[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Tanzania, located in East Africa, is known for its vast wilderness areas, and includes the plains of A Safari Mecca which is populated by the “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo), Serengeti National Park, Kilimanjaro National Park, and is home to Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as the tropical islands of Zanzibar. For those looking for some fun, adventure, relaxation, and scenic views, Tanzania is the perfect tourist destination! Here are a few guides to make your visit more mesmerizing.
Ideal time to visit Tanzania:
- Wildlife viewing is generally best during the Dry season which is from late June to October. The dry months offer good wildlife viewing throughout Tanzania.
- Tarangire National Park, Selous Game Reserve, and Ruaha National Park are best visited in the Dry season, from June to October.
- The wildebeest migration in the Serengeti is usually during the period from June to July and the best time to see the wildebeest calving is late January to February.
- The more popular northern circuit parks can be visited at any time of the year.
Best locations to visit:
- Arusha National Park has beautiful scenery with Mount Meru as a backdrop, as well as views of Mount Kilimanjaro on clear days.
- Lake Manyara National Park offers excellent wildlife viewing with a chance of seeing the Big Five, and other species of exotic flora and fauna.
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area offers great game viewing, being home to many wild animals such as gazelles, antelopes, zebras, and lions etc.
- Serengeti National Park is ideal for top-class wildlife viewing throughout the year and the spectacular wildebeest migration is the cherry on top.
- Gombe and Mahale Mountains offer the best chimp trekking in Africa. Beach holiday extensions in Zanzibar.
Travel to, and within, Tanzania:
- Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is situated 46km East of Arusha, the gateway of Tanzania’s Northern safari circuit.
- Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) is located 13km southwest of Dar es Salaam. This is the entry-point for visitors to the southern parks.
- Some domestic flights out of Arusha will leave from Kilimanjaro International Airport, but most flights to reserves leave from the much smaller Arusha Airport (ARK), located 8km west of town.
- In most cases, the local tour operator will pick tourists up from the airport and arrange all further transportation as part of the safari package.
- Travellers should try to book flights online beforehand, to avoid the hassle, and avail discounts. Flights can be booked with several carriers, such as As Salam Air.
- Entry requirements may vary, but generally, passports are required for all foreign visitors and have to be valid for at least six months, and citizens of most countries require a visa except few.
Is Tanzania Safe For Travel?:
- Tanzania is safe to visit. Almost a million tourists visit each year and most are trouble free. Tourists are advised to take necessary precautions.
- Theft and muggings can occur, but most incidents are within cities.
- Walking alone around the city after dark is not much recommended.
- Tourists should be careful in making bookings, and must ensure that the company is credible and reliable.
- Tourists should get necessary vaccinations, buy good health and travel insurance, and carry medication and first aid, such as bandages, and painkillers.
Important Things To Remember:
- Visitors must show respect to local culture! Racism, gender discrimination, or any sort of offensive behaviour is unacceptable, and must be avoided at all costs.
- Visitors should try not to harm the local environment, and not waste resources such as water and electricity. Tourists should avoid littering, and must reduce their use of single use plastics, such as straws and bottles!
- Interaction with the local people and environment should be respectful and considerate.
- For every vacation, there are some essential items that the tourist must pack. For a trip to Tanzania, visitors must pack light, and carry items such as a torch, comfortable footwear for walking, a camera, clothing to suit the weather (it is advisable to carry an extra layer of outerwear, as a protection from the cold or mosquitoes), sunscreen and sunglasses, mosquito or insect repellant, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and basic medicine such as band-aids, and painkillers etc.
Tanzania is a great country to visit, and must be on every traveller’s go-to list![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
