Tanzania in November

This is one of the most underrated months to go on safari in Tanzania. You will definitely have some rain to contend with, but it is usually in the form of periodic afternoon thundershowers.

The northern parks in general are great for game year-round and although the Serengeti receives rain, this means that the wildebeest will be moving south across the plains to make the most of this moisture. If they have not already arrived from Kenya, they will do by November.

Roads remain open and rivers low, so exploring off-the-beaten-track destinations and getting around is still relatively straightforward even as the landscape transforms from desolate brown to lush green before you eyes. The wide-open plains take on the appearance of a golf course with short grass that adds colour without obscuring wildlife sightings. With billowing cumulus clouds and the smoke and dust washed away, this is once again a great month for photography.

Tarangire National Park starts heating up from November onwards and can get rather humid with the start of the summer rain season.

Zanzibar and the Indian Ocean islands

From the often-overlooked and largely undeveloped tropical paradise of Pemba Island in the north to the classy utopia of Mafia Island in the south, Tanzania’s tropical east coast islands offer welcome respite at the end of a rewarding safari. Nestled between Pemba and Mafia is Zanzibar with its eclectic mix of white-sand beaches, warm water, nightlife and a powerful cultural history. …

Culture in Tanzania

With almost half the country’s population being Muslim, it is important to respect their more conservative Islamic cultural norms by dressing less provocatively and covering up when exploring their ethnic strongholds, such as Zanzibar, the other Spice Islands, and along the east coast of Tanzania. The holy month of Ramadan, the religious importance of Fridays, and the need to pray five…

Tanzania vs Kenya

In general, Kenya is the better know safari destination, but consequently most of its prime parks and reserves are considerably busier than across the border in Tanzania. With a safari tourism model that tends to prioritise quantity over quality, Kenya has followed the route of low value and high impact tourism. By contrast, Tanzania subscribes more to the model of high value and low…

Walking safaris in Tanzania

Who needs the regular safaris that we have become accustomed to when you can have a walking safari? Walking safaris have become a massive hit recently, and this is purely because of the opportunity that tourists have to come closer to the wild and interact more with the animals. For people who choose this option, it is set to become an unforgettable and exhilarating experience walking…

Affordable safaris in Tanzania

If it is value-for-money that you’re after, then it would be best to travel outside of the peak season (June to September) because rates tend to be inflated due to the excess demand. Many of the lodges and camps – both on the safari circuits and scattered across the Spice Islands – offer generous off-season discounts with the ‘emerald season’ (AKA the rainy season) typically…

Tanzania vs Rwanda

While Tanzania unquestionably has a far more extensive and diverse safari offering, it does not have mountain gorillas! Rwanda with just four protected areas in this heavily populated little country is quite simply outgunned by Tanzania on almost every safari metric, except primates. With semi-habituated chimpanzees in the beautiful Nyungwe Forest and habituated mountain gorillas and…

Popular Tanzania Safaris

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