Tanzania Safari Review: A Look at a 5-Day Mid-Range Group Trip

Thinking of a trip to see Tanzania’s wildlife, is it? Well, maybe you are considering a 5-day safari. It’s almost certainly a good amount of time to experience some of the highlights without breaking the bank. A mid-range group safari, especially, can be a sweet spot between comfort and affordability. We took one of those safaris. I can give you the details about what you can expect, what stood out, and a few suggestions that are going to help you make the most of your adventure.

What You Can Expect from the Itinerary

Typically, such a safari plan covers some of Tanzania’s most amazing parks. That includes, often, Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, and maybe Lake Manyara too, like yours. Days typically start early, right before sunrise usually, so that is that, to catch animals when they’re most active. That means lots of driving, some bumpy, between parks. This gets you to game viewing spots. You also will be staying in lodges or tented camps that have comfortable beds. Maybe there is running water and electricity, but do not depend on them being always reliable, you know.

During our 5-day safari, we started in Arusha, which, actually, serves as the jumping-off point for these northern circuit safaris. The first day involved driving to Tarangire. It’s a bit famed for its large elephant herds and baobab trees, rather striking, to be honest. The next day, we moved on to Serengeti. Maybe that one is the real reason you are visiting Tanzania! We spent two full days there, very busy with morning and afternoon game drives to look for the “Big Five”. Plus, there’s everything in between, obviously. Finally, we visited the Ngorongoro Crater for a day. We explored the crater floor before going back to Arusha. Each park has something so very different, it really does create an incredible experience.

Highlights of the Trip

There’s spotting the animals, like everyone expects, I’d say. Seeing lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras, all of them roaming free is like a dream in reality. Serengeti, certainly, stood out for the sheer concentration of wildlife. Every turn gave you something completely spectacular to see, you see.

That is that. In Tarangire, the elephant herds were simply mind-blowing; dozens of gentle giants just peacefully feeding, you see. The Ngorongoro Crater has almost like its own world. It is, I mean, like a contained ecosystem that has flamingos by the soda lake and rhinos grazing in the distance. A real postcard moment, kind of, to be fair. Then, our guide, named Elias, well, he really elevated the experience. His insight about the animals, birds, and the land made it so much more rewarding. He had hawk eyes. We probably would have missed half the wildlife if it was not for him.

The Accommodation Experience

What “mid-range” really means differs so greatly, you might want to think about it. We found ourselves in a mixture of tented camps and lodges. The camps had proper beds. So too they have mosquito nets, and private bathrooms, even, which was welcome. But it can still be basic. That is that it’s more “glamping” than hotels, obviously. Lodges tended to have more facilities, like spots to eat, and they feel more solid. What you gain in convenience, well, you give up a bit in “closeness to nature.” I was not as big on it as others. Overall, the accommodation was mostly clean and mostly comfortable and provided a fine spot to recharge after long days.

A heads up. Expect the electricity to not be very consistent, so it is. Having power banks for your phone and camera, you see, is basically essential. Hot water, too, can be hit or miss. It’s something that’s more to do with location than the place itself. Some of the camps even offer laundry. We really welcomed that because it helped pack a bit lighter. The staff are also very nice. This means tipping is much appreciated, that is to say, expected, so it’s really good to be prepared for that.

Food on Safari

You might be eating pretty well. Most of your meals were included. Breakfast and dinner were, kind of, buffet style at the lodges and camps. This provides, in a way, a lot of options. Lunches are often packed and taken out with you for the game drives. These could be anything from sandwiches to chicken, along with fruit and snacks. Most dietary needs get sorted, it’s like yours were, like gluten-free or vegetarian. They can meet if they’re advised beforehand. Food is plentiful. Sometimes, so bland, so you could be very keen to bring some hot sauce. A little flavor really would add a lot. Water is, clearly, vital to stay hydrated. Lots of companies provided bottled water, though, anyway, filling up a reusable one feels right. We are in their environment, actually, to see their nature at its finest.

The dinners we had in the Serengeti, really. They often included freshly grilled meats, rice, vegetable dishes, and always some local influence. We have sampled ugali (a maize flour dish) and other things that felt true to the place, honestly. Coffee and tea were usually on hand, actually, even very early in the morning. A big plus. So crucial for those cold starts. The food might not be gourmet, you know, but it gets the job done. The variety is what made it enjoyable and gave a feel of the area.

Things to Consider Before You Book

Before you book your safari, there’s a fair few things to keep in mind, arguably. That is that you need to check the inclusions very carefully, obviously. Figure out precisely what is, actually, covered in the price and what is not. Airport transfers, park fees, meals, and drinks, all of them need clarification, actually, to dodge nasty surprises. Getting good travel insurance is almost essential. This ought to cover medical emergencies, evacuation, and cancellation of the trip, actually. Be fully clued up on the visa requirements for Tanzania based on where you are from.

Packing light is what will matter, because of luggage restrictions on some internal flights, obviously. Layers of clothing can help with temperature changes, as early mornings are always freezing, as are evenings too. Strong sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat will offer much-needed protection against the African sun, is that not so? Binoculars will improve your wildlife viewings considerably. A camera with a zoom lens, honestly, is really great to have, so you can take home memories. It is wise, too, to be prepared for long days of driving and keep yourself comfy. The roads can be rugged, actually, in certain parts.