Category: Tanzania Hints and Tips

After 14 years of organizing safaris from Arusha, I can tell you the single most common mistake travelers make. It is not the camera, and it is not the wrong shoes.

It is that people pack for the Africa they imagined, all heat and sun.

Then they arrive on the highlands, where the morning game drive starts at 6 in an open vehicle and the air is cold enough for a proper jacket.

So here is what to take on safari in Tanzania, from someone who lives here and sends people out on the plains every week.

In short: neutral, breathable clothes you can layer, one warm jacket, sun and dust protection, a soft bag that respects the weight limits on light aircraft, and not much else.

The details are below, section by section, and I have kept the lists short so you can pack straight from them. Packing is only one part of getting ready: for the visas, health, money, and local rules, see my guide on things to know before visiting Tanzania.

The one thing most travelers get wrong: layering

The reason you layer in Tanzania is altitude, not distance from the equator.

Most of the northern safari circuit sits high, and temperature drops fast with elevation.

The plains warm up quickly once the sun is up, but the first hours of a game drive can be genuinely cold, and in an open vehicle the wind makes it feel colder still.

Here is the spread across the places you are likely to visit:

Place	Elevation	Typical range
Serengeti plains	1,400 m	14–29°C
Arusha (safari hub)	1,350 m	13–28°C
Ngorongoro rim	2,300 m	8–22°C
Zanzibar archipelago	sea level	25–32°C

Two numbers matter more than the rest. In an open vehicle it feels 5 to 10°C colder than the still air outside, and at dawn on the plains the temperature can drop below 10°C, especially in June, July, and August.

On the Ngorongoro rim the nights fall below 10°C for much of the year, which makes it the coldest of the major safari spots. That is why layering beats any single “safari outfit.”

You want to start the morning warm and peel down to a shirt by mid-morning, then reverse it after sunset.

Clothing: what to wear on safari

Dress for the day in three parts: a breathable base for the heat, a warm middle for the cold starts, and a light shell for wind and the occasional shower.

Everything in neutral colors. You do not need a specialist safari wardrobe, but you do need the right logic behind it.

Neutral colors

Neutral colors keep you cooler in the sun and blend into the environment, which matters most on foot rather than in a vehicle. Stick to earth tones and leave two color families at home:

• Earth tones to pack: khaki, olive, tan, brown, muted green.
• White to skip, because the dust turns it a dull red within an hour and it never really recovers.
• Bright colors and black to skip, which stand out on a walking safari and, in the case of dark blue and black, are known to attract tsetse flies.

Breathable layers

For the warm part of the day, natural fabrics work best. They breathe, they handle the heat, and they dry fast when you rinse them at the lodge.

• Cotton or linen shirts, a mix of short and long sleeves.
• Lightweight trousers, ideally quick-dry. Long over short, since they double as sun and insect cover.
• A couple of t-shirts for downtime around camp.

Pack light on quantity.

Most lodges and tented camps offer a laundry service, so three or four days of clothing covers a longer trip.

Warmth for early mornings

This is the layer people forget, and the one they end up asking the guide to lend them a blanket for. You want one warm mid-layer and one wind layer, and that combination handles almost everything.

• A fleece or a light down jacket for the pre-dawn cold.
• A windproof shell over it for the open vehicle and for the balloon flight, where you are stationary in cold air until the sun climbs.
• For the Ngorongoro rim specifically, add a warm hat and thin gloves if you are on an early crater descent. It sounds like too much until you are doing it at 6 in the morning at 2,300 meters.

Modest wear for towns and villages

On the coast and in local communities, cover up a little. A light scarf or sarong does the job and packs into nothing. Two simple courtesies:

• Keep shoulders and knees covered in Zanzibar’s Stone Town and in the villages, out of respect.
• Ask before photographing people, always.

Footwear and headwear

You do not need heavy hiking boots for a standard game-drive safari, because you spend most of the day in the vehicle.

You do need closed, comfortable shoes for walking activities and dusty campsites, plus real sun cover for your head.

• Closed walking shoes: sturdy trail runners or light hiking boots, broken in before you travel. Required for any walking safari, where closed shoes are non-negotiable.
• Sandals for the evenings at camp and for Zanzibar. Reef-safe if you plan to be in the water near coral.
• A wide-brimmed hat, not a cap. You want the neck and ears covered, because the equatorial sun is strong and it finds the spots a cap misses.

If you are also climbing Kilimanjaro, that is a different footwear conversation entirely, with insulated boots and a full layer system for a mountain that can go from 30°C to below freezing in a single day. For a game-drive safari, the list above is enough.

Gear and equipment

Bring the things that make the difference in the field, and skip the ones we already carry for you. Our vehicles come with a fridge, cold drinks, binoculars, and an inverter to charge batteries during the drive, so you can plan around that rather than duplicating it.

• Binoculars: worth bringing your own if you have a pair you like, though there is a set in every vehicle. One per person beats sharing.
• Camera and a zoom lens: a 200mm reach or more earns its place. Wildlife rarely poses close, and the difference between a memory and a photo is often the lens.
• A power bank, since a full day out drains phones fast. You can top up in the vehicle, but a bank covers the gaps.
• A plug adapter: Tanzania uses the UK-style type G plug at 230V, so bring the right adapter if your devices are from elsewhere.
• A headlamp or small flashlight, genuinely useful at tented camps and campsites where paths between tents are unlit at night.

One honest note on tented camps.

They have electricity and hot water on demand, and the tents are as large as hotel rooms with a private bathroom, but there is no high-wattage power, so a hairdryer will not work. Plan your gear around charging small devices, not running appliances.

Health and toiletries

Pack a compact kit for sun, dust, and insects, because those three are what actually affect you day to day. Nothing here is exotic, but the equatorial and high-altitude conditions make each one matter more than you would expect at home.

Sun protection

The sun is intense here, and it is stronger again at altitude in Ngorongoro and on the mountains where the thinner air filters less of it.

Three things handle it:

• High-SPF sunscreen, applied and reapplied through the day.
• Proper sunglasses to cut the glare off the plains.
• The wide-brimmed hat from the previous section, which does its real work here.

Dust protection

The dry-season tracks are fine red dust, and an open vehicle sends it everywhere. Three small things make a long, dusty drive far more pleasant.

• A buff or a cotton scarf to pull over your nose and mouth on a dusty stretch.
• Eye drops, because the dust dries your eyes out over a full day.
• Wet wipes, the most useful thing in the whole kit and the one people thank me for later.

Insect protection

Protecting yourself from mosquito bites is the part of the packing list that is about health, not comfort, so it is worth doing properly.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends EPA-registered repellents built on one of five proven ingredients: DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or PMD, IR3535, or 2-undecanone.

A few practical points from the same guidance.

• DEET works, and its effect plateaus around 50%. Higher concentrations do not add much protection time, and anything under 10% only lasts an hour or two.
• Permethrin goes on clothing, never on skin. Treated shirts, trousers, and mosquito nets repel and kill insects, and the treatment lasts through several washes.
• Cover skin at dusk: long-sleeved shirts and long trousers are the simplest protection, which is another reason those breathable long layers earn their place.

You will need more repellent in the wet season, from November through May, when there are simply more mosquitoes around.

Talk to your doctor about malaria prevention before you travel, since that is medical advice I am not qualified to give.

If you want the practical picture from our side of things, I have written separately about malaria on safari in Tanzania.

Personal medications and basics

Bring what you personally rely on, because a specific brand or prescription can be hard to replace once you are on the circuit.

A small personal kit covers the ordinary things:

• Any regular medication you take, in a small personal supply.
• Basics for headaches, stomach upsets, and blisters.
• Prescriptions kept in your carry-on, not in the checked bag that flies separately on a light aircraft.

Luggage: bags and baggage limits

Use one soft-sided bag, not a hard suitcase, because the light aircraft that connect the safari airstrips pack luggage into curved holds that a rigid case will not fit into.

This is the rule that catches people out, so it is worth getting right before you fly.

On weight, the allowance varies with the airline and the specific flight. As a rule, you get around 20 kg (44 lbs) of checked baggage plus 5 kg of hand luggage, but it can be more restrictive depending on the carrier and the flight, so check the exact figure with your airline before you pack.

This is the light plane that takes you between parks, not the intercontinental flight in, and the two have very different rules. If you are still sorting out how you get to Tanzania, I have covered direct flights from Europe and which airport to fly into separately.

What to carry, and how:

• A soft duffel bag as your main luggage, within the weight limit above.
• A daypack of 20 to 25 liters for the vehicle: camera, water, and the layer you just took off.
• A dry bag if you travel in the wet season, to keep electronics and documents safe from a sudden downpour.
• Cash in US dollars for tips and incidentals, in bills dated 2009 or later, since older notes are often refused.
• Documents: passport, visa, travel insurance, and any vaccination certificate, kept in your carry-on.

Read also “Vaccinations for Tanzania: What You Need, and When”.

What to pack by season

Tanzania has a dry season and a wet season, and the difference changes what you add rather than the whole list.

The core clothing and gear stay the same year-round; the extras below are what you adjust.

	Dry season (Jun–Oct)	Wet season (Nov–May)
Warm layers	Essential, mornings are cold	Still useful, less critical
Rain gear	Rarely needed, maybe in October	Waterproof jacket essential, especially Mar–May
Dust protection	Important, tracks are very dusty	Less of an issue
Insect repellent	Standard amount	Bring more, mosquitoes increase
Dry bag	Optional	Recommended for electronics

The rains rarely wreck a safari.

The long rains from March to May are the heaviest, with April the wettest month almost everywhere, but even then the short rains tend to come as brief afternoon bursts rather than all-day gray.

You plan around them, you do not cancel for them. If you are still choosing your dates, our month-by-month climate guide breaks down what to expect.

A quick packing checklist

Here is the whole list in one place, to pack straight from. The reasoning for each item is in the sections above.

Clothing:

• Neutral-colored shirts, short and long sleeve
• Lightweight quick-dry trousers
• Fleece or light down jacket
• Windproof shell
• Warm hat and thin gloves (Ngorongoro / early starts)
• Scarf or sarong for towns and villages

Footwear and headwear:

• Closed walking shoes
• Sandals
• Wide-brimmed sun hat

Gear:

• Binoculars
• Camera and zoom lens
• Power bank
• Type G (UK) plug adapter
• Headlamp or flashlight

Health and toiletries:

• High-SPF sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Buff or dust scarf
• Eye drops and wet wipes
• Insect repellent (DEET or picaridin)
• Personal medications

Luggage:

• Soft duffel bag (within the weight limit)
• Daypack, 20 to 25 liters
• Dry bag (wet season)
• US dollars, 2009 or newer
• Passport, visa, insurance, vaccination certificate

Read also “Tanzania Safety: What the Advisories Say and What Actually Puts Travelers at Risk“

Pack lean and you will be glad of it. Space and weight are limited on the light aircraft, laundry is easy at the lodges, and almost nothing on this list needs a spare. If you forget something small, we can usually sort it out.

Hakuna matata.

Sources

• US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Arthropods (CDC Yellow Book), on recommended repellent ingredients and clothing protection.

When someone books a safari with us, the flights are usually the part that causes the most quiet worry. People know they want the Serengeti, or the coast, or both, but they aren’t always sure where they’re meant to land, or what happens between the plane and the park.

That uncertainty is fair. Tanzania is a large country, and the airport you fly into sets the shape of the whole trip.

Tanzania has three main international airports: Julius Nyerere (DAR) in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro (JRO) in the north, and Abeid Amani Karume (ZNZ) in Zanzibar.

Underneath them sits a network of small bush airstrips, with light aircraft linking the parks daily. Below is which airport goes with which kind of trip, and what to do once you land. If you’re still choosing your flight, I’ve covered the direct routes from Europe to Tanzania separately.

Tanzania’s airports at a glance

Three international airports handle almost all arrivals from abroad. A fourth, Arusha Airport, is domestic only but matters a lot for safaris, because it’s where most bush flights start.

Location	Region	Airport	IATA	Best for
Dar es Salaam	Dar es Salaam	Julius Nyerere International	DAR	Southern parks, business, main hub
Between Arusha and Moshi	Kilimanjaro	Kilimanjaro International	JRO	Northern safari circuit, Kilimanjaro climbs
Zanzibar City (Unguja)	Zanzibar Urban/West	Abeid Amani Karume International	ZNZ	Beaches, island stays
Arusha	Arusha	Arusha Airport	ARK	Domestic and bush flights to the parks

If your trip is a classic northern safari, you’ll almost certainly land at JRO. If it ends on the beach, ZNZ closes the loop. DAR comes in for southern itineraries and for anyone connecting onward within the country.

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO): the northern safari gateway

If you’re coming for the Serengeti and the big-name parks, this is your airport. JRO sits in open country with a clear view of the mountain on a good morning, and it’s built for exactly this kind of arrival.

• Where it is: halfway between Arusha and Moshi, in the Kilimanjaro Region. About 46 km from Arusha (roughly an hour by road) and 42 km from Moshi.
• Code: JRO.
• Best for: the northern circuit, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and climbs up Mount Kilimanjaro.
• Getting to your safari: a road transfer to Arusha, or a short bush flight from nearby Arusha Airport straight into the Serengeti.
• Good to know: most nonstop flights from Europe to the safari side land here. See the nonstop options, airport by airport.

Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR): the main hub and the south

This is the biggest and busiest airport in the country, named after Tanzania’s first president. Most travelers on a northern safari never pass through it, but it’s the entry point for the southern parks and the main connecting hub for domestic flights.

• Where it is: in Dar es Salaam, about 12 km southwest of the city center, on the Indian Ocean coast.
• Code: DAR.
• Best for: the southern circuit (Nyerere and Ruaha), business travel, and onward domestic connections.
• Terminals: Terminal 3 opened in 2019 and handles international flights. It’s a modern building, a real step up from the old terminal next door.
• Getting to your safari: usually a domestic flight onward. Dar is a transit point more than a safari base.

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ): the coast

If your trip includes the beach, and a lot of them do, this is where that half begins. ZNZ is the second busiest airport in the country and sits close to Stone Town.

• Where it is: just outside Zanzibar City, on Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago. Remember Zanzibar is an archipelago, not a single island: Unguja, Pemba, and a scatter of smaller ones.
• Code: ZNZ.
• Best for: beach stays, and the natural end point of a safari and beach trip.
• Terminals: the international terminal (Terminal 3) opened in 2020, with further upgrades underway.
• Getting around: short taxi rides reach most of Stone Town and the nearer beaches. The far northern and eastern beaches are an hour or more away.

Arusha Airport (ARK) and the safari airstrips

Here’s the part most first-time visitors miss. Beyond the three international airports, Tanzania has a network of small bush airstrips, and light aircraft link them daily. This is what a fly-in safari runs on, and it’s often the fastest way deep into the parks.

Arusha Airport is the usual starting point for these flights. It’s small, close to town, and busy with turboprops in the early morning.

• Where it is: about 8 km from central Arusha, a 15 to 20 minute drive. Around an hour from JRO by road.
• Code: ARK.
• Best for: short bush flights to the Serengeti, Lake Manyara, and Zanzibar.
• Who flies it: domestic carriers like Coastal Aviation, Auric Air, Regional Air, Air Excel, Flightlink, As Salaam, and Precision Air.

The airstrips themselves are simple: a strip of graded earth or tarmac, a windsock, sometimes a small shelter. Here are the ones you’re most likely to use.

Airstrip	Where	Serves
Seronera	Central Serengeti	The main hub for the park, daily flights from Arusha, JRO, Manyara, and Zanzibar
Kogatende	Northern Serengeti	The Mara River crossings in the migration season
Grumeti	Western Serengeti	The western corridor and the western migration
Lake Manyara	Near the park	A link between the northern parks and the Serengeti

A fly-in makes most sense when time is tight or when your camp is far inside the park. A one-way seat from Arusha to Seronera runs around US$265, and it turns a long dusty drive into a short hop with a view. For a first safari, we often mix the two: drive in, taking in Tarangire and the crater on the way, then fly back out to save a day.

Getting from the airport to your safari

Once you land, the trip is a mix of two things: road transfers by safari vehicle and short domestic flights. How you combine them depends on your route, your budget, and how much time you have.

• Road transfers: the standard for the northern circuit. Distances between the parks are real, but the drive is part of the experience, and you see the country change as you go.
• Domestic flights: faster, and the only sensible option for the southern parks or for reaching a remote camp. They cost more and limit your luggage, usually to a soft bag around 15-20 kg.
• The common mix: fly internationally into JRO, drive the northern parks, then fly from an airstrip to Zanzibar for the beach. It’s a clean loop that avoids backtracking.

I’ve written more about how this fits together on our transport page, and the logistics behind it are a big part of what we do at Savannah Explorers. The jeep that meets you, the guide, the timing of a bush flight: those details are what make a safari run smoothly, and most of that work happens before you ever arrive.

What is the main airport in Tanzania?

Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam is the main airport. It’s the busiest in the country and the primary hub for both international and domestic flights. That said, if you’re coming for a northern safari, you’ll more likely fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is closer to the parks.

Which is the largest airport in Tanzania?

Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) is the largest and busiest, handling the highest passenger numbers. Zanzibar (ZNZ) is second, and Kilimanjaro (JRO) is the main international gateway for the northern safari circuit even though it’s smaller than Dar.

Sources

• Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA)
• Julius Nyerere International Airport, Wikipedia
• Kilimanjaro International Airport, Wikipedia
• Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, Wikipedia
• Zanzibar Airports Authority

Are there direct flights from Europe to Tanzania? Yes. In 2026 you can fly nonstop from at least eight European cities, landing either at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for the safari parks or at Zanzibar (ZNZ) for the coast.

More routes are on the way, with new services from Brussels and Milan this year and a first London link announced for 2027.

The reason a lot of people are asking this exact question right now is the situation in the Middle East. The conflict involving Iran has made airspace over the Gulf unpredictable, and connections through hubs like Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi have faced restrictions, reroutings, and longer flight times through much of 2026.

Travelers heading to Tanzania have watched the news and worried about their trip, and that concern is fair.

A nonstop flight from Europe avoids that part of the map. These routes head south over Egypt and the Red Sea into East Africa, so they don’t rely on a Gulf connection at all.

That doesn’t make the wider situation any less serious, and schedules everywhere can change as it evolves.

But if you’re planning a trip and simply want to know how to reach Tanzania without a difficult connection, here’s the current picture, airport by airport, and what’s coming next.

Direct or nonstop? A quick clarification

Before the tables, one distinction that saves confusion at booking time.

• Nonstop: one flight, no stop. You board in Europe and get off in Tanzania.
• Direct: in airline language, a single flight number that can include a stop without changing planes. A route that touches Nairobi on the way, for example, is still sold as “direct.”

Most of what people mean by “direct” is actually nonstop, so below I flag any en-route stop clearly. Everything in the two tables is a nonstop European service unless noted.

Direct flights from Europe to Kilimanjaro (JRO)

Kilimanjaro International Airport is the gateway to the northern safari circuit: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and my home base of Arusha. If your trip starts with a safari, this is where you want to land.

Departure city	Airline	When	Notes
Amsterdam	KLM	Year-round, daily	About 8h50. The only nonstop European route to JRO that runs all year
Paris	Air France	Year-round, 4 to 5 times weekly	Paris to Kilimanjaro is flown nonstop as the first leg of the Paris to Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar routing
Brussels	Brussels Airlines	New from June 3, 2026, twice weekly (Wed, Sat)	Routing is Brussels to Kilimanjaro to Nairobi, so it stops in Nairobi
Milan Malpensa	Neos	New, weekly (Tuesdays), July 14 to October 20, 2026	Departs Milan at 22:00, lands at Kilimanjaro at 06:50, then continues to Zanzibar
Zurich	Edelweiss	Seasonal, 3 times weekly	About 8 hours. Also serves Zanzibar

Amsterdam has been the reliable backbone for years.

What’s new is real capacity for the peak season: Brussels Airlines added Kilimanjaro to its network on June 3, 2026, and Neos put Milan on the map with a summer route that runs through the migration months.

Direct flights from Europe to Zanzibar (ZNZ)

Zanzibar is the other main entry point, and the one most people use for the beach half of a trip. Remember that Zanzibar is an archipelago, not a single island: Unguja, Pemba, and a scatter of smaller islands.

Departure city	Airline	When	Notes
Milan Malpensa	Neos	Year-round	Italy’s main gateway to the coast
Rome Fiumicino	Neos	Year-round
Frankfurt	Condor	Year-round, 3 to 4 times weekly	Outbound nonstop in about 9h10 since November 2025; the return stops in Mombasa
Amsterdam	KLM	Year-round	Routing continues to Dar es Salaam
Zurich	Edelweiss	Seasonal, June 2026 to March 2027	About 8h50
Frankfurt	Discover Airlines	About 5 times weekly, from late May 2026	Lufthansa Group leisure airline, booked through Lufthansa
Verona	Neos	Seasonal, high season	Direct regional departure
Bari, Catania	Neos	Seasonal, high season	Operated via Rome Fiumicino, not standalone nonstops

Italy has the widest nonstop network to the coast, almost all of it flown by Neos. One point worth knowing: Air France also flies Paris to Zanzibar, but the outbound stops at Kilimanjaro on the way, so it isn’t a nonstop to the coast.

If you’re coming from elsewhere in Europe without a nonstop from your city, Amsterdam and Frankfurt are the practical connecting points.

Flight times at a glance

Nonstop times help you compare routes quickly. These are approximate one-way durations on the nonstop leg. A connection through a hub adds a few hours plus the layover.

Route	Airline	Nonstop time
Milan Malpensa to Kilimanjaro	Neos	About 7h50
Zurich to Kilimanjaro	Edelweiss	About 8h05
Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro	KLM	About 8h50
Zurich to Zanzibar	Edelweiss	About 8h50
Frankfurt to Zanzibar	Condor	About 9h10 (outbound)
Frankfurt to Zanzibar	Discover Airlines	About 9h
London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro	Air Tanzania (from July 2027)	About 9h

From Italy, Milan to Kilimanjaro is the shortest hop on this list. Most nonstops from central Europe land you in Tanzania in nine hours or under, which is why the difference between a nonstop and a good one-stop connection is smaller than people expect once you count a hub layover.

What’s new for 2026 and 2027

Three changes stand out, and they all point the same direction: fewer stops to reach northern Tanzania.

• Brussels Airlines, Brussels to Kilimanjaro. Launched June 3, 2026. Two flights a week, Wednesday and Saturday, on an Airbus A330. The plane carries on to Nairobi, so it’s direct rather than nonstop, but for a traveler it’s still one flight from Brussels to the safari gateway.
• Neos, Milan Malpensa to Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar. Weekly from July 14 to October 20, 2026, on a Boeing 787. This one is useful for the way I actually build trips: it links the safari airport and the beach on a single routing, which suits a combined safari and Zanzibar holiday.
• Air Tanzania, London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar. Announced for July 2027, at least three flights a week on a Boeing 787. If it runs as planned, it will be the first nonstop link ever between the UK and Tanzania. Today a London to Zanzibar trip runs roughly 13 to 21 hours through Dubai, Nairobi, or Addis Ababa.

A few practical notes from this side

A safari almost always starts and ends at Kilimanjaro, and the beach at Zanzibar. Many of my guests fly into one and out of the other, which the Neos Milan routing now does on a single ticket. If you’re mixing the two, look at open-jaw fares before you book two separate round trips.

One thing that hasn’t changed: the arrival experience is easier at Kilimanjaro than at any big hub. It’s a small airport, the visa and immigration lines move at their own pace, and someone from the team is usually waiting just outside. Pole pole, as we say here. Things move slowly, and that’s the point.

Schedules shift, especially the seasonal routes, so confirm days and times on the airline’s own site close to your travel dates. The routes above are what’s flying, or confirmed to start, as of mid-2026.

One more note, and it matters given the wider situation in the region.

For anything about safety, airspace, or entry requirements, rely on official government sources rather than travel forums or social media.

Check your own country’s foreign ministry advisory before you book and again before you leave. For US travelers that’s the State Department, for the UK the FCDO travel advice, and in Italy Viaggiare Sicuri run by the Foreign Ministry. Those pages are updated as the situation changes, and they’re the source I’d trust over anything else.

Sources

• Travel Tomorrow, Kilimanjaro gets more direct flights from Europe
• Brussels Airlines press room, Kilimanjaro added to network
• CAPA Centre for Aviation, Neos Milan Malpensa to Kilimanjaro from July 2026
• Condor, Frankfurt to Zanzibar
• Edelweiss, Zurich to Zanzibar timetable
• KLM, flights to Kilimanjaro
• ATTA, Air Tanzania to fly direct from the UK from July 2027
• Ops Group, Middle East Airspace, Current Operational Picture
• US State Department, Travel Advisories
• UK FCDO, Foreign Travel Advice
• Italy, Viaggiare Sicuri (Ministero degli Affari Esteri)

Tanzania is one of the most sought-after destinations for safari and adventure lovers.

To fully enjoy the stunning national parks, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the dreamy beaches of the Zanzibar archipelago, it’s essential to consider how the climate changes across different seasons.

In this travel guide, we outline Tanzania’s climate month by month, both in the national parks and in the Zanzibar archipelago.

What Are Tanzania’s Climate Zones?

Tanzania’s climate is as diverse as its landscapes.

From the cool highlands to the sweltering coastal plains, the country’s geography creates a variety of weather patterns.

• Coastal Areas & Islands (including Zanzibar): Tropical, humid, and hot year-round but with a distinct wet and dry season.
• Plateau & Inland Areas (like Serengeti): Semi-arid with significant temperature swings between day and night.
• Highlands (including Kilimanjaro and Ngorongoro): Cool and temperate, with colder temperatures at higher altitudes.

Each zone adds a layer of nuance to the Tanzania climate, making it vital to consider your destination when planning.

The Dry Season in Tanzania

The dry season runs from June to October, coinciding with some of the best times to visit Tanzania.

During this period, rainfall is scarce, the skies remain clear, and temperatures are generally comfortable.

Conditions to expect during the dry season

• Safari-ready landscapes: Grass is shorter, making wildlife easier to spot.
• Cool nights, warm days: Average daytime temperatures range from 77–86°F (25–30°C), cooling down significantly at night, especially in higher-altitude areas.
• Perfect for Kilimanjaro climbing: Minimal rainfall means safer trekking conditions.

Best Activities During Dry Season

• Witnessing the Wildebeest Migration in the Serengeti.
• Climbing Kilimanjaro, with clearer skies and more stable weather.
• Relaxing in Zanzibar with limited rain and pleasant temperatures.

The Wet Season in Tanzania

Tanzania’s wet season is divided into two parts.

• Short Rains (November to December): Rainfall is brief and sporadic, often making mornings sunny with occasional afternoon showers. It’s a quieter time for tourism but still perfect for visiting many areas.
• Long Rains (March to May): This is Tanzania’s true rainy season, with heavy rains that can last several hours. Roads in national parks may become muddy, making access to remote safari destinations more challenging.

Conditions to expect during the wet season

• Vibrant greenery and lush landscapes.
• Wildlife disperses due to ample water sources, making spotting animals slightly trickier.
• Reduced prices on tours and accommodations, as it’s considered the off-peak season.

Best Activities During Wet Season

• Birdwatching is phenomenal as migratory birds arrive during the rains.
• A quiet safari experience without large tourist crowds.

Average Monthly Rainfall & Temperatures in Tanzania

Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of Tanzania’s climate.

January & February

• Average Temp: 70–88°F (21–31°C)
• Less rain compared to March; wildlife viewing still good

March to May (Long Rains)

• Average Temp: 66–84°F (19–29°C)
• Heavy rain but stunning landscapes for photography

June to October (Dry Season)

• Average Temp: 63–81°F (17–27°C)
• Peak safari season; excellent visibility for wildlife

November & December (Short Rains)

• Average Temp: 68–86°F (20–30°C)
• Scattered showers, vibrant vegetation, and fewer visitors

Best Time to Visit Tanzania

The best time to visit Tanzania depends on the activities you want to enjoy.

• Safari & Wildlife Viewing: June to October offers the best conditions for game drives, as animals gather around limited waterholes.
• Kilometers of Beaches: Zanzibar is idyllic during January to February or June to October, when rainfall is minimal, and skies are clear.

The Best Time to See the Great Wildebeest Migration

One of the largest wildlife phenomena in the world, the Great Wildebeest Migration, is a year-round spectacle in the Serengeti.
Here’s how the migration aligns with Tanzania’s climate:

• January to March – Calving season in the southern Serengeti. Thousands of baby wildebeests are born, attracting predators.
• May to July – Wildebeests move northward and begin the dramatic river crossing.
• July to September – Best time to witness the thrilling Mara River crossing as herds move into the Masai Mara in Kenya.
• October to December – Wildebeest herds migrate back to the Serengeti.

If the migration is the highlight of your trip, plan strategically based on the time of year and the location of the herds.

Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro

For adventure seekers and trekking enthusiasts, one of the most exciting challenges in Tanzania is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

The best time for trekking is during the dry season (from January to March and from June to October).

During these months, the weather is more stable with minimal risk of rain, making the climb safer and more enjoyable.

At higher altitudes, however, be prepared for very cold temperatures, especially at night.

Important: avoid April and May, when the rainy season can make the trails slippery and dangerous.

Best Time to Visit Zanzibar

After exploring the parks, Zanzibar is the perfect destination to relax.

The climate in Zanzibar is hot and humid year-round, but the dry season (June to October) is ideal for enjoying the breathtaking beaches and crystal-clear waters.

The months between November and December are marked by short rains, but the sun doesn’t stay away for too long.

However, be aware of the long rainy season (March to May), as the rains can be more intense and continuous.

Many resorts offer promotions during this period, making it an interesting option for those looking for a more budget-friendly experience.

• Accommodation
• Great Migration Safari
  • Great Migration in January, February and March
  • Great Migration in April and May
  • Great Migration in June and July
  • Great Migration in August, September and October
  • Great Migration in November and December
• Tanzania Luxury Safari
• Zanzibar Safari
• Ngorongoro Crater Safari: meet The Big Five
• Serengeti, Tarangire and Ngorongoro: the Tanzania Park Tour
• The Northern Circuit Safari
• Lake Manyara National Park
• Ruaha National Park
• Selous Game Reserve
• Fly-In Safari to Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park

Tanzania is one of Africa’s classic safari destinations, most famous for the great wildebeest migration where a herd of about two million wildebeest and zebra make their epic annual journey with numerous predators on their heels. The best safari to Tanzania takes you to vibrant parks for unparalleled game viewing and dazzling tropical beaches of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia. On top of this, for hikers, Tanzania is home to Africa’s tallest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro, with highest peak at 5,895 meters (19,340 feet).

The best safari in Tanzania is seen when the destinations, accommodations, transportation and so on are carefully chosen and well arranged by professional agent and safari expert. If you want to enjoy your safari to Tanzania, we recommend you choose Mid-range accommodations or Luxury ones. Mode of transport on your safari in Tanzania is also the key factor to consider because in some places you experience rough and bump roads and during rainy season it’s difficult to pass and hence you need comfortable Safari Car. We recommend you choose a 4×4 Land Rover or Toyota Land Cruisers. Let also your safari expert to choose an experienced safari guide for you who knows the country in and out so that you can enjoy full history of wildlife and the country in general.

Accommodation

When planning a safari to Tanzania, where to stay often comes near the top of the list. Tanzania itself is among the destinations with the best accommodation facilities. These accommodation facilities categorized into hotels, lodges, camps, resorts, Inn, etc. In Tanzania, there are varieties of options, from luxury, medium-range to low-range accommodation, located either inside or outside the parks and reserves.

The number of days for safari and budget are the most prerequisite foci to consider when planning which accommodation property to use. However, for a better start, we normally recommend an overnight on mid-range facilities in order to decide whether to go higher or lower than the medium range price. We also recommend an overnight inside the park in order to have enough time for a game drive and other activities, if not accommodation facilities outside the parks are the best for travelers with limited budgets. In some of the destinations such as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, we recommend an overnight on the lodges at the crater rim so that to have the best view of the crater. Some of the preferred lodges are Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, and luxurious lodges such as &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.

In Tarangire National Park, we recommend an overnight either inside the park with the lodge such as Tarangire Safari Lodge or outside the park in a Wildlife Management Area with accommodation facilities like Maramboi and Burunge Tented Lodges.

In Serengeti, most of the accommodation facilities are located inside the park. Selection on where to stay depends on the month of travel in relation to the movement of the Great Migration; however, the central part of the Serengeti has many accommodation facilities, as it is an ideal destination for game drive throughout the year.

Nevertheless, we have a small town of Karatu where many accommodation facilities found here ranging from five to three stars. We recommend two to three nights here to some of the lodges like Ngorongoro Marera Mountain View Lodge, Farm of Dreams, Kudu Lodge, Country Lodge,ìì and other luxurious lodges like Gibb’s Farm, Plantation Lodge and Oldeani Mountain View Lodge when clients are doing activities in either Tarangire, Manyara, Mto wa Mbu, Lake Eyasi and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Great Migration Safari

This is the largest herd movement of animals in the world with the great columns of wildebeest seen from space. It is the collection of around 1.2 million wildebeest, 300,000 zebras accompanied by topi and other gazelle which move in a constant cycle through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Their main aim of migrating is to search for nutritious grass and water. Other than the migrating animals, predators like lions, leopards, cheetah, hyena, wild dogs, and crocodiles can also be seen searching for food which is the migrating animals. In summary, calving takes place in the southern part of Serengeti near Ngorongoro Conservation Area then the journey through Serengeti starts in a clockwise direction towards the Masai Mara in Kenya, then they return to Tanzania near the end of the year to start their annual movement again.

The Great wildebeest Migration are not the most predictable because this Migration is entirely dependent upon rain, fresh grasses and other factors. Therefore, we recommend you to check with our safari expert.

Great Migration in January, February and March

During this period, animals are found in the Southern part of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. During this period, this place is rich in nutritious grass which is a good condition for the wildebeest to breed and raise their newborn calves. During this period nearly 400,000 calves are born within a period of two to three weeks.

The safari we recommend in this period is

• Ndutu and Serengeti Great Migration

Great Migration in April and May

During this period, the wildebeest herds start their migration to the North-West for the fresher grass around Central Serengeti where they are joined by the zebra and small groups of antelopes. Also in this period towards the end of May, mating seasons begins as male wildebeest battle for it. Animals then start to move toward the West side of Serengeti called Western Corridor crossing the Grumeti River.

Great Migration in June and July

This is the dry season and animals must be searching for water therefore they concentrate in the Western Serengeti and on the Southern banks of the Grumeti River. In this area, they face the great challenge of crossing the river from the crocodile who is also searching for food. Toward the end of June the migration head North along the Western edge of the park where they face even more risk of crossing Mara River in the North of Serengeti. The river crossing is one of the most exciting wildlife events in the world.

Great Migration in August, September and October

This is the period when the migrating animals face the big challenge of crossing the Mara River with the river in full flow and predators waiting for them. Animals are seen spread throughout the Masai Mara Northern region while many remain in the Northern Serengeti. By September to October, the migration moves towards Eastward though they will face another challenge of crossing Mara River once more when they prepare to cross for their return journey toward Southward.

We recommend the following safari program in this period:

• Great Migration Mara River

Great Migration in November and December

In this period, wildebeests moved down from Kenya to Eastern Serengeti in Tanzania. By December, they are found spread throughout the Eastern and Southern area of Serengeti. As the grasses are lush in the South of Serengeti during the end of December and New Year, this draws the herds of wildebeest and other animals towards that area where the cycle continues as the calving season starts again.

The Great Wildebeest Migration divided into summer and winter migration. For more information concerning the safari program with winter or summer migration kindly contact our safari expert – contact us.

Tanzania Luxury Safari

A luxury Tanzania safari is really something wonderful, unique and amazing. From the roof of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro to the national parks and conservation areas such as Ngorongoro Crater with the highest density of wild animals, the Serengeti with endless plains and Great Migration and Tarangire a home of elephants and baobabs trees, and Zanzibar Island for beach relaxation.

During your Tanzania luxury safari, you will meet wildlife herds, forests, and charming local people. Join our amazing and knowledgeable safari and trekking guides team on your safari. Savannah Explorers offers professional and vaccinated guides making you safe with the current situation of Covid-19.

Your Tanzania luxury safari is combined with luxury safari accommodations such as AndBeyond, Elewana, Wellworth, Serena properties, and others in order to have a real taste of luxury safari. You can choose to spend some nights at Fours Season Serengeti Lodge and Melia Serengeti Lodge while in Serengeti and you get to see some animals drinking water very close just from your sleeping room, because both these lodges have designated water holes for animals to drink water.

This experience will truly define your Tanzania luxury safari. You can enjoy Tanzania’s luxury safari everywhere while in Tanzania, even if you choose to visit Southern circuit parks such as Nyerere park as you still sleep in luxury accommodation like Serena Mivumo Luxury Hotel.

You can finish your Tanzania luxury safari by combining with Zanzibar for beach relaxation and stay in luxury resorts such as Gold Zanzibar, Melia Zanzibar, Zuri Zanzibar, Riu Palace, and others.

Discover a vibrant luxury safari experiences on Tanzania’s parks such as Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Tarangire and other parks, here is one of our offers

• Luxury Adventure Safari

Zanzibar Safari

Zanzibar archipelago located in the eastern part of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean at 15 miles coasts of the mainland, it is a wonderful spot to relax when visiting Tanzania for safari. It consists of many smaller islands and two larger ones called Unguja and Pemba Island. The capital city is located on the island of Unguja that consists of Stone Town, the historical midpoint recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. The two unique islands offer different safari experiences that are exceptional from all other destinations worldwide. The best experiences to discover in Zanzibar are such as:

1. Wildlife – Here we refer to Jozani National Park, the rainforest of Ngezi and the mangrove habitat all of them offers a wide variety for sightseeing both flora and fauna.
2. Zanzibar Culture & Tradition – If you are looking to learn about Swahili culture then Zanzibar will be your best choice. The famous heritage site is Stone town with a collection of both Swahili cultures and ancient buildings such as Kizimkaz Mosques and Maruhubi Palace will make your trip unforgettable.
3. Sea Safari – The safari on the sea offers you a wide experience to learn about marine species. The famous sea safari is like Mnemba Marine Nature Reserve.
4. Local Cuisine – The local food in Zanzibar are somehow delicious and they have a meaning in relation to the Swahili Culture. They are a variety of fresh foods in Zanzibar such as fruits, spices and seafood.

The best way to end your unforgettable adventure in the savannah of Tanzania is to have few days for beach relaxation in Zanzibar. For more information concerning the program with safari and beach relaxation in Zanzibar, kindly check with our safari expert – contact us.

Ngorongoro Crater Safari: meet The Big Five

Ngorongoro crater is the famous and largest intact volcanic caldera that was formed about 3 million years ago. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only protected area where human beings interact with wildlife.

Ngorongoro Crater is the best site in East Africa where you can see all the Big Five. The big five are the animals that are hard to be hunted in the wild. This includes Elephants, Rhino, Buffalo, Lion and Leopard. Due to the presence of the big five, Ngorongoro crater is an ideal destination to visit when planning a safari in Tanzania or East Africa.

Visitors can plan a tour in this beautiful crater all time of the year because the wildlife mainly remains in the crater all year round.

Embark on safari to Ngorongoro with Savannah Explorers and keep your eyes peeled to spot African Lion, African Leopard, African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Rhinoceros and other interesting animals. Check the safari program for Ngorongoro crater:

• Ngorongoro crater safari

Serengeti, Tarangire and Ngorongoro: the Tanzania Park Tour

Safari in the northern circuit refers to the best and frequently visited parks in Tanzania, which are Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti. The eight days safari is best during the months of June to September as it allows clients to enjoy the most exciting sighting such as the Great Migration crossing Mara and Grumeti Rivers when heading to Masai Mara Game Reserve. The safari can be tailored in relation to the client’s request, budget and month of traveling. Contented accommodation and the use of customized 4 x 4 safari vehicle with professional guides finalizes the elements of this safari.

Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro are among the reserves with large number of visitors. With five nights safari program, it is possible to enjoy these three parks. For more information concerning the program for five nights safari check our program and contact our safari expert:

• Safari in Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro

The Northern Circuit Safari

The Northern Circuit is busy on peak season months mostly from July to early October, so if you visit by that time then be ready to meet many tourists. Otherwise, if you want to avoid crowds, we recommend you visit in November, March, April, and May. Still December, January and February you find many tourists too. The good advantage of visiting Northern Circuit is that, many tour operators are based in Northern Circuit cities such as Arusha and Moshi, hence you can be assisted any time in case of any emergency.

Are you looking to have an unforgettable safari experience in Tanzania? Then choose to visit the Northern Circuit National Parks in Tanzania. In the Northern Circuit is where you see the best and famous parks in Tanzania such as Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Tarangire and Arusha Park. In these parks, you have a high chance to spot the Big Five animals: Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant and Black Rhino. On top of this, if you visit the Serengeti national park, then you have a high chance to witness the Great Migration and this event will remain in your memory for your lifetime. This migration is not happening in the same location of the park rather animals migrate from one place to another, so we advise you to check with your safari expert to recommend a good place to see it depending the season.

Enjoy the Great Migration in the Serengeti plains, majestic lions, towering giraffes, lethargic hippos and a variety of other interesting prairie wildlife in the Northern Circuit of Tanzania, this is the best safari for your trip:

• The Northern Circuit Safari

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is one the most famous parks found in the Northern Circuit. The park is well known for its groundwater forest, the Great Rift Escarpment, variety of birdlife with more than 400 species including migratory birds and tree-climbing lions. The game drive is the most common activity conducted within the park. In addition, other activities are canopy walks, walking safari, bird watching and boat riding around Lake Manyara. Outside the park, the village of Mto wa Mbu offers culture tours to the visitors, biking tours, curio shops and accommodation facilities.

No matter how many number of days you have for safari, we offer different programs that fits with your days and budget. An example of short safari with limited number of days is the following program:

• Tarangire, Manyara and Ngorongoro safari

Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park is the second largest park in Tanzania from the first largest park called Nyerere National Park formerly known as Selous Game Reserve. Ruaha National Park covers around 13,000 sq km in area. The name of the park is derived from the Great Ruaha River, which is the heart of the park. The river flows from the South-East area of the park and it is an ideal area for game viewing. The park is known for its largest elephant population and also common animals seen are elephants, leopards, lions, buffalo, cheetah, giraffes, zebras, hippopotamus, spotted hyena, wild dogs, kudu, sable antelope and others. There are also multiple reptiles and amphibians in this park such as monitor lizards, agama lizards, snakes and crocodiles.

Moreover, Ruaha National park is the best park to spot bird species. 570 bird species are believed to be here, some of which are migrating birds arriving from within and outside Africa. Not only animals and bird’s species available there but also there are more than 1,650 species of plants that are inhabiting this park. Inside Ruaha National Park there is only one lodge called Ruaha River Lodge, it’s a nice lodge as you can see game throughout the day from the veranda. Still inside the park there are different tented camps and tented lodges, like Mdonya River Camp.

The park can be reached by car or plane and it’s easy to reach this park from Dar Es Salaam although still is far by driving and hence we recommend you combine with Mikumi National Park to reduce the long distance driving.

Selous Game Reserve

This is the largest protected game reserve in Africa covering an area of 54,600 square kilometers. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 due to the diversity of its wildlife and undisturbed nature. It is located in the Southern part of Tanzania which is about 219 kilometers from Dar es Salaam which may take about 4 hours’ drive. Also, visitors can use aircraft or train to visit Selous from Dar es Salaam.

This game reserve is comprised of a vast wilderness with forests, grassy plains, mountains, and open woodlands. It also has a large number of wild animals like elephants, lions, leopards, wild dogs, hyenas and jackals, black rhinoceros, hippopotamus, buffalo, antelopes, crocodiles, giraffe, zebra and a lot of birds. No permission for the permanent human habitation inside the reserve. Most of the reserve is set aside for game hunting but it is through some privately leased hunting and it is a popular tourist destination.

Inside this game reserve, crosses the Rufiji River which is the largest river in the country.

Fly-In Safari to Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park

Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park are the parks found in the Southern Circuit of Tanzania. The Selous Game Reserve to the South of Mikumi is great for game drives, river experiences on the Rufiji River and also for walking safaris. Ruaha National Park just West of Iringa is the gem of the Southern circuit for game drives and other activities.

These parks can be easily visited from Dar Es Salaam City. You can fly from Dar Es Salaam to Selous Game Reserve for at least 2-3 nights. Then fly again to Ruaha National Park, also here we recommend 2-3 nights. After enjoying Ruaha National park you finally fly back to Dar Es Salaam where you connect flight back home or to next destinations like Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia for beach relaxation. If you prefer to enjoy more game drive safaris, it’s possible also to fly from Selous or Ruaha to other Tanzania tourist circuits especially Northern Circuit comprising of Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangore, Lake Manyara and others. Our safari expert for southern Circuit parks will advise you season, days and reliable flights to make your safari experience to Selous and Ruaha unforgettable. For more details we welcome you to contact us.

Contact our office to book your safari in Tanzania: info@savannahexplorers.com – WhatsApp +255 765 972 458

Swahili is one of the most loved language spoken in Africa especially on the east coast of Africa. People who speak Swahili as their mother tongue language are usually referred as Waswahili. In Tanzania Swahili is the language of administration and used as a tool of teaching in primary education level. However in Kenya and Uganda Swahili is after English since English language in both these countries is the main language. Furthermore, Swahili is also spoken in different countries such as Rwanda, Congo (DRC) and even in central and southern countries. In fact, Swahili language is used much in sub-Saharan Africa and is the most taught African language in the world, with a very rich literary tradition.

What is Swahili?

The name Swahili originates from Arabic language which means ‘of the coast’, This Swahili was named from the Arabic word sawaahili (سواحلي), which means ‘of the coast’, which you would use to refer to coastal people. The east coast of Africa is an area extending from Lamu Island, Kenya, in the north to the southern border of Tanzania in the south. The Bantu languages form a subgroup of the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo language family. Swahili (kiswahili) has 80 to 110 million speakers, but interestingly, very few speak it as their mother tongue and 90 million speak it as a second language.

Open to multiple influences, Swahili is first of all a Bantu language (family of Niger-Kordofanian languages), of which it has some fundamental characteristics such as the high number of nominal classes or genres, and simple phonetics with the tonic accent almost always on the penultimate syllable of words. The declension of nouns and adjectives is based not on the variation of the endings, but on the use of prefixes that specify the nominal class and the number (singular or plural). 

The verbal system is complex in that, through the precise concatenation of prefixes and suffixes, the person, the tense and the root are merged in one word.

From a lexical point of view, modern Swahili incorporates terms coming mainly from other African languages ​​and to a lesser extent from Arabic, Persian, Hindi and English. Then come Portuguese, German and French terms, often reserved for specific sectors such as, for example, navigation, religion or law.

A curiosity of the Swahili is the unusual way of counting the hours of the day starting from sunrise, always at 6 in the morning, and ending at sunset, always at 6 in the evening. According to this system, 9 a.m. becomes 3 a.m. and 9 p.m. is 3 p.m.

Brief history and origin

Swahili originated from an African language of Bantu, where Bantu refers to people who speak Bantu languages. Swahili (from the Arabic sahel, coast, shore or border) was born on the east coast of Africa over 1000 years ago, as a language for merchant exchanges between Africa and Asia.

The routes of the caravans of merchants and blacksmiths first, and European colonization later, pushed the Swahili to spread from the ports overlooking the Indian Ocean to the internal regions of the African continent.

Thus born as a commercial language, Swahili is a Bantu language with important contributions derived from the Arabic, Persian and Hindi languages.

Initially written with Arabic characters, it later adopted the Latin alphabet, enriching itself in the colonial period with terms from Portuguese, English and German.

In 1930 it was defined the “standard Swahili” alongside which many dialectal variations still persist, from the Zungibar kiunguja to the kimrima of the Tanzanian coast, passing through the Congolese kingwana, the Somali chimwiini and the Nairobi sheng, to name just a few.

Although the entire East African community recognizes itself in this language, in Tanzania Swahili has played an authentic political role as it has been one of the pillars of the construction of the national identity, becoming the official language of the country together with English.

Let’s learn some Swahili proverbs and common words:

Dalili ya mvua ni mawingu

Literal translation: Clouds are a sign of rain

Meaning: You can predict your success by watching for the right signs.

Haraka haraka haina baraka

Literal translation: Hurry, hurry has no blessing

Meaning: Haste makes waste.

Wapiganapo tembo wawili ziumiazo nyasi

Literal translation: When two elephants fight it’s the grass that gets hurt

Meaning: When the rich and powerful contend with each other it is the weak and powerless who pay the price.

Some Swahili common words which can be useful during your safari in Tanzania are

jambo! hello

habari gani? how are you?

Mzima wa Afya, all right

na wewe? and you?

asante, thank you

chakula chema, enjoy your meal

tafadhali, please

samahani, sorry

safari njema, good trip

siku njema, good day

kwaheri, goodbye

hakuna matata, no problem

shillingapi?, how much?

unaitwa nani? what’s your name?

karibuni! welcome!

haya! ok

simba, lion

kifaru, rhino

tembo, elephant

swala, gazelle

kiboko, hippopotamus

twiga, giraffe

Last but not least, in order to avoid confusion depending on the way you pronounce Swahili words, you should know some few words about ‘what not to say and do’ such as ‘Maziwa’ it can refer to milk but sometimes Swahili speakers also use it as a word for breast. So to avoid confusion in speaking Swahili when visiting amazing people in Tanzania, allow Savannah Explorers team who know to use Swahili words properly so that they introduce you to these Tanzanians where Swahili is their mother tongue language. Contact us at SavannahExplorers.net for your unforgettable safari in Tanzania.