TANZANIA SAFARI PLANNING WITH THE EXPERTS.
Tanzania is a big country, and the main safari destinations can be split into the north (The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater) or the south (The Selous and Ruaha). Most tourists flock to the north as it is comprised of the famed highlights of Tanzania – and rightly so as the wildlife is phenomenal. However, the fame of the north can often overshadow the south, which in our view is one of East Africa’s best-kept secrets. West Tanzania is also an option, though this is extremely expensive to get to and hardly any tourists do as a result.
VISIT TANZANIA SAFARI DESTINATIONS.
When planning to visit Tanzania, you should note that Tanzania safari destinations have different timings for visiting depending on their location in Tanzania. These locations and national parks are subdivided into circuits namely, the Northern Circuit, Southern Circuit and Western Circuit which host the most popular and frequently visited parks, mountains and tourist sites including Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro crater and Zanzibar Islands.
WHERE TO GO IN TANZANIA
Northern Safari Circuit – the most popular Tanzania safari route comprising the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Tarangire and Kilimanjaro.
Tanzania Coast and Islands – the country’s beaches, especially those on islands like Zanzibar, are breath-taking and very accessible.
Southern Tanzania – includes the wonderfully wild and underrated Selous and Ruaha, Tanzania’s best-kept safari secrets.
Western Tanzania – head to the far-flung corners of Katavi and Mahale for the ultimate off-the-beaten-path Tanzania safari experiences.
WHICH IS THE BEST ROUTE TO CLIMB KILIMANJARO?
Having helped over 10,000 people climb Kilimanjaro we know that for every one of them, the best route was the route that gave them the best chance to stand on the top of this awesome mountain. So there are just four routes up Kilimanjaro that we recommend: the Machame Route, Lemosho route, Rongai route, and the Northern Circuit. A map of these routes and a brief description of each is below.
FACTS ABOUT KILIMANJARO
Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the highest peak in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. At 5895 metres, to climb Kilimanjaro is a great challenge, not to be underestimated, but entirely feasible for the hill walker looking to combine a high mountain adventure with going to Africa.
MACHAME ROUTE | This is our favorite route for a short climb as it offers a high chance of success over just 7 days. It has an interesting approach through all of Kilimanjaro’s diverse climate zones. Its downside is that everybody likes it, so in peak periods it can be very busy.
LEMOSHO ROUTE | Stepping up in cost and adding an extra day, this is the best 8 day route on the mountain. It has fantastic views and a really interesting approach from the West of the mountain.
NORTHERN CIRCUIT | If money and time are not an issue then it is worth checking out the Northern Circuit. It has the same attractive approach as the Lemosho but then heads north where you will find yourselves nearly alone.
RONGAI ROUTE | This route approaches Kilimanjaro from the north of the mountain close to the Kenyan border. It is a very quiet route, and is not normally our first choice as there is very little vegetation as it has much less rainfall. This means it is a good route to choose in the rainy season and it is always generally quiet..
FITNESS AND ALTITUDE SICKNESS ON KILIMANJARO
No doubt the trek is challenging and you are going to extreme altitude, however, the pace is slow due to going to altitude, which often surprises people, but it’s essential for a safe and successful ascent. We have a page on training for Kilimanjaro but generally we would recommend practising by hiking on the hills with a backpack on for at least several months prior to the trip.
