10 Keys To Making The Best Photo Safari In Tanzania

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    Discovering animal life is one of the priorities of almost all visitors to Tanzania. Its treasures, the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro crater, together with a stellar group of protected areas, offer some of the most rewarding and diverse experiences of nature observation in the world. Easy travel provides various ideas to make our travel experience a success. Click here now to know more about how to get a successful travel experience.

    Although the price can be a determining factor when planning a safari, we must take into account other equally important aspects:

    1. Environment:

    Is the idea to stay inside or near the park (if you spend the night outside you can not observe the fauna first thing in the morning or at night)? Is the environment pleasant? Will the accommodation be in a large lodge or a private and more intimate camp?

    2. Equipment:

    A mediocre vehicle or equipment can reduce the quality of the experience, and in remote areas, the poor quality of the equipment or the lack of spare vehicles can put safety at risk.

    3. Access and activities:

    Faced with the idea of spending hours in an SUV on bumpy roads, consider parks and lodges where you can access by air. The areas that offer safaris on foot or by boat are the best option to set aside the vehicle and enter the countryside.

    4. Guides:

    The guide/driver can make the safari a success or a failure. If an operator tries to reduce costs, it is likely that the staff is not well paid and does not have the necessary training or is not motivated.

    5. Commitment to the community:

    Operators should be chosen that do not make false praise about ecotourism but show a commitment to the communities in which they work. Apart from being more responsible, they will also offer a more authentic and rewarding experience.

    6. Establish the program:

    Some drivers consider that they should take the traveler from one spot to another without stopping. But who wants to stop for a moment at a strategic point to admire nature, must request it. Going in search of the “big five” means that the traveler will miss the most subtle aspects of the place.

    7. Extras of the program:

    In the circuits of the north, the stops in souvenir shops are habitual. While this provides a break in driving, necessary on many occasions, most stores pay commissions to the driver for bringing customers, which will imply that the traveler spends more time than desired. It is recommended to clarify it with the guide from the beginning, preferably at the operator’s offices.

    8. Less is more:

    If you team up with other people you have to find out how many will be in the vehicle and try to meet them before leaving.

    9. Special interests:

    To observe birds or do other specific activities it is advisable to book a private safari with a specialized operator.

    10. Itineraries:

    Do not expect to do too many activities on the itinerary. In Tanzania the distances are long and jumping from one park to another will exhaust the traveler, leaving him unsatisfied and feeling he has not seen anything. It is better to divide the time between one or two parks, exploring them thoroughly, and take advantage of the cultural offer and excursions of the surrounding areas.

    This is the Lonely Planet classification of the different national parks and reserves in Tanzania, to help travelers choose based on their interests.

    The best in primates:

    • Mahale Mountains National Park
    • Gombe National Park

    The best in elephants:

    • Tarangire National Park
    • Ruaha National Park
    • Selous Game Reserve

    The best unusual destinations:

    • Katavi National Park
    • Isla Rubondo National Park
    • Saadani National Park

    The best for bird watching:

    • Tarangire National Park
    • Lake Manyara National Park
    • Serengeti National Park
    • Isla Rubondo National Park
    • Mkomazi National Park
    • Selous Game Reserve

    The best safaris:

    • Lake Manyara National Park
    • Kilimanjaro National Park
    • Arusha National Park

    The best parks in the dry season:

    • Katavi National Park
    • Tarangire National Park
    • Serengeti National Park
    • Ruaha National Park
    • Selous Game Reserve

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