Tanzania tours are not geared toward big groups. The best way to see the parks is on a bespoke safari for two or four people who book together as a family or friends, though that obviously comes at a price. You should budget a starting price of US$500 per person per day, but it is difficult to put a specific figure on a trip, as a lot of variables need to be taken into account. For example, camping safaris are generally cheaper than lodge safaris. Conversely, the Serengeti and some other parks in the northern circuit have big hotels that are much cheaper than the small, exclusive lodges and tented camps – although the latter are often more basic. The season makes a big difference too. Discounted rates apply if you are willing to travel in the rainy season, while you’ll pay a premium to visit during the height of the wildebeest migration.

Tanzania is the quintessential safari destination, offering both quality and quantity. The wildlife viewing is superb and there is just so much choice in terms of places to visit and things to do. In fact, it would be hard to experience all of the highlights even in three Tanzania holidays, let alone one. There are three distinct safari circuits: the most popular northern safari circuit includes famous places like the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater; the lesser-known southern circuit centers on Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park; and the off-the-beaten-track western circuit includes Katavi National Park and the chimpanzee reserves on the shore of Lake Tanganyika. Avid mountain climbers might be surprised to learn the highest peak in Africa is in Tanzania. Mount Kilimanjaro lies between Kenya and Tanzania, but is climbed from the Tanzanian side.

Tanzania has a slick and experienced tourist industry, and a Tanzanian safari overall is very safe. That said, there is a lot of petty crime in big cities such as Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, so walking around alone isn’t recommended. Tourists sometimes get targeted in Arusha and other urban tourist hot spots, but most of the time the hassle is benign and is really just touts wanting to sell things (anything from safaris to beaded necklaces). Being firm and standing your ground is usually all it takes to diffuse any situation. In any case, most people on Tanzanian tours don’t spend very much (or any) time in urban centers, so none of this is likely even to be a concern.

The wildlife viewing in Tanzania is superb. A Tanzania safari in the northern circuit takes in Lake Manyara, Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. Any of these parks offer fantastic game viewing, although some of it is seasonal. Doing the whole circuit enhances the experience as you’ll be going through a variety of habitats and environments. Due to the sizes of the parks, it is possible to get away from the crowds, but as this is the most popular circuit, you will be surrounded by other tourists at times. If you really want to get away from all that, you can visit the southern circuit, where the game viewing is slightly more challenging but very good all the same. This circuit is perhaps more suited to repeat Africa visitors who are less driven to tick off the Big Five.