dijanakocicWhen coming to Tanzania on a safari, I came with some expectations. After 6 days in 4 different national parks, I’ve came up with truths about the safari and seen what misconceptions I’ve had when coming here.
The MUST HAVE piece of clothes for the safari is a hat.
Truth: Hat is a nice to have fashion detail and looks nice on pictures, but it’s usually totally unpractical. During the game drive, it becomes windy so you have to take care so it doesn’t fly out. The jeep has the roof so your head isn’t actually under the sun.
If you’re really lucky, the lion will cross your road.
Truth: Tanzania is the country with the highest density of lions in Africa, so there is a high probability that you’ll see a lion from up-close in Serengeti and Ngorongoro National Park. During our last game drive, we’ve seen 7 of them eating next to the road, two lions mating between the jeeps and one of them peeing on our jeep. So you never know!
National parks in Tanzania are similar to each other.
Truth: The vegetation, scenery, animals and the whole experience of each national park is unique. You can choose according to your preferences what you’d like to see – savannah or the lake, more lions or more hippos, but my suggestion is to see them all.
In Tarangire, you should go for baobab trees, vervet monkeys and giraffes.
In Serengeti, you should go for lions, leopards, endless plain and African savannah.
In Ngorongoro Crater, you should go for the wonder of nature and amazing wildlife living in the volcano crater.
In Lake Manyara, you should go to see all animals together drinking the water, buffalo swimming in the swamp and more than 500 bird species living in this national park.
If you go to Africa, I’ll be starving will return with 5 kilos less.
Truth is that on the Tanzanian safari with FootSlopes agency, the food was amazing. We had a personal chef, every day variety of dishes and all of them were really tasty. Usually, for every meal we could choose between few options – vegetables, noodles, rice, chicken, fish. Everything is delicious! I’ve been eating more healthy than I eat at home – 3 meals with fresh food every day.
I’ll be able to go out of jeep, have a walk through the national park and come close to some animals (like giraffes).
One of the truths about the safari is that you’re not allowed to go out of the jeep anywhere except on the places where you have picnic or campsites where you sleep.
And you will be sleeping in the middle of a national park where elephants, hyenas and baboons walk next to you.
Hope that this helps you prepare better and have amazing time in Tanzania!
If you’d like to spend time volunteering in Tanzania, read my detailed guide for finding NGOs, applying for volunteering and costs of living in Tanzania for two months.
7These were my truths about the safari. Did you have some other misconceptions? Share in the comments. 🙂
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