Tanzania Safari Details
I’m currently planning two trips per year - one in winter, and one in summer. Tanzania is lovely and wildlife is plentiful there in both seasons. The summer trip costs a bit more and is one day longer, because guests will spend an extra day in the Serengeti due to where the herds will be located in their migration pattern.
Sometimes I am able to join these trips myself, but when I can't come along I organize everything for my groups from start to finish and offer personalized support every step of the way. You are in excellent hands with my trusted guides and lodges (they have hosted many of my guests). You can relax knowing that you will be in the care of excellent hosts who will treat you like family.
You’ll go on safari to see Tanzania’s iconic wildlife, get to know absolutely wonderful locals, stay at beautiful locally-owned lodges, and smash all the negative stereotypes about Africa along the way. Be warned: This place gets under your skin and you may need to come back.
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If you’d like to go on safari in Tanzania but can’t join one of my trips, check out my other travel planning options.
Accommodations
We partner with beautiful, locally-owned lodges to make sure your tourist money supports the local community. Safaris include all meals cooked by the lodges’ wonderful chefs. Guests can choose to have your own private room with full bathroom, or share if you prefer.
You will spend one night at Airport Planet Lodge, several nights at one of our trusted lodges in Karatu, and 1-2 nights at a tented camp inside Serengeti National Park. Lodges in Serengeti use the terms “tent” and “camp” but these are very nice rooms with running water electricity, beds, and full bathrooms that happen to have canvas sides (you won’t be sleeping on the ground!). Exactly which camp you stay at in Serengeti will depend on the season, but you can get an idea of what those camps look like here.
Birthday celebration dinner organized by the lodge’s lovely staff
Enjoying an evening around the “African television”
FAQs
What airport do I fly into?
Kilimanjaro International Airport (airport code JRO). Make sure to plan an extra day or two on either end of your trip to account for air travel, depending on where you’re coming from. For your return flight, you will need to leave enough time to drive back to the airport from Karatu (about 4 hours, and planning to be at the airport 2 hours before flight departure). I’m happy to provide advice on booking flights for my guests.
Will I need travel vaccinations?
No additional vaccinations are required to enter Tanzania, though a couple are recommended. Taking prophylactic anti-malarial medication during the trip is optional but recommended. I discuss travel health and vaccines in-depth with my guests.
Do I need a visa?
US citizens do need a visa to enter Tanzania (these trips are open to everyone, just generalizing to the US since that’s where I’m from). The application is submitted online and costs $100. I provide visa application directions and support to my guests.
Winter Trip Details
Dates
Nine days in late January/early February (exact dates will be announced to my email list).
Itinerary
Subject to minor changes
Day 1 - Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you will be met by Airport Planet staff. Overnight at Airport Planet Lodge.
Day 2 - You will be picked up by your driver in the morning and make your way to your lodge in Karatu. It’s approximately a 4-hour drive that offers a lovely glimpse into life in Tanzania along the way. Enjoy lunch and dinner at your lodge, settle into your room, and explore the neighborhood.
Day 3 - Your first safari day! You’ll go to Tarangire National Park (this is the park is for elephant lovers!)
Day 4 - You'll depart very early in the morning for your Serengeti safari! This will be a long day of driving with opportunities for wildlife viewing throughout. You will spend the night at a lodge within the national park (in winter we usually stay at Sero Tented Camp).
Day 5 - After another half-day safari in the Serengeti, you’ll head back to Karatu.
Day 6 - Free day. Relax at the lodge, visit the nearby town of Karatu, go souvenir shopping, go for a hike, or visit a local coffee farm. (Cost of free day activities not included - the hike is about $20 per person, the coffee farm is about $10.)
Day 7 - Day trip to visit two local tribes: The Hadzabe (hunter gatherers still living their traditional lifestyle) and the Datoga (who specialize in metalworking). You'll be joined by a local guide who speaks both tribes' languages so this is a great opportunity for cultural exchange.
Day 8 - Set out before sunrise for your safari in Ngorongoro Crater National Park (my favorite place on Earth). Then enjoy your final dinner at your lodge.
Day 9 - Check out and transport back to Kilimanjaro International Airport (or elsewhere if planning further travel in the area).
You are welcome to extend your trip if you want to stay longer - just let me know and I’ll help facilitate!
Summer Trip Details
Dates
Ten days in late June/early July (exact dates will be announced to my email list).
Summer trips are one day longer than winter trips - you’ll spend an extra day in the Serengeti due to where the wildlife herds are located along their annual migration route.
Itinerary
Subject to minor changes
Day 1 - Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you will be met by Airport Planet staff. Overnight at Airport Planet Lodge.
Day 2 - You will be picked up by your driver in the morning and make your way to your lodge in Karatu. It’s approximately a 4-hour drive that offers a lovely glimpse into life in Tanzania along the way. Enjoy lunch and dinner at your lodge, settle into your room, and explore the neighborhood.
Day 3 - Your first safari day! You’ll go to Tarangire National Park (this is the park is for elephant lovers!)
Day 4 - You'll depart very early in the morning for your Serengeti safari! This will be a long day of driving with opportunities for wildlife viewing throughout. You will spend the night at a lodge within the national park (in summer we usually stay at Baobab Central Serengeti Camp).
Day 5 - Enjoy a full-day safari in the Serengeti. Overnight again inside the park.
Day 6 - After another half-day safari in the Serengeti, you’ll head back to Karatu.
Day 7 - Free day. Relax at the lodge, visit the nearby town of Karatu, go souvenir shopping, go for a hike, or visit a local coffee farm. (Cost of free day activities not included - the hike is about $20 per person, the coffee farm is about $10.)
Day 8 - Day trip to visit two local tribes: The Hadzabe (hunter gatherers still living their traditional lifestyle) and the Datoga (who specialize in metalworking). You'll be joined by a local guide who speaks both tribes' languages so this is a great opportunity for cultural exchange.
Day 9 - Set out before sunrise for your safari in Ngorongoro Crater National Park (my favorite place on Earth). Then enjoy your final dinner at your lodge.
Day 10 - Check out and transport back to Kilimanjaro International Airport (or elsewhere if planning further travel in the area).
You are welcome to extend your trip if you want to stay longer - just let me know and I’ll help facilitate!
Pricing
Winter
Approximately $3950 (exact cost may change due to lodge pricing and national park fees).
Includes:
6 nights at Foresight Eco Lodge in a private bungalow or tiny house
1 night at Kilimanjaro Airport Planet Lodge (breakfast included)
1 night at luxury tented camp in Serengeti
All meals and non-alcoholic drinks (except lunch/dinner at Airport Planet Lodge)
Private Land Cruiser + local driver/guide
National Park fees
Safari in Tarangire National Park
2-day safari in Serengeti National Park
Safari in Ngorongoro Crater
Day trip to visit Hadzabe and Datoga tribes
All tips for drivers, lodges, and guides
Pickup and drop off at Kilimanjaro International Airport
Does not include:
Airfare
Meals prior to arrival at Foresight Eco Lodge (breakfast is included at Airport Planet Lodge)
Extra optional activities during free day
Travel immunizations/malaria prophylaxis
Travel visa
Alcohol
Summer
Approximately $4450 (exact cost may change due to lodge pricing and national park fees).
The summer trip costs more because the herds will be in Central Serengeti, which is a farther drive from Karatu so it’s best to spend two nights there. This itinerary is one day longer than the winter trip and you’ll spend that whole time on safari in the Serengeti!
Includes:
6 nights at Foresight Eco Lodge in a private bungalow or tiny house
1 night at Kilimanjaro Airport Planet Lodge (breakfast included)
2 nights at luxury tented camp in Serengeti
All meals and non-alcoholic drinks (except lunch/dinner at Airport Planet Lodge)
Private Land Cruiser + local driver/guide
National Park fees
Safari in Tarangire National Park
3-day safari in Serengeti National Park
Safari in Ngorongoro Crater
Day trip to visit Hadzabe and Datoga tribes
All tips for drivers, lodges, and guides
Pickup and drop off at Kilimanjaro International Airport
Does not include:
Airfare
Meals prior to arrival at Foresight Eco Lodge (breakfast is included at Airport Planet Lodge)
Extra optional activities during free day
Travel immunizations/malaria prophylaxis
Travel visa
Alcohol
Payment Schedule:
A $1,000 deposit will be required to reserve your spot.
The remainder of your trip fees will be in two payments spaced out several months before your trip.
Refund Policy:
If you need to cancel at any time, I can only refund your payment if I am able to fill your spot. If I can get someone to take your place, I will refund everything except half of your deposit ($500). This is because it takes lots of time and effort for me to replace guests and get them up to speed with the rest of the group. I would love to have a more flexible cancellation policy, but this is the only way I’ve found to make sure folks are serious before signing up, and to make it financially feasible for me. Thanks for your understanding!
What I Provide
A personal relationship with your hosts and guides. You'll start on day one feeling like you're with friends because I am close with the team and they love to see my groups coming.
Complete trip planning: I'll organize your itinerary and accommodations, and take care of payment.
My very thorough Tanzania Travel FAQs document, which I’m constantly adding to (including info about travel health, a packing list, and helpful Swahili vocabulary).
Visa application instructions and help booking flights as needed.
A WhatsApp group just for guests on this trip, so y’all can ask me questions any time. It’s also more fun if you get to know each other a bit beforehand!
1-2 Zoom meetings for trip planning. For my prior groups, one several months before departure and one a few weeks before worked well.
I’ll be available to you throughout your trip to answer questions or help with any issues. I'll check in each day and send tips for what to expect, how to dress, what to bring, etc for each day trip.
Important Info
This trip will be an adventure, not a relaxing vacay! I’ve packed a lot into the itinerary because in my experience, guests want to see as much of Tanzania as possible in the time they have.
There will be a lot of driving on bumpy roads. That’s the nature of travel in East Africa! The distances are long, but the drives are anything but boring. Much of life is lived outside in Tanzania, so there’s a lot of culture and wildlife to see on your drives. There will also be several very early starts! Wildlife is most active in the early morning and evening, so safari days tend to start early.
I know that many of my followers are interested in COVID-cautious travel. I work to match up people who are comfortable with the same level of COVID precautions. For some groups that’s zero precautions; for others it's testing before departure, masking during air travel, etc. It’s important to me that groups have the same expectations so that everyone feels comfortable.
I trust the hosts and guides we work with implicitly.
What My Previous Guests Say
"LIFE. CHANGED. This was, hands down, the best trip of my life."
"Honestly words cannot accurately describe how much the trip meant to me. I truly wish more people could travel and experience cultures like this. I think we’d have a lot more kind humans if we did."
"It was a huge advantage that Emily knows the staff well! It was incredible being treated like family the minute we stepped foot on site. I felt like the staff became family much quicker than normal because of her connection with them. This made the trip outstanding. I didn't expect to be so emotional saying goodbye to everyone when we drove away, but it indicated how impactful the week was for me."
"I didn’t expect to fall in love with the people at the lodge and the country so much. That’s never happened on a trip before. I knew it would be an amazing trip but thought it would be one and done. Now I cannot fathom not returning multiple times in the future."
"If you were at all hesitant to travel to Africa before this trip, you certainly won’t be once you are done, and above all you will be dreaming of how to get back to Africa as quickly as possible! Emily is such an amazing guide and her passion, knowledge and incredible organization make this trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience for anyone willing to get out of their comfort zone. If you are lucky enough to get the chance to take this trip, do it without hesitation."
Interested in joining a future trip?
Please fill out this survey, which helps me matchmake groups. Once you’re on the list, I’ll be in touch when I have info about future openings. I limit each group to six people to keep this experience close-knit and so that you can share your own private Land Cruiser.
Thank you!
If you’d like to take this trip with your own group, or the timing of these trips doesn’t work for you: I can likely plan a trip for two or more people for a similar price. I’d be happy to help you plan a personalized trip.
Reach out to me at emily@twodustytravelers.com.