Going on an African safari has been on my travel bucket list for as long as I can remember. My parents and I were lucky enough to make this dream a reality, exploring the numerous national parks and reserves of Tanzania over 12 days. Apart from the unforgettable moments we had being up close to the diverse wildlife, we also experienced local traditions.
On each safari ride, you are on an off-roading Jeep with the top popped open so you can stand and look out at the landscape and wildlife around you. The guides and drivers are incredibly experienced and know the parks like the back of their hands. They traverse the area without any maps or GPS and are so in tune with the wildlife that they can find even the most difficult to spot animals. Our guide for the entire trip was Jeremiah and he absolutely made our trip special.
We went on a safari ride every day, sometimes even multiple times a day since the time of day can affect what animals you see. And every safari ride is unique since you don’t know what you will encounter. Each sighting was a surprise, and it was very difficult to contain our excitement. We had to keep reminding ourselves to stay quiet so as not to spook the animals, especially the elephants as they can charge at you.
What I Saw
Day 1
From Rwanda, I flew to Arusha and got my first glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro. I wasn’t prepared for the sheer size of it. After landing and going through customs, my group and I were shuttled to our hotel where I met up with my parents. I shared all my gorilla adventures over cocktails. We met up with the rest of our tour group and enjoyed a welcome dinner. After getting information for the next day, I finally made it back to my room for some well needed rest.
Arusha is a good starting point as you can make your way northwest exploring the various national parks that Tanzania has to offer.
Days 2 and 3: Tarangire National Park
This was our first day of going on safari. We boarded our Jeeps and made our way to Tarangire National Park. The drive from Arusha to the park was long, but it was exciting to spot wildlife dotting the landscape around us.
When we arrived at the park, our guide popped the roof of our Jeep and we prepared for our first close-up wildlife sightings. We saw zebras and giraffes right when we entered. The zebras were casually crossing the road in front of us, unbothered by us snapping pictures and pointing.
Tarangire National Park is known for its baobab trees which soar above the savannah creating a beautiful landscape. We had a bush lunch overlooking this view while also spotting elephants strolling. Couldn’t have asked for a better view with lunch. After the excitement of lunch, we continued on with an afternoon safari. Morning and afternoon safaris became our typical schedule for the entire trip.
Throughout the day, we spotted numerous species. We even found a leopard relaxing in a tree.
This park is home to the largest elephant concentration in the world during the dry season and we were lucky to spot so many families. We even saw some baby elephants. They got incredibly close to our vehicles; one of the elephant’s tails even hit the back of our Jeep.
The next day we had the same morning and afternoon safaris with some downtime in the middle to freshen up and rest. Our guides had a surprise waiting for us after our afternoon safari – they set up a cocktail hour right in the middle of the park. This was a once in a lifetime experience, you could hear animals all around you all while watching the sun set over the baobab trees.
Day 4: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
It was our last day in Tarangire National Park and we had one last morning game drive while heading to our next destination. We saw elephants on our way out and it was almost like they were saying goodbye.
On our way to Ngorongoro Conservation Area we stopped at Gibb’s Farm for a walk and lunch. This was originally a coffee plantation and has now turned into a retreat that specializes in farm-to-table cuisine.
After a hearty lunch, we visited a coffee plantation and learned how coffee beans are grown and processed. After this interactive tour, we continued on to our final destination. We arrived as the sun was setting but the Ngorongoro Crater is breathtaking. It’s massive and deep so looking down from the edge is a little disorienting.
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater
We had a full day game drive exploring the Ngorongoro Crater floor. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the largest intact caldera in the world. The diversity of wildlife this area homes is astonishing. We were able to spot lions, hyenas, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, elephants, hippopotamuses, gazelles, flamingos, honey badgers, and warthogs, just to name a few. We were incredibly lucky to spot the elusive black rhino, not just one but two – a mother and her baby.
Our guides had organized another lunch for us in the park. These were very special since there was wildlife roaming around you and it was the only time we were able to be on the ground in the parks.
Days 6 and 7: Olduvai Gorge & Serengeti National Park – Seronera Valley
After saying goodbye to Ngorongoro Crater, we made our way to Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important archaeological sites on Earth. My mom is an archaeologist, so this was a momentous experience for her as she had studied the findings from here. In the 1950s, Louis and Mary Leakey excavated a fossilized skull of one of man’s earliest ancestors, along with stone tools. This helps us understand our origins and how we have evolved as a society today. There’s also a small museum that walks you through the artifacts and history.
We continued to the Serengeti, Tanzania’s oldest and most popular national park. This park is the most popular as an African safari destination. The name is Maasai for “endless plains”, and the landscape lives up to its name as the park is 12,000 square miles with sprawling plains.
These two days we explored the southeastern part of the park. We had daily morning and afternoon game drives here. I was mindblown by how many animals we saw.
We saw so many groups of lions – lion cubs after the mother had just hunted and a male lion passing by a foot away from our vehicle.
We also encountered elephants, giraffes, zebras, and two very special treats – a lepoard lounging on a tree and a cheetah napping under a bush. Our guides were incredible at spotting the most camouflaged animals.
Days 8 and 9: Western Serengeti & Grumeti
The Serengeti is such a large park that it’s better to explore it in two parts. The Western Serengeti and Grumeti River regions are more secluded and the wilder side of the park. The landscape is more wooded and slightly cooler and more wet. This corridor follows the Grumeti River all the way to Lake Victoria.
We had the same schedule of morning and afternoon game drives. I enjoyed this park the most because it was quieter and we weren’t competing with other safari Jeeps to see wildlife. I also felt like we saw more active animals, in the middle of hunting or taking care of their young. We came by a lion pride with countless cubs and mothers and at one point the females stood up alert, eyeing a nearby herd of zebra. It was just amazing to see the animals’ behavior in their natural habitat.
As this was our last park to explore, we had a farewell dinner with our group to reminisce on all the wildlife we saw and experiences staying in the parks.
I can confidently say that this was the best trip I have ever taken and not even in my wildest dreams, did I think I would see such diverse wildlife so up close. The safari experience, the conservation of the parks, the people, the lodgings, and the hospitality were on another level. I’m so grateful that I was able to go on this incredible journey and I hope that sharing my experience will inspire others to visit this beautiful country.
Where I Stayed
Arusha Serena Hotel
Our first stop in Tanzania and we felt like we had been transported from the bustling streets of the city to a serene, lush garden. This beautiful hotel overlooks Lake Duluti and has a main country house with a restaurant and bar. Guests stay in cottages across the property each with a private balcony. This was the perfect stay to start our trip as we were able to relax and get over our jet lag before heading out on safari.
Tarangire Sopa Lodge
This lodge is located inside the Tarangire National Park and is a relaxing haven in the middle of the gorgeous landscape and the wildlife. The main common room overlooks the vast plains and is a perfect spot to have a drink and spot any wildlife roaming nearby.
All the lodges located inside the parks have rules that you must be accompanied by the hotel staff at night while walking to and from your room. Since there is no barrier between the wildlife and the hotel, there is a chance that you may encounter animals. This made some people nervous, but I thought it was a cool experience because at night you could hear animals near your room and sometimes in the mornings you were greeted by an elephant right outside your balcony.
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
This lodge was one of my favorites on this trip, as far as comforts and views go. This hotel sits on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater and overlooks the volcanic expanse below. Each room has a balcony overlooking the crater and it is a sight to behold as you wake up each morning. The common room also has floor to ceiling windows that overlook the crater. Since it got a little colder here, the turndown service included heating the beds with hot water bags. It was such a nice touch.
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Located in the eastern part of the Serengeti National Park, this lodge resembles a traditional African village with each suite built with a thatched circular roof. The hotel had adopted a Dik-Dik, a small antelope, that had lost its parents at a young age. This was the only animal we were able to pet. She used to hang around the buffets hoping for some treats, just like a dog.
From our balcony we were lucky to encounter elephants. They came so close to our suites that the staff had to shoo them away. It was quite the experience.
We also experienced some traditional African dances that the hotel put on. We even got to participate; it was so energetic and full of life.
Mbalageti Serengeti Lodge
All the hotels on this trip were unique and wonderful to stay at, but this lodge was unlike any. This lodge took glamping and made it even more glamourous. I’m not a big fan of camping, but I’d do this kind of camping any day. Each room was a hybrid tented chalet with a full functioning bathroom and shower. And a balcony overlooking the plains of the Serengeti below.
Located in the quieter part of the Serengeti, there was nothing around us for miles except for wild animals. At night, I heard all kinds of animals, including lions and elephants. At one point, I heard an animal eating the grass right outside my room with only the canvas of the tent between it and me.
The common room and veranda overlooked the Serengeti and we watched a beautiful sunset during cocktail hour. I could have stayed at this hotel for over a week and not gotten tired of the different experiences with the wildlife.
If you’d like any more information or have questions about my time in Tanzania, feel free to drop a comment or reach out to me on Instagram!
