A Guide
Tanzania Safaris
Discover Tanzania, a land of legends where big African skies meet wide horizons and iconic wildlife.
With seemingly endless savanna planes, vast lakes and some of the world’s most famous national parks, Tanzania is a safari superstar and one of our most popular destinations at Stanley Safaris.
Tanzania is a fully-fledged safari sensation, bursting at the seams with incredible destinations, superlative wildlife, and jaw-dropping landscapes that have become the stuff of legend, as well as many off-the-beaten-track national parks that offer a rich diversity of authentic, immersive safari experiences.
Add to the mix the picture-perfect tropical beaches of Zanzibar and idyllic islands like Pemba off Tanzania’s coast, and you begin to understand what it is that makes Tanzania so special. Get to know this spectacular safari destination and learn why we think it’s an absolute must for any self-respecting safari enthusiast.
Where should I go on safari in Tanzania?
Tanzania’s national parks so some of the best, with diverse landscapes and a wide variety of safari choices.
The Serengeti – a name that’s become synonymous with safari – headlines the country’s popular northern safari circuit. The Serengeti is home to Africa’s famous Great Migration, where over 2 million wildebeest and zebra make the trek from the Serengeti’s southern plains up into Kenya’s Masai Mara. The park offers more than just the migration through. It’s known for incredible predator sightings, especially lions and cheetahs. The big 5 is also native to the Serengeti’s grasslands, although it’s more challenging to see them when the migration herds are in the area as other animals tend to get pushed out.
The Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks, and Mount Kilimanjaro are the other members of Tanzania’s famous northern circuit. Lake Manyara is known for its famous tree-climbing lions, Tarangire National Park has enormous herds of elephants, and the Ngorongoro Crater is known for its phenomenal Big 5 sightings on the crater floor.
Away from these “usual suspects”, lie more off-the-beaten-track destinations like Nyerere National Park (formerly known as The Selous game reserve) and Ruaha National Park, as well as hidden gems like Katavi and Mahale Mountains National Parks. Nyerere is one of Africa’s largest national parks and offers many exciting activities. Ruaha is known for its huge prides of lions and herds of Buffalo, Katavi for enormous pods of hippos, and Mahale Mountains for some of Africa’s best chimpanzee tracking.
Away from the bush, the soft white sands and turquoise seas of Tanzania’s beautiful Indian Ocean coastline and its beguiling islands are the perfect complement to a more traditional safari. This is where marine life takes over from terrestrial existence. Endless plains are replaced with untouched coral reefs, and game drives are swapped for dhow rides and snorkeling excursions.
Each of Tanzanian’s destinations offers something special and unique, as well as the chance to spend time in pristine African wildernesses and fascinating ecosystems packed with some of the highest concentrations of wild fauna and flora on the continent.
Tanzania's Safari Lodges and Camps - small, special and beyond compare
At Stanley Safaris, our reason for existence is to encourage your passion for Africa, informing it and reinforcing it with outstanding safari experiences that underpin the importance of conserving and protecting its last wilderness areas. So when it comes to finding you the perfect accommodation in Tanzania, we take our job very seriously, opting for intimate, authentic camps and lodges in all of the top destinations that offer superlative, immersive safari experiences without compromising on levels of service and comfort.
There’s an old saying that great things come in small packages, and where Tanzania’s safari camps and lodges are concerned, we wholeheartedly agree. The smaller the better, in fact! Creating a bespoke, luxurious and very personal experience is something that comes naturally in the small camps we prefer, where the atmosphere is one of complete relaxation and the focus firmly on authenticity.
There’s also an advantage in the flexibility that fewer visitors afford, enabling the camp staff to focus on delivering first-class guest experiences that are often tailored to meet specific needs.
Sensational safari experiences with talented guides
Tanzania is packed with incredible safari experiences. In this diverse country, you can look forward to chimpanzee tracking in Mahale Mountains National Park and on Rubondo Island in Lake Victoria, thrilling helicopter safaris at Mila Tented Camp and Mwiba Lodge in the southern Serengeti, and walking safaris, as well as hot-air balloon safaris, to name just a few.
Add to these cultural visits to traditional communities, boat-based excursions, fly-camping, and morning, afternoon, and night game drives and you have the recipe for the perfect safari. Whether you’re on honeymoon, a romantic escape, or traveling with your friends and family, you can be sure that Tanzania will keep you busy and give you the opportunity to fall in love with Africa a little bit more through these phenomenal experiences.
Interpreting the sights and sounds of Tanzania’s sublime wildernesses and helping you to understand everything you are seeing, touching, tasting and feeling is the job of your safari guide.
Passionate, knowledgeable, experienced and professional, a guide’s role is that of destination ambassador, educator, mentor and protector, ensuring you feel safe in any given situation and are completely relaxed and engaged with your surroundings.
Whether you are walking in the Nyerere National Park, ballooning over the Serengeti, trekking in search of chimpanzees in Mahale Mountains National Park, watching elephants in Tarangire, birding along the shores of Lake Manyara or diving off Pemba Island, your guide will be on hand to explain animal behavior, identify plants and animals, and walk you through the role each species plays in its eco-system.
The majority of Tanzania’s safari guides have grown up in communities around the national parks and game reserves, and have incredible generational knowledge and understanding of how the African wilderness “works” and how people have co-existed with the wildlife that makes it their home.
They are able to share cultural stories and traditions with you, and are always keen to impart their deep-seated love of their country and the pride they have in its natural heritage. This helps to make your Tanzanian safari experiences truly enriching and will leave you more than a little in love with this amazing East African nation and determined to return!
More than anything, Tanzania captures the spirit of African adventure. This country awakens the explorer within, leaving you marveling at the intricate, interwoven network of life and incomparable beauty nature has created. You’ll begin your safari wishing to learn its secrets and return home craving more!
If Tanzania is the safari destination you have been dreaming of, get in touch and we’ll plan the perfect luxury Tanzanian safari for you.
Explore Tanzania
Explore Tanzania’s Wildlife
Experience Tanzania