Tanzania is a country once visited, never forgotten. The people are amongst the friendliest in the world, the beaches deserve to be better known and the wildlife is outstanding. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and an awe inspiring sight. It’s possible to experience the best of both worlds at the beach and on a Tanzania safari holiday.
Tanzania Safari Tours
Are you looking for an adventurous and unique experience? Then look no further! Tanzania safari tours offer travelers the opportunity to explore the Tanzanian wilderness, observe some of the most stunning wildlife on Earth, and be immersed in exotic culture. This eco tourism destination is a true bucket list experience.
From majestic lions to long-necked giraffes to spotted hyenas prowling across vast grasslands — a Tanzania safari can truly be a life-changing experience. Immerse yourself in African nature by trekking through national parks and reserves like the Selous, Serengeti National Park and Tarangire National Park while seeing everything these amazing locations have to offer.
Selous Game Reserve
One of the best ways to go on safari in Tanzania is with the Selous Safari Company. They have some outstanding safari locations, starting with the incredible Siwandu camp.
Our trip was organised by Cazenove+Lloyd, experts in tailor made luxury travel, who arranged all transfers and flights with Kenyan Airways. Arriving at Siwandu safari camp, you will spot many giraffes in the vegetation.
Siwandu is perfectly situated in the Selous Game Reserve. This is the largest reserve in Africa and four times bigger than Tanzania’s famous Serengeti.
It’s actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its diverse habitat and extensive array of vegetation and wildlife. With over half of Tanzania’s elephant population, 40,000 hippos, 4,000 lions, 2,100 species of plants and 400 varieties of birds, this well known Tanzanian reserve is the perfect place for game viewing.
The camp itself is split into two parts, North and South Camp. Both are very well appointed, and the “tents” are spread out over the lakeside, giving you a prime viewing spot of the wildlife from your wooden veranda.
We say tent, but these are incredibly comfortable and with secure mosquito netting and a thatched roof to allow for constant airflow. You’re sure to enjoy the outdoor shower.
One of the great things about Siwandu is the range of activities on offer. Not only can you do the classic game drive, but also a boat cruise and a game walk.
If you’re feeling brave, go on a walking safari. It’s actually very safe as long as you walk behind your guide and listen carefully to what they say.
Our guide was really knowledgeable, pointing out animal tracks and showing us interesting things like this coffee bean pod.
The walks take place in the early morning or late afternoon so it’s not too hot. After a long morning excursion, our guide convinced us that we had another hour’s walk.
Luckily he was joking as when we rounded the corner this little treat was awaiting! Could there be a better spot to breakfast? The nice thing was that our guide and a couple of other staff from Siwandu joined us for a coffee.
Our boat cruise ended up being a private one as everyone else was doing a game drive. Our guide pointed out all sorts of wildlife, such as these colourful bee-eater birds.
They nest in the little holes that you can spot above the branch and they make a lovely chirping sound.
One of the group spent their time fishing, only stopping when the sun had finally set. The sunsets here are very special.
Ruaha National Park
Siwandu is such a great place that you’ll struggle to tear yourself away. However, we recommend that you combine it with another great Tanzania destination, Jongomero.
Located in the remote Ruaha National Park, it’s home to 560 species of bird and one of the greatest populations of elephants in any African park.
The camp has a huge living area which wouldn’t look out of place on the cover of an interior design magazine. Guests at Jongomero all eat at the communal table with the staff.
It’s a great opportunity to meet many people from different countries – Brunei, Australia, France, South Africa. Everyone has a great tale to tell about their safari experiences.
This really is the place to come if you want to experience wildlife without lots of other jeeps nearby. The manager is from South Africa and told us that in some reserves there, the animals are almost tame as they are so used to humans.
Here, they can be elusive. We didn’t see any of Tanzania’s famous wild dogs on this trip, but when you spot the animals it is very rewarding.
These kudo antelopes seem to be posing for a family portrait.
If you’re lucky, you’ll spot blue wildebeest – a type of antelope that look a bit like buffalo from a distance. And who could resist taking a photo of the smallest antelope, named Kirk’s Dik-Dik.
We were fortunate to see elephants crossing the river at dusk.
Perhaps one of the most rewarding sightings for us was of this pride of lions. We rounded a corner in the jeep and just chanced upon them quietly basking in the sun.
If you have time, you can also take a hot air balloon ride in Tanzania. They’re a great way to spot more wildlife!
Tanzania Beach Holiday
From the lush coastal landscapes of Dar es Salaam to exclusive luxury resorts perched atop pristine beachfronts – this African nation boasts an abundance of idyllic destinations perfect for your dream beach getaway.
Ras Kutani – permanently closed
After our Tanzania safari experience, we headed to Ras Kutani, an intimate beach-front hideaway on the Swahili coast which has now sadly closed. Ras Kutani was only 25 kilometers from Dar es Salaam and a real haven of tranquility overlooking the Indian Ocean.
The open air lounge was the perfect spot to relax after a hard day’s sunbathing…
There are over 132 varieties of trees and three species of monkey. If you’re feeling energetic, you can kayak in the lagoon.
We shared a kayak and had a bit of difficulty coordinating, I think we were both trying to go in opposite directions!
The highlight of our beach stay, though was the turtle hatching. We just happened to be there during turtle hatching season and our camp works with Sea Sense, an NGO that works to preserve endangered marine species.
It’s hard to imagine that sea turtles have been nesting on Tanzanian beaches for over 150 million years. They can easily fall prey to birds in their slow crawl to the sea, and we were there to fend off any predators.
After 30 years the female hatchlings who make it safely into the water will return to the exact same beach to lay their own eggs.
Final Thoughts on Beach and Safari Vacations in Tanzania
Tanzania is the perfect destination for those who love beaches and safari adventures. This beautiful African country has something to offer everyone, from solo travelers to travel companions.
