Safari tips
A Day on Safari in Tanzania, Hour by Hour
What a typical day on safari really looks like in Tanzania, from the early wake-up call and dawn game drive to sundowners and the campfire, with honest tips on pace, rules and comfort.
Tanzania safaris and Kilimanjaro climbs
Wild Tanzania, planned with grit.
Private safaris, mountain climbs and island finishes, built around you by people who know the ground.
Meet Lemala
Lemala Safaris builds journeys across Tanzania's parks, peaks and coast. Each one is shaped around how you like to travel and led on the ground by guides who know every track.
How you travel
Private
Your own vehicle and guide, at your pace.
How we plan
Tailor-made
Dates, lodges and routes shaped around you.
Who you deal with
One team
One contact from the first message to the last transfer.
Featured journeys
Safaris to start the conversation
Where we go
Tanzania, park by park
From the Serengeti plains to the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire's baobabs and Zanzibar's reefs, every destination has its own rhythm and its own best season.
Regional boundaries © OpenStreetMap contributors
The Lemala camps and lodges
Eight camps and lodges across northern Tanzania
From a ridge above the Tarangire River to the Serengeti plains and the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, the Lemala camps and lodges share one standard of comfort and service. Each has its own character, and we can link several into a single journey.
- Summit
Tarangire National Park · Tarangire escarpment
Mpingo Ridge Lodge
Escarpment lodge
- 15 suites with private decks
- Outdoor bathtubs
- Spa and swimming pool
- Ridge
Ngorongoro Crater · Ngorongoro crater rim, east side
Ngorongoro Tented Camp
Forest tented camp
- 10 en-suite tents
- Quiet eastern crater access road
- Campfire and mess tent
- Summit
Ngorongoro Crater · Ngorongoro Conservation Area, eastern rim
Lemala Osonjoi
Crater-rim lodge
- 20 suites with wood stoves
- Heated indoor pool
- Spa suite
- Ridge
Serengeti · Seronera Valley, central Serengeti
Ewanjan Tented Camp
Intimate tented camp
- 14 en-suite tents
- Private decks
- Seronera big-cat country
- Summit
Serengeti · Central Serengeti, east of Seronera
Lemala Nanyukie
Savanna suites lodge
- 15 suites with plunge-pool decks
- Swimming pool and spa tent
- Kopje and acacia setting
- Summit
Serengeti · Northern Serengeti, Wogakuria Hills
Lemala Kuria Hills
Kopje suites lodge
- 15 glass-fronted suites
- Swimming pool and spa tent
- Granite kopje setting
- Ridge
Serengeti · Northern Serengeti and Ndutu
Mara & Ndutu Tented Camp
Mobile tented camp
- Mobile camp that follows the migration
- Spacious en-suite tents
- Picnic breakfasts and lunches
- Ridge
Arusha and Kilimanjaro · Arusha, Kiligolf estate
Hamerkop House by Lemala
Private estate house
- Private house, exclusive use or shared
- Four en-suite bedrooms
- Swimming pool and spa
Why Lemala
A safari with a backbone
- 01
Planned around you
No set menu. Tell us your dates, interests and pace, and we shape the route, lodges and guides to fit.
- 02
Guides who know the ground
Your driver-guide reads tracks, weather and animal behaviour, and knows when to stay put and when to move.
- 03
Clear, honest pricing
We spell out what is and is not included, so you can compare quotes with confidence.
- 04
One team, start to finish
A single point of contact plans your trip, answers your questions and stays in touch while you travel.
When to go
The best time depends on what you want to see
Pick a month to see the safaris that suit it. Calving season, river crossings, quiet green-season days and Kilimanjaro's clear windows each have their moment.
January
Calving on the southern plains
Warm, green and quiet. Wildebeest herds gather on the short-grass plains around Ndutu, and the first calves arrive, with predators close behind.
- Calving
- Green season
- Kilimanjaro
February
Peak calving and big cats
Thousands of calves are born each day, and lions, cheetahs and hyenas hunt them. One of the best months for dramatic predator action, and for climbing Kilimanjaro.
- Calving
- Predators
- Kilimanjaro
March
Lush landscapes, lower prices
The rains start to build. Scenery turns vivid and migrant birds arrive, with far fewer vehicles. Expect some showers, and better rates at many lodges.
- Birding
- Quiet
- Good value
April
The quietest month
The long rains are at their heaviest. Some camps close, roads can be slow and Zanzibar is wet, but for flexible travellers it is the best value of the year.
- Lowest prices
- Very quiet
May
Green, calm and affordable
The rains ease and the parks stay green. Herds start moving north through the central Serengeti, and crowds are still thin.
- Green season
- Good value
- Photography
June
Dry season begins
Skies clear and temperatures cool. The migration pushes through the western Serengeti, and Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar both turn pleasant.
- Migration
- Clear skies
- Kilimanjaro
July
Classic big-game safari
Peak dry season. Animals gather around water, the grass is short and sightings are superb. Herds head for the northern Serengeti, so book early.
- Peak season
- Migration
- Big cats
August
Mara River crossings
The northern Serengeti is often the stage for dramatic river crossings. Days are dry and bright, and this is one of the most popular months for beach stays in Zanzibar.
- River crossings
- Peak season
- Zanzibar
September
Crossings with fewer crowds
The northern herds are still on the move, the air is clear and the lodges are calmer than in August. A strong all-round month for safari and for climbing Kilimanjaro.
- River crossings
- Clear skies
- Kilimanjaro
October
Last of the dry season
Wildlife concentrates around the remaining water, particularly in Tarangire and the southern parks. The first short rains may arrive late in the month.
- Tarangire
- Southern parks
- Good light
November
Short rains, fresh green
Showers turn the landscape green again. Herds begin drifting south, migrant birds return, and prices drop before the festive season.
- Birding
- Green season
- Good value
December
Herds return south
Wildebeest and zebra arrive on the southern plains ahead of calving. Days are warm and festive, with brief showers and excellent beach weather on the coast.
- Migration
- Festive season
- Zanzibar
Plan with us
Tell us what you hope to see
Share your dates, your group and your interests. We reply with a route, the right lodges and a clear price, ready to adjust until it feels right.
The journal
Field notes and planning advice
Planning
Tented Camp or Lodge? Choosing Where to Stay in Tanzania
A plain guide to safari accommodation in Tanzania: how a tented camp differs from a lodge, what en-suite means in the bush, where to stay, and how to match a stay to your budget.
Culture
Tanzania Culture and Responsible Travel: A Respectful Visitor's Guide
Meet the people of Tanzania with care: the communities you may encounter, useful Swahili, photography and dress etiquette, tipping, fair craft buying and how to choose a responsible, locally rooted operator.
Your Tanzania trip starts with a conversation.
Tell us when you want to travel and we will take it from there.