Posts by FlyingH

Thanks everyone for your messages!

The project is coming together—the lodges are booked. Now I’m looking to book a flight from Seronera to Zanzibar. Any airline you’d recommend? I was looking at FlightLink or Auric Air.

Thanks a lot! 🙂

Hi Attila, Thanks for your feedback! I totally get your point of view, and I’m definitely not ruling out self-driving in Tanzania—far from it. For this first trip, I just think that on a pretty classic Northern circuit, especially with Serengeti and Ngorongoro, organizing things seems easier with a guide/driver. Plus, I’m a bit short on time to prepare for the trip. But I’m really looking forward to hearing about your next self-drive trip! Can’t wait to use it as inspiration for a second visit to Tanzania and give self-driving a try this time 😊

Hi Rémy, Thanks so much for this detailed feedback! I really like the idea of a small local agency that can build a custom trip. Mwanga Africa Tours seems to fit exactly what I’m looking for, so thanks for that. As for Ngorongoro, your feedback reassures me too. I think it’d be a shame to skip it completely, especially for a first trip to Tanzania. I’ll probably include it, especially since we’re traveling outside school holiday periods. Thanks again for the agency contact and for sharing your experience!

Thanks so much for all these details—it’s a huge help! Being able to set my own itinerary and choose the lodges myself while still going through an agency/driver works perfectly for me. It’s reassuring. Your feedback on the southern reserves has me thinking, too. But for a first trip to Tanzania, following your advice and others’, I’ll look into a northern route instead: Serengeti/Tarangire/Arusha and a stop at Ngorongoro… I think I’d regret not doing it once I’m there. Since it’s the Great Migration, I’ll try to include Ndutu. As for Zanzibar, my partner really wants to end the trip with a few days at the beach 😊. She’s been dreaming of South America for a change, and Zanzibar is my bargaining chip 😉! Do you have any lodges you’d recommend that really stood out to you? Thanks again for your help!

Hi there,

Wow, what a crazy set of circumstances! I’ll look into Tanzania specialist. Thanks for all the helpful info.

Hi, Thanks for your feedback, it’s really interesting! I’ve given up on the self-drive idea... For organizing the safari: how did you plan your trip? Did you go through a local company you could recommend, or did you arrange everything yourself with a driver-guide? About Ngorongoro, I’d actually read several reviews about the large number of tourists. So, do you advise skipping it entirely, or including it anyway for a first-time visit to Tanzania? Ndutu does seem like a great option for this time of year. And regarding Arusha, I meant Arusha National Park—sorry for the confusion. I was thinking of spending a day there, especially to mix up the landscapes a bit and see the monkeys. Thanks again for your tips!

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!