Journey Report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
Fast overview utilizing simply my very own images. I’ll put up extra detailed data within the close to future.
There are over 500 corporations providing Serengeti wildlife excursions.
Least costly — about U.S. $200 / day in 2026 — is sleeping in massive canvas tents.
I signed up for one of many “Tenting Safaris” that welcomed solo travellers.
DAY 1
Arusha to Tarangire Nationwide Park
An excellent begin. Tarangire is called the Elephant Paradise. We noticed MANY elephants and giraffes shut up.
Giraffes love munching on Acacia — regardless of the very sharp spines.
Big Baobab timber are a spotlight, as nicely. I do love the African timber.
Residence to greater than 550 fowl species, the park is a haven for fowl fanatics.
And this fanatic.
I’d signed on solo simply the day earlier than. Our group was 5 people who hadn’t met each other earlier than assembly within the Toyota Landcruiser.
We truly had 2 LandCruisers. 2 Information / Drivers. 2 teams. And one cook dinner.
These LandCruisers are extremely powerful — however they do want fixed upkeep. We noticed a number of being towed. One crashed on the freeway.
Very memorable was watching elephants give themselves a mud tub.
I used to be stunned to seek out myself staying in a cushty lodge in Mosquito River. I’d signed up for a tenting safari. 😀
DAY 2
To Ngorongoro Conservation Space
For me Ngorongoro was even higher than Serengeti.
That is the place Mary Leakey labored for many years. Olduvai Gorge. Hominin fossils greater than 3.75 million years outdated.
The Maasai nonetheless dwell within the highlands right here, although they’re now not within the caldera nor within the Nationwide Parks. Maasai herds will be as spectacular because the wild animals.
Children as younger as age-4 are typically given duty to observe them.
I hadn’t realized what number of Impala and comparable antelopes roam these grasslands.
We camped in Serengeti.
Easy canvas tents. I used my very own sleeping bag and air mattress.
Throughout a 2am pee break, right here’s how the sky seemed to my iPhone 16 Professional.
DAY 3
Touring Serengeti Nationwide Park
Take a look at our breakfast guests. 😀
A horde of mongoose. Together with infants.
Two large cranes.
Dozens of small songbirds.
Serengeti is astonishingly huge grasslands. Large variety of grazing animals.
Lions are stars of the present right here, typically resting suspiciously near roads. 😀
These three cubs have been playful.
Predators appear to have straightforward pickings of the sick, outdated, and really younger.
I needed I used to be a birder as my life listing would have grown by about 100 a day right here. Many species are very massive.
Within the afternoon, we drove to a campground in Ngorongoro.
This one had electrical energy and excellent sizzling showers.
As foretold, we had zebra grazing between our tents.
Two girls from my group received as much as pee in the midst of the evening. They discovered themselves just a few metres from Buffalo — one of many harmful Massive 5.
DAY 4
Touring Ngorongoro Conservation Space volcanic caldera within the early morning.
We awoke to heavy rain. It appears the “lengthy rains” from March to Could have simply begun.
Early begin dropping down into the crater.
Predators have been nonetheless engaged on their kills from the earlier evening. It appears younger zebra are the dinner of selection for many.
These hyenas have been nearly completed with their kill. A jackal was sneaking in to get fast bites, when it may.
Why did the Wildebeest cross the street.
Animals migrate for grazing and water sources. Predators observe.
There was loads of water within the crater whereas we have been there. Flamingos a spotlight.
Water birds of all species eat nicely right here.
Everybody enjoys the safari expertise.
Needing to drop off 2 of our group of 5, we drove all the best way again to the Mosquito River lodge. This implies I truly spent 2 of the 4 nights in a cushty lodge, regardless that I’d signed up for tenting. 😀
DAY 5
Touring Lake Manyara Nationwide Park. Again to Arusha.
Final day we had solely 2 of our authentic 5 signed on for the fifth day.
Manyara was higher than anticipated. A small, well-maintained park alongside a muddy Lake.
We’d not seen many baboons nor monkeys over the earlier 4 days. Made up for it right here. We noticed hundreds of entertaining baboons enjoying, combating, chasing, grooming.
Loads of Blue monkeys. And Blackface (Vervet) monkeys, as nicely. The totally different species appear to cooperate nicely.
Again to the lodge for one final lunch from Tony.
His greatest but.
After which the three hour drive again to Arusha. Our safari ended.
TIPS
It’s complicated to resolve on which firm to go together with. Actually you’ll be in the identical Toyota LandCruiser, on the identical bumpy roads, seeing precisely the identical animals with most.
The one one which caught my eye for the tenting possibility is Suricata Safaris.
Costs go means up from $200 / day relying on the place you sleep every evening. Luxurious lodges can be found. Price range about 10% for suggestions. And about 10% for sudden prices.
Personal bookings are dearer, as nicely.
Although I did 5 days, 4 nights — optimum, I’m considering, is 4 days, 3 nights. You’ll in all probability miss Lake Manyara Nationwide Park for those who do that.
My iPhone 16 Professional was excellent for climbing Kilimanjaro. But it surely’s a irritating, crappy possibility for safari. I consistently needed extra optical zoom. Deliver a superb digital camera on a brief tripod, for those who can. Additionally binoculars.
My solely different safari was Addo Elephant Park, South Africa, in 2013. Glorious. My information supplied a guidelines of animals and birds we’d see ➙ and it was tremendous enjoyable to fill that guidelines throughout the day. I needed I had one thing comparable right here.
Energy failures are a close to every day incidence in Tanzania. Deliver energy banks to recharge your digital gadgets.
Wifi is sluggish and inconsistent right here. Greatest get cellphone information which works fairly nicely.
Many vacationers are over-charged. Some cheated. We had a driver for a day who claimed I had shortchanged him $40. I hadn’t. However moderately than argue I gave him an additional $20 — and reported to his employer.
Worst story I heard in particular person was a vacationer touchdown in Zanzibar at 3am who was stopped by two supposed police. They took his passport. Two hours later he bribed them $200 to get his passport again.
Many of the worst tales I heard have been in Zanzibar.
BEST is to have transportation from airports organized prematurely along with your lodging.
Second greatest is to obtain the journey sharing Bolt app. It labored nicely for me.
Arguing with taxi drivers is the worst possibility.
Intercity buses will be OK — however driving is sluggish in East Africa. Brief flights a greater possibility.
Message me if in case you have any questions.
