Guided vs self-drive safaris in Tanzania

Tanzania is one of the top tour destinations all over with over a third of her land conserved for the tourism activities. The country offers different tour activities from different parks and cities that makes up the country. Some of the most popular tour destination in Tanzania include Serengeti national park, Ngorongoro conservation area, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara national park, Arusha national park and Kilimanjaro national park, all found in the Tanzania northern circuit.

Another circuit in Tanzania is western circuit with park like Mahale mountains national park that start at lake Tanganika. The park is home to chimpanzees and other primates. Another park on the shores of Lake Tanganyika is Gombe stream national park. The park is another place where you will encounter the endangered chimpanzee before exploring Lake Tanganyika on a boat. Finaly, you will explore Katavi national park, offering the same experience you are likely to get from Tanzania northern circuit but more challenging to reach.

For those looking for soft adventure, you need to look for the coastal circuit where you will find different islands like Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia islands. You will combine history and adventure while in this circuit.

Not interested in the crowds associated with northern circuit, southern circuit is the way to go. The parks are rich with wildlife and are extremely extended, so plan for a long stay if your target is southern circuit. The ambiance in south is completely different from that of north. The popular parks in this circuit are Nyerere national park, Ruaha national park and Mikumi national park

Guided safari or self-drive safari

Or these four circuits that make up Tanzania can be visited either on a guided safari or on a self-drive safari. The choice of which that works for will entirely depend on you however let us compare the two-travel plan to help you make an informed decision

Guided safari explained

A guided safari is the one where you will be assigned an experienced guide/ driver who will lead you to different places on your safari. The guide/ driver will do all the necessary payment on top of driving you during your stay. These guides are highly knowledgeable about the terrains and the activities that you can do while in Tanzania. They will also help in the booking of your lodges and any other assistance that you might need on the safari. They are also knowledgeable about the flow of the migration. Therefore, they will lead you to the right location which will enhance your experience.

Self-drive safari explained

The self-drive safaris are where the client hire a car from a reputable rental company for a specified number of days and on the term agreed upon and drive themselves through their preferred destinations without assistance of any local person.

Advantages of a guided safari

Comfort

On a guided safari, your driver/ guide will do all the work for you while enjoying the comfort of your seats. You don’t need to worry of driving long distances, fixing car tire or dealing with any mechanical breakdown, your driver will do all that for you.

Security

Another advantage of hiring a local drive is for your own safety especially if it is your first time in Tanzania. The drive will save guard you against any robber and malicious people as he knows all the corners of the country

Direction

You won’t need to be worried of getting lost. However much google maps and GPS are useful but hey are not as accurate as human being. Therefore, having a local driver will lead you to the right direction of your journey.

Local interaction

If interested in getting to know the culture of the local people, then your driver is the first contact person. He will take you to the different functions and also get to know about the way of life of these people.

Disadvantage of the guided trip

Costly

Guided safari come with extra cost of hiring a driver/ a guide. This will automatically increase the cost of your over all journey.

Less independent

You won’t be able to make your personal decision as you will always have a person to refer to during your safari.

Advantage of going for a self-drive safari

Flexibility

Your journey plan is in your hand. You can change your itinerary whenever you feel like changing unlike on a guided safari where your next destination is predetermined

Cost friendly

You are likely to save on the money of the guide that will be assigned to you on a guided safari. You will also be making all payment yourself saving the markup that tour company might include.

Personalized

When they talk of the bespoke safaris, then self driving safaris are for you, you can tailor your trip which ever way you want it to be without an interference of experts

Privacy

On this trip, you will only share it with your close relatives and friend as you won’t be escorted by an external body.

Car choice

You determine the quality of the car you want to use. No one is going to determine for you which one to take.

Disadvantages of self-drive safaris

Planning

You will have to plan the entire trip on your own, this might prove a challenge as you are less conversant with the different place of the country

Safety

Travelling through unfamiliar places can prove to be a big challenge and the thieves and other suspicious people can take the advantage of you.

Logistic

Handling all the bookings and paying for all other services in places that you are not well conversant with, add on the language restrictions can end up proving to be a huge challenge.

Factors to consider while determining between self-drive and guided safari

Experience level

If it is your first time on an African safari, opt for the guided safari as you guide will lead you to the right places to head to. On the other hand, for the experienced traveller, you can go for self drive as you are aware of the challenges you are likely to face and you know how to go about them

Type of destination

Exploring Rwanda and Uganda on self drive is easier due to the countries’ developed infrastructure and their small size whereas exploring Tanzania especially the northern circuit would be better to go with the guide as the terrains are very challenging.

Purpose of the trip

If your focus is on the wildlife, going for guided safari is ideal as a certain level of expert is required to trace the animals in their wild. However, if you are going for gorilla trekking or cultural safari, then you can choose to go for a self drive as you will be allocated a guide on ground.

Budget

Lok through your budget and see which option suits you best for the successful safari in Africa.

Related safari package for Tanzania northern circuits and beyond

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