Tanzania and Zanibar

[ByGraceAlone]

I am beginning to plan our first safari trip. For 2026.

We're thinking Tanzania because we want to add on a beach holiday, so Zanzibar.

Most itineraries are North curcuit: Sergenti and Ngorogoro etc focused on the great migration. It looks amazing but I have heard some comments that it is 'now very busy.' e.g ultiple cars in Nngorogoro, surrounding one lion, lined up at the river etc.

We really don't wat that. We want a wilderness feel away from people as much as possible.

Some people have recommended the South parks (Selous and Ruaha) as quieter, but would it be a mistake to miss the Serengeti? I've alway imagined being on the great plains of Africa. Is it a must experience? Even if 'busy'. One agent said there are quiet areas of the Serengeti to get away from the crowds (in one of the moving migration camps?)

If anyone has been what does 'bust' in the Serengeti mean? Did it spoli it at all?

I feeling very confused and not sure what we want.

Also what do yuo think would be approxiate csts to expect and budget for a holiday like this? A week on safari, in remote but comfortable camps and 5 nights zanibar in a high quality hotel.

Thaks for any advice on this I feel like I'm getting more confused the more people I speak to!

We did Tanzania and Zanzibar for our honeymoon 17 years ago. We didn’t go to the Serengeti (went in September) as the migration had moved on, but we did Tarangire and Ngorogoro (busier but not not stupidly so).

We used a company called Africa and Beyond to build the itinerary and they were fantastic. Definitely not cheap (I can’t remember what we paid, but as it was our honeymoon we were happy to splurge!) but worth every penny.

This was one of the camps we stayed at and undoubtedly the best!

https://www.andbeyond.com/places-to-stay/africa/tanzania/tarangire-national-park/sanctuary-swala-camp/

We got a quote last year from Audley Travel for Tanzania and Zanzibar, mid-range accommodation, not luxury, and it came in over £25k for 4 people. We decided to put that holiday on hold and will research some alternatives.

We went on safari in Tanzania and it is one of our best holidays. We spent the following nights

1 - just outside Kilimanjaro to land/ gather ourselves
3 - lake Manjara - tree to walk, kayaking, game drives, night drives. We stayed in the park and barely saw another truck until we headed out on the final day.
2 - Ngorongoro crater - we stayed at a camp by the entrance, we were alone in the park for a couple of hours, but it got busy. The first few hours were spectacular.
2- wild camping in a fly camp in the Serengeti - we did a game drive and walking tour. It was fairly deserted as we were off the beaten track. We had a bucket on a rope and a wooden box over a hole! It was breath taking. Hyena surrounded our camp and you could see their green eyes glinting. Our guide had an AK47!
2 - migration camp in the north. Camp moves with the migration. We and 1 other truck watched a crossing. Sleeping amongst the migrating herd and listening to them call all night was just beyond anything I had imagined.
4 - Paje on Zanzibar
1 - Stone Town, is a must.

Our guide Joseph made the trip. Our camps were just fantastic and run by Wayo.
It was not a cheap trip, but I’m pretty well travelled and it’s top 3 for me.

I should add I have been on safari elsewhere, but not as seasoned as some on here. Tanzania felt quite like the wilderness I expected, especially the wild camping. You have to be patient, but the animal encounters we had were amazing.

Other places seem to be stocked safari parks, and quite a different vibe.

I work in the safari industry (not in sales) and love Tanzania. I’ve been many times. The camp I mention below I’m not affiliated to or with in anyway but love.

What time of year are you going?

For a first time safari I’d 100% include the Serengeti but I’d avoid the migration. It’s a chaotic traffic jam. Check the map to see where the migration is when you want to go and pick a different spot. One of my favourite areas is the Lamai Wedge. Alex Walker’s Serian have a great camp there. I’d suggest choosing two Serengeti camps in different areas and combining that with Zanzibar for your first time.

Ngorongoro Crater I’m not such a fan of. Often you don’t get close sightings and follow a trail of cars around the roads. It’s quite busy. I really like quiet wilderness and Ngorongoro is not it.

I like Ruaha and Selous which are very different to the Serengeti. There is a lot more tree cover and wildlife sightings aren’t as prolific, but they are certainly wild and remote. If you can add one, do (you’ll lose a day travelling) but I’d say not visiting the Serengeti for a first time visit would be a mistake. I’d choose Ruaha over Selous.

Check out the Usangu Wetlands for really remote. The wildlife sightings probably won’t include big cats but it’s a beautiful area and you won’t see another person!

Safari in Tanzania isn’t cheap and you’ll probably need to start at £12,000 for both of you for what you describe.

I’d avoid the migration. It’s a chaotic traffic jam

We were there in August and 1 other jeep from our Wayo North Migration camp watched our crossing, so I beg to differ.

I’ve been four times during migration and have always found multiple vehicles jostling for position at river crossings.

wayoafrica.com/items/serengeti-green-camp/

these guys seem to manage it. Lots of cars over the river, but they couldn’t get a view. We were in the middle of nowhere it felt. The camp was not a permanent structure and moved with herd.

The migration was like being in a wildebeest plague and the crossing only a part of the experience.

Expensive though.

We went in late October time, I don't remember it being bad in the Serengeti, in the Ngorongoro it was fine until we saw a cheetah. Then suddenly loads of vehicles descended and were around the same cheetah. I guess the drivers radio each other because customers tip better when they see harder to spot wildlife. We did a basic put your own tent up camping trip, but even they are expensive these days.

Thanks all this is very helpful.

Audley travel have put together an itinerary of 3 days at this camp in the Serengeti that they say will be very quiet. It does seem it. It is a mobile camp to follow the migration, but I seem to be getting differing views on how 'busy' that geets. Would this location be busy?:

https://www.asiliaafrica.com/camps-lodges/ubuntu-migration-camp/

Then 4 days in Ruaha here:
https://www.asiliaafrica.com/camps-lodges/jabali-ridge/

Then 5 nights Zanzibar.

This apparently would give us the best of all experiences in quiet wilderness areas?
We'd have to fly in to Lamai Ridge and then Ruaha.

This is expensive though £20K for 2 people.

Another agent has recommended just a North circuit but planning quieter areas.
Another just South and this would be better than the Serengeti.
I'm waiting for quotes on those I presume they'll be cheaper?

We absolutely do not want the experience of several jeeps around cheetah. We want to feel deep in the African pains/ Bush. In fact the scenery is almost more important to us than the animals. (But animals are important).

Any thoughts on the above?

Hi @SerenaSeranada you didn't mention the specific camp you love?

It sounds like you need to go to Botswana... the scenery is stunning and we saw all the animals with no one else around... very expensive though

if you’re at that price point, speak to Ilona at Steppes Travel. She worked for many years on the ground, and is from Africa. I think you can have a very sensible conversation with her. She certainly set me straight on a couple of points. Our trip was the same cost, but one camp at the escarpment of the rift valley was one of the most breath taking places I have ever stayed and it felt cut off, just incredible. We have travelled with Audley a few times and they are pretty good.

Thanks. I'm finding the more agents I speak to the more confused I'm getting with conflicting views.

One has just told me that the Lamai wedge gets cut off because of the bridge collapsing and this makes the area to explore small and busy. Is that the case?
We would be flying in.

I'm leaning towards just doing the south but think I'll always regret not seeing the Great Plains.

@Airfriedpants which camp was that you mentioned?

This is the one we stayed in for the migration. It was small and intimate. The herds were all around and we heard the herd lowing all night…. and the lions 😳

https://wayoafrica.com/items/serengeti-green-camp/

The fly camp was amazing too. Built just for us for 2 days and then we moved on.

Can I piggyback on this thread (but also give advice).
I know the region well, and would definitely consider the south. I have not been for years, so can't comment on how busy it is, but it was excellent.
I would like to know if anyone has an alternative to Zanzibar as I was used to it 20-30 years ago when it was really quite empty (to the point where it was hard to find Western style accommodation) and I don't think it would have the same charm. I am wondering about
Tanga
Pemba
Kilwa
Bagamoyo
This would be with teens in 2-3 years time. I have travelled to all of these independently but pre DCs, on local buses for some of them, or bush taxis, or both, except Pemba which a friend out there went to for work but again, 30 years ago and it was very underdeveloped.

@ByGraceAlone You will not get what you want regarding vehicles. The drivers are in touch with each other. No safari company can guarantee you exclusive viewing. Of anything any where!

We have seen a Mara river crossing in Kenya with probably 50 vehicles and a day later we were the only vehicle at the Telek river and had a crossing all to ourselves. You really won’t get away from people unless you have luck in the migration season. Ditto elsewhere and we have just been to Botswana (saw wild dogs without company), Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and South Africa. Zambia is probably less crowded.

Wildlife Worldwide and Expert Africa are the best companies to contact as they both know these safari camps and areas. A basic safari won’t be less than £5,000 pp and could be way more.

We did Tanzania and Zanzibar last summer and used Safari Republic to organise our itinerary. It was a wonderful Safari trip and so well organised, tailored to our interests and reasonably priced : here’s their website https://www.safarirepublicafrica.com
We separately arranged the Zanzibar leg of the trip and used booking.com to find a hotel which arranged excursions etc.

@ByGraceAlone I also think you need to understand migration routes around Tanzania and then into Kenya and timings. Of course these are imprecise and you can end up with a very empty landscape. It’s really important to go to the right areas at the right time. Most safari countries need revenue and lodges have proliferated. Hence traffic.