The fundamentals of planning a safari are straightforward — pick a location (I went with Tanzania) and then choose a safari company (after hours of internet research, I booked with Altezza Travel). But beyond this, there are many little things that can make your safari experience more comfortable, fun, and memorable. Here my essential safari tips for Tanzania — you’ll want to consider all of these factors as you get ready to go.

What to Expect on Safari Days

You will be in a car for many hours. Sooooo many hours. My days all started at either 7:00 or 8:00 a.m. and often didn’t end until 6:00 p.m. or later. That’s a lot of time in a Land Cruiser.

I went in with a misconception that I would be spending at least part of the time out walking through the plains, much as one might walk through the Australian bush or a national park in Alaska. But no, they have lions here, and the safari companies want to keep you safe. So it’s doors closed and windows open. (Note: walking safaris do exist, but they’re the exception rather than the rule.)

The good news is that as long as it’s not raining, you can spend much of your time with your upper half popped out of the top of the Land Cruiser.

If you’re in the front seat, you’ll want both a hat and a bucket of sunscreen. If you’re in the back, there’s a cover, so you’ll have more sun protection.

Restrooms Are a Rarity

While you’re driving, know that they don’t put a lot of washrooms in national parks. The only bathrooms you may see all day could be (1) at the park entrance in the morning and (2) at a picnic spot at lunch. The good news is that the washrooms in Tanzania’s Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti parks were all spotlessly clean. But the scarcity of washrooms is a problem because, as noted above, you’re not allowed out of the car. So I sometimes spent more time thinking about when I would get to the next washroom than I did looking for lions.

Patience Is, Indeed, a Virtue

Speaking of which, safaris involve a LOT of waiting. There’s driving and looking, there’s inching along and looking, there’s parking and looking. You never know when something like this…

…might suddenly yield something like this:

So you stare out the window (or out of the top if you’d rather stand) and search, sometimes for hours. I found this rather meditative after a while. But it can be a lot.

Talk to Your Guide

Don’t be afraid to let your guide know what you especially want to see. I told my guide that I really loved giraffes and was excited about birds, and he obliged by spending more time than usual on bird ID and giraffe discovery moments.

Ask questions. Ask to stop. But remember that you are in your guide’s hands — so if he wants to go on a leopard hunt, you’ll end up on a leopard hunt. I found it surprisingly difficult to stave off my guide’s determination to find me a leopard.

At the end of the day, your guide knows more than you do, so trust them. There’s no way you’re going to find something like this amazing dung beetle on your own.

Early Mornings and Late Nights

To find cool stuff, wake up early or go out late — or both. Many animals go into hiding once the sun comes out in full force. Plus, you’re likely to get stunning views:

Research Your Travel Season

As you’re packing, understand the season in which you’ll be traveling. I thought safaris were all dust and endless brown plains. Not so if you show up at the tail end of rainy season. In Tanzania in January, I had foggy mornings …

… plenty of green, green grass (so high that it was sometimes hard to see the animals) …

… and mud every time I stepped out of the car.

Again, I didn’t step out of the car all that often, so this wasn’t a huge deal for me. But I did see some trucks with windows so mud-spattered that it was nearly impossible to see out. And I pitied anyone wearing bright white sneakers.

Get Ready for Rough Roads

While we’re on the subject of roads, be prepared for bumpy rides. In the Tanzanian parks, the roads are a mess. In fact, there are times when I’m loath to call them roads at all. We went through swimming pools like this at least six times:

Three Last Packing Tips

Your safari company will likely give you a packing list—but here are three important things they may not mention.

• Before you go, make sure either you or your guide has binoculars. It’s better if you both have them — I brought a tiny and not very powerful monocular, and even that turned out to be indispensable.
• You don’t need light colored clothes to avoid tsetse flies. I bought a pale beige hat to keep the flies at bay, and it deterred exactly zero of them. If there are flies, the only way to avoid them is to roll up the windows and turn on the AC.
• Bring USD for tips — not just for your safari guide, but for the lovely people at your hotel, lodge, or safari camp. They work incredibly hard (this is part of the gang at the Sound of Silence camp in the Serengeti).

A Final Note on Flexibility

Finally — and most of all — be flexible, and be patient. Animals don’t issue travel itineraries in the morning, so finding them is a matter of serendipity (and of your guide listening to other guides’ finds on the radio). These trips don’t run on clocks. And know that if you’re doing any domestic air travel … well, that requires a very different kind of patience (and confusion …). But it’ll end up being incredible!

Thinking of heading to Tanzania? Check out my posts on the animals of the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the elephant-rich Tarangire National Park! And if you’re flying in or out of Arusha, definitely consider a stay at the Gran Meliá Arusha, you can find my post about this amazing hotel here.