Safari

TANZANIA

• Altezza Travel is a company permanently based in Tanzania. You won’t have to cover the cost of commission paid to agents and middlemen, and you’ll be able to fully rely on our extensive expertise in the service and logistics of safari tours in Tanzania.
• Our fleet of safari vehicles is made up of new meticulously maintained Land Cruisers, 2016-2022 years of manufacture. Read more about our safari vehicles in this article.
• We personally inspect hotels and lodges featured on our travel programs to ensure that our guests enjoy great service and the adequate price-quality ratio.
• Operation of our safari tours is always accompanied by feedback and quality checks. This practice allows us to consistently improve our performance and make sure that we work only with the best lodges and safari guides in Tanzania.
• Altezza Travel is an honest and socially responsible tour operator. We work in full compliance with the tax law of the United Republic of Tanzania making sure that the state budget receives funds that will further be invested in the country’s welfare. Going on safari with Altezza, you choose responsible travel that doesn't exploit local communities, but respects them and aims at their thriving.

Tanzania is one of those countries where the rich natural heritage is being preserved on the state level. The country can boast 22 national parks, which together occupy more than 10% of the overall territory. In addition to them, there are more than two dozen other protected areas with different statuses - in total, about 38% of the territory is protected by the state. This ratio is one of the highest rates in the world.

First of all, Tanzania attracts tourists from all over the world with the opportunity to observe animals in national parks. The fauna of Tanzania is rich and diverse: more than 300 species of mammals, more than 1000 species of birds, many amphibians and reptiles live here. According to all these indicators, the country is among the leaders on the African continent.

UNESCO recognizes seven places in Tanzania as World Heritage Sites: the Ngorongoro Reserve, where the Maasai tribe coexists with animals; Serengeti National Park with its largest migration of mammals in the world; the Selous Reserve, famous for its biodiversity and a gigantic area of ​​over 50,000 square kilometers; and most importantly, Kilimanjaro National Park with its iconic mountain, climbing which is a dream for many. Five more unique places in Tanzania are on the list of contenders for the world heritage status; Stream in the west of the country and Jozani Chwaka Bay in Zanzibar.

Tourism in Tanzania is well developed: there are many hotels, including ultra-luxury ones. Not only regular flights, but also charter flights are available, cashless payments are accepted in many places. Restaurants serve dishes of both Western and Eastern cuisines, amd one of two official languages ​​is English. In addition to safari trips, mountain tourism and beach holidays are developed and very popular. You can also diversify the program with excursions to the sites of nature and culture.

Tanzania is a calm and safe country. There have been no coups or civil unrest, which means that all spheres of life are constantly developing. The government, headed by the president, pays attention not only to the protection of natural resources and tourism, but also to security and health care. This means that not only tourists, but also citizens of Tanzania are protected from crime and epidemics.

The most interesting parks of the country are located compactly, which reduces the cost of the entire tour and makes travel between them comfortable. There are two established tourist routes in Tanzania. The first is the Northern Circuit of parks: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti National Parks. And the second one is the wilder Southern Circuit passing through Ruaha, Mikumi and Selous. Of course, if you have time and money, you can combine them and get all the variety of impressions from the nature of Africa. In addition to those listed, there are other parks that are worth the attention of curious travelers. For example, Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains , located on the shores of the deepest lake in Africa - Tanganyika . Ask our managers about them.

Safari is an adventure trip to a protected wildlife area in Africa where animals can be seen roam freely. What people find so enjoyable about safari may be an enigma to some. Safari is an out of the ordinary experience, a total breakout from conventional tourism. It is a chance to get up close and personal with the world’s most impressive animals and immerse in their natural habitat.

Most commonly, safari is a ride in an equipped off-road vehicle accompanied by a driver-guide. A classic game-drive can be supplemented with various cultural visits to tribes, trekking activities, hot air balloon safaris, walking safaris, and boat safaris on water. Altezza Travel has safari programs lasting from one to seven days. We can customize a tour of any length and we highly recommend spending as many days on safari trips as you can during your vacation - it's the best way to experience the magnificent African wildlife

Read more about the history and culture of safari adventures in this article.

The cost of safari tours is calculated depending on their duration (1-7 days), the number of participants (1-5 people) and the chosen level of hotel comfort. For example, a one-day safari in Tarangire Park for a group of five people will cost $245. A week-long safari with a visit to the main reserves of northern Tanzania and accommodation in premium hotels for one person may cost up to $14,811.

You can pay for your safari with Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards or Bitcoin and Ethereum cryptocurrencies. It is also possible to pay in cash in US dollars, euros and British pounds.

When designing our safari packages, we aim to provide the best quality and comfort at the most reasonable price. There are multiple factors affecting the price of safari in Tanzania, the primary ones being:

• cost of entry permits to national parks
• cost of accommodations and their service level category
• location of accommodations in respect to the territory of national parks (hotels and lodges inside the national parks are charged with concession fees)

The national parks you choose to visit can make a big difference to the cost of your safari tour, Ngorongoro and Serengeti being the highest-priced travel destinations in Tanzania. Accommodations can also be adjusted to the travelers’ budget requirements: you will have a wide choice between the rustic 3* accommodations and richly interiored high-end award-winning 5* properties. Staying in the areas outside the national parks will spare you some expenses and vice versa. And finally, our rates must always allow for the decent salary to our safari guide, safari vehicle amortization, fuel and the mandatory governmental fees and taxes paid by a law-abiding tour operator. 

While doing our utmost to adjust the price to the requested budget, we will never compromise on some essentials that we deem to be key to a pleasant and memorable safari adventure. For example, to protect our customers from disappointment and discomfort, we do not operate camping safaris with overnights at campsites or offer our safari vehicles for rent.

We provide the level that we ourselves would agree to: a new fleet of vehicles, professional staff, organization of safety and first aid training for our drivers, development of our own software that allows us to control all organizational processes, constant communication of managers with customers, quick response to all requests and wishes. Our employees who work on all these tasks are qualified and responsible, they deserve good pay for their work. Summing up all the terms, we will get the prices for safari programs offered by Altezza Travel.

The best time for your safari in Tanzania will depend on your travel priorities. In general, a year in Tanzania can be split into three parts:

• Dry season: June-October, January-March
• Small rains: November-December
• Big rains: April-May

The dry season months are usually singled out as the best because it is the time when animals tend to concentrate by the rivers and other sources of water, which makes wildlife spotting easier. Clear sunny days and lower numbers of mosquitoes are also listed as advantages. However, one major downside of the dry season is that parks in the north of the country tend to get crowded with safari vehicles. From the end of January, the birth season for zebras, wildebeest and other antelopes begins. This attracts many predators that prey on the young. During this period, the lions themselves with cheetahs, as well as elephants, actively breed. All this adds energy and activity to the herds and to the interaction between species.

In the rainy season months the traffic of vehicles is much more moderate. You get a chance to see the savanna lush and green after rains and, not less importantly, enjoy some good discounts from safari lodges. There's no reason to fear rains: safari Land Cruisers have a pop-off roof that can be closed any time it starts raining.

It is also important to point out a couple of specific transition periods in a year when the likelihood of rains is low, but the national parks are not as busy as during the peak months. These include late March, early June, late October and November.

The average annual temperature in Tanzania is 23°C (73.4 °F). The warmest period is in November-February - 25-31°C (77.0–87.8 °F), and the coolest timespan is from May to August - 15-20°C (59–68 °F). Please note that evenings and nights can get chilly, especially in the Serengeti Valley and Ngorongoro Crater.

Read more about the characteristics of each season in this article . To learn about rains and temperatures in Tanzania, please check this article .

We recommend that you pack one T-shirt/shirt for each day of safari, shorts, lightweight sneakers, a cap with a wide brim or visor, a long-sleeved shirt, lightweight pants, and a swimsuit for the hotel pool. It’s also a good idea to bring a hoodie/warm sweater/light jacket because at night temperatures in the highlands (for example, in Ngorongoro) can drop to 0°C (32°F). You should also bring sunglasses, a buff or neck scarf, and sunscreen. Read about what else you might need on a safari trip in this article , where we have provided all the details.

You can go on a safari as a family. There is no age limit for visiting the national parks of Tanzania. Children will enjoy observing the animals from the safari car and learning interesting facts about them from the guide. Safety is guaranteed by Altezza Travel’s professionalism and high standards. Parents often bring their kids on our safari tours, and we are happy to welcome guests with children. The young travelers themselves are always left with bright and joyful impressions.

For families with several young children, it may be very important to spend nights in large family rooms or interconnected rooms. This type of accommodation is quite rare in hotels and tented lodges in safari areas. If you prefer family-room accommodation, we highly recommend booking your safari as early as possible - at least 6-12 months in advance.

Of course, everyone is primarily interested in the Big Five: elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, and leopard. But be warned that seeing the leopard and rhino is not easy.

You're sure to see giraffes, zebras, and many species of antelope, from tiny dik-diks to waterbucks and kudu. In the parks, it's easy to see warthogs, sometimes called “Pumbaas” because of the Lion King character, and hornbills, sometimes called “Zazus” for the same reason.

Among other birds, you’re very likely to see ostriches, secretary birds, vultures, marabous, and many small birdies of various vibrant colors.

Paths that go near rivers promise encounters with crocodiles and hippos. Look carefully at the trees - in addition to birds they are home to monkeys. Lions and large spotted cats often lie imposingly on the branches as well. Smaller felines like servals are not rare, so look out for them too. Small damans can be spotted on the rocks below.

Jackals often follow the hunting lions, pink flamingos nest on the lakes, and impala antelopes are literally everywhere. But the most desirable for observers is the cheetah and the pretty caracal. Ask your guide questions, look around and try to use your binoculars more often. See all the animals to be found in Tanzania’s national parks on this page .

At least two million zebras, wildebeest and Thomson's gazelles, cannas, and Grant's gazelles are annually circling the vast savannahs of East Africa. Following the rains and the newly green pastures, huge herds of ungulates make their 800-kilometer trek across the Serengeti and Maasai Mara. This cycle never ends - in the north of Tanzania, you can constantly observe countless herds of herbivores moving in an endless migration.

Predators participate in the circle of life too - they are waiting for zebras and antelopes on their path. Prides of lions continuously go out to hunt, and in the rivers, toothy crocodiles patiently wait for their victims. You have probably seen pictures of wildebeest running wild, driven by fear, and rushing to cross African rivers. Approximately 3,000 crocodiles lurk in the murky water and wait for prey to jump right into their mouths.

You can witness this wildlife drama with your own eyes in the Serengeti at any time of year. Learn about the cycles of the Great Migration in this article and choose when to witness this large-scale show orchestrated by nature itself.

Altogether more than 120 ethnic groups and tribes live in Tanzania. The most numerous are Sukuma and Nyamwezi (south of Lake Victoria), Chagga (around Kilimanjaro), Haya (in the north-west of the country) and Makonde (in the south-east on the Mocambique border). The best known, however, are the Maasai - pastoral warriors who try to preserve their almost primitive traditions even in the 21st century. Read more about their culture and traditions in this article .

A tour of Tanzania's national parks allows you to visit these savannah dwellers and their circular villages, which are still built with sticks, mud and cow dung. You will be shown original household items, clothing and beautiful accessories from the Maasai culture. You will also see the structure of their dwellings and of course the rituals with obligatory high jumps, rhythmic dances and singing. Ask your safari manager to include a visit to the Maasai tribe in your itinerary and these exciting details will become a highlight of your African trip.

Once upon a time, in the first half of the 20th century, the words "safari" and "hunting" were synonymous. Rich gentlemen came to Africa to experience the intense emotions of stalking rhinos and leopards, chasing lions, and shooting elephants. But today a safari is a trip to a national park for the purpose of observing nature, learning the habits of animals, and contributing to the conservation of Africa's wildlife.

Although there are still hunting reserves in Tanzania, we do not work with them as a matter of principle. Altezza Travel does not provide services to those who want to hunt animals and does not cooperate with companies that exploit animals. We are against the senseless killing of living beings. For us and our clients, safari is an opportunity to peacefully interact with fragile nature, which is rapidly changing due to human actions. Come and see beautiful Africa and its stunning wildlife.

Traveling in Tanzania is safe and comfortable even for solo travelers, including women. The locals have a friendly attitude towards the tourists. And even in major cities, few people annoy the visitors, except for street vendors of souvenirs.

Tanzania is one of the safest countries on the continent. The people of Tanzania have never seen a civil war or any other large-scale unrest. The country’s police and army have a strong position in society and diligently fulfil their legal duties. Tourist attractions are mainly national parks patrolled by armed rangers who maintain order even in the most distant corners of the country. And finally, when travelling with Altezza, you will always be accompanied either by our drivers or by guides. You can be sure that your safety will be taken good care of. We will have your back throughout your time in Tanzania.

At the same time reasonable measures of protection are advisable: do not leave your personal belongings unattended or do not unnecessarily demonstrate expensive items to local residents to avoid provocations.

Unless you are entering Tanzania from the epidemiologically dangerous regions, no vaccinations are necessary, though some are advisable. Read this article to learn more on this topic.

Citizens of most countries can get a 90-day single-entry tourist visa upon arrival in the airport of Tanzania, the cost is 50 USD. In the same manner holders of American passports receive multi-entry visas that cost 100 USD. In both cases, payments are accepted in the airport in cash only. In the meantime, certain citizens can travel to Tanzania without having to obtain any visa at all. And some citizens must apply for a referral visa well in advance; for the application to be approved, they should provide an invitation letter from their ground tour operator. Please find more detailed instructions on the official website of the Immigration Service of Tanzania via this link . Single-entry and multiple-entry visas may also be applied for online in advance — this method usually spares travellers the time queuing at the airport by the visa counter.

Once you finish the border crossing formalities and receive your luggage, you will find the driver of Altezza Travel waiting for you outside the arrivals zone of the airport with a signboard and your name on it. Our modern comfortable minivans with soft drinks and AC will provide a comfortable transfer to your accommodations and a much-needed rest after the long flight.

Though Tanzania is a melting pot of Bantu, European, Arabic, Indian and other cultures, the daily etiquette of the country is quite simple. Greetings are important, and they usually take longer, so do not be surprised if your hand is being shaken a bit longer than you expected. In addition to that, always be sure to ask for permission when you feel like taking a picture that will catch a glimpse of the local residents. Show respect to the elders, be polite and you will never encounter any cultural misunderstanding in Tanzania.

When in Zanzibar, remember that a significant proportion of the island population is Muslim. Open clothes and public displays of affection between couples may be frowned upon, so both are best to avoid.

Tanzanians are a friendly and peaceful people, for whom hospitality is not an empty word. The locals are very proud of their country and always do their best to make sure that tourists leave the country with pleasant impressions only.

You will find some more travel tips about Tanzania in this article .