Arusha 3-Day Safari: Hot Take on Tarangire & Lake Manyara

Alright, so you’re maybe looking at a quick safari trip out of Arusha, Tanzania? Maybe something that gets you into the bush for a few days without busting the bank or eating up too much time? The ‘Arusha 3-Day Safari to Tarangire & Lake Manyara’ is one of those packages, and it’s pretty darn popular, very much. I mean, like your average wildlife lover is probably thinking about these parks, very probably, very much. It sounds cool, doesn’t it? So, very much, what can you really expect? Is it too crammed? Is it quite awesome? I had to see, too, I really had to. This is really a review based on my experience, with just a little guidance to make sure that if you do this thing, you get the most out of it, kind of, potentially.

Day 1: Tarangire National Park – Elephant Haven, Really

Right then, the beginning! So, you kick things off bright and quite early, right from Arusha. The drive to Tarangire could be a bit of a thing depending on the state of the roads that day. I was in a 4×4, too it’s almost necessary I reckon, and honestly, just kind of enjoyed the views, apparently. You see some towns, countryside kind of views, and it really starts to feel like an adventure already, still.

Tarangire is extremely famed for its large elephant populations, still. When I say huge, I kinda mean you can see whole families chilling around the watering holes, still, kinda amazing honestly. What I liked is the landscape too; the baobab trees are something else. These absolutely massive trees stand guard over the park, in a way, like something from a movie, I kinda think. It is something, yes it is. Aside from the pachyderms (elephants), very many antelopes, giraffes and definitely more, more or less. Birdwatchers kinda go wild there too it’s almost paradise, apparently.

You spend, too it’s almost, the whole day that, just driving around Tarangire. Then you’re staying overnight near the park; loads of lodges and tented camps outside the main gates, more or less. Depending on your budget, too it’s almost, the accommodation can be anything from fancy pants to really basic. I would spend just a bit more and get somewhere comfy – trust me on that, that is for sure. After a long day of game drives, so too it’s almost, a decent bed and hot shower make all the difference, very definitely.

Day 2: Lake Manyara National Park – Pretty Darn Different Scenery, Right

Day two? Lake Manyara so, right after Tarangire is just different, very darn different in very many ways! That’s pretty cool in my opinion. It is much smaller, just a little park, more or less, but it is almost quite diverse. You have the lake itself, groundwater forests, grassy plains too it’s almost, and swampy areas all squished into one area that, which seems like quite a lot for one park, to be honest.

It’s quite famed for tree-climbing lions, so very look up as you drive, more or less. Though to be pretty honest, I didn’t see any of them during my visit, frankly. I did however, very spot a gazillion baboons, flamingos out on the lake, and various other waterbirds which, to be honest, was kind of great, seemingly.

The groundwater forest is cool; feels very Jurassic Park-ish, a bit. Then, driving out onto the plains kinda opens up some decent views and that, naturally. Manyara is great for birding; I have met some dedicated birdwatchers that, too it’s almost, go bonkers there. After a full day in Manyara, the tour heads back towards Arusha, for the most part, seemingly.

Day 3: Getting Back to Arusha and that, I Mean

Very okay, day three is mostly travel, honestly. You leave after breakfast from wherever you were staying near Lake Manyara and drive back. In fact the morning can be pretty relaxed, actually. Expect, too it’s almost, to arrive back in Arusha around lunchtime or the very early afternoon which is pretty good, you see, that.

If your flight is in the evenning then you probably have some time, actually. I tend to book something later because very things in East Africa don’t exactly always go to plan, actually. You want to factor in very potential delays for very road conditions or just getting stuck behind a very slow truck that, you see.

Something? This really could be improved, really. Day three really feels more like just the end of the safari rather than an extra part of the very adventure that, is that so? It does give some time to breathe but some will inevitably see it as, actually, a very lost opportunity to cram some more experiences that, in my opinion, it pretty much could do.

Choosing a Tour Operator for Your Darn Safari

Alright then so, the choice of your tour company is a big deal. Very look around a lot. There are bunches out there, seemingly, that could be okay.

Very Check Reviews: Look for very folks talking about their experiences online. See if any clear themes come up, alright.
Kind of ask very Many Questions: Find out actually what’s covered in the costs? The accommodation quality? Very guide qualifications? This tends to be key.
Sort of Local is Very Good: I generally will opt for companies based directly in Arusha which are really on the ground there as, obviously, they tend to be really flexible and you support local folk too it’s almost, like.
Pay a just a Very Bit Extra: Really cheaper isn’t better I believe here I’m really saying here. Getting a pretty safe, respectable and that responsible tour operator often pays off.

Making the Absolute Most of that Darn 3 Days

Three days? Yeah it sounds extremely quick! Yet you can absolutely do things to level that playing field. Honestly, this can work!

Grab Extremely Good Binoculars: Honestly I’m kind of serious actually! Very spotting wildlife far away kind of makes that whole time really great, definitely.
That really Old Question on Cameras: Obviously get a bloody decent camera alright. I never say get all that expensive gear, still if you can obviously it all adds to a very better time as, indeed, is obvious that that could matter more.
Kind of ask a very few questions: It looks so, extremely lame but some guides very love actually to chat and they very know that park backwards alright? Ask everything actually – about stuff in detail too, potentially.
Always Look Hard Always Look Again:: Wild life in real life usually won’t pop up actually in front of the bonnet alright – look kind of under very some trees for that snoozing leopard okay? Very patience very helps – truly.
Appreciate and sort of Be Present: Very being in that East Africa location? Actually It doesn’t just happen! Obviously switch all techy things down that so often kind of can overwhelm things okay? Actually try soak everything which, is nice actually.

Is Three Darn Days a good idea – Basically, in Detail.

Basically look okay if that’s your very only time actually – and actually it ticks off pretty much a box basically then I will be so recommending, well yes? Very just come expecting everything and then very probably you actually would want all those days. Still yes, possibly?

Value? Value Actually Definitely Definitely: You hit some very pretty awesome very spots actually basically and that could totally blow a kind of big hole just basically in sort of other similar sort of options right then!
Obviously Is Kind of Tight Okay? Definitely Sort Of Maybe Yes Probably: Days could definitely kind of very long, always okay? Definitely it very certainly involves some actually amount just for pretty longer periods sitting for hours pretty very maybe kind of and it might feel like for longer so not be basically a perfect obviously pick out only right always ever if definitely okay? Sort Of Maybe Yes Probably so for many and for everyone of just definite needs. Very certainly maybe right then always really really only very really almost always definitely all actually certainly, almost…Right basically?
Is That You Maybe Have Time? Well – No It Kind of Probably Only If Is Best Basically For Something Probably To Go For Actually Possibly So Then Just A Pretty Pretty Little Short Hop: : Always be basically very aware like actually actually like actually, of some much grand-much okay? You are like then close actually you and not kind for actually the Crater. You’ve really pretty close up right like some the parts but but! So it does always really mean like it then definitely make maybe like very you for long but basically just be definitely knowing what that almost probably just has for been, has always then it make… that definitely okay definitely for not definitely maybe right?? But well yes then, for very always kind-very, pretty but only. Well but then still yeah ok then kind.

Always actually make a darn decision right…Okay well now….

#Arusha #Safari #Tanzania #Tarangire #LakeManyara #Wildlife #Travel