What To Expect

We Take Care of the Details

From providing accommodation options based on your budget, to recommendations on pre- or post-safari travels, assisting you with booking regional air, and meeting you at the airport when you arrive: Boundless Journeys can help you with each step in planning your custom safari. We will seamlessly guide you, so that you can simply relax and enjoy the adventure of a lifetime in Tanzania.

The Safari Experience

A variety of activities can be included on our custom safaris in Tanzania, but the primary activity is usually game driving. The wildlife is typically most active early in the morning and late in the afternoon (these times also provide the best light for photography), and therefore we plan our activities accordingly.

Typically, one of the camp staff will knock at your tent door early in the morning, and the group will gather for a quick, light breakfast and coffee or tea before departing camp as the sun rises. We move slowly, and even when animals are not present, the landscape and sounds of the bush are entrancing. We spend a few hours exploring and observing animals at watering holes or on the move from one region to another.

As we come upon groups of animals, we allow plenty of time to simply observe and also take photographs. Our guides are experienced naturalists and will add greatly to your understanding of the animals. We keep a respectful distance - although the same cannot always be said about the animals and it is not unusual to come nose-to-car with baboons, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, and elephants. By mid-late morning, we return to camp where a delicious midday meal awaits.

After brunch, we enjoy a few hours of down time, enjoying the amenities of camp, resting, bird watching, taking photos, or perhaps reading about the region you are visiting.

In the afternoon, we gather for hors d'oeuvres and drinks before heading out for the afternoon activity. Some days this will be another game drive, while other times we may explore the area on foot in the company of our guide and a ranger.
"Sundowners", a light snack and cocktails served in the bush, are an African safari tradition, and a great way to enjoy unforgettable sunsets. We then make our way back to camp, sometimes driving with a spotlight to look for nocturnal animals.

In the evenings, dinner may vary from seated meals ordered from the daily menu, to dining in the camp boma with a feast of traditional African foods and entertainment by the camp staff. These are joyful performances where it is often difficult to tell who is having more fun—the staff or the camp guests!

Weather

June-September is the cooler dry season. The temperature rises from October onwards and the "short rains" occur in November, bringing new life to Tanzania.

December-March is drier again, and April and May are characterized by heavy intermittent rain, making the bush green and lush. At any time of year, the temperatures on the Ngorongoro Crater rim can be decidedly cooler than on the Crater floor and in the Serengeti; this is particularly noted from mid-May through August.

You may obtain more detailed weather information on www.weatherbase.com.

When to Go

With careful planning,Tanzania can be a year-round destination. Due to its close proximity to the equator, there are only subtle climatic variations throughout the year.

Our small-group Tanzania safaris coincide with important times in the annual migrations, as well as take advantage of other significant animal activities and weather patterns. They are planned carefully to make sure our groups are in the right locations to witness the best wildlife action at any time of year. If you prefer a custom Tanzania safari, please note the following:

December-March: The herds have typically arrived in the southern short grass plains of the Serengeti by now, and tens of thousands of wildebeest have their babies over the course of just a few weeks. A safari at this time of year will certainly offer sightings of enormous herds of wildebeest, along with all of the other African wildlife one would expect.

June-July: Large herds are on their way north, migrating through the Western Corridor and across the Grumeti River. If you are lucky, we may witness herds crossing the Grumeti - while this can't be guaranteed, a safari at this time increases your chances.

August-October: The large herds are generally in the north and have scattered around the northern Serengeti, as well as crossing back and forth over the Mara River into Kenya's Masai Mara. If lucky, we may witness herds crossing one of the large northern rivers - truly a sight to behold. Even when large herds have migrated into the Mara, there are always many left in the Northern Serengeti, and far fewer people than on the Kenya side of the border.

Other times: We suggest avoiding November and April through the first half of May, as those months comprise the rainy seasons in Tanzania. Outside of those months, there are great reasons to visit Tanzania at any time, and no matter when you choose to go, you will see more elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, buffalos, hippos, ostriches, baboons, and lions than you can keep track of. If you are interested in organizing a private safari for your own group of family or friends on the dates that work for you, please contact our office at 800-941-8010 to begin the conversation.

Cuisine

In the permanent camps and lodges, continental-style cuisine is served, although there is often an Indian or traditional African influence (curries, for example, are popular, or chicken stewed in tomatoes and coconut milk). Breakfast and lunch in the lodges are often served buffetstyle, while dinner is á la carte. Meals in safari camps may be served family-style, and Tanzania's talented bush chefs blend traditional African dishes with more familiar fare.

Vegetarians can be accommodated with advance notice, though choices tend to be more limited.