Safari Adventure in Tanzania

Our wildlife adventures put nature front and centre throughout. You'll spend as much time as possible immersed in wild landscapes – tracking animals, sitting quietly, waiting for something remarkable to happen. That said, they are still proper adventures: expect hiking, walking safaris and active days, with moments of stillness and observation woven in along the way. An experienced naturalist tour leader will be with you throughout and groups are intentionally small to keep things intimate, minimise the trip's environmental impact and ensure the wildlife barely knows you're there.

Our adventures are designed by animal lovers, for animal lovers, with a strong focus on respect and minimal impact in all wildlife encounters. You’ll be accompanied by experienced local wildlife experts who follow strict guidelines to ensure animals are never disturbed. Group sizes are limited to a maximum of 12, helping to keep disturbance low and allowing wildlife sightings to be handled calmly and responsibly. All trips operate in line with our Animal Welfare Policy (opens in new tab), ensuring wildlife protection always comes first.

Every day brings something different. In Arusha National Park you'll look for giraffes, black-and-white colobus monkeys, buffalo and flamingos. Lake Manyara is known for its birdlife, hippos and tree-climbing lions. The central Serengeti holds lions, leopards and cheetahs year-round, alongside elephants, hyenas and large herds of zebra and gazelle. Ngorongoro Crater is one of the best places in Tanzania to look for black rhinos, and Tarangire is known for its elephant herds. These are wild animals, so sightings can never be guaranteed, but your guides know the parks well and will give you the best chance.

The central Serengeti has resident wildlife all year round, so you can look for lions, leopards, cheetahs and elephants whenever you travel. Two things might help you choose a date: the wildebeest migration usually passes through the central Serengeti in April and May, and again in October and November. We don’t run this trip in April or May, when the long rains arrive and several lodges close, so an October or November departure gives you the best chance of seeing the herds. The canoe safari on Lake Manyara is also seasonal and usually runs from November to June, when water levels are high enough. If paddling on the lake is high on your list, pick a departure within that window. Outside it, you’re likely to head out on a walking safari instead.

The canoe safari runs throughout the year, with the exception of when it is very dry, leading to lower water levels in the lake. When canoeing isn’t possible, it’s replaced with an extended game drive (note that walking safaris are not permitted at Lake Manyara). You’ll paddle a two-person fibreglass canoe, and life jackets are provided and must be worn by everyone. A professional guide and an armed ranger paddle on the water with you and you don’t need to be a confident swimmer to take part – non-swimmers are also welcome to join.

For groups of one to six adventurers, you will have one dedicated guide to accompany you throughout the trip. For groups of seven or more, you will have two guides leading the way. In both instances, the guides will be joined by local wildlife specialists and park rangers, helping you to gain valuable insights into everything from animal behaviours and migratory patterns to the challenges facing conservationists today.

The tap water in Tanzania is not safe for international travellers to drink. Your host will provide drinking water throughout, while each of the accommodations on the trip also has safe drinking water for guests. You'll need to bring along a water bottle to fill up with to have with you on the activities, journeys and game drives on this trip.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location and accommodation, and in some places options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked on your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND

Tanzania is generally manageable for travellers with dietary requirements. Vegetarians are well catered for thanks to the bean, vegetable and Indian-influenced dishes, and the rice and maize staples are naturally gluten-free. Vegan, coeliac and allergy-specific diets need more planning: ghee and milk turn up in many dishes, food labelling is limited and awareness of cross-contamination varies. Lodges and camps in the national parks are remote and bring supplies in by road, so let us know about any requirements when you book so your hosts can prepare.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian
Vegetarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Vegan
Vegan diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Kosher
Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision are rare and usually cannot be guaranteed unless expressly confirmed in advance by your host. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal
Certified Halal supply varies by location and may not always be possible. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten-free (for Coeliac, please see Allergies section below)
Gluten-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Lactose-free
Lactose-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

ALLERGIES

Our host has confirmed that they are able to accommodate mild allergies to the 14 allergens (opens in new tab) identified by the UK Food Standards Agency, where these are disclosed in advance. However, if you have a severe or life-threatening food allergy, please get in touch with our Customer Experience team prior to booking, to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority. Please note that when travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with (opens in new tab). You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website (opens in new tab), where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information (opens in new tab) and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values (opens in new tab) – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here (opens in new tab) for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

January to March: This is the warmer, greener time of year. Days are typically 25–30°C (77–86°F) and nights 15–18°C (59–64°F). January and February are often fairly dry between the short and long rains, while March brings the start of the long rains, with heavier showers that usually fall in the afternoon.

April and May: These months are particularly wet, so we avoid running the trip at this time of year.

June to October: This is the dry season and the classic safari season, with sunny days and little rain. Daytime temperatures are around 20–27°C (68–81°F), and nights and early mornings can drop to 10°C (50°F), noticeably colder on the Ngorongoro Crater rim, so pack a warm layer. September and October are the hottest months of the dry season and the parks get dusty as water sources shrink.

November and December: The short rains bring brief showers, usually in the afternoon, which rarely disrupt game drives. Days are warm at 20–30°C (68–86°F) and the landscape turns green again.