Wildlife Viewing In Tanzania: Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater
Types of Transportation: Land Cruiser, Bush Plane
Active Options Included: Walking Safari, Bird Watching, Canoeing
Cultural Experiences Included: Day visit at Makumira Primary School in Arusha, lunch with Tanzanian family in Mto Wa Mbu, Visit to Shanga Project
Themes
Nature & Wildlife, Safari, Family Friendly, National Parks
What travelers are saying
"INCREDIBLE. Karen and the Deeper Africa team made planning our trip so easy. They really listened to what our interests were (a little active time, a lot of animals) and helped curate a trip that fit those interests while also helping us to see multiple parts of Tanzania. They didn't try to upsell us or overpack our trip, they just made it enjoyable for what we were asking for. We were well prepped through the planning binder we received and the phone calls we had before we started so we knew what to pack and what to expect along the way. We did start our trip with an unfortunate flight delay (no fault of Deeper Africa) and Karen jumped on the phone with us, talked through the timeline, and made the necessary calls to keep everyone in the loop on the adjustments. After that, from the moment we stepped foot in TZ to the moment we stepped back on the plane to come home, everything was smooth sailing!
We began our trip in Arusha with a cooking class and a coffee tour, learning how to make some traditional food and how to pound and roast coffee by hand. Fun and great to start off on our feet to get adjusted to the new time zone. We then started our 9 day journey to 3 different national parks in Tanzania and saw over 100 different species of animals, from the big five to the birds and turtles. I was surprised by the number of animals that acted like we did not exist in our big truck. They are used to people being around so the majority of the animals ignored us or politely kept their distance, but still allowed us to observe them. And the Tanzanian landscape really is beautiful beyond belief. Your brain cannot comprehend the endless plains and the blue sky until you are there amidst it, breathing it in.
Our guide, Ombeni, was with us the entire trip. He was not only one of the smartest people I have ever met (so many animal facts!) but he also truly cares about nature, about his country, about teaching, and about making our experience the best it could be. He was an excellent driver and knew where was safe and where the animals were most likely to be. We were very lucky to have him and we learned so much from him. He told us about his family, the culture and history of Tanzania and its many tribes and ethnic groups; he taught us some Swahili and a LOT about the animals and plants that are everywhere you look in the national parks. We really enjoyed staying with one guide instead of multiple people because of how well we got to know him. Even if we had not seen a single animal while we were in Africa, the trip would have been worthwhile just for the time we spent with Ombeni.
The trip was mildly strenuous - the main roads in Tanzania are very smooth but the roads in the park can be bumpy and require using your abs to stay in your seat (or biceps and quads if you choose to stand) while riding through the parks. If you are taller than 6'4" you may bump your head on the roof of the truck sometimes while standing. I normally struggle with motion sickness but did not have any issues during the trip.
Each location where we stayed was very comfortable - big beds, running water and clean surfaces, even with the dust. Each location had water containers in our room which helped us stay hydrated (it was tough to drink enough water each day). The permanant structures and the tented camps both felt very secure. There were some bugs, but they were easy to scoop up in a cup and take outside. We did suffer from some biting flies on the truck but each night we were very comfortable and did not have any fly or mosquito issues in any of our rooms or in the dining space.
All in all, a five star experience that I would recommend to anyone looking to experience a safari."