There is no better way than a camping safari to truly experience the African Bush. After the excitement of game viewing all day, you return to your campsite where another adventure begins. It may be gazelles making their way to a favorite watering hole or curious baboons wanting to inspect your tent while all around you the sky is emblazoned with the brilliant colors that make East African sunsets famous. As night falls, the heavens come alive with millions of stars that seem so close, you could almost pluck them from the skies. While you drift off to sleep, you can hear lions roar and an impala calling for a mate as strange shadows fall across the canvas of your tent.
The most popular safari destination in Tanzania is the Northern Safari Circuit which includes the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and the National Parks of Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Arusha and Mt. Kilimanjaro. In all of Africa, nowhere else provides the sheer numbers and varieties of game or the ease with which they can be viewed. Each park has its own distinctive habitats and their proximity to each other allows for a satisfying safari experience in a relatively short period of time.
A camping safari can range from a budget tour where you are expected to pitch your own tent and help with the cooking to the luxurious with a private campsite, walk-in canvas tents with cots, uniformed waiters and portable shower and toilet facilities. However, most visitors utilize a full service camping safari where regular park campsites and facilities are used and a driver/guide and cook are responsible for all camp chores. Tour operators are generally flexible and are willing to customize your safari to allow for your special interests or requirements. If a week is too long for you to go without a shower, you may want to request a night in a permanent tented lodge which has an ensuite bathroom with hot water and flush toilets. A safari is always an adventure of a lifetime but a camping safari authenticates the experience and satisfies one's fantasies of the romance of a bygone era.
Best Times to Go: While December to March is a rewarding period, February is best. Masses of migratory herds are on the short grass of the southern Serengeti Plains at this time. It is also the birthing season for the wildebeest and the hartebeest and it is always a thrill to watch a baby wildebeest stumble to its feet minutes after being born. The southern Serengeti is the area nearest to the other parks so you are assured of a memorable safari even if you are on a tight schedule. From a practical standpoint, in February, the land is verdant with meadows of wildflowers, the dust is minimal and there are fewer safari vehicles in the parks.
Getting There:
Overland, buses are available from Nairobi, Dar-es-Salaam and Mombasa via Tanga.
Clothing/Gear:
Pack lightly, preferably just one bag. Your tour company will store your excess baggage. Days are warm and nights are cool, especially on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater with an altitude of about 7500ft. Be sure to take a camera with spare batteries and lots of film, binoculars, flashlight, a wide brimmed hat with a drawstring, good walking shoes, insect repellent, suntan lotion, personal toiletries and a sleeping bag if you do not plan to use a full service outfitter.Â
General Information:
If you have a limited time for your camping safari, it is better to make arrangements with a tour operator in advance. This will ensure your ability to visit the parks of your choice since there are restrictions as to the number of vehicles allowed in each park. A passport, visa, and yellow fever certificate are required. There are exceptions to the visa and vaccination requirements but it is advisable to check with the Tanzanian Embassy for current regulations.
It is difficult to compare the costs of camping safaris. This is because there are so many variables involved. These include the number of people in your group and a vast range in the levels of service to be provided. On a fixed schedule, it is better to pay more for a full service camping safari and the reassurance of a worry-free adventure.
3 DAYS NGORONGORO CRATER CAMPING SAFARI
DAY 1: ARUSHA -NGORONGORO
Depart Arusha morning with picnic lunch and drive to Ngorongoro. Afternoon proceed for a crater tour. Dinner and overnight at campsite
DAY 2:NGORONGORO CRATER
Take picnic lunch with you; descend into the crater floor for a full day tour. Dinner and overnight at campsite.
DAY 3:NGORONGORO CRATER - ARUSHA
After breakfast drive back to Arusha arriving in time for lunch. 5 DAYS NGORONGORO CRATER AND LAKE MANYARA CAMPING
DAY 1:ARUSHA -NGORONGORO CRATER
Depart Arusha in the morning with picnic lunch and proceed to Ngorongoro crater rim. Afternoon crater tour. Dinner and overnight at campsite.
DAY 2:NGORONGORO CRATER
Take picnic lunch with you and descend into the crater floor for a full day crater tour. Dinner and overnight at campsite.
DAY 3:NGORONGORO CRATER -LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast depart for Lake Manyara with picnic lunch arriving in afternoon. Afternoon game drive to search for the curious tree-climbing lions among others. Dinner and overnight at campsite.
DAY 4:LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK - TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast at Manyara and depart for Tarangire arriving for lunch. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overncampsite.
DAY 5:TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK - ARUSHA
Depart Tarangire after breakfast and proceed to Arusha arriving for lunch.
6 DAYS MANYARA - SERENGETI - NGORONGORO
DAY 1:ARUSHA - LAKE MANYARA
Depart Arusha for Manyara with picnic lunch arriving in the afternoon. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Campsite.
DAY 2:LAKE MANYARA - SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast depart with picnic lunch and proceed to Serengeti arriving in the afternoon. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at campsite.
DAY 3: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
Depart with picnic lunch for a full day game drive. Dinner and overnight at campsite.
DAY 4:SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK - NGORONGORO CRATER
Depart Serengeti for Ngorongoro stopping at Olduvai Gorge,Historical site. Picnic lunch is served. Proceed to Ngorongoro arriving at the crater rim campsite. Dinner and overnight at campsite.
DAY 5:NGORONGORO CRATER
Take picnic lunch and descend to the crater floor for a full day crater tour. Ascend back to campsite for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6:NGORONGORO CRATER - ARUSHA
Depart after breakfast for Arusha arriving for lunch.
7 DAYS MANYARA -SERENGET -NGORONGORO -TARANGIRE
DAY 1: ARUSHA - LAKE MANYARA
Depart Arusha for Manyara with picnic lunch arriving in the afternoon. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Campsite.
DAY 2:LAKE MANYARA -SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast depart with picnic lunch and proceed to Serengeti arriving in the afternoon. Game drive. Dinner and overnight at campsite.
DAY 3:SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
Depart with picnic lunch for a full day game drive. Dinner and overnight at campsite.
DAY 4:SERENGETI -NGORONGORO CRATER
Depart Serengeti for Ngorongoro stopping at Olduvai Gorge, Historical site. Picnic lunch is served. Proceed to Ngorongoro arriving at the crater rim campsite. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 5:NGORONGORO CRATER
Take picnic lunch and descend to the crater floor for a full day crater tour. Ascend back to campsite for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6:NGORONGORO CRATER -TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast and proceed to Tarangire arriving for lunch at campsite. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at campsite.
DAY 7:TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK -ARUSHA
Depart after breakfast for Arusha arriving for lunch.