Prons and Cons of Tanzania self drive Safari

 

As one of the top safari and trekking destinations in the world, Tanzania’s unique animal and mountain world is popular with international travelers. Every year a small number of them think about whether they would rather explore the sights of the country with or without a guide. But what are the respective advantages and disadvantages of self-drive tours and guided safaris? Today’s blog aims to guide you to make the best decision.before booking.

The advantages and disadvantages of self-drive tours in Tanzania

In the overviews below I have listed the advantages and disadvantages that I could find in self-drive blogs and forums on the internet. For the sake of topicality, I made sure to only use experiences from the last twelve years:

Pros of self-drive safaris in Tanzania

 

• On self-drive camping tours (more so than on self-drive lodge tours) you are more flexible and can plan much better according to your own interests compared to guided group tours: Do I want to see more birds or more elephants? Do I want to watch the lions for 3 minutes or 3 hours? Do I want to stay in this national park one day longer or not? (Note that this is also possible on guided private camping safaris to a large extend.

•

• You are not traveling with strangers as you would be on a guided safari, and you do not have to accommodate anyone. (However, on a private safari you only have to deal with the guide.)

• Self-drive trips can be more adventurous – especially when you are completely alone somewhere without any other people around (even without a guide).

• There will likely be more surprises (not only positive, but also negative).

• There is a tendency for more encounters with locals in situations where the guide would otherwise sort things out for you.

•

 

Cons of self-drive safaris in Tanzania

 

• Long handover times for rental cars due to briefing and sourcing of items that are on the inventory list but are not in the car. There are experiences such as: 

•

o Rental companies having to go into town to collect required items

o Collect camping gear yourself in the rental company’s storage

• Rental cars are often very expensive, and some companies even prohibit driving into the Serengeti. Caution is also advised with flat-rate fees per kilometer, which can become very costly after exceeding the included free kilometers.

• Land Cruisers with a pop-up roof hatch are even more expensive.

• You need to plan the entire tour and route yourself.

• In some cases, there are badly signposted private campsites; a GPS is absolutely essential, and it is advisable to enter the coordinates beforehand. However, there are not always clear coordinates, which makes campsites even more difficult to find.

• Timing and scheduling are often difficult (routes take longer than planned).

• You’ll need to focus on the road at all times because of the speed bumps, the speed limits and the many police checks. Also because of the often-inconsiderate driving style of others (especially trucks and buses).

• Getting stuck in a sandy riverbed or being surprised by a tropical rain storm and getting stuck in the mud happens quite frequently and you often need assistance from someone else to get you going again. The result: 

o Help has to be requested and it can take time to arrive.

o Risk of dead spots for cell phones on remote routes, which means that a call for help cannot be issued.

• Small and honest mistakes simply based on lack of knowledge or inexperience can cost more time and money (e.g. if gate times are not adhered to, or the 24-hour rule of admission tickets is misinterpreted, or you misjudge the need or forget to refuel).

• You can lose time at the gates if the payment or code selection technology does not work and you’re not sure how to sort it out and who to talk to in order to resolve the issue.

• Spots when waiting in the queue at the gate are sometimes hotly contested.

• On camping tours, you have to cook your own food.

• High prices in the supermarkets and rip-offs on the go.

• The roads can be in terrible condition, depending on region and season, and you may be rather reluctant to drive them yourself. (Eggs should therefore be stowed particularly carefully.)

• You definitely need to be extremely flexible any day and any time.

• Spotting wildlife is more often than not left to chance and likely less successful than with a guide. (That is why guides are often asked about travel suggestions.)

• Costs per person and care are more expensive than when traveling in a group. Some travelers therefore choose to skip the https://www.agamatours.com/safari/view/ngorongoro_crater_day_trip

•

•   which is a shame as it’s one of the main attractions.

• You might be hoping to save some money by driving yourself; however, more often than not this is not the case and on the contrary, in many cases a guided tour would have been cheaper or at least not more expensive.

What strikes you when reading about the experiences of self-drivers in the previous lists is the long list of disadvantages. Most self-drivers make no secret of this. But time and again there is a qualitative consideration that gives the few advantages mentioned a much greater personal meaning. For many, it is the adventure factor in particular that makes all the disadvantages worthwhile nevertheless.

If you are not deterred by the many possible disadvantages – you can be lucky afterall – you should, in my opinion, pay attention to the following:

• Make absolutely sure without exception (!) that the rental car is in good condition when you receive it. You might be member of an Automobile Club that can easily provide you a checklist for taking over a rental car on the internet. Having your car break down in the national park will cost you time and money, because it is unlikely that you will be reimbursed by the rental company for an extra day caused by the breakdown.

• Also make sure to have a navigation system or a reliable app for your mobile phone with up-to-date maps on board. Tracks4Africa, PocketEarth and maps.me are repeatedly mentioned as recommendations. Signposts in the parks are scarce and often non-existent the further you get away from the main roads. In the Serengeti you will certainly find a lot of zebra stripes along the roads. Unfortunately, they are not a sign of well-organized road crossings here, but rather an expression of the vast wilderness.

• It is also important to have a working cell phone. If you are traveling as a couple, then it is good to carry two fully-charged cell phones. One of them should definitely have a local SIM card in order to be able to better use the local networks. Especially if you are stuck somewhere, two cell phones increase the chance that one of the two will pick up a signal in areas with very weak reception.

Advantages and disadvantages of a guided tour in Tanzania

In the following overview I have summarized my own experiences from the feedback of numerous guests with whom I have been traveling on group tours or on privately guided tours in recent years.

Cons of guided safaris in Tanzania

 

• Everything feels a lot „safer“ because your trip will be planned and organized in detail. The adventure factor is still very high, but it is no longer quite as “adventurously unpredictable and unforeseeable” as on a self-drive trip.

• On guided group safaris, you have to accommodate different interests and expectations: some travelers in your group might be avid birders first and foremost, others just want to see the Big 5. (This disadvantage does not apply to a private guided safari or at least is a lot less of an issue.)

• On guided group safaris, you have to be lucky to be the only ones in the vehicle – only if you are lucky and no one else has booked the tour, your group trip turns into a private trip. But your guide will always be there in any case.

 

Pros of guided safaris in Tanzania

 

• Your tour operator will guarantee the best possible maintenance of the Land Cruiser safari vehicle.

• A guided group tour is usually cheaper for the individual participants than if you went on a self-drive trip with 1-3 people.

• Private guided tours can be tailored to your individual preferences. While a private trip might sound rather expensive, it is in fact only slightly more expensive than a guided group tour as long as you are 4 people or more in your private group. One of the reasons is the shared cost for the safari vehicle as well as the guide.

• The tour price always includes the best car category: https://www.agamatours.com/safari/guide/car_hire

 

with guaranteed window seats and a pop-up roof for a 360 ° panoramic view.

• It is clear from the start which costs of your trip are covered and for which cases you might need to budget some extra cash.

• 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 of my guests who are decision-makers in their jobs at home 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.

• 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.

• 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 your guided  tour www.agamatours.com 

• You get to know new people on the guided group tours.

• 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.

•

If you look at the above lists, it becomes clear that the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages of guided tour. Whether self-drive or guided is often a question of personal preference. Most guests like to start with a guided tour and stick with this option even when they return to the country for a second trip. However, a relatively small number of them opt for a self-drive tour on a second or third visit. At this point, you already have a different understanding of the country and are better equipped for a self-drive trip. The bottom line: Whether you choose to go on a self-drive trip in a rental car or book a guided safari, the most important thing is to come to Tanzania at all and not miss out on this amazing country!

Safaris in 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 Tanzania safari. Here on site, we are always well informed about the current situation. So get in touch with uswww.agamatours.com ! Your dream, our expertise – your very own Tanzania experience.

Leave a comment

•

•

Top 6 Things That Lure You To Spend A Wild Vacation In Lake Manyara National Park

 

Home to impudent rock-climbing klipspringer and diminutive dik-dik, varieties of colorful birds, Lake Manyara National Park is the smallest national park which mirrors those of many different parts of Tanzania in miniature. 

Through Tanzania Safari Tours, we can help you in venturing into this stunning park which is located at the bottom of Great Rift Valley escarpment. Interestingly, the park comprises of different range of habitats ranging from rift wall, groundwater forest, acacia woodlands, and open grasslands along with the shore of the soda lake.

Now, here is the time for knowing about the six popular attractions which lure visitors to this unique national park and provide a chance to have some of the most remarkable memories:-    

1.      Africa’s Largest Concentration Of Elephants

Lake Manyara National Park is known for serving as a habitat of Africa’s largest concentration of elephants. On your Tanzania Wildlife Safaris, you will have multiple sightings of large & different elephant herds at the same time.  

Additionally, you can also catch glimpses of numerous other animals such as mongooses, the cute Kirk’s dik-dik, hippos, buffaloes, antelopes, gazelles, and large troupes of baboons.     

2.     The Rare Tree-Climbing Lions

Lake Manyara National Park is different from other neighboring parks like Serengeti in numerous ways. Here you are not going to see the lions dozing off on the ground but you will see them resting on the trees.

Yes, this is a specific sight that will catch you off-guard while touring this park while on Tanzania Adventure Safaris. Apart from elephants, Lake Manyara is also known for tree-climbing lions which are a rare attraction that this park has to offer the entire world. Even zoologists are not sure how the lions have managed to develop this interesting skill.            

3.     Dynamic Melting Pot Of Cultures And Personalities- Mto Wa Mbu Village

Next in line, is the Mto Wa Mbu Village. The village is not located far from the entrance of the Lake Manyara. This village is mostly local farming and a market village known as Mto We Mbu. The town is open for you to spend your

Tanzania Safari Holidays by looking & buying for souvenir shopping.  

It is also a good place for peeking into the day to day life of the Tanzanian people. On market days, farmers from all over the region come here to show off their wares in this lively melting pot of cultures and personalities. It is also one of the best ways to familiarize with the local people.          

4.     Towering Termite Mounds Dotted In The Landscape

Among the most eye-catching features of Tanzania Safari Tours in Lake Manyara National Park one is the towering termite mounds that dot the natural landscape. These impressive structures are the work of tiny but hard-working insects known as termites.  Except this level of engineering, the termites are also known for cultivating a fungus in special chambers within their colony.

While most of these fascinating, work, takes place in underground tunnels where the naked eye is never going to see it. The castles that these termites build are quite amazing to see. It is safe to say that these termites are much more efficient in building structure than us.  

5.     Cherish Huge Flocks Of Brightly Coloured Flamingos

For several months of the year, thousands of flamingos call Lake Manyara home. This is due to the minuscule algae that they feed on in its alkaline waters. Lake Manyara is perhaps one of the best of Tanzania Destinations to see huge flocks of brightly colored birds. There are numerous water birds in the area such as storks and pelicans that shuffle around next to short grasses on the shore of the lake.

The park is also a bird lovers’ paradise with a wide variety of 350 species of local species inhabiting the forest and bush. The best time to observe these birds is in the late afternoon and early morning sessions of game drives. Thus, it will be better for you to get ready with your long-range cameras for capturing the best shots.  

6.     Beautiful And Relaxing Maji Moto Spring

As you wind your way down through bumpy & dusty roads through the desert land surrounding Lake Manyara National Park, it might seem unlikely that something like Maji Moto could exist out here. Yet when the oasis comes into your view, you will feel the urge to swim here after a long drive.

Maji Moto is a natural spring with palm and fig trees surrounding it. It is an isolated paradise which has crystal clear water, sun-dappled shady picnic spots, and matchless beauty.  A perfect place for concluding your Tanzania Tours And Safaris with a swim and a picnic lunch. 

There are a lot of wonders in store for you & countless others who come here to enjoy their Tanzania Safari Tours for not only watching the natural treasures of Manyara National Park but also several others where you can see some rare species of animals & talents, just waiting for your arrival & attention. Just visit us @ https://agamatours.com/ to find out more.

Please share all your comments with us here @ info@agamatours.com

Are You Planning To Visit Tanzania In December? Witness The Wildlife, Adventure & Nature Of Tanzania

Tanzania is the world’s most popular destination with pleasant weather all year round. It also has several wealthy numbers of places to see and things to do, including lazy sleeping at the beach, trekking up mountains and volcanoes, and exploring the vast wildlife of the African continent especially when it comes to Tanzania Safari Tours. Tanzania is best known for some world famous parks.  

Weather In Tanzania In December

The weather in the month of December is extremely nice and all the visitors can feel daytime temperatures in an average temperature of 27 degree Celsius. Furthermore, the average water temperature at the beaches around the island is also 27 degree Celsius. Hence, there will not be any problem if backpackers are booking Safaris In Tanzania in the month of December.    

Now here are those places in Tanzania in December:-

•    Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is known all over the world for a varied selection of habitats & wildlife. You will love enjoying the game drive that will help you in exploring an endless green carpet marked with wildflowers of this popular national park.  

•    Mount Kilimanjaro

It is the second best thing to visit during December to Tanzania that is none other than Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro           . For your information, it is the highest freestanding dormant volcano in the world. This attractive & might mountain can be seen from far away and it attracts more than 75,000 visitors annually who try to scale this beautiful mountain.      

•    Zanzibar

For locals, it is also known as Unguja islands. The entire Zanzibar archipelago contains a group of islands that is used to be an important trading point in Tanzania. Currently, it is a semi-autonomous region that is popular for its sandy beaches in the country and exotic water sports adventures are also available on the beach.      

•    Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The crater region of Ngorongoro Conservation Area formed because of a volcano that has erupted some millions of years ago and formed craters in the land. Today, the craters have turned into natural enclosures for wild animals such as zebras, deers, elephants, tigers, lions and numerous other rare beasts.  

•    Lake Tanganyika

The enormous river flows through four important countries in the African continent such as Tanzania, Congo, Zambia & Burundi and it forms the border between Tanzania & Congo. Lake Tanganyika is the longest known freshwater lake & a great place to visit & enjoy peace & quiet environment.   

Here Are Some Of The Best Things To Do In Tanzania In December:-

•    Wildlife Safari

Due to the good temperature in December, the climate is not too hot and the plains are also greener than ever. By far making it as the best season to go for Tanzania Safari Tours and get really close to the animals and watch them in their natural habitat.  Thus, some of the best places to visit on a wildlife safari in Tanzania are the Serengeti region, Masai Mara, Ngorongoro Conservation Area & other national parks.      

•    Scuba Diving In Zanzibar

No trip to Tanzania is complete without visiting the beautiful islands of Zanzibar. Just enjoying the clean & transparent waters are not enough. Actually, you must really take a dive & go scuba diving and explore the great deep underwater world of Tanzania. If going for scuba diving is not your cup of tea then you must go for snorkeling which is the light-weight version of the scuba diving.         

•    The Iraqw Village

The Safaris In Tanzania are not complete without socializing with the local people of the country. Apart from nature and wildlife, you must pay a visit to the village to see the way of life of the local people in their home & natural surroundings. Particularly in Iraqw Village, the inhabitants are extremely friendly and open up their homes to tourists with a wide smile. Here you can also learn about their cultures, languages & ancient traditions.

•    Birthplace Of Freddie Mercury

The popular lead singer of the band queens Freddie Mercury was born in Tanzania, in Stone Town in the islands of Zanzibar. You can just visit his house and take a tour of the place where he spent his childhood and also grab a drink at the mercury bar in Stone Town.   

So going for Tanzania Safari Tours in the month of December is going to be awesome for you. It is neither the month of the dry season or rainy season making it perfect for getting affordable bookings.

To know more just visit us @ https://www.agamatours.com/.

Engage In A New Adventure With The Delightful Stays Of Tanzania

No safari is complete without a suitable stay because it is the only place that can give you maximum comfort and peace especially when it comes to a place like Serengeti which is regarded as Tanzania’s most beautiful tourist attractions that are capable of drawing tens & thousands of tourists each year for enjoying Tanzania Safari Holidays.

Now, it is not a secret that an enormous park like Serengeti is also full of accommodation options which have different strengths and weakness depending on the time and year when people are visiting this safari park to enjoy the best time of their life. Nobody would like to live in a lodge that suddenly raises the price bar during the river crossing season. 

Now in such a situation going for an off-season will be the best idea such as going for the calving season where you can get accommodations at best prices. Now here are some of the accommodations that you can fetch it on a cheaper rate:-   

      

Pole Pole Campsite

Pole is a family eco-campsite in Karatu offering a very good place to put up your own tent or rent ready-set tents. Now, here are some other features of the campsite such as:- 

·         The entire campsite has some fashionable appeal for all the ecology loving tourists, researchers and the average holidaymakers.

·         Apart from that, during the entire Tanzania Adventure Safaris, all the residents of the campsite can enjoy the numerous amenities like staffed property, refrigerator, housekeeping, cycling trips, countryside retreats, terrace, fireplace & toaster, etc.            

Jambo Rooms

This nice accommodating lodge is located from 3kms to Ngorongoro Conservation Gate in Karatu, Tanzania. It is a small lodge with 15 bedrooms with an attached toilet & hot shower. Now just go through the features of this accommodating lodge that will help you in having a good time throughout

Tanzania Safari Tours. These are the type of amenities that you are going to have during your delightful stay:-

·         Upon your balcony, you will have some nice undulating views of nearby surroundings.

·         You will get your breakfast at any suitable time for you. Even the friendly staff at our lodge will help you with any kind of help & information that you require.          

Nguchiro Campsite

Nguchiro campsite is a public campsite located inside the Serengeti national park of Northern Tanzania. This campsite is called public because it can be used by more than one group or person at the same time. Now, this is what Nguchiro Campsite is all about:-

·         Furthermore, your mood can get dull when it rains but the catch is that you can also spot few animals that come near the camp such as buffaloes, hyenas, Thomson gazelle and many other grazing animals of the wild.

·         Visiting our campsite during the Tanzania Safari Holidays will only make your days special when the package is sponsored by Agama Tours.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Simba Campsite

The Simba campsite is located just outside the Ikoma gate of Serengeti National Park surrounded with endless plains with exotic views all around the site. Do you know how the campsite has been built? It is made up of solar power and hot water in rooms. The style of the campsite is charming & romantic. Now, this is what more it is all about:-

·         This campsite is special to the entire area as well as reception, lounge, bar & dining incorporating a natural rocky outcropping.

·         Additionally, each bathroom has an outdoor stone shower.      

Eco Hostel-Karatu

Eco-hostel Karatu is located in Karatu. This property also provides the arriving guests with terrace and the accommodation features a 24-hour front desk. Don’t you want to know more about the contents of this hostel? Just see it below:-

·         All the units of this hostel are fitted with a seating area that features a private bathroom with a bath & free toiletries.

·         Interestingly, bike hire and car hire are also available at this eco-hostel.

Your Tanzania Safari Holidays will not face any hurdles if you choose and book for your accommodations wisely. Either you go with the luxury accommodations or the rough & tough ones it is up to you to deal with the surroundings of the place. Just visit us @ agamatours.com to know more.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro-A Guide For Women 2019

Anyone who is going for the tallest free-standing mountain in the world is going to get a memorable experience for a lifetime. For any average climber in the world, it is the highest peak in Africa and the easiest of all the seven summits to conquer. Now, here is a twist in the story where today all our readers will get to know how women climbers are adjusting up with a load of Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro sponsored by Agama Tours. As far as the physique of a woman is concerned:-

®    Women are stated to be equally durable and stronger when compared to a male climber. In fact, they also have strong willpower. 

®    Compared to a man, a woman can withstand many pressures in life such as the process of giving birth to a baby which is the most painful women has to endure.  So Climbing Kilimanjaro is quite easy in front of that.

Now here is a list of things that women have to go through for preparing for Climbing Kilimanjaro:-

Training For Kilimanjaro Climb

When it comes to Kilimanjaro, it is known as every man’s mountain and everyone can climb it without using the special equipment that is used for climbing snow peaks. In no way, it means that you can go there unprepared:-

·         First of all, every lady has to condition her body before trekking for the mountain. It will help all such women in building the endurance and prepare them for 6 to 8 hrs a day on the mountain.

·         It will better for every woman aspiring for Mount Kilimanjaro Trek to train with their hiking boots and bring along 12lbs pack to help to get used to the weight which you will be carrying for a week.  

Staying Safe On Mount Kilimanjaro

Women must also have to prepare themselves against getting altitude sickness and this is how they can do it:-

·         The process of breathing correctly on the climb is something all women hikers have to learn before going for the big climb. They have to practice breathing techniques like the Rest Step & pressure breathing.      

·         Using the techniques as well as acclimatizing while Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is not an easy task. Thus, in order to prevent taking any unnecessary risk, it will be good for every female on the trek to rent an oxygen tank. Doing so will help a lot in making that final push to Kibo hut base camp. Furthermore, it will also help your brain from swelling from the higher altitudes.

Hiking Gear For Women Climbing Kilimanjaro

This is what you have to buy when choosing the gear for Kilimanjaro:-

·         First of all, shop around & find a pack which is designed especially for women.

·     Secondly go for the best boots that are durable, breathable, and lightweight, possess traction and are also comfortable in nature.

Packing For Mount Kilimanjaro

This is how females like to pack for the ultimate hike:-

·         Any female backpacker going for Kilimanjaro go by packing cubes in order to save space in the pack & keep it organized.

·         Now everyone including the women knows that packing for Kilimanjaro is completely different from that of a vacation. Thus, they know that they don’t need a new outfit for each day on the climb making it more space for other essential items in the pack.        

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is an exciting adventure for everyone even for the women. Thus, it will be better for them to consult the experts as well as choosing the best season to take that ultimate leap of faith. Just go by the rules of the climb and you are ultimately safe & will enjoy the adventure. Visit us @ agamatours.com to know more about the trek.