Tanzania has been improving its tourist hotel infrastructure and unlike in the past you can choose the standard of accommodation that will meet your requirements, depending on your budget you can decide to stay in the up-market exclusive lodges, standard lodges or even in a budget lodge. It is also possible to do a Tanzania safari—sometimes even at the top properties but pay very low rates if you take your time to research the available options.

Most of the travelers to Tanzania travel in the peak season when the prices for accommodation are highest, however the most efficient ways to cut costs is to travel off-season in the months of April and May in particular when the lodge rates drop to as much as 55%.Many people consider this period rainy season but I consider this one of the best time to go on game viewing as the concentration of wildlife in the Parks is great and sightings are wonderful, this is due to availability of enough water and grass in the park, thus preventing them going out of the sanctuaries in such of good pastures and water. Again you will be travelling  in custom made 4×4 safari vehicles specially built for rough terrain.

Another option to make your Tanzania safaris holiday affordable is to take the budget camping in case you have  a sense of adventure ,with budget camping you travel with your cook,a wildlife guide food and camping gear, this reduces your travel cost considerably while still enjoying the benefits of a private safari. The budget camping  is not as comfortable as staying in the lodges, however the quality of game viewing is still good or even better since it is a private safari which gives you the freedom to spend as much time as you wish in one location without having others pushing your driver to move the next location. Meals times are also possible since you arrange with your private cook, the advantage is you decide game viewing time with your guide without having to consult others.

Keeping your options open if you plan to book a late deal with one of the large tour operators promoting mass tourism is recommended, however the longer you leave it the more limited your choice will be, but it’s often worth it for the huge discounts on offer, it is also worth shopping around and comparing the market before you book as tour operators will often provide various discounts throughout the season. This could turn out to be a great opportunity of securing a significant discount on the original cost of the Tanzania safaris holiday. It  is also advisable to check out the range of late deals available to see if anything matches what you’re looking for.

Alpha Mantai is a travel writer and a leading tours & travel consultant based in Arusha. To connect with him drop him a line at sales@smartafricantravel.com

The operators vary, which means you need to  be selective not to end with one of the negligent operators. Price should  not be the only factor that you consider when you choosing  your Kilimanjaro operator. Find a good reliable and an affordable Kilimanjaro tour operator. You can only climb Kilimanjaro with an organized trek and along the six established routes, so you have to go with an operator. You have to take into consideration several factors before you decide on which Kilimanjaro safaris tour operator to book with.

Best Time to Climb

High Season is considered good time to go simply because the weather conditions are safest for climbing. Making   your booking well in advance is advisable  as this will enable you to go in high season, which is January-March and September-October, June is also a good month to attempt the climb.

Safety & Climb Preparation

Taking a comprehensive travel insurance that includes medical is a must. It’s also a good idea to get a basic medical check-up before you go. Other important things you should do before your climb are to break in your hiking boots and walk the dog; climb stairs; hike some hills with a pack on — walking is the best way to prepare yourself for the long hike up Kilimanjaro. You don’t want to be dealing with an ingrown toenail or worse at 18,000 feet, you need to build up stamina.

Also make sure your guides are carrying the proper medical equipment such as oxygen, radios and a recompression bag to deal with altitude sickness if it arises Luckily the mountain streams after the first day are good to drink and naturally cooled. Drink lots of water about 4-5 liters a day is recommended. Pace yourself; you will hear the Swahili phrase “pole pole” – slowly slowly, heed it well.

You can rent some equipment and clothing locally but you may end up with teeny sleeping bags and a fraying pink jacket Don’t worry about carrying it yourself since a porter will take up to 30lbs (15kg) of your personal gear in a duffel bag. Pack light but make sure you have everything you need to deal with altitude and variation in temperatures.

Recommended  length  of Kilimanjaro Climb

For a successful Kilimanjaro safaris, make sure your hike is at least 6-7 days for maximum success. The longer western routes also allow you to start your summit day at a more reasonable hour Any shorter and you will not be properly acclimatized. Routes vary in degree of difficulty, traffic and scenic beauty. Choose your route well, the longer routes may have more difficult hiking but you’ll be more acclimatized and your chances of reaching the summit are therefore higher. With  exception of Marangu that uses hut accommodation, on the other route, you camp throughout. One of the disadvantages of Marangu route is that the ascent and descent route is the same meaning you meet a lot of traffic on your way up.

Technique for a successful final ascent

Take a walk to a higher elevation during the day and come back down to sleep. Walk high and sleep low. Consult a doctor before you go and get some medication to prevent altitude sickness.

Also make sure your guides are carrying the proper medical equipment such as oxygen, radios and a recompression bag to deal with altitude sickness if it arises Luckily the mountain streams after the first day are good to drink and naturally cooled. Drink lots of water about 4-5 liters a day is recommended. Pace yourself according to guides instructions; you will hear the Swahili phrase “pole pole” – slowly slowly, heed it well.

The hardest part of the trek is the final trek to the summit. Taking a well earned nap before summiting is recommended so that you can gain some strength after relaxation. The final ascent is usually timed so you can watch the sunrise over the crater and distant plains. On  reaching the summit Enjoy the view while take a few photos on reaching Uhuru peak and get back down before you get too affected by the high altitude.

Alpha Mantai is a travel writer and a leading tours & travel consultant based in Arusha. To connect with him drop him a line at sales@smartafricantravel.com

One of the reason I do not recommend group scheduled safari packages is that, since the safari holidays are promoted on a per person sharing basis, it means a room has to be shared by two, meaning   you might be forced to share accommodation with a total stranger who might also be of the opposite sex. This might make you uncomfortable and not enjoy your holiday as much as you should. There is also possibility that the other person you are sharing a room with is a criminal or even a rapist, thus compromising your safety.

The second reason why I discourage group safari packages is, you will end up not having flexibility you need to make the most out of your safari holiday. Since you may end up being bundled together with other participants with different interests and desires. You cannot rule out differences between the safari participants, you may visit a destination that interests you most and you may want to spend as much as possible time at that particular location, but since you are tied to a scheduled and other members of your group  are not interested in what you want to spend quality time watching, they will start complaining and you have to move to the next location.

When booking your holiday as a scheduled departure, it basically means you are purchasing a seat in tour vehicle and a bed in a hotel, and that’s why most of these tours are referred to as seat- in- a car tour. If you decide to join a scheduled departure but you decide not to share your room with other members in your group, you have to pay a surcharge called single room supplement which means your safari becomes more expensive.

Alternative to scheduled safari packages is custom made tours, which gives you the freedom and flexibility you need to make your holiday more enjoyable. With custom made tours, instead of picking a safari package out of the shelve, with assistance of your destination travel expert you can come up with an itinerary from the scratch to suit your individual preferences and interests.You can decide to spend as much time as possible,seeking sights and wildlife you want to see, private use of your tour van and the driver guide. With custom made tours, you are also guaranteed of  flexible meals time and wildlife viewing activities. To arrange your Tanzania custom made tours also known as tailor made tours, you may travel alone, with friends or family members.A tour operator should not choose for you whom to travel with,when you want to depart for your holiday or the attraction you visit and the order in which you visit them.

Alpha Mantai is a travel writer and a leading tours & travel consultant based in Arusha. To connect with him drop him a line at sales@smartafricantravel.com

The arrival of Tarangire balloon safaris, has  brought more options and added flexibility. You can now decide to do your Tanzania balloon safari either in Tarangire National Park or at Serengeti National Park, depending on which Park you consider more favourable. You no longer have to go to Serengeti to enjoy your balloon ride, if you are tight with time you can decide to visit Tarangire National Park which is 130 kms from Arusha and do your Tarangire Balloon Safaris the following day. A  balloon safari will definitely enrich your Tanzania safari experience.

To avoid disappointment in missing your balloon ride, it is recommended you book the ride early in advance through your tour operator. You also have option of booking the ride on the ground however by so doing your reservation will not be guaranteed.

The cost of the balloon safaris includes your pick up from the lodge you stay the night before. You have to wake up early as you’re collected at around 5:30 in the morning.An early morning balloon flight over the Serengeti national Park or Tarangire National park is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful balloon flights in the world and one of the ultimate safari experiences .Anyone booked on a wildlife safari in northern Tanzania which includes a few nights in the Serengeti and Tarangire National Parks should carefully consider adding on this very popular hot air balloon option.

The balloon ride takes approximately one hour at a cost of US$ 499 per person. On landing, the crew set up a full champagne breakfast in ideal location where you will be treated to the panoramic views of either Serengeti plains or Tarangire River.Each passenger is awarded a certificate as a memento of the flight. After the ride you can continue with your game viewing activities.

Alpha Mantai is a travel writer and a leading tours & travel consultant based in Arusha. To connect with him drop him a line at sales@smartafricantravel.com

The clear blue skies, flat grasslands, magnificent  and pristine beach combine to provide a rare setting to explore a myriad of activities such as boat wildlife safaris,walking safaris,bird watching  as well as relaxing on the beach. This enchanting park  offers you unrivaled opportunity of rediscovering yourself as you idle on the beach as well as reconnecting with nature. Your Tanzania tour and Tanzania beach holiday can be very rewarding with an inclusion of Saadani National Park.

Due to its uniqueness in having different attractions in one location, Saadani national park has been a draw-card, alluring  the more discerning traveler who wants the best of both worlds, the other attraction of this park is less crowds meaning, you do not compete with a lot of other holidaymakers trying to watch the abundant  wildlife in the park or relaxing at the beach. It is the only national park found in coastal region.

You can plan your itinerary in such a manner that you enjoy game viewing and bird watching activities in the morning while you spend rest of the day idling on the beach, more activities such as cultural walking safaris or just watching local fishermen fishing in lazy dhows.Tanzania being home to other iconic attractions such as snow- capped mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks. A visit to Saadani National Park should just  be  part of a longer  itinerary to enhance your Tanzania stay experience.

Alpha Mantai is a travel writer and a leading tours & travel consultant based in Arusha. To connect with him drop him a line at sales@smartafricantravel.com