Tanzania Safari Experience

8 Reasons Why Tanzania is Africa’s Top Safari Destination

Sirikwa Travel creates some of the most comprehensive and personalized Tanzania safaris possible because our operations are based in Tanzania, and we spend so much of our time exploring this incredible country, making connections with the people, expanding our knowledge and the opportunities for the people we guide through our country. We feel it’s important to acknowledge right at the start: of course we are biased towards Tanzania as the top safari destination in Africa! But just because we’re biased, it doesn’t mean that we’re wrong… Keep reading to find out eight reasons why Tanzania is so special — and if anything in this blog inspires you start planning your next great adventure, please feel free to get in touch to ask for our advice or have us create an entirely customized Tanzania safari itinerary for you!

1) Tanzania is home to Unrivaled and Spectacular Wildlife!

Most people want to visit Africa to see its diverse range of wildlife. There was a time when the earth was lush with unspoilt wilderness teeming with game; today, places like this are the exception rather than the rule. We celebrate Tanzania’s abundance and diversity of wildlife, and the fragile ecosystems of which they are a part. In a world where we are increasingly separated from nature, many visitors see an African safari holiday as a chance to reconnect with nature and to appreciate the animal kingdom in ways they never could in their home countries. Well, while you absolutely can see incredible animals in South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, and Botswana (to name but a few), Tanzania offers a richer quality and quantity of wildlife than any other African country. In fact, Tanzania has more animals per square mile than anywhere else in Africa and the country contains 20% of the species of Africa’s large mammal population. For example, there is a huge population of elephants in Tarangire National Park, there is an amazing chimpanzee trekking experience to be had in Mahale Mountains National Park, and in the Serengeti National Park you will find the largest population of lions in Africa.

2) You Can Witness the Great Migration

The huge number of predators in the Serengeti National Park are supported by the large herds of herbivores that live and thrive throughout this immense park. And, for many, the main reason to visit Tanzania is to see ‘The Great Migration’ that occurs there. This huge migration of over 2 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle over the acacia plains is the largest terrestrial mammal movement of animals on earth and the most dramatic safari spectacle you will ever see. Did you know that the Great Migration is a year-round spectacle and not just a one-time annual event? It can be seen at any time of the year – you just need to know where to go!

3) Cultural Immersion with Tanzania’s Tribes

While many people visit Tanzania for its incredible wildlife, it’s our friendly people who often leave the most lasting impression. Spending time with one or more of Tanzania’s 120+ tribes of people is incredibly rewarding — especially if approached with the spirit of adventure, understanding, and mankind’s universal sense of humor. You can meet the Hadzabe and Datoga people around Lake Eysai, and the Maasai people in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (and many other places), to name only a few. On many of our tours, you can spend time with the local people, learning about their way of life first-hand, talking to the people that have lived in Tanzania since the 15th century, and leave a positive impact. Read more about the people of Tanzania.

4) The Largest Intact Caldera in the World

The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact caldera in the world. While this fact alone warrants visiting, it is the richness and abundance of the wildlife found here that impresses visitors most – at any point in time there are over 25,000 large animals inside the crater. The wildlife in this area is so unique because the large, cauldron-like caldera has created a fascinating ecosystem, thriving with life. Expect to see particularly high numbers of elephants, lions, zebras, buffaloes and rhinoceros. While there are many great conservation sites and national parks in Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Crater is arguably the best place in the country to see The Big Five.

5) Mount Kilimanjaro is the Most Unique Mountain in the World

Sometimes referred to as The Roof of Africa, at 5,895m Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. What makes it even more impressive is its contrast with the comparably flat surrounding area in Kilimanjaro National Park and beyond. Whether gazing up from below or looking down from above, the views of and from Mt Kilimanjaro are some of the greatest in the world. This is why many people choose to take photography tours in Tanzania, and it’s why people spend, on average, 6-7 days climbing Africa’s greatest mountain.

6) There are 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tanzania!

Not everywhere worth visiting in the world is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but all UNESCO world heritage sites are worth visiting! It’s testament to Tanzania’s rich array of natural and manmade locations that it currently has seven officially recognised UNESCO sites:

7) The Islands of the Zanzibar Archipelago

While Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, as it is still part of the country, so any visit to this incredible archipelago is easy to organize and does not require an additional visa. Zanzibar offers some of the finest beaches and luxury holiday resorts in Africa, making it extremely popular for people looking for the perfect African honeymoon. Zanzibar has so much to offer visitors, from ancient culture and history in Stone Town, to relaxing beach and spa days and some of the best scuba diving in Africa. The best part is that you can easily combine a safari holiday experience in Tanzania with a luxury beach holiday experience in Zanzibar, as it’s only a short flight from mainland Tanzania to Zanzibar.

8) The Incredible Range of Environments in Tanzania

While most people fantasize about visiting the African savanna (grasslands) while on a safari, they perhaps pay less attention to the rich array of biomes that can be found throughout this vast continent. And while South Africa is comprised mostly of 46% of savanna, Tanzania offers a rich mixture of savanna, mountains, forests, river lands, and plains…and not to forget the white sandy beaches of Zanzibar. This array of different biomes offers a richer experience, allowing guests to get a true feel for the look and feel of Africa. And the different biomes also support a much broader range of wildlife!

 
 
 
  Excellent  
    
 Based on 182 reviews 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Storyteller80193 
 
2023-04-16
 
 
 Verified 
Awesome Kili trek thanks to Sirikwa’s great service!
Our group of six did a Kilimanjaro trek on the Machame route. The Sirikwa team was there for us every step of the way. Starting with airport pickups at all kinds of hours, arranging a waterfall hike the day before the trek, and making a very early morning run to the airport to retrieve a delayed bag just a couple of hours before departing for the park. The crew on the mountain is generally made up of freelancers who work for different trekking companies, but you could tell that Sirikwa’s management knew how to recruit and motivate a great group. We were well looked after on the mountain, the gear was first rate and our entire group made it to the summit. I struggled quite a bit on the descent but the guides and porters helped me through it, all with a smile. We were the first group to use Sirkwa’s new guest house in Moshi. It was a bit of a soft launch and you could see how it would shape up to be a great place for groups to stay pre/post their trek. Oinoth’s accommodating our request for pizza the night of our return was one last personal touch before we departed. I look forward to returning to Tanzania and experiencing Sirikwa’s great service on a safari.
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Usha G 
 
2023-04-12
 
 
 Verified 
Best Kilimanjaro and Safari Experience Thanks to Sirikwa
I had a best ever experience with Sirikwa Tours on my Tanzania travel. Every question and email was answered quickly before and during the travel. Ole went above and beyond to help me in every step. Asante Kaka During the trip The team made me feel that they were there to help at any time. Care & attention to every single bit, from the porters to the cook and huge backbone the guide on my trek. The entire Tours team was perfect from day one. Trek : The food was good sleeping tents were perfect ; hot water, drinking water, physical and mental support all to the mark, perfectly orchestrated. The summit day was a challenge; very thankful to my crew for an experience of a lifetime! wholeheartedly recommend Sirikwa Tours to anyone seeking to trek up Mt Kilimanjaro. Safari : The safari part of my trip was amazing, often dazzling. Benny was my driver. He endeavoured to provide me with the best safari experience possible, One of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. a little bit of luck resulted in some experiences I will never forget (I got some amazing photos). Night stay at the cottages was also wonderful experience. Sirikwa deserves all the stars. I will definitely recommend team to anyone looking for the best experience in Tanzania.
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Grant V 
 
2023-04-01
 
 
 Verified 
Mount Kilimanjaro
Such an incredible journey! The whole experience was perfect. Leone and Jonathon guided us safely, Abbas and Pray kept us fed, Mr. Machame carried the heaviest loads, Joshua and Ramadan and the rest of the group made sure we were comfortable. Thank you for the trip of a lifetime. We hope to see the entire crew again soon.
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Armen Hammer 
 
2023-04-01
 
 
 Verified 
Truly Spectacular Kilimanjaro climb and Safari experience!
Sirikwa Travel Rocks! Because of a friend's recommendation, I booked our 12-day Tanzania trip through Sirikwa. We spent 7 days climbing Kilimanjaro and 4 days on a Safari. Our booking with Sirikwa included everything, food, lodging, transportation, and full support with guides, porters, chefs, etc from the moment we landed at Kilimanjaro airport until 12 days later when we were dropped off at the airport. Our Kilimanjaro climb is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience that was perfectly organized by Sirikwa. Our group consisted of myself, my son, and a good friend of mine. For the Kilimanjaro climb Sirikwa provided 2 stellar guides (Jonathan and Leone), a chef, and 9 porters who were absolutely amazing. They were friendly, knew what they were doing, and worked their butts off to get us up and down the mountain. I can't say enough positive things about how great our support crew was. If you are thinking of doing the Kilimanjaro climb I would not look anywhere else. Their prices were about half what American tour companies quoted us and their service was truly spectacular. The same thing goes for our Safari. Our guide (Benny) was friendly, knowledgeable, and patient, could see animals and birds in the bushes or trees a mile away. We traveled through Ngorongoro, Serengeti, and Tarangire national parks. Again, if you are going to spend time in Tanzania and you need any type of tour booked....don't even bother looking elsewhere...book with Sirikwa, because you will get an amazing experience at a very reasonable price.
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 765britav 
 
2023-03-28
 
 
 Verified 
Perfect Tanzanian Safari + Beach Holiday with Sirikwa Travel
Sirikwa Travel arranged the most perfect nine-day Tanzanian safari plus four-day Zanzibar beach holiday for my best friend and me. Ole Sirikwa was instrumental during the planning phase of our trip, recommending the top national parks and other sights based upon the number of days we had available and prioritizing the things we wanted to see. Upon landing at Kilimanjaro, literally everything from that point forward was taken care of for us - transportation, tours, hotels and meals. Just a few of the places Sirkiwa took us in Tanzania were Mkomazi National Park, Arusha, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Tarangire, the Serval Wildlife Rescue and the Osiligilai Masai Lodge. I saw the most beautiful landscapes and SO MUCH WILDLIFE. I am still overwhelmed by the sheer volume of animals we saw, including the Big 5. In Zanizibar we saw Stone Town, Jambo Spice Farms and we spent a few days at Amaan Bungalows, right on the sea where I have never seen such clear water. We had a private boat for a snorkeling tour and the team prepared a fresh seafood lunch for us to eat right on the ship. To cover all of the ground we did, we stayed in a number of different hotels along the way and they were all of a high standard and felt safe and secure. We even stayed at the Tukaone Camp right within the Serengeti which was incredible - we had a tent with a shower, a four poster bed all while being able to hear the distant roars of lions in the night. I also want to mention the meals arranged for us as well. My friend and I are both vegetarian and not once did we arrive somewhere where this wasn't already taken care of. While on safari we often were provided a prepared lunch that our guide picked up for us in the morning and the food was always plentiful and delicious. The guides used by the Sirikwa team are of the highest caliber. Every guide we interacted with was professional, courteous, knowledgeable and really awesome people to spend time with - which was good because you spend a LOT of time with your guides! In particular, Ben was our guide for several of the days we spent in the national parks. You could just tell how well he knew the parks and was eager to ensure we saw absolutely every animal we could. Ben was also so accommodating, stopping for us to catch a better look at a bird or animal more times than I can count. Alfred was another amazing guide that we had the pleasure of spending time with, as he took us to both the Maturuni Falls one day and the Chemka Hot Springs another day. Alfred was kind, funny and even made sure I was able to get the proper football jerseys for my nephews. Ole was incredible as well, literally checking in with us on a daily basis to ensure we were happy and well taken care of. I have never utilized a guide service prior to this trip and I am not sure I want to travel any other way again! The costs were clearly outlined at the time of booking and, compared to what I have seen from other similar tours, were incredibly reasonable given the private tours, quality of accommodations and meals included. There were no surprises (other than positive ones!) along the way. It was honestly the trip of a lifetime and I give all the credit to Ole and the Sirikwa Team. I can't recommend Ole Sirikwa and the team more highly.
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Judith J 
 
2023-03-24
 
 
 Verified 
9 Day Safari + 4 Days in Zanzibar
I highly, highly recommend Sirikwa Travel. My best friend and I did a nine day safari in Tanzania's northern circuit of national parks and then four days in Zanzibar. It was an absolutely amazing trip of a lifetime! Sirikwa Travel handled absolutely everything and exceeded our expectations in every way possible. Ole Sirikwa, the owner/operator of Sirikwa Travel, was very responsive during the planning stages of our trip and extremely accommodating of our requests to give us our dream trip. Even before stepping off the plane, I felt like we were in good hands. From the moment we landed in Tanzania, everything was handled professionally and courteously. We had very nice accommodations and excellent food. The drivers and guides were very friendly, knowledgeable and just wonderful people. Our guide Ben, who spent four straight days with us, was the best guide one could hope for. His experience was obvious as was his vast knowledge of the parks and wildlife. I am an avid birder and he was excellent at spotting birds and knew many calls. The other guides told us he was a legend and we definitely saw why. During our nine days in Tanzania and four days in Zanzibar, we saw 30 mammal species (including lions, black rhinos, leopards and a cheetah) in the wild, 136 species of birds and 6 species of reptiles. In Tanzania, we visited Mkomazi National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, Tarangire NP, Arusha NP, Serval Wildlife Rescue, Osiligilai Masai Lodge and Chemka Hot Spring. In Zanzibar, we stayed at the fabulous Freddy Mercury house at Tembo House Hotel (the most Wes Andersonian place I've ever seen). We toured Stone Town, snorkeled and had an amazing seafood lunch by Kwale Island, toured Jambo Spice Farm and spent a couple of days at the beautiful beach resort, Amaan Bungalows. Ole checked in with us daily and there was literally never a moment of the trip that all of my needs weren't taken care of. Guides went above and beyond every day. For example, I kept misplacing my pencil to record all of the birds species I was seeing, so our guide Alfred stopped at a store and bought me a pack of pencils!! From reservations, arrangements, transportation to meals and accommodations, I can't think of one single thing that wasn't just perfect. The trip cost exactly what was quoted with no hidden fees. We felt it was an exceptional value.
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 SF 
 
2023-03-22
 
 
 Verified 
As Advertised
Sirikwa handled everything. Very responsive and respectful, didn't need to worry about local or hidden fees. Exactly as advertised. The trek was great!
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Raghuraj 
 
2022-12-31
 
 
 Verified 
An Amazing Climb to Uhuru Peak
We had the perfect climb to Kilimanjaro with Leone & Jonathan. It was an amazing experience, and the support team of guides, chef & porter made sure that we were very comfortable along the way. Will highly recommend Sirikwa Travels for all & any adventure exploits! Can’t wait to go back again :).
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 Haik M 
 
2022-10-06
 
 
 Verified 
Lemosho Route - Kilimanjaro top life-changing experience!
Had my best experience in life climbing Kilimanjaro with Sirikwa Travel team. Exceptional team from back office to front line kili warriors. Everything was taken care in details. Cant thank enough the excellent support, help and organization!
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 camillegalin 
 
2022-07-21
 
 
 Verified 
MEILLEURE EXPÉRIENCE
J’ai réservé l’ascension du Kilimanjaro par la voie Machame en 7j avec Sirikwa. Les demandes de renseignements sont claires, la documentation est complète. Les échanges sont faciles et rapide avec le directeur de l’agence ! Malgré mes péripéties et le retard de mes bagages par la compagnie aérienne (fréquent sur le continent quand on discute avec d’autres voyageurs, prévoir quelques jours de battement ça évitera beaucoup de stress) l’agence s’est occupé du problème, à su me proposer des alternatives et finalement trouver une solution. J’ai réalisé l’ascension avec une équipe fabuleuse : Jonathan, Abass, Janja, Nngabo, Omari et . Je recommende x1000 pour leur gentillesse, professionnalisme et encouragements permanent ! Si c’était à refaire je referai exactement la même chose. Si j’ai pu y arriver c’est grâce à une équipe en or. Je n’oublierai jamais cette aventure !