Tanzania safari & Zanzibar

[Jumperorcardi]

Hi, we would like to do a safari -this is our first one and I am finding the choices rather overwhelming.
We would like a 6 night safari, followed by some beach time and I am looking at Tanzania for the safari followed by a week on the beach. Has anyone done this and if so do you have a safari company/camps you could recommend please?
Also looking for a nice hotel in Zanzibar.
I would be really grateful if you could share your thoughts please.

We did a lovely holiday through Secret Escapes. It was fantastic. Four nights at Selous Safari and then time in Zanzibar in a hotel in Jambiani. Have a look on their website , the package was on there. They arranged everything, all transfers etc. Can’t recommend enough, we had the best time!

I have done quite a few safaris in different countries and Selous in Tanzania was my absolute favourite. We even saw a pack of wild dogs which is very rare.

Africa Odyssey are great and helped me plan my honeymoon in Tanzania 10 years ago, also Selous and then Zanzibar. Have used them much more recently for a South Africa holiday. 6 nights on safari is a lot though I would say. 4 is probably plenty!

A few pics to wet your appetite.

Wayo camps and wilderness safari were amazing.

Tanzania and seeing the migration was fabulous. Stone Town was also fabulous.

Thank you very much for your tips, I have added them to my list to investigate.

@Aintnosunshinenowitsgone how long did you or would you spend in Stone Town and Zanzibar beach

Also thank you so much for all the photos, they are amazing

We had 4 night in Paje and 2 in stone town.

The best experience we had was the migration camp in the North, if you have the funds the wild camping was also incredible.

Illona at Steppes Travel sorted ours but it wasn’t a budget option. I’ve travelled a lot and it is still one of my top holidays.

We did this through Exodus. It was quite an adventurous trip with some rough basic camping but an amazing experience that I wouldn’t change at all.

@JumperorcardiMost people want to see the Serengeti and NgoroNgoro crater. Selous is a great shout but the NgoroNgoro Crater is just amazing. I’d look at Expert Africa or Wildlife Worldwide for expert advice on the safari element. If you go to the Serengeti, it has seasonal wildlife movements so planning matters. You cannot be in an area after the wildlife has moved on into Kenya. Selous does not have this issue but you need to think of where is best for the animals you are interested in. Nyerere National Park is quiet and worth visiting too.

Don’t know Zanzibar. So cannot help there.

Some friends went in June this year and stayed 5 nights at AQUA Beach Resort & Spa in Zanzibar then 5 nights at the JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge. They had a fabulous time (and saw the migration) but they have expensive tastes so it won’t have been cheap.

@HundredMilesAnHour The wildebeest migration is around June to Sept. June is quite early though. July and August are better in the Mara for that but prices are very high. The Marriott camp is on the Talek River which we find quieter. It’s not a given that the great herds will do a river crossing in front of you though. We waited all day at the Mara River and got lucky. When the giant herds are in the Mara, they are not in Tanzania.

Id also pay to be in the National Parks. Driving in every day wastes time.

d also pay to be in the National Parks. Driving in every day wastes time

Goid point. We were there alone before the crowds.

Note of caution: you need to keep an eye on developing political situations.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tanzania

Highly recommend Ocean Paradise Resort in Zanzibar

I have done two safaris (Zambia) with Expert Africa, would definitely recommend them.

Also Yellow Zebra Safaris who I have met.

6 nights is a lot for Safari.. that’s 12 rides! We did my first ever Safari in Sabi Sands Kruger last year and 4 days was more than enough.

We used ATR: African Travel Resource. Not budget option but completely amazing holiday. Safari in Selous (impala camp) then stayed in two places on Zanzibar…

4 days was more than enough

Both of my safaris were 10 days - that was about right. But only 3 or 4 nights in any one camp, and in two different national parks. (South Luangwa and Victoria Falls, South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi.)

We used Mahlatini Travel and they were great, although not a particularly budget option.

We loved Tanzania, but I'm not sure I would plunk down a bunch of money on a trip there right now. As @GarlicHound points out, it's a very unstable situation at the moment. We also used Mahlatini for a South Africa safari and loved that too.

We did 10 days and to be honest, I could have done more. 2 nights in each spot, with walking, night drives, wild camping, migration camp. It’s not a fenced reserve, which I agree is a bit samey.

We usually do around 3-4 nights in each place but some reserves have more diversity and options than others. Night drives and walking safaris and special interest reserves ring the changes. If you just want a lion or two and the odd giraffe, go anywhere. If you are very interested in wildlife and conservation, do a more in depth search with people like Expert Africa and Wildlife Worldwide. For 6 nights a 3 and 3 split would work but for Tanzania, I’d want 2 or 3 reserves.

I live in Tanzania.

Yes the current situation is bad and yes I went 48 hours with 30 minutes of internet access.

However it is unprecedented and Tanzania is normally stable.

Keep an eye on the situation but please don’t write the country off.