bonjour à tous🙂. nous projetons un safari en Tanzanie cet été.ayant déjà été plusieurs fois en Afrique , je suis très intéressé par la grande migration et ces fameux crossing . après contact avec plusieurs agences , pour certaines aucun problème pour les voir, pour d autre c est rare... je suis bien sur bien conscient qu' il y a toujours de l impondérable dans la photo animalière.. après plusieurs tentatives infructueuses, dans différents domaines mais je n arrive pas a apprécier la probabilité de voir cet evenement. c est sur que faire ce genre de photo fait rêver, mais le cout d un safari est assez conséquent. quelqu’un peut il m aider a ce sujet? merci d avance d eclairer ma lanterne et de donner votre experience,

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!

Bonjour nous allons partir en famille en Tanzanie (enfants de 8 et 11 ans) au mois d aout. Nous avons uniquement acheté les billets d avion et arrivons à Daar le Salam. Nous hésitons entre les parcs du sud ou du Nord. Avez vous des conseils ? Faut il forcément passer par une agence? Si oui auriez vous des agences locales à nous conseiller avec des budgets raisonnables ? Ou des logements qui vous ont plu tout en étant dans des budgets standards? Merci pour votre aide.

hi, We’re thinking of traveling to Tanzania in June (more specifically the first half) and would love to hear about your experiences, especially regarding the Serengeti safari. Is it a good time to see the animals? Would it be better to go later? For those who’ve been there during this period, do you recommend it? thanks in advance

Bonjour à tous,

Je suis en train de préparer mon itinéraire pour un voyage de 3 semaines pendant la période de Noel. (Location de 4X4 sans guide) Sachant que ce ne sera pas la grande période "sèche", il y'a-t-il des parcs à privilégier plus que d'autres?

Je voudrais vraiment faire : - Serengeti (notamment partie sud pour la migration?), -Ngorongoro ( tout de mes intéressant si on ne rentre pas dans le cratère?), -lac Natron (besoin d'un guide pour voir le lac?) - Tanrangire ( pour ses Baobabs!).

Est-ce un bon choix?

Avec en option : - Arusha pour ses singes et la vue sur le Kilimanjaro -Manyara : possibilité de faire du kayak sur le lac? - Selous : pluie sans cesse? Pirogue sur la rivière pour voir croco et hippo intéressant? -Ruaha ( pour quelles raison?!) - La parc du kilimanjaro à part pour monter en haut, a -t-il un intérêt particulier? -Autres suggestions?

Merci pour vos retours!

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 everyone,

We’re a family of four (two daughters aged 18 and 21) and we’re planning a three-week trip to Tanzania. Zanzibar would be our main base, but we’d also like to do a safari on the mainland. Could you share any tips on: - the ideal length for such a safari, the best place to go during this period (and easily accessible by flight from Zanzibar) - your recommendations for the most suitable type of stay for a family like ours - reliable local agencies with reasonable prices that could help us with this plan

Thanks in advance!

Albin

Bonjour à tous,

Notre couple envisage de voir en 2020 des animaux sauvages en toute liberté sans nuire à leur tranquillité et dans un pays qui les respecte. Nous avons pensé à trois destinations le Kenya, la Tanzanie ou la Namibie. Nous souhaitons aussi traiter directement avec une agence locale sérieuse. Nous vous remercions pour votre collaboration et aide.

Daniel

Nous avons séjourné au Kenya en février 2020.et avons parcouru les parcs et réserves (*), durant 14 jours. L’organisation de ces safaris s’est déroulée tout à fait comme espérée : de très nombreuses et longues périodes passée dans le van occupés par notre guide, notre chauffeur et nous seuls, en couple, à « traquer » les animaux, nous ont permis de voir et photographier différentes espèces de faune et de flore, tout particulièrement les félins (lions, léopards, guépards) parfois à 15 mètres de distance. Les éléphants ont été vus dans de nombreuses situations (par exemple traversée de rivières ou affrontement entre deux d’entre eux) buffles, gazelles de différentes espèces, rhinocéros, hippopotames, crocodiles et, plus « légers » des flamands roses dans deux parcs différents, entre autres espèces d’oiseaux de toutes sortes…. Bref, un vrai régal pour l’approche des « occupants » de ces lieux où l’on finirait par oublier qu’y vivent des animaux sauvages !!… D’autre part, les routes empruntées pour relier un parc à un autre nous ont grandement permis d’appréhender les conditions de vie des kenyans, le plus souvent très précaires. Ce qui n’empêche nullement les habitants d’attacher une grande importance dans la façon de se vêtir, très colorée, pimpante (en particulier le dimanche pour aller à la messe…). La rencontre avec les Masaïs, à la réserve de Masaï Mara a été un grand moment de convivialité. Nous avons été accueillis constamment de façon chaleureuse dans les lodges qui offrent, pour la plupart d’entre eux, des conditions de confort et de prestations tout à fait agréables… Pour autant, il ne faut jamais perdre de vue que nous sommes en Afrique et que ce Continent est loin de vivre de façon semblable aux Continents européen ou américain. Certains lodges ont des chambres qui n’offrent pas une discrétion et une tranquillité absolue, par la conception même des bâtiments (coursives de desserte des chambres et ouverture d’aérations avec moustiquaires dans les portes d’accès aux chambres !!), parfois l’eau chaude se fait rare, la pression d’eau se fait minime aux heures d’affluences mais en « jonglant » avec les horaires, tout est amplement acceptable !! Encore une fois, on séjourne dans ces équipements pour être au plus près des animaux, pas pour être en « farniente », les doigts de pied en éventail !!! Pour conclure, nous avons connu une expérience unique, grâce à l’extrême professionnalisme de notre guide Walter et de notre chauffeur George qui nous ont procuré un séjour extraordinaire de souvenirs, d’anecdotes, d’humour… Un voyage qui va « laisser des traces » pour toujours !!! (*) : Samburu, Aberdare, Nakuru, Masaï Mara, Navasha, Amboseli, Taïta Hills et enfin Tsavo Ouest et Est Je me tiens à disposition pour tout renseignement complémentaire...

Bonjour. Je cherche un guide local francophone pour nous concocter un circuit d'1 semaine sur Zanzibar. Merci.

Hi there, for a 15-day trip to Zanzibar, I’d love all your tips and help (where to go, accommodation, etc.). Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a safari and I’m torn between Kenya and Tanzania. I’ve read quite a few articles online, and one in particular really helped me see things more clearly. I’m now leaning more toward Kenya for its authentic vibe and local culture, but I’d love to hear some opinions before making my final decision.

Have any of you hesitated between these two destinations? Even better, has anyone done a safari in both countries? What were the factors that tipped the scales for you? I’d love to hear all your experiences!

While I wait for your replies, and if it might be helpful to some, I’ll share the article I found really useful on the topic.

Thanks in advance for your tips! Fabien A.

Salutations les amis !!

Moi et mon amie sommes intéressés pas un voyage en Tanzanie pour une durée de 15jours courant juin... Nous pensions faire un peu de safari et un peu de visite (plage, farniente, ville)... Jusque la tout va bien me diriez vous...

Nous sommes entré en contact avec une agence pour le safari et la nous avons été surpris, 2000€/pers pour 4 jours de safari en 4x4 privé ! Cela équivaut à notre budget par personne pour les 15 jours !!

Nous savions que ça pouvais être un coût mais de la à 500€ la journée par personne, je trouve ça beaucoup !

Ma question est la suivante, avec notre budget de 2000€ par personne, un safari en première partie puis terminer par quelques jours en hôtel bord de plage pour de la farniente, est ce réalisable ??

Merci d'avance

Abdel

Hello,

We’re planning a three-week trip to Kenya in January 2020 and wanted to share our itinerary. Maybe some of you have feedback or suggestions.

Our goals: we’re not big safari fans (though we do want to do 3 days of it), and that’s not why we’re going to Kenya. We’re huge nature lovers, into sports, hiking, meeting locals, agriculture, and food. We’d also like a few days of pure relaxation on the beach before heading back to Europe.

Here’s our rough itinerary:

Nairobi – arrive in the evening, overnight stay Travel to Mt. Kenya, start trekking Mt. Kenya Mt. Kenya Mt. Kenya Transfer to Meru? How? Rent a car? Guide (for the next three days?)? Meru safari Meru safari Samburu-Buffalo safari Transfer to Nakuru Nakuru – agriculture and people, members of the international Slow Food association Nakuru, Slow Food Nakuru, Slow Food Kichama, coffee plantations Hells Gate – walking or biking safari (Nairobi) Train to Mombasa, beach time and swimming Mombasa and surrounding area Mombasa and surrounding area Mombasa and surrounding area Mombasa and surrounding area Mombasa and surrounding area Train back to Nairobi

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Hi there, I’m planning our trip for February 2026. I’ve done my homework, but I’d still love your insights in case I’ve missed anything.

Arrival in Stone Town – 1 night

Jambiani – 6 nights. Activities with a guide: Mnemba, Safari Blue Mangrove, Nakupenda sandbank, etc. Without a guide, we’re thinking of renting bikes on the beach, visiting Maalum Cave, Jozani Forest ??? (no strong opinions), N’tende ??? What do you think? Quad biking?

Nungwi – 3 nights, mostly chilling and a sunset boat ride.

Last day: on the way to the airport, visit Stone Town and a spice farm.

For Jambiani, I was considering Garden Beach Bungalow. Any other accommodation recommendations?

Thanks a million for your feedback...

Bonjour tout le monde,

Nous partons dans début mars à deux pour un combiné Kenya – Tanzanie. Nous arrivons à Nairobi en soirée où nous passerons la première nuit. Puis nous souhaitons passer 3 nuits dans le parc d’Amboseli avant de rejoindre la Tanzanie via le poste de frontière Namanga.

J’aimerai savoir si vous avez des suggestions pour l’hébergement ? (pas de camping) A défaut des lodges/camps que vous ne recommanderiez absolument pas (et la ou les raisons si possible), ce qui permettra déjà d’écarter ces établissements. Notre but, voir des grands groupes éléphants, et (le rêve) avec le Kilimandjaro dégagé en arrière-plan. Evidement tous les autres animaux que nous pourrions voir sont les bienvenues ^^

Merci pour vos conseils.

Hi there!

I’m planning a self-drive trip to Tanzania (either September or October).

This route won’t include any of the usual parks you hear about everywhere (too expensive, too crowded, too touristy).

The idea is to explore Tanzania more for its landscapes, beaches, and hiking. A little wildlife spotting, sure, but that’s not the main goal.

Here’s the itinerary I’m considering:

(Arrival and departure from Kilimanjaro Airport)

Night 1: Southern gate of Arusha NP

Night 2: Northern gate of Arusha NP

Night 3: Enduimet

Night 4: Same (near the gates of Mkomazi NP)

Night 5: Mkomazi NP

Night 6: Mkomazi NP

Nights 7-8-9: Pangani or Tanga

Nights 10-11-12: Usambara Mountains

Nights 13-14: Foothills of Kilimanjaro

I can’t find much info about Enduimet at all.

So if anyone has any details about this place...

All your ideas, tips, and suggestions for the rest of the route are welcome too!

Thanks! :)

We just got back from ten days in Tanzania. We were lucky enough to be guided by Gishaman. Always in a great mood, a good driver, and an excellent guide. Thanks to him, we not only saw the Big Five in one day but also loads of other animals. He works for the local agency Blit Safaris, which provided excellent support throughout our trip. Highly recommended!

Following the post-election chaos this week, read carefully: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/conseils-par-pays-destination/tanzanie/ In particular: "For French travelers needing to take flights from Tanzanian airports, most international flights are canceled until further notice. It’s recommended to go to the airport only if your flight is confirmed by your airline. It’s advised to postpone any travel plans to Tanzania unless absolutely necessary."

...

Hello, With so many agencies out there, we're feeling a bit lost. Could you please share your experience—like recommending your agency if you were happy with them—and tell us why, and if possible, what budget we should expect? Feel free to send it in a private message :)

We’re just the two of us, and ideally, we’d like to go in a 4x4 alone or with another couple, or in a very small group.

Thanks so much in advance!

Hi everyone,

We have the opportunity to spend about ten days somewhere for Christmas, and I’m really tempted by Zanzibar. I’ve been dreaming for a long time about the Spice Island, Stone Town, diving...

Which hotels could you recommend? Not a big "resort"—we’re more into "boutique hotels" or even an Airbnb house. Somewhere quiet (we’re not party animals).

I’m thinking of staying the first few nights in Stone Town and then moving to a beach, preferably one where we can swim regardless of the tides, without ending up in seaweed and mud at low tide.

I’m a bit lost with all the beaches because apparently, the north is very crowded, the south is very windy, and the east has some good and some not-so-good spots, with big tides or not... HELP! 🤪

I’d like to limit myself to a maximum of 2 different places to stay over the 10 days.

Thanks in advance! 😉

January 26th marks my first steps in Africa. I usually organize my trips without any assistance. But for Tanzania-Kenya, I need some advice. There will be 4 adults looking for authenticity over a month. How do we visit southern Kenya and northern Tanzania? Do we need guides? A driver-guide? What are the must-see spots? How do we get around? Rent a car? The cost of safaris seems exorbitant—is it justified? Isn’t there a way to do it with a local guide on foot? Can we improvise once we’re there? Thanks for your insights. Looking forward to reading your replies. Franz

Hi there, We’d like to do a fly-in safari in February or March 2026 in Southern Tanzania’s parks (Nyerere—formerly Selous—and Ruaha...). Why this choice? Because we’ve already been lucky enough to visit the northern parks in Tanzania. Why this time of year? Because it’ll be my birthday (a big one!).

Now, some agencies are strongly advising against this February-March period. Has anyone had experience with a safari during this time?

Otherwise, where should we go for a safari in February-March? Just a heads-up—we already have "quite a bit of experience" in East and Southern Africa and love trying new things. https://www.youtube.com/@lolodetoul54

Thanks, fellow Africa fans!

Hi there! 🙂

Once again, I’m back looking for advice

So, here’s the thing: in September, I’m planning a trip to Africa. There’ll be four of us—my husband, my 24-year-old daughter, my 20-year-old son, and me.

I’ve had this idea in my head for a while, but now it’s starting to feel real. The tricky part is that I’m on team "I organize my trip without an agency and handle things on the spot." But here’s the catch—my husband, who’s usually up for anything, doesn’t want to hear about a do-it-yourself trip. From what I’ve gathered, only Namibia allows that if I’m not mistaken. But if it’s possible in Tanzania (or maybe Kenya), I think I could convince him.

Anyway, here’s my first double question—more will probably follow! Can you travel without an agency in Tanzania? If not, which agency would you recommend, given that I live in Belgium?

Thanks so much in advance for your help!

Hi, I went on a safari with a Maasai guide in several national parks in Tanzania (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Arusha National Park, etc.). There are very few Maasai guides, so it’s pretty special to be able to do a safari with one of them. He doesn’t just explain the animals but also the Maasai culture and can even take you to villages where the Maasai live—not those where you pay $50 to see three Maasai jumping around.

I’ll leave his contact details here, and you can reach him on WhatsApp: +255 69 219 0474 Just a heads-up: all communication is in English

Jambo! I organized my trip through this kind of group, so I thought I’d share my experience here. We traveled as a group of four, including two kids aged 9 and 11. After requesting around twenty quotes, I decided to book the safari portion with MAKING MEMORIES IN AFRICA. Ally responded quickly and listened to all my requests—unlike other agencies—such as having a French-speaking guide, the order of park visits (Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti, then Ngorongoro), and a mix of budget hotels and camping to keep costs down. There were still four agencies in the running, and price was the deciding factor. Even though they were the cheapest, I felt better taken care of than with others. For example, all meals were prepared by a Maasai chef, Louis, who accompanied us throughout the trip, while some others ate meals out of cardboard boxes. Samuel, our guide, explained so many things and answered all our questions. José drove us safely the whole way. Everything was done with great cheer!

At the end of the stay, Ally came to meet us and gave us t-shirts with the agency’s logo—we loved that they took the time to hear our feedback in person. In short, I highly recommend them +++, especially since it’s a local agency that also supports a charity for women and children.

For Zanzibar, I organized everything myself. I hesitated for a long time but eventually booked all four nights at the same place. We don’t like crowds, so I initially considered Jambiani but ended up choosing EVERGREEN BUNGALOWS in Bwejuu. We took their first airport-to-hotel transfer since we arrived at night, and it felt safer. Great value for money, in our opinion. Just be aware that it’s quite isolated—perfect for relaxing and going on excursions. There were very few beach vendors, unlike what I’d read about Zanzibar. We lived with our feet in the sand from morning to night, with a small basin of water outside our room to rinse off. Such a lovely spot!

I had asked for some excursion prices before leaving but ended up booking on-site. Not at our hotel, but at a nearby restaurant that was cheaper. After some thought, since we were based in Bwejuu, I wanted to do Blue Lagoon and Pungume (both departing from the south of Zanzibar).

Blue Lagoon: About 3 hours total, with snorkeling on a small reef full of fish (coral wasn’t great) and a stop at a spot with tons of starfish, plus local snacks, fruit, and drinks.

Pungume: An amazing day with a 50% chance of seeing dolphins (we missed them), a visit to the mangroves, then snorkeling at a spot with some nice coral and, of course, fish. We ended with a fantastic grill (tuna, shrimp, squid, lobster, and fries) on a sandbank in the shade.

Finally, before heading to Stone Town, we visited Paje Cave, which is much less known than Maalum. It’s smaller, but we saw bats, went for a swim, and fed the chickens and rabbits (great for the kids). To finish, we explored Stone Town on our own and had dinner at Forodhani Market.

For flights, we flew with Turkish Airlines from Barcelona to Kilimanjaro and back from Zanzibar—no issues there. However, I don’t recommend the Kilimanjaro-Zanzibar leg with Precision Air. Our luggage didn’t arrive, and according to the hotel, this happens often. We only got it back a day and a half later.

Has anyone visited the Kondoa Rock Art Sites recently without a personal vehicle? If so, how did you do it?

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 there, I’m heading to Kenya in July 2026. I’d like to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa in 5/6 days, passing through Amboseli, Tsavo West and East, and Taita Hills. Unfortunately, I can’t find any group tours for this itinerary—only private options, which makes the prices skyrocket for camping accommodations. I’m realizing it might actually be cheaper to rent an SUV from Hertz and stay in much more luxurious lodges on my own! My partner drove for a month from Cape Town to Johannesburg, so left-hand driving doesn’t scare him, but I’ve seen a lot of warnings about chaotic traffic... Has anyone tried this? And what about safety (fake police checks, carjacking, etc.)? Alternatively, should I take the train and book directly with the lodges? But I’m worried about wasting too much time. Thanks for your help! Gaëlle

Hi everyone, this is my first time posting and I’m reaching out for your help, For our honeymoon, I’d like to go on a safari in Tanzania and I’ve chosen Miles to Smile. Has anyone already traveled with this local agency?

My exchange with Julie was great—she took the time to talk with me for an hour on the phone to offer a tailor-made safari.

However, she’s asking me to pay 50% of the trip, or even the full amount. She mentioned paying fewer fees by using Wise.

Do you know this agency? What do you think? I’m really afraid it might be a scam and that my dream could turn into a nightmare.

Thanks for your feedback and kindness.

Best regards,