20 best things to do during best African safari tours Tanzania

20 best things to do during best African safari tours Tanzania

Top 20 things to do on African safari tours in Tanzania from witnessing the Great Migration to chimp trekking, Maasai walks, and Zanzibar’s cultural gems.


Did you know that Tanzania is home to some of the most diverse and awe-inspiring safari experiences in all of Africa? From the thunderous spectacle of the Great Migration in the Serengeti to the lush volcanic basin of the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania offers a front-row seat to nature’s most dramatic performances. Whether you're gliding silently over golden plains in a hot air balloon, tracking endangered black rhinos in Moru Kopjes, or canoeing past flamingos on Lake Manyara, African safari tours in Tanzania deliver unforgettable encounters with wildlife, landscapes, and culture. Each region from the remote Mahale Mountains to the elephant-rich Tarangire offers its own rhythm, beauty, and adventure.


But Tanzania’s magic goes beyond game drives. African safari tours here are enriched by cultural immersion, conservation efforts, and off-the-grid experiences like fly-camping in Ruaha or night drives in Nyerere National Park. You can hike the surreal slopes of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, visit a Maasai village to learn ancient traditions, or unwind on Zanzibar’s pristine beaches after days in the bush. With expert guides, world-class lodges, and seamless logistics, Tanzania invites you to connect deeply with the wild and the people who call it home. It’s not just a trip it’s a journey into the soul of Africa

20 best things to do during best African safari tours Tanzania

Witness the Great Migration in Serengeti

One of the most iconic spectacles on African safari tours is the Great Migration in the Serengeti. From January to March, Ndutu becomes a calving ground for wildebeest, while May to June brings dramatic Grumeti River crossings. July to October is peak season for Mara River drama, where herds brave crocodile-infested waters. This breathtaking cycle of movement and survival showcases millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles pursued by lions and hyenas. For wildlife photographers and nature lovers, it’s the ultimate highlight of African safari tours, offering unmatched drama and raw wilderness.


Big Five Safari in Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is a must-visit destination on African safari tours, boasting the highest density of wildlife in Africa within a volcanic caldera. Here, travelers can spot all members of the Big Five lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and the rare black rhino alongside flamingos and hippos in the crater’s lake. The lush terrain and enclosed ecosystem make it ideal for game viewing year-round. As part of African safari tours, Ngorongoro offers a compact yet thrilling wildlife experience, perfect for those seeking dramatic landscapes and close-up animal encounters.


Hot Air Balloon Over Serengeti

Floating silently above the Serengeti at sunrise is one of the most magical experiences offered on African safari tours. From Seronera or the Western Corridor, you’ll witness herds of elephants, giraffes, and wildebeest moving gracefully across golden plains. The flight concludes with a champagne breakfast in the bush, adding a luxurious touch to your adventure. This aerial perspective reveals the vastness and beauty of the Serengeti in a way few experiences can. For travelers seeking elegance and awe, hot air ballooning is a top-tier highlight of African safari tours.


Chimpanzee Trekking in Mahale Mountains

Chimpanzee trekking in Mahale Mountains National Park offers a unique twist to traditional African safari tours. Nestled near Lake Tanganyika, this lush rainforest is home to wild chimpanzees that can be tracked on foot with expert guides. The experience is both intimate and exhilarating, as you observe complex social behaviors and vocalizations in their natural habitat. Unlike savannah safaris, Mahale immerses you in dense jungle terrain, adding biodiversity and depth to your African safari tours. It’s perfect for primate enthusiasts and those seeking off-the-beaten-path adventures.


Walking Safari with Maasai Guides

Walking safaris with Maasai guides provide a deeply immersive experience on African safari tours. Whether in the Serengeti, Tarangire, or Ngorongoro, these guided treks allow you to learn traditional tracking techniques, identify medicinal plants, and observe smaller wildlife often missed on game drives. Accompanied by armed rangers, you’ll explore the bush safely while gaining cultural insights from the Maasai’s ancestral knowledge. This hands-on approach enriches African safari tours by blending wildlife exploration with indigenous wisdom, offering a slower, more mindful connection to the land.


Canoe Safari on Lake Manyara

 Lake Manyara offers a serene twist to African safari tours with its tranquil canoe safaris. Glide silently across the water, spotting hippos wallowing, flamingos painting the lake pink, and elephants drinking at the shore. This low-impact activity allows for intimate wildlife encounters without disturbing the ecosystem. Ideal during the wet season, it complements traditional game drives by offering a fresh perspective. For travelers seeking variety in African safari tours, Lake Manyara’s canoe experience delivers peaceful adventure and rich birdlife in a lush, scenic setting.


 Night Game Drive in Selous (Nyerere NP)

Night game drives in Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous) reveal a hidden world that daytime African safari tours often miss. As darkness falls, the bush comes alive with nocturnal creatures bushbabies leaping between trees, civets prowling, and lions hunting under moonlight. Guided by spotlights and expert trackers, this thrilling experience offers a rare glimpse into predator-prey dynamics after sunset. For those craving deeper immersion, night drives add a layer of mystery and excitement to African safari tours, showcasing nature’s rhythm beyond the daylight hours.


Climb Mount Kilimanjaro

Scaling Mount Kilimanjaro is a bucket-list challenge that elevates African safari tours literally. Standing at 5,895 meters, Africa’s highest peak offers diverse ecosystems from rainforest to alpine desert, culminating in icy glaciers at the summit. Trekkers pass through five climate zones, encountering unique flora and fauna along the way. Whether you choose the scenic Machame Route or the gentler Marangu, Kilimanjaro adds adventure and achievement to African safari tours. It’s a spiritual and physical journey that rewards with panoramic views and personal triumph.


Visit a Maasai Village

 A visit to a Maasai village enriches African safari tours with cultural depth and human connection. Near Serengeti, Ngorongoro, or Tarangire, travelers can engage with Maasai communities through traditional dances, warrior demonstrations, and homestead tours. Learn about their pastoral lifestyle, beadwork, and oral traditions that have endured for centuries. This respectful exchange fosters understanding and supports local livelihoods. For travelers seeking authenticity, Maasai village visits are a vital part of African safari tours, bridging wildlife adventures with meaningful cultural immersion.


 Fly-Camping in Ruaha

Fly-camping in Ruaha National Park offers raw wilderness for those craving off-grid African safari tours. Set in remote bush locations, these minimalist camps feature canvas tents, bucket showers, and meals cooked over open flames. Armed guides ensure safety as you sleep under star-studded skies, surrounded by nocturnal sounds of lions and hyenas. It’s an intimate, adrenaline-filled experience that strips safari down to its essence. For seasoned adventurers, fly-camping adds rugged charm and exclusivity to African safari tours, far from the beaten path.


Birdwatching in Arusha NP

Arusha National Park is a paradise for bird lovers on African safari tours, boasting over 400 species in varied habitats. From flamingos on Momella Lakes to turacos in montane forests, the park offers vibrant avian diversity. Its compact size allows for easy exploration, with chances to spot colobus monkeys and giraffes along the way. Birdwatching here is both relaxing and rewarding, especially for photographers and nature enthusiasts. As part of African safari tours, Arusha delivers a quieter, more contemplative wildlife experience.


Rhino Tracking in Serengeti’s Moru Kopjes

Rhino tracking in the Moru Kopjes region of Serengeti is a rare and thrilling addition to African safari tours. This rocky outcrop is one of the few places where endangered black rhinos roam freely. Guided by expert rangers, guests learn about conservation efforts while searching for these elusive giants. The dramatic landscape adds cinematic flair to the experience. For travelers passionate about wildlife protection, rhino tracking is a powerful highlight of African safari tours, combining adventure with ecological awareness.


Sundowner Cocktails on the Savannah

 Sundowner cocktails are a beloved ritual on luxury African safari tours, offering a moment of reflection as the sun dips below the horizon. Whether at Singita, Four Seasons, or a mobile camp, guests toast with gin and tonics while giraffes silhouette against golden skies. It’s a celebration of nature’s grandeur and the day’s discoveries. This elegant pause blends comfort with wilderness, making African safari tours not just about wildlife, but also about savoring the experience in style.


 Photography Safari with Experts

 Photography safaris elevate African safari tours by pairing travelers with professional wildlife photographers. In Serengeti or Tarangire, guests learn techniques for capturing dramatic lion portraits, elephant herds, and action-packed hunts. Specialized vehicles and patient guides ensure optimal angles and lighting. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned shooter, these safaris sharpen your skills and deepen your appreciation for nature. For visual storytellers, photography safaris are a creative and enriching layer to African safari tours.


Cultural Tour in Stone Town, Zanzibar

 Stone Town in Zanzibar adds historical intrigue to African safari tours, especially as a post-safari destination. Wander through winding alleys filled with spice markets, ornate doors, and echoes of the slave trade era. Arab, Persian, and Swahili influences blend in architecture and cuisine, offering a sensory feast. Guided tours reveal the town’s layered past and vibrant present. For travelers seeking cultural contrast, Stone Town provides a compelling finale to African safari tours, balancing beach relaxation with heritage exploration.


Boat Safari on Rufiji River (Nyerere NP)

A boat safari on the Rufiji River in Nyerere National Park brings aquatic drama to African safari tours. Glide past crocodiles sunning on banks, hippos grunting in pods, and elephants swimming across channels. Birdlife flourishes here, with kingfishers and fish eagles diving for prey. The river’s vastness and biodiversity make it a standout experience. For those wanting variety, Rufiji’s boat safaris add a refreshing and dynamic element to African safari tours, blending water and wildlife seamlessly.


Hike Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano

Ol Doinyo Lengai, the “Mountain of God,” offers a surreal hiking experience on African safari tours. Located near Lake Natron, this active volcano spews rare carbonatite lava, creating otherworldly landscapes. The climb is steep and challenging, often done overnight to catch sunrise from the summit. It’s a spiritual and geological marvel, revered by the Maasai and awe-inspiring to adventurers. For thrill-seekers, hiking Lengai adds volcanic wonder to African safari tours, showcasing East Africa’s dramatic terrain.


Tarangire’s Baobab and Elephant Spectacle

Tarangire National Park dazzles on African safari tours with its towering baobabs and massive elephant herds. From June to October, thousands of elephants gather around the Tarangire River, creating unforgettable scenes. The park’s dry-season concentration rivals Serengeti’s, with lions, leopards, and migratory birds adding to the mix. Ancient baobabs lend a prehistoric feel to the landscape. For travelers seeking iconic imagery and rich biodiversity, Tarangire is a must-stop on African safari tours.


Luxury Train Ride Tanzania-Zambia Railway

 The Tanzania-Zambia Railway offers a nostalgic journey through East Africa’s heartland, adding vintage charm to African safari tours. Departing from Dar es Salaam, the colonial-era train winds through wildlife corridors, villages, and scenic plains. Onboard, travelers enjoy classic sleeper cabins, dining cars, and panoramic views. It’s a slow, immersive way to connect regions and cultures. For those craving romance and rhythm, this train ride enriches African safari tours with history and elegance.


Beach Relaxation in Zanzibar

 Zanzibar’s beaches offer the perfect wind-down after exhilarating African safari tours. Whether it’s Nungwi’s lively shores, Kendwa’s calm waters, or Mnemba Island’s exclusivity, the island delivers turquoise seas and powdery sands. Snorkeling, spice farm visits, and dhow cruises add flavor to the experience. After days of dust and game drives, Zanzibar provides balance luxury, leisure, and cultural charm. For travelers seeking a complete escape, beach relaxation is the ideal finale to African safari tours

Best time of year to go for African safari tours in Tanzania

The best time of year for African safari tours in Tanzania is during the dry season, which runs from June to October. This period offers the most reliable wildlife viewing, as animals congregate around water sources and the sparse vegetation makes them easier to spot. It’s also the prime time to witness the dramatic Mara River crossings during the Great Migration in the northern Serengeti, typically peaking in August and September. With clear skies, minimal rainfall, and cooler temperatures, this season is ideal for game drives across the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Ruaha. For travelers seeking classic African safari tours with high chances of seeing the Big Five and predator-prey interactions, this window delivers unforgettable experiences.


That said, January to February also holds special appeal, especially for those interested in the wildebeest calving season in the southern Serengeti (Ndutu region). During this time, thousands of newborns take their first steps, attracting predators and offering intense wildlife drama. The landscape is lush and green, making it a stunning backdrop for photography, and migratory birds are abundant. While the rainy season from March to May can make some areas less accessible, it’s also the low season meaning fewer crowds and lower rates. For travelers who prioritize budget and solitude, or who want to explore the Northern Circuit parks year-round, African safari tours in Tanzania offer rewarding options across all seasons

How to get there to things to do on African safari tours in Tanzania

To embark on African safari tours in Tanzania, most travelers fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha for access to the Northern Circuit parks like Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire, or Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam for Southern Circuit destinations such as Nyerere and Ruaha2. Once on the ground, tour operators typically arrange transfers via 4x4 vehicles or light aircraft to remote lodges and camps. The range of things to do on African safari tours in Tanzania is vast—witness the Great Migration, track the Big Five, soar over the plains in a hot air balloon, trek chimpanzees in Mahale, or relax on Zanzibar’s beaches. Cultural visits to Maasai villages, birdwatching in Arusha, and night drives in Nyerere add depth to the adventure, blending wildlife, landscapes, and heritage into one unforgettable journey


Best Tanzania safari park for African safari tours experience

Tanzania offers some of the most spectacular parks for African safari tours, each delivering a distinct and unforgettable wildlife experience. The Serengeti National Park is world-renowned for the Great Migration and vast predator-filled plains, while the Ngorongoro Crater stuns with its dense concentration of Big Five species inside a dramatic volcanic caldera. Tarangire National Park dazzles with massive elephant herds and ancient baobab trees, especially during the dry season. For bird lovers and flamingo sightings, Lake Manyara is a lush gem, and Ruaha National Park Africa’s largest offers remote, rugged terrain teeming with lions and wild dogs. In the south, Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous) adds river safaris and rich biodiversity to the mix. These parks form the backbone of African safari tours in Tanzania, blending iconic wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and authentic cultural encounters

Top tips for best African safari tours in Tanzania

To get the most out of African safari tours in Tanzania, timing and preparation are key plan your trip during the dry season (June to October) for optimal wildlife viewing, especially the Great Migration in the Serengeti. Choose a reputable tour operator with experienced local guides who know the terrain and animal behavior intimately. Pack layers for varying temperatures, a good camera with a zoom lens, and binoculars for distant sightings. Stay hydrated, respect park rules, and embrace early morning game drives when animals are most active. Consider mixing classic parks like Ngorongoro and Tarangire with off-the-beaten-path gems like Ruaha or Nyerere for a richer experience. Whether you're chasing Big Five sightings or cultural encounters, these tips ensure your African safari tours in Tanzania are safe, immersive, and unforgettable

What to bring for African safari tours in Tanzania

Packing smart is essential for African safari tours in Tanzania, where conditions can shift from chilly mornings to hot afternoons. Bring neutral-colored clothing (khaki, olive, beige) to blend into the environment and avoid attracting insects like tsetse flies. Layering is key lightweight long-sleeve shirts, convertible pants, and a fleece or jacket for cooler hours. Sturdy walking shoes or boots are a must, especially for walking safaris, along with sandals for lodge downtime. Don’t forget sun protection: a wide-brim hat, polarized sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen. A compact rain jacket, insect repellent, binoculars, and a camera with zoom lens will enhance your experience. Use a soft-sided duffel bag for bush flights and a daypack for game drives. These essentials ensure your African safari tours in Tanzania are comfortable, safe, and adventure-ready

Top places to stay for best African safari tours experience in Tanzania

Tanzania offers an exceptional range of lodges and camps that elevate African safari tours into luxurious, immersive experiences. In the Serengeti, Mwiba Lodge and Klein’s Camp provide exclusive access to wildlife-rich areas with elegant design and top-tier service. For dramatic views and off-the-beaten-path adventure, Jabali Ridge in Ruaha National Park combines modern comfort with wild surroundings. Near the Ngorongoro Crater, Gibb’s Farm offers a tranquil retreat with lush gardens and farm-to-table cuisine. Mobile tented camps like Serengeti Under Canvas follow the Great Migration, placing guests in the heart of the action. Whether you prefer romantic seclusion, family-friendly lodges, or authentic bush camps, these accommodations ensure your African safari tours in Tanzania are unforgettable, blending nature, culture, and comfort seamlessly

Why book best African safari tours Tanzania with Dav safaris

Booking the best African safari tours in Tanzania with Dav Safaris means choosing a team that blends deep regional expertise with a commitment to ethical, unforgettable travel experiences. With glowing reviews and a reputation for excellence, Dav Safaris crafts personalized itineraries that showcase Tanzania’s iconic destinations from the Great Migration in the Serengeti to the dramatic landscapes of Ngorongoro Crater and the elephant-rich plains of Tarangire. Our tours go beyond sightseeing, integrating cultural immersion, conservation-focused activities, and seamless logistics. Whether you're after luxury lodges, family-friendly adventures, or off-the-grid wilderness escapes, Dav Safaris ensures every detail is handled with care. For travelers seeking meaningful, high-quality African safari tours in Tanzania, Dav Safaris stands out as a trusted, passionate partner dedicated to delivering once-in-a-lifetime trip

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