Best time to go on a Safari?

One question we get a lot is what is the best time to go on Safari in Tanzania?
Really, anytime you can make it, is good time for Safari. The wildlife is always present.

Having said that, some people are extremely sensitive to heat and dust.  If that is the case, stay away from December to March as Serengeti can be dry, dusty and hot [90Fs during the day with cooler 70Fs during the evening]. Our camps + vehicles do not have air condition which can be an issue for those with respiratory problems. 

Weather Guideline for your Safari Planning.

• November to December // Short rain season + Hot.
  Sporadic showers will not hinder your Safari. Wildebeest and zebra migration, one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth, are heading to Southern to Eastern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Southern Serengeti is the place to be as the lawn-mowers - our wildebeest and zebra - will be coming here. The southern parks like Selous, Ruaha and Katavi will start sprouting up grass. They don't have lawn-mowers. 
   
• January to Mid-March // Can be dry + Hot.
  Birthing season for the Wildebeest and Zebra. Still in Southern to Eastern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Tarangire National Park with its resident wildlife and its rivers and swamps will make you fall in love with this park anytime. The southern parks are still wonderful to explore. 
   
• Mid-March/April to May // Long rain season + Warm to cool.
  Showers can last a few hours but when it clears, fresh skies. If you don’t mind being adventurous [plans may change but we always have a Plan B] this is a great time to visit and get some amazing deals on lodges.  Paul Oliver, a specialist guide calls this the secret season – less crowd but awesome wildlife. Tarangire National Park, with tall grass and abundant water everywhere allowing wildlife to spread out, has black cotton soil which is tricky to drive on when it has rained hard but as we mentioned, get ready for an adventure. Ruaha will also have tall grasses and wildlife will have spread out but that surprise eye peaking out will make you scream -  but don't - they walk away. 
  
  Some lodges also take this time to close and work on their tents and give the crew training. Never fear, there is always a Safari Lodge open. 
   
• June to July // Dry + Cooler months.
  June is green after the rains. Enjoy the sea of wild flowers. Migratory animals are roaming from Central to Western Serengeti on their way to Northern Serengeti. Wildlife from the surrounding areas are about to enter Tarangire National Park.
   
• August to October // Dry season + Cool to warm during day and cool during night. 
  The wildebeest and zebra population is dispersed in Masai Mara to Northern Serengeti. Mara River crossing is a site to witness. Tarangire National Park is alive with wildlife thanks to its permanent Silale Swamp and Tarangire River.

But, the weather is never predictable. Hence the adventure on Safari. Now, twende, let's go.

Safari Documents

You probably don’t need this from me but never hurts to hear this again.
Here are five items that I carry with me at all time on Safari:

Passport.
A given - this is your ticket home. I also give a copy of my passport to my family in the US. A client had given me a copy of her passport and when they were in South Africa, they lost their passport. I was glad I could help by emailing them their passport copy.

Paper e-tickets.
Print your International Airline tickets before you leave. Don't depend on your phone in case wi-fi is not working or your connectivity is poor. Best to have to copy.

Money.
Keep $100 per person handy [if you are a US Citizen] for the visa should you be getting that at the airport. The rest for tips, drinks, shopping, etc. should be carried with you always. We have detailed guidelines on our Traveling Tips which we share with our clients.

Vaccination paperwork if applicable.
If you are coming from another African country, you will need to get Yellow Fever vaccination. Otherwise, vaccination is your choice. 

Phone Numbers.
This is should Plan B need to go into place.
+ Phone numbers for your Travel Insurance - highly recommended getting insurance.
+ Phone numbers of the ground crew - we will provide this to you.
+ My mobile phone number in Houston. 
+ Phone number of your family/friends at home for me to keep should I need to get in touch.
You never know why you may need to make a phone call. Some examples; missing your international flight, breaking a leg in Amsterdam on the way to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro [fingers crossed will not happen to you], etc.

Let's get you on a Luxury Safari somewhere in magical Eastern and Southern Africa. 
We can help you plan your Safari. 

What is a Luxury Safari?

Luxury is relative to each one of us. 

Are you going to be happy with a perfectly good 5 gallon bucket private shower or do you need endless water and a bubble-bath tub? Can you handle a wilderness tent if it means enjoying a walking Safari away from the main camp? Just you and the open space.  
Or both as isn't travel the place to test our limits as well as indulge. 

We want to know more about your expectations on Safari. We have choices we can offer you on your Luxury Safari.

Whatever your travel style, 4 things you are guaranteed when enjoying a Luxury Safari with Journey To Africa.

1] PEACE OF MIND.
Our Safaris take care of you from arrival into any airport in Tanzania or Kenya to when we drop you off at the airport for your flight home. “Safaris are like grandmothers” – Susan Portnoy, a photographer mentioned. All the care with the warm and fuzzy.

You don't have to worry about opening your wallet when on Safari. All is taken care before you leave for your Safari. From your Safari vehicle with your expert guide, national park and conservation fees, meals, drinks which will be available in your vehicle, local flights, transfers mentioned, etc. You have to take care shopping and tips to the guide and crew. 

What we insist you must do is sit back and relax! You are on Safari.

2] EXPERIENCES AND GREAT MEMORIES.
Many studies show that happy people are those who have accumulated experiences and memories in their lives. We aim to enhance your happiness.
“Travel is my therapy.”

How do we plan on doing that?

• Via our guides and their knowledge, warmth, patience and more. 
  To our first timer on Safari to our fifth timer client, our guides are our backbone. They help make great memories and experiences on your Safari. They are also our ambassadors. They will make you fall in love with being on Safari.
• Attention to details as well as adding memories to your Safari.  
  We make sure all the dots and crosses are checked for your Safari. The adding memories part, we don’t want to give away too much but it’s the little things that make the big memories happen.

3] RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME, RIGHT FIT.
We pay lots of attention to the lodge or tented camp we choose for you.
This is a big part of your Safari budget and the selection has to work for you.

Right Place and Right Time.
Crucial. We want you to maximize your wildlife viewing hence the lodges or tented camp has to be in the right place for the time of your travel. We will not go to a lodge or tented camp just because it is beautiful if it is not the right time to be in that area especially in Serengeti where you follow the Wildebeest and Zebra Migration. However, if going there is extremely important for you, we can make that happen or if you have extended time on Safari, sure. 

Right Fit.
We have a range of preferred lodges and tented camps, in different budgets, for us to recommend to you. Are you a family, multigenerational family, on honeymoon or anniversary, friend group, solo ... the lodge and tented camp will be suggested accordingly. The core values can not be compromised - food quality, room amenities, staff service, ambiance of the lodge, etc. Even if you are 'roughing it' with our wilderness camping, the core expectations have to be met for us to offer them to you.

4] LODGES WITH A SOUL.
Our criteria when choosing the lodges we recommend is that they have to have the 3 Cs. Conservation + Community + Carbon off-setting ethos.

Your dollars must help out in a lot of behind the scenes effort. The ability to assist the visiting country, it’s people and the precious wildlife. When picking the lodges or tented camps we recommend, this is a big priority. 

Whether it is wildlife conservation via Honeyguide Foundation with our ground partners or supporting a sustainable orphanage by building a fully equipped bakery like Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge or off setting carbon footprints like our walking Safari partners.

Our lodges also support a lot of families. A staff member in our lodge will take care of 4-6 + family members at home. Your Safari dollars will go a long way on your Safari in Tanzania.

Ask us for more details on each lodge and tented camp and which organization or charity each supports. 

We hope you will enjoy a Luxury Safari with Journey To Africa.