A complete guide for Tanzania safari staycations

If you’ve never been on a staycation, then 2023 is the year to do it. Rather than venturing abroad for your annual holiday, it’s an opportunity to stay on your home turf and see what’s in your backyard. 
 

For those who call Tanzania “home”, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to a safari staycation, with myriad wildlife reserves and national parks to explore. In this guide, we’ll share our tips and insights for planning a Tanzania safari staycation in 2020 and experiencing everything this magnificent East African country has to offer. 

Northern vs Southern Circuit                      

Tanzania’s wildlife-viewing destinations are generally divided into two circuits - the Northern and the Southern. While all of the parks and reserves can be visited independently, they can also be combined into a logical route that can be explored during a Tanzania safari staycation. 
 

The Northern Circuit is the more popular of the two and includes the legendary Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Tarangire National Park, as well as Lake Manyara National Park and Arusha National Park near the safari capital of Arusha. It’s a go-to option for first-time safari travellers due to its stunning landscapes, a diverse range of accommodation and exceptional wildlife-viewing opportunities. 
 

But the Southern Circuit is also home to some gems that shouldn’t be overlooked and is alluring for the reduced number of visitors it receives compared to the Northern Circuit. Destinations include the Selous Game Reserve, Ruaha National Park and Mikumi National Park, as well as Udzungwa Mountains National Park. The Southern Circuit also boasts a staggering wildlife diversity, with the added highlight of seeing wild clans of chimpanzees in Mahale Mountains National Park. 
 

Best time to visit

The dry season from June to October is generally considered the best time to embark on a Tanzania safari holiday, with the thinner vegetation and limited water sources making wildlife easier to spot. Sunny skies and little rainfall during these months make it an ideal time for being out and about on game drives and there are far fewer mosquitoes around the camps and lodges in the evenings.

November through to May is the wet season in Tanzania but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t head out on a safari staycation. The grassy plains turn a lush and photogenic green during this period, with short, afternoon showers on most days. But provided you plan your game drives accordingly, this shouldn’t negatively affect your experience and you’ll be treated to stunning birdwatching as migratory birds flock to Tanzania from Europe and Asia. 
 

If you want to experience the annual Serengeti migration, the wildebeest herds can be seen grazing on the plains of the Southern Serengeti between December and March. Around April, they begin their journey through the central Seronera area of the Serengeti before congregating on the banks of the Grumeti River around June. From here, some will head north through the Grumeti Reserve and the Ikorongo Controlled Area during July and August while others will travel east through the Northern Serengeti. 

After crossing the Mara River into Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, they’ll return to Tanzania in late-October and reach the Seronera area by November. From here, they’ll continue to the Southern Serengeti in December where they’ll remain to birth their calves.

Accommodation styles

When planning your Tanzania safari staycation, you’ve got a vast choice of accommodation options available, ranging from basic campsites to luxury lodges and mobile tented camps. Most will offer all-inclusive packages, with full-board meals, accommodation and daily game drives. 

If you want to stay at the cheapest end of the spectrum, then tent accommodation at basic campsites is the way to go. But if you’re willing to pay a little more for your staycation, you can find comfortable rooms in mid-range lodges and safari camps. At the highest end of the range are luxury lodges set in stunning locations, many of which offer wildlife spotting from the accommodation itself. 

Mobile camps are a good option for staycationers who want to follow all the action of the annual Serengeti migration. These temporary camps are set up where the herds are currently based, meaning you don’t have to drive far each day to see them. Most won’t be as luxurious as their permanent counterparts, although you can find high-end options. 

It’s important to keep in mind that due to the remote setting of most camps and lodges, prices will be higher than what you might be accustomed to in Tanzania’s towns and cities. Lodges and camps also increase their prices significantly during the peak travel months, with some great deals to be had during the rainy season. 

How to get there

All of Tanzania’s wildlife reserves and national parks are accessible by road. But in some cases, it’s more convenient to fly, allowing you to spend more time wildlife spotting and less time driving to your destination.

If you’re living in Tanzania, then you’ll be familiar with its main airports. The Kilimanjaro International Airport in the north of the country is the closest for connections to the Northern Circuit while Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam is the closest for the Southern Circuit. 
 

If you’re travelling the Northern Circuit, Arusha is the gateway and around one hour’s drive from the Kilimanjaro International Airport. From Arusha, it’s around four hours’ drive to the Ngorongoro Crater, six hours to the Serengeti and two hours to the entrance of Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks. Alternatively, you can board a scheduled flight to the Sasakwa Airstrip on the edge of Serengeti National Park from the Arusha Airport (ARK), Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ).
 

From Dar es Salaam, the travel time to Ruaha National Park is around 10 hours, with most visitors opting to make a stopover en route in Mikumi National Park or Udzungwa Mountains National Park (which are both around five hours away). Coastal Aviation also offers direct scheduled flights between Serengeti National Park and Ruaha National Park. 

Selous Game Reserve lies further south and is also around five hours’ drive from Dar es Salaam. If you’re planning on heading to Mahale Mountains National Park, then your best option is to coincide your visit with the twice-weekly service between Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale that’s operated by Safari Air Link. 

Local Tanzanian airlines use Cessna Grand Caravans or similar aircraft that can accommodate 9 to 13 passengers. Be aware that luggage is restricted to 15 kgs per passenger and must be carried in soft-sided bags or suitcases (no hardshell cases are permitted).

In addition to scheduled flight routes, most of the national parks and reserves have their own airstrips, so it’s also possible to charter a private aircraft. Aside from being able to select the day and time that suits you, you also don’t have to adhere to luggage weight restrictions and can travel with more if you need. 

Travel essentials

Even though you’re travelling in Tanzania (and not embarking on an international holiday), it’s still important to take out travel insurance in case anything goes wrong. While incidents are few and far between, travel insurance will cover you in case of unexpected situations that may arise during your Tanzania safari staycation. 
 

Leave behind your inner-city clothing in favour of lightweight and quick-dry attire that’s made for the great outdoors. Beige, green and brown are preferable as they’ll camouflage you in the savannah, with layers ideal so that you can add on or take off as the temperatures fluctuate throughout the day. Don’t forget to bring a hat that won’t blow off in the wind when you’re out on game drives, as well as a broad-spectrum sunscreen and mosquito repellant. 

If you’re planning on taking photographs, consider investing in a high-quality DSLR to capture all the wildlife action. You can pair it with zoom lenses that will get you up close (even when you’re far away), as well as wide-angle lenses for documenting the stunning landscapes you’ll experience throughout your adventure.