Big 5 safaris in Tanzania : Tanzanian safaris include a variety of activities, such as seeing wildlife in the several national parks and reserves across Tanzania. When going on safari in Tanzania, the majority of visitors aspire to view the big five among other animal species while touring the national parks. Elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards, and buffalos are the “big five.”
The Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania’s north, the Selous Game Reserve, or Nyerere National Park, and Ruaha National Park in Tanzania’s south are the most well-known locations for big five sightings during safaris.
When you are on safari in Tanzania, don’t forget to discuss the possibility of seeing the big five with your safari guide or the tour operator arranging the safari. This will ensure that you are escorted to the areas of the national park where the big five are visible.
Depending on their luck and the time of year they go on safari, some visitors to Tanzania may see all five of the big five, while others may only see part of them in the country’s national parks.
When visiting Tanzania, the dry season (June, July, August, September, and October) is the best time of year to see wildlife because of the favourable weather for safari and the ease with which many species can be spotted while participating in game viewing activities around the national parks.
When on a safari in Tanzania, it is simpler to observe buffalos—one of the Big Five—in the areas surrounding national parks like Ruaha and Serengeti. You can view these animals grazing on the plains. African buffalos are the kind of buffalos that can be spotted on safari in Tanzania.
If you go to Tanzania around the right time of year, you can also spot lions during your safari in large numbers. You have a good possibility of spotting lions on a safari in places like the Serengeti National Park, which is home to around 4000 lions. You may even catch a glimpse of the lions as they stalk their prey across the vast Savannah plains. The Serengeti National Park is one of Tanzania’s oldest national parks, spanning approximately 14,750 square km. Tanzanian lions are also renowned for their tree-climbing habits, which you may witness in action while on a safari.
A trip to Tanzania would be an excellent opportunity to see rhinos, and the Ngorongoro crater would be a good place to do it. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to rare black rhinos, and a safari experience offers breathtaking vistas of the crater, home to a variety of other wildlife species. As they live alongside the Ngorongoro animals in the conservation area, visitors can also interact with the Maasai.
With the Big Five, elephants are a favourite with tourists going on safari in Tanzania. They can be seen moving in herds. Numerous elephants can be spotted on safaris in Tanzania when visiting places like Tarangire National Park, which is situated in the country’s northern region. Elephants can be spotted wandering the grasslands in herds even in the rainy season.
Another animal to watch out for on a big five safari in Tanzania are the sly leopards. Leopards are typically lone hunters who blend in with their surroundings. Leopards are very active at night, and one of Tanzania’s greatest features is that you can go on a nighttime wildlife drive in places like Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National Park. During the day, leopards can also be seen in the trees, where they are known to drag their prey or just to relax on the tree limbs.
On safaris through Tanzania, visitors may also encounter waterbucks, wildebeests, giraffes, hyenas, warthogs, zebras, impalas, gazelles, dik dik, and kudu, among other wildlife species.
Duration of a big five safaris in Tanzania
Short safaris or longer safaris lasting up to three weeks or longer are available in Tanzania, providing the opportunity to see the Big Five.
A trip to see the big five takes at least three days, with game drives in the morning, afternoon, evening, and sometimes at night.
The length of your safari will also depend on the kind of safari you choose while on a visit to Tanzania. You may select the number of safari days for private or custom excursions, but this may not be the case for participants in group tours with set departure and arrival dates.
How to visit Tanzania for a big five safari
During a big five safari, there are various ways to get to destinations throughout Tanzania. These methods include flying, driving, and boating.
You can fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport as well as Arusha Airport when visiting the northern region of Tanzania. When tourists want to drive, tours of Tanzania’s northern region start at Arusha, while other trips may start in Moshi.
It is possible to arrange flights to Julius Nyerere International Airport for tours in Tanzania‘s southern region. Additionally, domestic flights with charters to locations near Tanzania’s southern parks are available from Dar es Salaam.
Cost of a big five safari
Depending on the area and number of participants, a big five safari in Tanzania might run up to $800 USD per person each day. The cost of the safari is also influenced by when it is completed.
