANSFER TO KILIMANJARO AIRPORT Breakfast and transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport. VII- RATES: The package price is 2030 USD (approximately per person in a double room). VIII- THE PRICE INCLUDES: - Provision of sealed water bottles for participants - Park entry fees. - Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport. - Accommodation in Arusha (breakfast included). - Village development fees. - Accommodation in camps/lodges (breakfast, lunch, dinner). - Transport in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof in national parks. - Government taxes. - Activities detailed in the itinerary. - Safari guides. - Transfer from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport on day 10.

IX- THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: - Alcoholic beverages. - International flights. - Personal items such as visas, laundry, etc. - Tips.

Done at Done at

Date: Date: Provider’s Signature: Client’s Signature:

Hello.

I’m looking for participants to form a group of 5 to 6 people for a safari in Tanzania during the dry season in January or even February 2026. There are already two of us. This period is ideal for the Great Migration (when animals cross into Kenya, including wildebeest and zebras, with predators like lions around).

Duration: about one week. A 13-day option is available, but it’s more expensive.

Approximate price: 3500 € (flights included).

You can either go through an agency (local or not) or directly contact a guide (like the SO GUIDES association, for example). I have a contact with a guide who has received very positive reviews.

I won’t go into all the details yet. The first step is to form a group so we can negotiate with a provider. After that, we’ll communicate and make decisions together.

You can reach me at this email: jp54pradines@gmail.com (my personal OVS space is no longer valid—this is my partner’s email).

If you’re interested, please contact me quickly. It’s best to book flight tickets as early as possible for better prices.

Here’s an example of a safari package with a guide:

**8-DAY/7-NIGHT WILD ADVENTURE SAFARI**

**Day 1: ARRIVAL AND TRANSFER** Welcome at Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer to Arusha. Overnight at Green Mountain Hotel (breakfast included).

**Day 2: HIKE ON THE TRAILS OF KILIMANJARO** Pickup from your hotel in Arusha to Moshi Materuni village at the foot of Kilimanjaro. Start a day hike to the impressive waterfalls in one of the country’s highest regions, where glacial, crystal-clear water cascades from 70 meters high. The beautiful trail leads to Materuni Waterfalls at 2,500 meters altitude. To reach them, you’ll cross valleys and hills covered in tropical forest, coffee, avocado, and banana plantations. On clear days, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s highest peak. You’ll also learn how to prepare and taste coffee. In the evening, return to Arusha for an overnight stay at Green Mountain Hotel.

**Day 3: HIKE IN A MAASAI VILLAGE** After breakfast around 8:30 AM, you’ll be picked up from your hotel for a walking safari in the wild village. Visit local primary schools, meet traditional healers, and learn about their techniques. You’ll also visit one of the local livestock markets. Dinner and overnight at the Maasai village Boma house.

**Day 4: WILDLIFE IN 4X4 ALONG THE TARANGIRE RIVER** Around 8 AM, pickup from your hotel in Arusha for a 2-hour drive to Tarangire National Park for a day of wildlife viewing. The park is famous for its dense wildlife along the Tarangire River. It’s home to a large number of elephants in the northern circuit and over 550 bird species. You’ll also spot herds of impalas, hartebeests, wildebeests, kudus, oryxes, gerenuks, zebras, buffaloes, and giraffes. Predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas are also present, along with massive African baobabs. Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Fig Tree Lodge.

**Day 5: LAKE MANYARA PARK – WILDLIFE VIEWING IN THE RIFT VALLEY** Around 8 AM, depart from your camp to Lake Manyara Park (at the foot of a 600-meter escarpment in the Great Rift Valley) for a day of safaris. You’ll see giraffes, buffaloes, baboon troops, tree-climbing lions, and many other animals. Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Fig Tree Lodge.

**Day 6: WILDLIFE IN SERENGETI** In the morning, drive for 5 hours to the stunning Serengeti National Park, passing through the Olduvai Gorge archaeological site. This park is arguably the world’s most famous wildlife reserve, home to over 3 million large mammals. You’ll quickly spot the “Big Five”: buffaloes, elephants, black rhinos in the Moru Kopjes, lions, and leopards. Over 500 bird species have been recorded here. You’ll also witness the spectacular wildebeest migration in the western Serengeti. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Nyani Camp.

**Day 7: MAGNIFICENT SUNRISE SAFARI IN SERENGETI** Enjoy a stunning sunrise safari in the golden savanna of the Serengeti’s endless plains, all day long, following the animals’ movements. Spend the night at the camp and share your incredible experience so far at Serengeti Nyani Camp.

**Day 8: MAJESTIC EXCURSION IN THE SERENGETI PLAINS** Wake up at 6 AM for coffee at the camp, then head out for a sunrise safari in the Serengeti. Our guide will take you to the best spots to admire the sunrise and observe predators, as many of them, like lions, are most active at this time of day. Return to camp around 10 AM for brunch, then load your belongings into the jeep for a 2-hour safari en route to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Simba Lodge.

**Day 9: SPECTACULAR EXCURSION TO NGORONGORO CRATER** Shortly after breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a sunrise safari in the world’s largest uninterrupted caldera, surrounded by steep walls rising 610 meters from the crater floor. This natural wonder is 19.2 km in diameter and covers 304 km². You’ll explore the area on safari and spot rare species like black rhinos, wildebeests, giraffes, ostriches, bustards, lions, cheetahs, and flamingos in the Soda Lake. In the afternoon, return to Arusha, arriving in the evening for your private activities.

**END OF SERVICES**

**RATES:** The package price is 1,800 USD per person in a double room. Since the guide doesn’t handle flight tickets, we’ll need to arrange those ourselves.

You’ll need to add around 1200 €, bringing the total to 3000 €. This is the price for an independent guide. For a travel agency, you’d need to budget at least 3600 €. Plus, with the guide, we get an extra day of activities compared to an agency’s offer.

**PRICE INCLUDES:** - Park entry fees. - Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport. - Accommodation in Arusha (breakfast included). - Village development fees. - Accommodation in camps/lodges (breakfast, lunch, dinner). - Transport in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof in national parks. - Government taxes. - Activities detailed in the itinerary. - Safari guides. - You’ll need to add: return trip from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport.

**PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:** - Alcoholic beverages. - International flights. - Personal items like visas, laundry, etc. - Tips.

Meleji Mollel (the guide).

This package is for a non-private group. If we form our own group, it becomes private, and we can negotiate with the guide—including requesting a French-speaking guide.

So, are you interested? Could you let me know soon, please?

Hello,

We got back from Tanzania a month ago, on March 5th. I’ve started this trip report at the link the moderator asked me to use:

https://voyageforum.com/forum/decouverte-ruaha-nyerere-ex-selous-en-fevrier-mars-2026-d11466010/

You’ll find a video of our trip on my YouTube channel there.

Now I’ll tell you about our 10-night trip in Tanzania, with 8 nights spent in two parks we didn’t know. Tanzania isn’t new to us—it was even our first African safari destination back in 2012. https://www.youtube.com/@lolodetoul54 Since then, we’ve visited several East and Southern African countries: Kenya, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, some of them multiple times. We usually travel in September during the dry season. We tried March 2024 for nine nights in the Okavango and loved it, except everything was dry, which wasn’t normal for the rainy season.

So for this second March trip during the wet season, we really got what we asked for… rain. But before that, we had to fight just to get to Tanzania.

Saturday, February 21, 2026:

It’s D-Day—the departure. What a hassle to organize flights to and within Tanzania! I’ll tell you all about it in another post: https://voyageforum.com/forum/toutes-compagnies-aeriennes-tanzaniennes-interdites-d10758360/ On top of that, Rwandair canceled our outbound flight a month before departure. They offered to reschedule us 3-4 days later—ridiculous for a 10-night trip we’d already booked. We had to cancel our tickets and buy new ones with Kenya Airways. We’re still waiting for our refund from Rwandair!!!!!!! So on Saturday, February 1st, our bags were packed. We headed to the Lorraine TGV station, about 30 km from home. Direct train to Roissy—just 1h15. Quick and efficient. All that was left was to wait for our overnight flight. We took off on time, just before 11 PM. Smooth flight, nothing unusual. Arrived in Nairobi around 9 AM. A few hours’ wait, then a flight to Dar es Salaam, landing at our first destination around 12:45 PM. Our local contact, Anne from Asanterra agency, picked us up at the airport. It was hot and humid—it was raining.



Our first night was at the Alexander Hotel. That evening, we treated ourselves to fish and shellfish at the hotel restaurant:



Sunday, February 22, 2026:

A driver picked us up at dawn to take us to the domestic airport so we could finally head to our first destination: Ruaha National Park. We flew with Auric.air for a 2-hour flight with two stops (Nyerere and Zkima airstrips).





I’m always amazed at how easily these Cessnas take off and land on dirt runways—especially when they’re wet:



Aerial view of Zkima airstrip, where we’d landed just minutes earlier:



Flyover of Iringa, a "big" city in the country near Ruaha National Park:



We’re getting close. The plane descends and flies over the Ruaha River, which gave the park its name:



We land for the third and final time that day, reaching our destination: Msembe airstrip, the gateway to Ruaha.

...

" We’re ALL different, and so are our expectations when it comes to travel or leisure ". There are—without a doubt—as many ways to experience a trip as there are travelers!! For the two of us, it’s only our love of wild nature that guides us to East Africa. The stated goal of this trip was purely wildlife-focused, and NOT about discovering the country or its people.

...

Hello everyone,

Previously, I shared the account of a trip/safari in southern Tanzania in June 2024, in the Mikumi and Selous reserves.

This time, still in southern Tanzania, I invite you to join us in Ruaha National Park. (Then, depending on the number of images allowed in my quota, at the end of my story, we’ll return to Selous for the second part of the same trip.)

- This trip/safari took place in November 2022. - Our flight started in Marseille, heading to Addis Ababa, then Dar es Salaam (via Ethiopian Airlines). In Dar, we spent one night at a hotel near the airfield.

-1- During the layover in Addis Ababa. The Airbus A-350 in the early morning mist.



Reminder: Click on each image to enlarge it, if needed. .

From Dar es Salaam, if you want to go by road to Ruaha, it’ll take a very long and tiring day. 🤪

On previous trips, we’ve always taken a bush plane for this route. In this case, it took just over an hour and a half, with two short intermediate stops to drop off passengers at other bush airstrips.

Since I’m also passionate about aviation, I love these flights where you can admire the landscapes from low altitude while sitting right behind the pilot 🙂.

-2- These routes mainly use Cessna 208 Caravans.



At the Msembe airstrip, we’re greeted around 1:30 PM by a guide and a driver from our chosen lodge. They brought a picnic basket, which we enjoy at a nearby picnic area. We’re by the Ruaha River, completely dry—it’s scorching hot.

-3- The first mammals we encounter are a pair of female impalas, accompanied by a young male.



Reminder: Click on the image to view it in larger size. 😉

-4- To save the hippopotamus populations from certain death, rangers had to dig holes in the sand with bulldozers. Fortunately, water is present beneath the sand layer.



-5- This crocodile doesn’t seem to have been accepted as a swimming neighbor by the hippos...



We’ll explore along the river for 2-3 hours before crossing it at a ford toward the southern part of the reserve.

-6- The typical landscape of Ruaha, with its many baobabs.



-7- My buddy the R.L.B. is also here to welcome me.... 🙂 🙂



-8- As well as this little bee-eater... 😎



-9- ...which reminds us of the origin of its name...!



-10- Above a rare waterhole, a fish eagle keeps watch for fish...



...

*** Please wait until the end of the story for any questions or to share your own experiences in Ruaha. (Or via PM.) Thanks in advance for keeping this account smooth and enjoyable. 😉

...

*** I’m not an ornithologist, but birds are an important and unavoidable part of safari discoveries. You’ll find quite a few in the images of my story. 😎

...

Hi,

A pretty serious issue has come up in the past few weeks for traveling to Tanzania.

What’s the deal with airlines in Tanzania? https://www.capital.fr/economie-politique/ce-pays-est-tres-touristique-mais-ses-compagnies-aeriennes-sont-placees-sur-liste-noire-par-l-europe-1515325 https://www.charentelibre.fr/tourisme/la-tanzanie-sur-liste-noire-de-l-europe-des-vols-interieurs-a-haut-risque-pour-100-000-touristes-francais-25002566.php

Basically, all airlines have been blacklisted because they don’t meet European safety standards. They’re banned from flying in Europe but continue operating in Tanzania. The main issue is that travel agencies’ civil liability no longer applies to blacklisted airlines. So we can’t allow clients to fly with these carriers. Of course, there’s huge pressure from European agencies, which are forced to disrupt their plans or even cancel trips because of this. Personally, I’ve got a trip planned for February 2026 to the southern parks in Tanzania, so I’ll be keeping an eye on how this develops. Do any of you have updates? Thanks!

Loïc

hi, We're heading to the Selous Game Reserve from January 21 to 23 and have booked 2 nights at the Mapumziko Lodge. We'd like to take a flight to get there faster, but we can't find any info on flights, their prices, or the airstrips—there are so many in Selous, apparently. Has anyone taken a small plane there before and could give us some tips? Thanks in advance

Hello,

Well, this trip to Tanzania in the southern parks—Ruaha and Nyerere (formerly Selous)—finally happened in late February to early March.

It was a bit more complicated to organize than usual, with a few hiccups. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere (link), the ban on booking domestic flights in Tanzania through a French agency made things a little tricky.

However, my friend Vincent Beccaro from Objectif Nature found a solution by having a local ground operator step in—one I’d recommend if you run into similar issues.

With flight tickets secured through Kenya Airways (after Rwandair canceled our outbound flight), we easily made it to Dar es Salaam on February 22. Side note: my dealings with Rwandair to get a refund for the flights they canceled are still ongoing. This airline is dragging its feet, constantly pushing back the refund date every time I check in (which is about once a week). I won’t back down.

Back to our 10-night trip: we spent our first night in Dar es Salaam before heading to Ruaha with Auric Air.

We stayed in some incredible lodges—4 nights at Ikuka Safari Camp in Ruaha, then 4 nights at Laba Siwada in Nyerere, before returning to Dar es Salaam.

Before I share a full recap with photos, I’ve just finished editing a video I’d like to show you.

You’ll see beautiful lodges, rainy safaris, and some amazing wildlife encounters, like wild dogs and bat-eared foxes.

Sorting and identifying all the animals (especially the birds) from the thousands of photos I took will take a bit of time. Bear with me!

Watch the video here

Hi there,

Seen in various media outlets, a new tax on flight tickets was introduced on Nov. 1 by the Tanzanian government. A tax related to security... !!!??

Amount: around $90 per round-trip flight ticket.....

...

Hi there, I’ve reached out to a few agencies for a week-long family safari next summer before heading to Zanzibar.

So far, the itinerary looks like this: Day 1: Late arrival at JRO and overnight in Arusha Day 2: Drive to Tarangire, park visit, and overnight in Tarangire Day 3: Tarangire, drive to and overnight in Karatu Day 4: Ngorongoro and overnight in Ngorongoro Day 5: Drive to Serengeti and safari in Seronera Day 6: Serengeti and overnight near Lobo Day 7: Serengeti and overnight in Seronera Day 8: Flight from Seronera to Zanzibar

On paper, it covers "everything," but maybe there’s a bit too much time lost on the road... Any alternatives?

To simplify (and cut costs), I was thinking: Day 1: Late arrival at JRO and overnight in Arusha Day 2: Arusha National Park with a walking safari and meeting the Maasai (?) Day 3: Drive to Tarangire, park visit, and overnight in Tarangire Day 4: Full day in Tarangire Day 5: Tarangire, drive to and overnight in Karatu Day 6: Ngorongoro and overnight in Ngorongoro Day 7: Morning in Manyara or Natron and drive to JRO Day 8: Flight to Zanzibar

Your thoughts and recommendations are welcome... Thanks

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out for your advice since we’re planning a trip to Tanzania for our 10th wedding anniversary, with a continental part (4 nights) followed by Zanzibar for some relaxation (7 nights). A childhood dream.

My first question is: have families with kids this age already done this trip? Is it relatively safe, because I know that if there’s even the slightest health issue, the infrastructure can be tricky, especially on the mainland in Tanzania. We’ll of course take our precautions (vaccines and Malarone), but I want to make sure we’re not being reckless, as my in-laws seem to suggest (they’ve never traveled).

Also, for the safari, I need your opinions. I’m in advanced talks with the agency *Tanzania Wise Safari*. Has anyone heard of them?

Day 1 - night in Arusha to rest Day 2 - departure for Tarangire and safari (likely in the early afternoon), night in a lodge near the northern part of the lake at the crater entrance Day 3 - crater - night in the same lodge (I want to limit changes for my kids, but I’m not sure if that’s smart) Day 4 - I’m hesitating - what to do in the morning? Lake Manyara? Or return to Arusha at a relaxed pace and spend the night there? The guide suggested Arusha National Park, but I think it’s too much driving for the kids, since there’s already the trip from the crater to Arusha to get to the park. Day 5 - departure for Zanzibar. Do you have a recommended airline?

For flights, I tried a multi-destination option, but it seems complicated.

Thanks so much for your feedback

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a Tanzania trip combined with Zanzibar for 15 days (8+6 days). The setup: a private trip for two, in July or August.

We’re heading to Tanzania primarily for the safari experience—the animals, photography, and stunning landscapes. The classic Northern Circuit for beginners is Arusha / Tarangire / Ngorongoro / Serengeti.

But that’s a lot of driving if we do the full loop... and I’ve read it’s better to take your time in the parks rather than spend all day in transfers (saw that in Lonely Planet).

So, beginner’s question... Do you think Arusha / Tarangire / Ngorongoro is a good alternative? We’d skip the legendary Serengeti but could spend more time in the parks and avoid long stretches of rough roads (prioritizing paved routes instead)... Maybe adding Lake Manyara to the mix.

For context, we did Kruger about ten years ago (5 days self-drive).

Hi there, We’re currently planning our trip to Tanzania for August 2025. We’re a family with two teens (16 and 14) and we’re used to traveling with our backpacks, using local transport to create authentic exchanges with locals.

We’d like to do a short safari (2 days and 1 night) during our 3-week trip on a small budget.

If we had to choose just one park in Tanzania in August, which one would you recommend?

Is it easy to rent a jeep with a driver in August without going through an agency in Tanzania?

Who can help us decode the rates offered by agencies? - Park entry: how much per person? Does it vary by age? Are the rates different depending on the park? - Cost of the driver and a guide? - Is accommodation in the park taxed? - Do we need to budget for a tip?

Hi there, We’re planning a trip for 2 adults and 2 kids to Tanzania and Zanzibar. I’ve had a quick look, and the prices are starting to get pretty wild. We’ve got a budget of 8,000 €, and I was thinking of doing three or four days of safari and three or four days in Zanzibar, but even that seems like it might be over budget. Have you got any thoughts? I was also considering heading straight to Zanzibar and doing a one- or two-day excursion by plane instead—maybe that’d be cheaper than staying in a lodge. Anyway, thanks for sharing your experiences and any price tips, departing from Nice!

Hi there, We're in the middle of planning a safari in Tanzania for October. I've reached out to most of the local agencies recommended on VF and others: Greatzone's offer really caught our attention because it matches our wishes, they have a responsive team, and the price is lower than other agencies. The price difference is quite noticeable, so I'm wondering about the quality of their services—any thoughts??

Also, is it possible to avoid paying the full amount for the safari in advance? It seems excessive to ask for full payment a month ahead and it doesn’t feel very secure... Is this the case with all agencies??

Thanks for your advice!

Hi everyone, We’re revising our travel plans for January 2027. Originally, we were considering Uganda for about 14/15 days, but given the current health situation and the restrictions that might affect my partner, who’s American, we’ve decided to switch to Tanzania instead. I’m used to traveling in South Africa and organizing my trips myself, but I get the impression that planning a safari in Tanzania is quite different. I know self-drive isn’t really an option in Tanzania. So my main question is: can you organize your own itinerary and book lodges directly, then hire a local driver-guide? Or is it better to go through a local agency that handles the entire safari? For the itinerary, which parks would you recommend for a first-time visit in January? Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Manyara, Ruaha, Arusha, Selous… We’d also like to include Zanzibar to end the trip with a few days at the beach. Over 14/15 days, does that sound realistic or too ambitious? Finally, for flights, is it better to arrive at Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Dar es Salaam (DAR) based on the itinerary we’re considering? Thanks in advance for your feedback, especially on the best way to organize the safari and which parks to prioritize in January!

Thirty years ago, I traveled to Zanzibar (Tanzania) with my children. Since I’ve since started a new family, I took the opportunity of a trip to Kenya to bring my new family along: my wife, who’s Kenyan, and my 10-year-old daughter. Zanzibar has really changed in 30 years. It’s become the island of taxes. It all starts upon arrival: I think it’s the only country in the world, besides the visa, where Zanzibar insurance (and no other) is mandatory—it costs 40 €. If you didn’t purchase it before arriving, good luck getting it: the IT systems are unreliable. With a bit of luck, it’ll take at least an hour to process! And of course, this insurance is useless—if you get sick, it’s recommended to use your home country’s insurance because if you use Zanzibar’s, your national insurance won’t cover you anymore. I wanted to show my daughter the red colobus monkey, which is endemic to Zanzibar. I paid for a tour that was supposed to be all-inclusive. First, we visited a spice farm, where a farm guide took charge of us—meaning commissions were involved, of course! The tour was very good and informative, though. When we arrived at Jenzhi Park (the colobus park), the guide told us he "forgot" there was an entrance fee (50$). Aware of the system, I decided to book an Ocean Blue tour through the Zanzibar Tourism Office. After two hours of driving, we stopped at a beach—and were left there. No boat was ready to take us. Since my wife speaks Swahili (the language in Zanzibar), after an hour, a captain with his own boat agreed to take us along with his family. Another attempt. The main attraction in Zanzibar (besides the city) is Changuu, the Prison Island. You have to take a motorboat and pay the captain, which is normal. But in Zanzibar, to even get on a boat, you first have to pay a tax! Once we arrived at the island, it started all over again! Thirty years ago, access was free, and the entire island (about 1 km²) was open. Today, there’s a small office, and you have to pay a hefty fee to enter. But enter where? A paved path leads to about 15% of the island—the rest is off-limits. In total, I paid 100 € for my wife, daughter, and myself just to visit a tiny portion of the island! Avoid this! For the rest of our stay, we stayed at a 5-star hotel with golf, horseback riding, tennis courts, evening concerts, etc.—undeniably high-level comfort. One last thing: if you want to rent a car, it’s affordable and useful for exploring the island’s diverse landscapes, but there are speed cameras at every corner on the main roads. The fine is supposedly 100 $, and it’s hard not to get one! I told you: Zanzibar, the land of taxes. I used to think my country, Belgium, was the tax champion—I’ve found something even better!