Tanzania in August

August is still very much peak season with large numbers of visitors from America and Europe dominating the northern safari circuit and Zanzibar. The weather is excellent at this time of year, although it can get a bit windy in August and wild fires are a common sight sweeping through the dry grasslands.

Expect hazy conditions that detract from the scenic beauty, obscure the majesty of the landscapes, and make photography more challenging, but on the flipside the wildlife viewing is sensational. The migration has moved north by now into the Lamai region of the northern Serengeti as the wildebeest and zebra start to cross the Mara River.

Tarangire National Park is excellent for spotting elephants who roam freely among the open plains.

Wildlife in Tanzania

It is unusual to meet anyone who has been on safari to Tanzania and not explored the northern region. Dominated by the annual wildebeest (and zebra) migration, visitors are blown away by the prolific herds of plains game that also include large numbers of topi, eland and gazelles. Predators are abundant here too with lion and cheetah dominating the sightings, although leopard sightings…

Northern safari circuit in Tanzania

The northern safari circuit is bookended by Lake Victoria and Rubondo Island in the west and Mount Kilimanjaro in the east. To the north lies the Kenyan border with the Masai Mara and Amboseli reserves located just across the frontier. Tarangire National Park is regarded as the most southerly tourist attraction in this diverse and breathtaking safari region. Within a relatively compact…

Tanzania in September

Visitor numbers are starting to drop off now; there is still no rain in sight, meaning that humidity levels are low bringing fewer mosquitoes. The landscapes have turned brown and grass/food is scarce. The migration concentrates along the perennial Mara River with huge columns of wildebeest and zebra crossing in both directions as the animals search for grazing while staying close to the…

Languages spoken in Tanzania

With around 129 different ethnic groups, the Republic of Tanzania has evolved the greatest linguistic diversity in the whole of the African continent with four major African language bases, ranging from Bantu, Cushitic and the Nilotic languages to the less comprehensively spoken Khoisan. One of the founding directives of independent Tanzania was that no ethnic group should dominate, and…

A budget safari in Tanzania

Forget the swanky safari lodges and luxury tented camps, nothing beats pitching a tent and camping when it comes to saving money and sticking to a tight budget. Whether it’s a pop-tent out of your backpack or a rooftop tent on your self-drive safari vehicle, the rustic camping option takes you close to nature and stretches your money further. Self-catering, street food, eating in…

Tanzania in June

June is dry and busy. Peak season is underway and areas like the western Serengeti are extremely popular at this time of year with the wildebeest piling into the western corridor in their hundreds of thousands. With the rains properly finished, the savannahs are already starting to change from green to yellow and wildlife sightings are constantly improving as the vegetation slowly…

Popular Tanzania Safaris

These popular itineraries can be customised to match your budget and travel dates