Tanzania Safari
Great Northern Parks

Follow Alice is registered both in the UK under Follow Alice Ltd and in Tanzania under FOLLOWALICE Tours (T) Ltd. Follow Alice Tanzania is 100% locally owned and holds all the necessary licenses to perform Kilimanjaro climbs and Tanzania safaris.

Yes, you need a Tanzanian visa to visit Tanzania. (You’ll also need a passport that’s valid for at least six more months as well as a flight card, the latter of which you’ll receive on the plane.) US, Canadian, British and most European citizens can simply obtain their visas upon arrival at the airport in Tanzania. The cost is $100 for US passport holders and $50 for others. If you’re a citizen of a different country, please check with your embassy whether or not you can obtain a visa upon arrival.

This is obviously a hard question to answer. The longer you spend on safari, the more animals you'll see, and the greater the variety you're likely to spot. If you're hoping to spot the Big Five, for instance, one day in all likelihood won't cut it. But if you give yourself four to five days, you might well manage it.

What we can say is that you need to factor in driving times when heading on a safari. For instance, from Kilimanjaro International Airport (gateway to the Northern Circuit), you can reach reserves like Arusha National Park and Lake Manyara National Park within hours and go on safari that same day. But Serengeti National Park, fon the other hand, is quite a drive, so you should factor in a day of travel each way. Fortunately, the drive to Serengeti takes you past Ngorongoro Crater, which is a MUST, as well as some other attractions worth a visit like Olduvai Gorge.

Please chat to us for advice on how long is needed based on what you want to see.

Generally speaking, a self-drive safari is only advisable if you know what you're doing. You should be adept at driving a 4x4, and have researched thoroughly how to conduct a safe safari. We think that most people would do better with a guided safari, as you don't have to bother with hiring a vehicle, researching where to find the animals, and so on. Further, a safari driver–guide is well trained in spotting animals and can share fascinating information about what you're seeing.

To help you decide, and learn more on this topic, please read All you need to know to plan an epic Serengeti safari (as many of the principles apply to parks beyond the Serengeti as well).

Yes, a safari is perfectly safe, provided you know what you're doing! Never forget that you're in the presence of dangerous animals, and you must play by their rules to avoid being hurt. Those wanting to do a self-drive should ensure they do their homework thoroughly. We recommend going on safari with a trained safari driver-cum-guide who not only looks after you but also knows where to find the animals, can tell you about what you're seeing, and so on. You can learn more in Safari safety tips (not just for dummies).

We're obviously biased towards Tanzania, and think it offers a better safari, and especially a better Great Migration viewing. But we have good reasons for this bias, and it's these reasons that led us to develop a Tanzania safari instead of a Kenya safari.

For starters, far more of the Great Migration takes place in Tanzania, with only a small portion taking place in Kenya. The breahtaking river crossings occur in Tanzania too, not Kenya. Secondly, Tanzania is generally a safer country than Kenya. Thirdly, Tanzania is home to Ngorongoro Crater, and this is pretty much one of the wonders of the natural world and something you absolutely must see.

There are others reasons too, and you can learn about them in Kenya vs Tanzania – which offers the better African safari?

Yes, Tanzania is a reasonably safe country. And the northern region where we take clients on safari is especially safe. That said, we always advise using your common sense. We might also add that if you travel with a local who knows the in's and out's of the area and its wlidlife and communities, then you know you're going to be really safe during your travels. Please read more in How safe is Tanzania?

Tanzania has three major international airports: Dar es Salaam (DAR), Zanzibar (ZNZ) and Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). The latter is the most convenient for the parks of the Northern Circuit. The airport is located just outside of the city of Arusha, which is the gateway to the Northern Circuit.

In addition to flights to Tanzania, you may consider flights to Nairobi in Kenya, from where you can catch a bus shuttle to Arusha, or a one-hour plane ride to JRO. Note, however, that by choosing to fly to Kenya you’ll need to acquire an extra visa.

In deciding which flights to book, you should take the full trip into consideration. For example, if you would like to spend a couple of days in Zanzibar after your safari, it might be best to book one-way tickets from your home to JRO for the climb, from JRO to ZNZ after the climb, and then from ZNZ back to your home.

The country uses the Tanzanian shilling. It's a very weak currency, so €1 buys you about 2,820 TZS. A regular cappucino will set you back by about 4,500 TZS (or €1.60), while a small bottled water will cost you 745 TZS (or €0.45).

There are no specific vaccine requirements needed to enter Tanzania. However, be aware that the Government of Tanzania requires proof of yellow fever vaccination upon arrival if you’re travelling in from a country with risk of yellow fever. We suggest you talk to your doctor about getting the following vaccinations (which are standard in developed countries) before travelling to Tanzania: Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, yellow fever, tetanus, polio, MMR and meningococcal meningitis.

This is another question that is difficult to answer in a simple way. Because not everyone prioritises the same things. Some want to see baby animals being born, for instance, while others want to see as many animals as possible. Still others want good birdspotting, some want to see flowers, and some want to see the animals in a lush setting. And of course many want to see the Great Wildlife Migration and its chaotic river crossings. Please read Best time to visit the Serengeti to identify the best months for each of the above-mentioned highlights. Also feel free to chat to us so we can advise you. You might also like to read our 8 must-know Serengeti safari tips.