Category: Tanzania Hints and Tips

When you organize a safari and you choose to visit the parks, it is important to take into consideration the transfers from one park to another. Some operators could offer safaris where you run from one park to another without having enough time to enjoy the photo-safari, or the roads conditions could make the transfer times longer for different reasons. This is one of the reasons why it is always better contact and rely on a local, expert and serious operator.

We take into consideation that we are in Tanzania, not all roads are paved or in good condition. In Tanzania there are speed limits, bumps, police check points, and especially it is more safe if we drive slowly. Another good idea is to avoid driving long distances in the dark, in the parks is not allowed to move from 6 pm to 6 am.

The smartest way to measure the distance in Tanzania is in driving hours rather than Kilometers, because as I said the same distance in kilometers can be covered in different times depending on the road conditions. Below we provide a guideline that may change according to the road conditions, for example during a storm or just after, but they are certainly a good approximation.

The distances of the safari in northern Tanzania

The Northern parks of Tanzania have the great advantage of being quite closed each other and therefore the transfer time is around 2-3 hours from one park to another.
The main tamac road is in good condition, it starts from Dar Es Salaam and arrivse to Ngorongoro Conservation Area entrance gate, crossing near the parks of Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha, The Arusha Airport, Arusha National Park , Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park.We proceed to Serengeti National Park on a rough road and we can return to Arusha driving back on the same road, or driving to Lake Natron where we overnight for one night and then proceed to Arusha driving first on the rough road and later joining again the paved road between Karatu and Mto wa Mbu.

• Kilimanjaro Airport – Arusha, 50 Km – 1 hour transfer
• Arusha – Tarangire, 130 Km – 2 hours of transfer
• Arusha – Manyara, 120 Km – 2 hours of transfer
• Tarangire – Manyara, 60 km – 1 hour transfer
• Tarangire – Karatu, 90 Km – 1.5 hour transfer
• Arusha – Karatu , 160 km – 2.5 hours of transfer
• Arusha – Serengeti, 335 Km – 6 hours of transfer
• Dar Es Salaam – Arusha , 635 Km – 12 hours of transfer
• Arusha – Marangu, 120 Km – 2 hours of transfer

The distances reported here are the distance to the park entrance gate. For more information or a safari program you can contact me at Savannah Explorers .

The safari in Tanzania is an incredible journey in the nature and among wild animals, accompanied by a professional guide on board a 4×4 jeep. Prices are not always affordable to everyone, the park fees, the exclusive use of the jeep, lodges and tented camps are expensive and drive up the final price. The price will be even higher if the safari is booked by the oversea agent due to the middle-men between the customer and the local tour operator.

The question is “How can I save”?

1 – Contact a local operator

If you organize your safari in Tanzania with a serious local tour operator you will be able to save money on the rigmarole of intermediaries and have better service for the money spent. Also you speak directly with the safari expert to define, plan and customize your safari program. It’s easy contact a tour operator in Tanzania, such as Savannah Explorers , just read the safari programs on their website and get a quote by mail or online form.

Make sure that the local operator has a valid license to operate safari checking Tanzania Tourism Ministry website.

2 – Take advantage of the offers or share with a small group

The safari quotes are not exactly the same all year round, there are offers for low season, for some itineraries, for certain combinations of lodge and tented camps or departures offered in small groups. Sharing the jeep with 4-6 people allows you to split the fixed cost of the jeep and driving among more people. See for example our Savannah Explorers Offers page.

3 – Save money on accommodation

In addition to the lodge and most famous tented camps there are simple and clean accommodation that allow you to save money on the total price, so we can save a few hundred dollars on accommodation during 1 week safari program.

4 – You can save up to some extent

Tanzania is an expensive destination for the cost of park fees, 4×4 vehicle, driving distances and nights in tented camps and lodges, you can save but up to some extents. Be wary of too low prices, your trip could turn into a scam.

The safari is an experience that everyone should do at least once in life, for those who are passionate about photography is a unique opportunity to capture breathtaking landscapes, unforgettable sunsets and animals in their natural environment. Tanzania has been awarded in recent years as the best destination for the photo safari in Africa, it is the land of the famous Serengeti National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro known as the roof of Africa and Zanzibar called the island of spices.

What can I photographed while on safari in Tanzania?
Africa and Tanzania have a very different place from Italy and there are many opportunities for photographers: Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, banana plantations and coffee, the colorful local markets, shops of yesteryear, rickety carts and people from special smile. In the parks there are plenty of animals: elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, baboons and mischievous Colari birds, a visit to the Masai village is an opportunity to photograph the Masai warriors and their women with collars and very showy earrings.
Sunrise and sunset are the moments with the best light, it is good to get organized with the safari guide, starting at 6:00 in the morning before sunrise and take advice Right the place for sunset.

Sport equipment
The first tip is to check all your equipment before leaving, here in Tanzania is not a lot and the little that is is way overpriced or bad quality, controls everything before starting: Battery, optical, camera body, filters , cases and everything else.

The ideal is to have a digital SLR camera with at least a 200 mm (the 300 is even better), the animals are usually quite close and are not indispensable most powerful optics. But they do need different memory cards and at least one spare battery, to be more confident you should save all the photos on a memory card at the end of each day. In some cases it is very useful to have dual camera body to have at hand the 18-55 mm and 300 mm, in this way we will always be ready to shoot with the right perspective.

My tips
It ‘s a good idea to protect the machine from dust by putting it in the case when not in use and remove dust in the evenings with the special wipes. Careful to dust if you change optical “on the road”.

When the memory card is almost full or low battery better to put a new right away, let us not see us in the middle of a hunting scene with full or battery low, I assure you that the lions will not wait !!

Charge the batteries at the lodge / tented camp as soon as possible,during safari hold batteries and memory cards on hand during the safari.

Before photographing people ask permission, there is always someone who does not like touchy.

ABSOLUTELY NOT TAKE PICTURES OF AIRPORTS, CONVOYS MILITARY, MILITARY, POLICE, GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, and the like, if you do it you and your guide will end up in trouble.

Have fun and enjoy the safari parks of Tanzania.

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Planning a trip to Africa or Asia you have to check the recommended vaccinations / immunization advice for your destination.  The risk of contracting malaria during a safari or beach holiday in Tanzania is really low, but let’s go step by step.

What is malaria?

Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite called Plasmodium that infects red blood cells.

How is malaria transmitted malaria?

Malaria is transmitted primarily through bites of Anopheles mosquito similar to our common mosquitoes and active from dusk to dawn. The mosquito bites a sick person and then another person, here is when this second person is infected. The parasites (Plasmodium) lurk in the liver for a few days and then are released into the bloodstream where they destroy red blood cells.

Is malaria a real risk during safari in Tanzania?

There are very low chances to be infected but it is possible. It’s a good practice if you use the mosquito nets and do not to leave windows / doors open after dark, use repellent and dress in long pants and long sleeves to avoid bites. Arusha and Ngorongoro are malaria free, there is higher malaria risk in Dar Es Salaam and the coast where the climate is more hot and humid. Lodge / tented camp staff sprays in your room / tent every day to kill mosquitoes and other insects.

I do prophylaxis for malaria to come to Tanzania?

Check with your doctor about suitable antimalarial tablets: Atovaquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquine is usually recommended. Atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone) is a combination pill taken once daily with food starting two days before arrival and continuing through the trip and for seven days after departure. Side-effects, which are typically mild, may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, or dizziness. Serious adverse reactions are rare. Mefloquine is taken once weekly in a dosage of 250 mg, starting one-to-two weeks before arrival and continuing through the trip and for four weeks after departure. Mefloquine may cause mild neuropsychiatric symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, and nightmares. Rarely, severe reactions occur, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, hallucinations, and seizures. Mefloquine should not be given to anyone with a history of seizures, psychiatric illness, cardiac conduction disorders, or allergy to quinine or quinidine.  Doxycycline is effective, but may cause an exaggerated sunburn reaction, which limits its usefulness in the tropics.

What I have reported is only a generic advice and may change accordingly to age, where you leave and many other factors, I suggest you consult your doctor. The decision on the prophylaxis for malaria is a personal choice.

How Tanzania people protect themselves from malaria

It’s very simple:

• Use mosquito nets to prevent mosquito bites
• Spray the house every day or so and kill mosquito
• Wear long sleeves and  long trousers when it’s dark

Don’t worry about malaria, Tanzania is unforgettable destination and the best destination for safari in Africa. You can get more information on Savannah Explorers Website.

Arusha is known as the safari capital, it is a green cityat the foot of Mount Meru about 1400 m. above sea level.The area is rich in water and it’s never too cold or too hot. Trees and plants find the best condition and environment, they grow and flourish very quickly.

The nurseries of Arusha

One of the most common commercial activities for Arusha inhabitants are nurseries. Once in the city you definitely notice them on the sides of the main streets, a lot of of plants, flowers and trees ready to be planted in the garden. There are seasonal, perennials, fruit trees and garden trees, can meet any need and preference.

Personally I bought a lot at these plants, flowers and tress and the quality is excellent, here I also purchased a “small Christmas Tree”  for our garden which now is already a big tree and makes our Xmas time really nice with a lot of red flowers.

To organize your safari in Tanzania and visiting Arusha can consult My Savannah Explorers website.

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During the safari the best accommodation for a real safari experience is the tented camp. This is a bit special kind of accommodation and there are many questions and some concerns about it. This article will explain what it is and how it works.

What is a mobile tented camp?

The tented camp is similar to a lodge or hotel but there are not concrete walls, only canvas. The rooms are semi-permanent tents, as big as a hotel room, with bathroom, shower and running water. Usually the camps moves to another location every 3-6 months. Here is some photos so that you can have a better idea.

How does Mobile Tented Camp work in Tanzania?

In the tent there is electricity so you have light during all the night, sometimes there are also plugs or extension to recharge batteries, phone and use the hair dryer. In some cases, batteries and a hair dryer can be used only in the common area when the generator is on, usually from 18-19 to about 23.

The hot water for the shower is brought on request and loaded into the external tank, better do right away to avoid the shower to cool. Water is a valuable resource to the tented camp because the staff has to transport by supply car and tanker, but if the water is not enough we can still ask the staff. Usually they provide 25 liters for the shower.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the restaurant tent, where you will find the buffet or the waiter ready to serve you. In the evening they set a camp fire and it is common sit around the fire before and after dinner for stories, jokes and share pictures while drinking a cup of coffee or a beer.

At night wild animals come close to the tents, you can hear their calls and guess what it is. The next morning you’ll know if you guessed correctly asking your safari guide.

For more information about the safari in Tanzania you can check out my site Savannah Explorers.