How Many Days to Spend in Tanzania?
Tanzania Travel Guide, Your Ultimate Resource to Explore Tanzania
How many days to spend in Tanzania?
Are you dreaming of a Safari in Tanzania, the land of diverse wildlife and breathtaking landscapes?
Planning your trip to Tanzania requires thoughtful consideration regarding time, experiences and areas to explore.
From the endless plains of the Serengeti to the marine parks off Mafia Island, and all the lakes and mountains in between, choosing where to visit within a limited number of days is actually a difficult mission!
So how many days SHOULD you spend in Tanzania? Keep reading to learn more.
Short Safaris: 3-5 Days – A Glimpse of Tanzania's Magic
A short safari is perfect for those with limited time but a desire to witness Tanzania’s incredible wildlife. In 3-5 days, you can explore major parks like Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. These safaris often include:
- Game Drives: Experience morning and afternoon game drives to spot the Big Five and other wildlife.
- Ngorongoro Crater: Visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to a high concentration of animals in a stunning volcanic caldera.
- Cultural Visits: Interact with local tribes like the Maasai to learn about their culture and traditions.
If you are strapped for time, we recommend choosing one of our fly-in safaris, so you spend less time driving to the famous parks, and more time experiencing them.
Hopefully, these few days will be just a taste of the magic of Tanzania and have you dreaming of returning, with plenty more time to explore the wonders of this beautiful nation.
Classic Safaris: 6-10 Days – Experience the Thrill
For a more immersive experience, a medium-length safari allows you to explore multiple parks and regions.
Over 6-10 days, you can:
- Serengeti National Park: Spend several days exploring different parts of the park, witnessing the Great Migration if you’re there at the right time.
- Tarangire National Park: Known for its large elephant herds and baobab trees, this park offers a unique landscape.
- Culture and Communities: While 10 days isn’t enough to get a full sense of the many tribes in Tanzania, it is a good amount of time to dispell stereotypes. You’ll get a chance to visit more than one local tribe and learn about their customs and traditions, and see that Tanzania is a place of rich diversity and friendly communities.
- Mountain Treks: a few extra days on safari means you can include a day hike, walking safari or a full mountain trek. While a typical Mount Kilimanjaro Trek takes 6-8 days, treks to summit Mount Ol Doinyo Lengai or Mt Meru are much shorter and could be combined with a classic safari experience to really get a feel for Tanzania.
- Gombe National Park: Famous tours that include trekking with chimpanzees, in a park that is only accessible by boat.
- Zanzibar: Combine your safari with a few days on the idyllic beaches of Zanzibar for a well-rounded trip.
Long Safaris: 11+ Days –Fall in Love with Tanzania
For folks who want to go beyond a great vacation, but to have a transforming experience, we recommend safaris that are 11 Days or longer.
Why? Because these unique journeys take you to the wilds of Africa, to see more than stunning scenery, but to offer transformational experiences. During your visit you will not just meet, but engage with, the local community. You will have the chance to dive deeper into meaningful travel, including community volunteer work and conservation projects. Finally, many guests have shared that these longer safaris have challenged their perspectives in positive ways.
What is available on longer safaris with Legacy Exchange Outfitters:
- Multiple Parks: Visit remote parks like Ruaha, Selous, and Katavi, which are less crowded and offer unique wildlife experiences.
- Walking Safaris: Engage in walking safaris to get up close and personal with nature, guided by experienced rangers.
- Mountain Treks: additional days means plenty of time to trek in Udzungwa Mountains (a land of waterfalls), or to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. You could also consider hiking in the Ngorongoro Highlands, from the Crater Rim to Lake Natron.
- Cultural Immersion: Spend more time with local communities, participating in traditional activities and learning about their way of life.
- Beach Holidays: If you love tropical islands, snorkeling or diving than make a point to visit Zanzibar, Pemba or Dar es Salaam to soak up the sun and experience another side of East Africa that too many travelers don’t make time for. The Indian Ocean is pristine, and the Swahili Vibe offers a whole new cultural experience during your time in Tanzania.
- Transformative Experiences: Having more time allows you to learn about conservation efforts in Mkomazi National Park, or how to protect cheetahs in Serengeti. Additional days mean that you could go for a walking safari with a park ranger or cycle through a local village. Challenge yourself by trying a new experience while in Tanzania.
In our experience, no one has ever regretted more days on safari – in fact, most of our clients say they wish they had more time in Tanzania!
Few Tips for Planning Your Tanzania Safari
- Travel Seasons: The best time to visit is during the dry season (June to October) when wildlife is easier to spot. However, the wet season (November to May) offers lush landscapes and fewer tourists.
- Packing: Bring lightweight clothing, sturdy shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and a good camera with extra batteries and memory cards.
- Custom Safaris: We know that for many, an African safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This is why we don’t do ‘cookie-cutter’ experiences. Our Safari experts can custom design any travel itinerary to meet your requirements. If you have a vision, reach out! We would love to work together to ensure your travel dreams come true.
- Reach Out: At Legacy Exchange Outfitters, we are a team of people, ready and excited to meet you and start planning. One mistake guests make is being shy to ask any questions they have before arrival. Please send an email, drop a message – we can’t wait to meet you!
Highlights for a Safari in Tanzania
- Game Drives: Experience thrilling drives through diverse landscapes, spotting a wide range of wildlife.
- Balloon Safaris: Float over the Serengeti at sunrise for a thrilling vantage point.
- Walking Safaris: Get closer to wildlife and observe nature from a unique perspective on foot.
- Cycling Tours: Do a short cycling tour of a village or local rice plantation, or do an entire safari game drive on a bicycle. Cycling is one of the best ways to experience Tanzania.
- Do a day hike: Stretch your legs on a waterfall hike, or to an ancient volcanic crater.
- Cultural Visits: Meet local tribes and learn about their customs and traditions.
- Beach Relaxation: Unwind on Zanzibar’s beautiful beaches after your safari adventure.
Ready for your Tanzanian safari adventure?
Reach out to begin planning your dream safari.
Legacy Exchange Outfitters team will help you tailor a safari that fits your interests, time, and budget.
Let’s make your safari dreams a reality!
Spend your great holiday by your own in the heart of the beautiful Tanzania
Luxury Tanzania Safari Guide
Discover the best of Tanzania’s national parks and wildlife with our comprehensive luxury safari guide. Enjoy unparalleled adventures and stunning natural beauty on our Tanzania Safari Tours.
Our Reviews
Legacy Exchange Outfitters offers more than just a vacation. Eugene and his team work hard to provide their guests with a remarkable experience. However, sightseeing wild animals in their natural habitat is only part of the adventure.
Victoria Mayers – USA