You need a good 4×4 to travel inside of Serengeti, and you also need to be skilled at driving it, as the park’s roads are rutted and rough. Remember that you can’t expect a speedy, city-style assist if you breakdown inside Serengeti. It’s therefore very important to travel in a well-serviced off-road vehicle that’s up to the rigours of the terrain.
While you can hire a 4×4 in Tanzania, should something go wrong with the vehicle en route to Serengeti or inside the park that you’re unable to address yourself; your holiday could be put in jeopardy?
For this reason we recommend travelling with a tour guide, so that you have proper support and vehicle backup should anything happen. Further, it’s helpful to be driven by someone who knows the park and its road network.
Pros of guided safaris in Serengeti Tanzania
Tourists don’t know the best places to look for animals
The Serengeti National Park is an immense 14,750 km² (5,695 mi²). While you’ll certainly see animals no matter which section you visit or which direction you head, if you’re particularly keen to see certain animals, like lion prides and rhino crashes, then you need a plan.
One obvious plan is going on safari with an experienced driver-guide. Driver-guides know the behaviors and habitats of the various animals of the Serengeti. They know the favorite watering spots per season, the paths of migratory herds, the birds to look for in the trees, the meanings of different animal tracks, the best spots for lunch, and so much more.
Safari guides are also in communication with park officials and can access the latest on animal positions. So a driver-guide is your very best shot at seeing the Big Five and other fan favorites.
To spot difficult-to-find animals like leopards, it’s super useful to have a trained safari guide.
Tourists don’t always know what they’re seeing
Finally, a proper driver-guide has knowledge about the animals, their habitats and habits that can raise your safari experience to a whole new level. For instance, the uninformed visitor might see elephants rolling in the mud and assume they’re playing. A driver-guide can relate that they are, in fact, doing this to keep cool and also protect themselves from the sun and insect bites.
Further to this, visitors often don’t know the names of many of the animals that they see. Could you identify a caracal? Bat-eared fox? Buzzard? We all like to know what we’re looking at, and so a well-trained safari driver-guide is key on safari. And not only do these folks know their stuff, but witnessing their passion for the animals and the ecosystem is also an important part of a good Serengeti safari.
Car maintenance in the park
Your tour operator will guarantee the best possible maintenance of the Land Cruiser safari vehicle. The tour price always includes the best car category: a spacious, Rav4, Toyota Land Cruiser with guaranteed window seats and a pop-up roof for a 360 ° panoramic view.
Experienced tour operators and Guides
A team of experienced and professional travel experts plans organizes and runs your safari. So you have peace of mind before and during your holiday.
During the trip, most of the decisions are made for you. Many tourists don’t know attractions in Serengeti to engage in and this makes them to need guides and tour operators in their adventure. They have told me they find this very pleasant and relaxing.
Instead of driving yourself, you can lean back and enjoy the view. You don’t have to worry about distances, driving times or police checks either. Your guide will also anticipate any possible road or weather challenges.
Your guide takes care of car breakdowns and repairs.
Wrong driving by Tourists
Depending on where in the world you live, you might feel very uncomfortable at the thought of driving your own rental car on the left-hand side of the road. On guided safaris, you don’t have to drive at all.
Guides in East Africa are connected to each other by radio. While on game drive in national parks, they can exchange ideas and find the animals faster and better. They do also have greater knowledge and experience of animal migration routes in the Serengeti than any guide book or app will ever have.
For example most tourists want to view animals nearly and yet distance is needed, this is dangerous and unacceptable by the Park, but with a Guide, knows which distance is needed between tourists and animals.
Knowledgeable Tour guides
Your guide has excellent knowledge of routes and area in general. This way, you will find what you’re looking for more easily, whether it’s wildlife or your accommodation.
You don’t have to cook yourself and delicious meals are served by your crew on guided camping safaris.
Your guide will not only share exciting information about the wildlife and their habitat, but be your window to a new culture and share first-hand insights about the country and its people.
With a guide you can always feel much safer in a foreign country than traveling alone. This is especially true if it’s your first trip to an African safari destination.
6 tips for a great Serengeti safari
Always listen to your driver-guide if you have one. He or she knows what’s safe to do and what’s not. Never get out of the vehicle without the all-clear from your driver-guide.
Bring a decent pair of binoculars. When you spot wildlife a little ways away from you, you’ll want to be able to train your binos on it for a better view.
For the same reason, a camera with a good zoom is a definite bonus.
Bring plenty of water, a sunhat, and sunscreen – things can get very hot in the crater, especially in summer.
Don’t forget to bring a good insect repellent.
Bring a notebook and pen to jot down the names of animals and birds you see. These will be great to have when you’re scrolling through your photos back at home and your memory proves a bit fudgy. It can also help you to remember the names of animals you want to Google.
Conclusion
Safaris in Serengeti Tanzania are some of the most exciting opportunities you can imagine encountering wilderness and wildlife. A visit here is definitely worthwhile. We are happy to answer any questions you may have and plan your guided Serengeti Tanzania safari.