Good To Know Before Going On A Tanzania Safari In South Africa:
- As in Namibia, summer and winter are reversed, and the thermal amplitude within the same day is very important (temperatures drop from around 26 ° C during the day to 10 ° C at night). So remember to bring light clothing but also warmer for the end of the day and more info: https://www.easytravel.co.tz/tanzania-safari-tours
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- In Tanzania safari from south africa there are public reserves , managed by the state, accessible to all and at a very affordable cost , and private reserves , whose access is limited to people who have reserved a service on the reserve (note however , some do not accept children).
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If the latter have the advantage of offering a more private safari experience , with the possibility of off-piste and walking and night safaris in grandiose surroundings away from the crowds, the former offer a more great autonomy for visitors who will be able to play rangers themselves and indulge in rhino-tracking freely , and at a lower cost, by staying outside the reserve. But behind the wheel of your vehicle, with the risk of traffic jams around the herds of elephants ...
In short, there are safaris in South Africa for all budgets and all desires !
Why choose a safari in Kenya?
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Dive into the heart of the "cradle of humanity" and discover the exceptional wildlife of Kenya during a safari stay . Its landscapes shaped by the Rift between sea, mountains and highlands, also make it a favorite destination for nature lovers looking for escape and wide open spaces .
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It is also one of the first destinations in Tanzania safari from south africa to specialize in adventure tourism , and in particular safari . It must be said that the country is home to the most beautiful natural reserves in Africa.
The animals are numerous, not shy and therefore easy to observe , grazing on the short grass of the savannahs under the watchful eye of lions and herds of elephants flown over by a cloud of pink flamingos ...
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The possibilities of safari in Kenya are multiple, as well as the options to extend your stay after your safari, whether you are trekking enthusiasts or seaside pleasures .
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The beautiful sunny beaches located south of Mombasa , among others, will ensure relaxation and rejuvenation after your safari, when the green hills of Chyulu will delight hiking enthusiasts . Unless you continue with a photo safari in the beautiful Subukia Valley ?
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Your trip to Kenya, however, would not be "complete" without including moments of sharing with the local population and the many ethnic groups that make it up, in particular with the Maasai . These people of semi-nomadic breeders usually dressed in red have kept their traditions intact. We often meet them near the reserves watching their herds.
Whether by road, minibus or private 4x4 accompanied by a French-speaking guide, or even in the air, your safari in Kenya is the guarantee of a total change of scenery in the heart of varied landscapes , in an atmosphere purely African, against the backdrop of the eternal snow of Kilimanjaro …
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From the great savannah plains of Masai Mara and Amboseli to the typically African landscapes of Tsavo passing through the high- altitude forests of Abderdare and Mount Kenya , or the less frequented reserves of Samburu and Shaba in the North of the country, Kenya has what it takes to meet the expectations of the most diverse travelers.
Among the many parks and reserves in the country, the national parks of Aberdare and Mount Kenya , the second highest peak in Africa, located in the middle of the forest at an altitude of 2000 m, constitute an original alternative to the parks more frequented by the rest of the Kenya.
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The flora and fauna are different there, due to their altitude and the humidity which reigns there a large part of the year, and can be observed on foot or from the terraces of the lodges, access by 4x4 being too perilous.
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We meet buffaloes, elephants, hyenas, leopards, rhinos, but also endemic species such as bongo and sunny antelopes , columbus monkeys , or wild boars . Aberdare is also home to the 2nd largest population of black rhinos .
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These two unpopulated parks are around 4 hours' drive from Nairobi and are an ideal stopover on the road to Samburu .
With the Shaba and Buffalo Springs reserves , located in the north-central part of the country , the Samburu reserve is also among the reserves that are not very crowded and which attract travelers looking for an authentic experience off the beaten track .
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The arid landscapes are home to rare species such as the gerenuk (or antelope-giraffe), the Oryx Beisa , the Somali ostrich , or even the Grevy's zebra , easy to observe due to the sparse vegetation. It is also in Samburu that we have a better chance of seeing leopards !
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Much more popular, the beautiful Masai Mara National Reserve is a must-see safari destination in Kenya and can be considered all year round. It takes its name from the “Mara” river which flows through the park and from the Masai tribes which occupy the territory.
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The Masai Mara National Reserve is in fact a natural extension of the Serengeti National Park , most of which is located in Tanzania safari from south africa, and which is home to the largest land migration in the world.
It is a vast stretch of grassy savannah of 1510 km2, slightly hilly, in which many herbivorous and predatory species cohabit, such as lions, elephants, wildebeest, giraffes, zebras, impalas, gazelles, hyenas, jackals, Cape elks, cobs, guibs, damalisques, hartebeest, buffaloes, leopards ...
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In addition to a very abundant fauna, the Masai Mara reserve presents sumptuous landscapes and shelters a certain number of conservation zones at the northern edge of the park, including the Naboisho Conservancy .
Well maintained by the Maasai to whom they belong, the land used for grazing livestock or agriculture has become in a few years the wild areas in which many felines take refuge today as well as a wide variety of antelopes.
Access to this conservation area is reserved for guests of the small tent camps there - no large lodge - and is a good alternative to the Masai Mara, although the landscapes are less impressive. The walking safaris, off-road and night are authorized.
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If it is possible to take a safari in the Masai Mara in any season, between July and October , you can also enjoy the wonderful spectacle of the wildebeest migration running in all directions through the reserve under the watchful eye crocodiles! You will not be the only ones to attend the show!…
Note however, the high attendance of the reserve in all seasons, in particular in the North-East part which concentrates most of the accommodation, and the long and tiring access from Nairobi (6 to 7 hours of road in more or less good condition).
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Much smaller (392 km2) but more easily accessible from Nairobi, Amboseli National Park , located on the border with Tanzania, is also a must during a safari in Kenya, precisely because of its geographical location, at the foot of Kilimanjaro , which allows you to admire the snow-capped peak with giraffes and herds of elephants in the foreground! Created in 1974, it is also one of the oldest parks in Kenya established in the Maasai territory .
Its desert landscapes mainly made up of short grass savannah dotted with thickets and marshy plains fed by melting snow, are both depressing and fascinating, whatever the time of year.
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However it is in the dry season that the herbivorous fauna is most abundant, in particular the elephants. We also come across large herds of wildebeest, buffaloes, antelopes, but also many species of birds (nearly 400) around the marshy areas, a true paradise for birdwatchers !
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The huge Tsavo National Park (more than 20,000 km2) stands out for its typically African wild landscapes and in particular its red earth and its baobabs in the eastern part, because the park is today divided into two parts by the road and railroad that connect Nairobi to Mombasa.
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From one part to the other, the landscapes are very different, the fauna also therefore, the animals having difficulty moving between the two parts of the park.
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The western part is dominated by hills, volcanic rocks, and bushy bush, while the eastern part is characterized by rolling grassy plains and bright red earth.
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In the West, the sources of Mzima form a veritable oasis of greenery, near which crocodiles and hippos come to drink. Animals are also quite difficult to observe in Tsavo because of its vastness.
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The park shelters however a third of the elephants of Tanzania safari from south africa , and in particular the famous “ red elephants '' which take their color from the ground with which they are coated. There are also rarer species such as the Grevy's zebra, the Somali ostrich, the gerenuk or the oryx beixa .
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Finally, it is also possible to take a safari on foot or by mountain bike in the smaller parks of Nakuru, Elementaita and Naivasha scattered along the crack of the Rift Valley , just a 2 hour drive from Nairobi.
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The salt lakes that they shelter are veritable ornithological paradises . Over 450 species of birds are indeed listed there, including many pelicans and flamingos , true stars of the region!
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The Nakuru National Park also has a particularly dense and varied fauna, including many black and white rhinos whose observation is facilitated by the small size of the park and the condition of the tracks. Because of their accessibility, the parks of the lake region are however very frequented.