When is the best time of year to visit Tanzania?

When is the best time of year to visit Tanzania?

Let’s start with when not to travel: November, April and May. This is the rainy season in East Africa and it becomes pretty hard to get around in the remote places our guests want to explore. The mass migration moves from Kenya into the Serengeti in Tanzania in December, January, February, March and May That can be a spectacular time to travel in Tanzania. Climate changes are triggering some changes in the timing of the migrations, so check with us if you are interested in travelling on the edges of the normal migratory months.

This doesn’t mean that there isn’t great game viewing at other times. Off-peak season can be a very relaxing time. The lodges are less crowded and the game reserves not involved in the migratory pathways have as much game as normal. It’s all a matter of what you want. Check with us if you have specific time frames in mind for your travel and we can help you plan where to be so you get the best possible game viewing experiences.

What kind of weather can I expect on Safari?

Most of East Africa is Savannah, comparable to the high plateau, semi-desert areas of Colorado or New Mexico. Altitude ranges from 3,000 to 7,000 feet. (Obviously Kilimanjaro climbers will experience much higher altitudes.) Temperatures during the day range from 75 to 90 degree Fahrenheit. Nights are cool with temperatures dipping as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas (Ngorongoro Crater, for example). Even though you will be traveling near the equator, please take our packing recommendations seriously and take along a light jacket or sweatshirt, swearter and a fleece pullover. Additionally, bring something warm to sleep in at night. Humidity is low. If you don’t travel near the rainy season, it usually doesn’t rain.

What kind of shape do I need to be in?

You get to choose the activity level of your safari. Traditional Land Rovers safaris require little or no physical activity, although you can add all kinds of activities adventures to your safari, including an afternoon walking safari, a morning horseback ride, or boating adventure.

Our Walking Safari, and Kilimanjaro Climb, is quite active. These trips include 8 to 10 walking days. Each walking day involves 3 to 6 hours on foot, with a Land Rover shadowing the group so you can walk as much of that time as you want and rides the rest of the way. On these trips, you also spend some time in a traditional Land Rover safari, but these safaris are definitely for people who want to be more active.

Photography

Some of the happiest travelers I have met are those that don’t take a camera with them and just enjoy what they see, but most people want a record of some of fantastic sights along the way. You will get fairly close to a lot of the wildlife, but a good 35mm camera with a 75-300 zoom lens will certainly help you take some great shots. It is always best to buy your film before you travel, because film here is expensive and not as fresh. 100 – 200 ASA is a good speed for general photography here. Though it can get bright, you might want to be able to get some actions shots and the higher speed film will be helpful. Some people also like it use 400 ASA for fast moving animals and evening shots. A beanbag is much better than a tripod for photos from the car. (The safari vehicle should have a pop-up or removable roof to make photography easier.) a cable release is useful to get shots without camera motion. Also, a flash can help with indoor and campfire shots. Remember to bring extra batteries for your camera equipment. Most people find they take 2 to 3 rolls of film per day whilst on safari.

If you bring a video camera, don’t forget the tapes (very expensive here) and the recharging accessories. You can generally recharge the camera at lodges and from the vehicle.