Discovering Tanzania: Insider Safari Tips & Zanzibar Escapes

In the shadow of Tanzania’s famed neighbour, Kenya, lies a destination that beckons with its unique allure and mystery. Intrigued by the tales of its popularity, Somak’s Reservations Manager, Nishma Gandhi, and Operations Manager, Saonli Chatterjee, embarked on a journey to Tanzania, eager to unravel its secrets and explore its treasures for themselves. 

What they discovered surpassed their expectations — a land teeming with wildlife, natural wonders, friendly people, and even some adventure! Read on to delve into their experiences, observations, and the insights they have gleaned from their trip. 

Classic Tanzania

While working in reservations, Nishma noted the popularity of Somak’s Classic Tanzania itinerary. “It’s a very good seller, and I was eager to understand why,” she remarked. “The lodges and camps where we stayed exceeded my expectations. I now understand why they are so popular with our clients!”

Saonli, equally impressed, shared her thoughts on the accommodations in the bush and at the lodges. “The Wellworth Hotels, Lodges, Resorts & Camps we visited as part of this itinerary were truly spectacular! I didn’t anticipate luxury, but from the first lodge we visited, Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge, nestled in lush green gardens, I was astounded.”

“The lobby and entrance hall were breathtaking, with grand chandeliers and African furnishings – it was a delightful surprise and set the tone for the rest of our trip. Each camp and lodge had its own unique charm, exceeding all my expectations.”

“What impressed me more than the amazing rooms, gardens, and facilities – and they were fantastic – was the warmth of the staff,” said Saonli. She recounted an experience at Wellworth Ole Serai Luxury Camp Moru Kopjes in the heart of the Serengeti, where rangers escorted them through the camp in the dark and set up a Boma for travellers to share stories. 

“It was Nishma’s birthday when we were there, and we sat for some time soaking in the atmosphere of the African bush,” she recalled, “until we heard noises from the bush and got a bit spooked!” she chuckled, sheepishly.

Safari Contrasts

Nishma, originally from Mombasa in Kenya, had visited Tanzania many years ago. “It’s still beautiful and largely unspoiled despite the recent influx of new lodges and resorts,” she explained. “It’s a beautiful country with so much to see and do, well worth a visit, especially if you have already been to other safari destinations and are looking to expand your experience.”

“To a point, every safari has its similarities; they all involve wildlife. It’s only by trying out different experiences that you find out how they compare to each other,” she elaborated. “One thing that is different in Tanzania compared to Kenya is the distances and the bumpiness of the rides,” she observed. “I’ve experienced safaris in both Kenya and Tanzania, and I must say, Tanzania offers a bumpier ride. I wouldn’t recommend it for people with back problems,” she advised. “Kenya has shorter distances between parks, but in Tanzania, the distances are far greater – for this reason, when we advise people on trips to Tanzania, we suggest they either go for a longer duration to allow for travel time between the different areas or consider flying.”

Saonli expressed surprise at the vastness of the Serengeti and wished she had known in advance. “For me, the Serengeti is vast – I didn’t realize how big it was – very long drives, and not very smooth. I really didn’t have a clue, to be honest!” While she managed it without too much trouble, she acknowledged the potential challenges for others. “Now that I know, I can offer better advice on logistics and about bumpy rides when communicating with clients,” she remarked. “Travellers can prepare for the long drives and bumpy rides, or opt for local flights between parks if they prefer.”

Nishma expressed regret at not having the time for a ballooning trip over the Serengeti. “I’ve done the Mara Ballooning, so I would have loved to do a Serengeti Balloon,” she said wistfully before shrugging, “ah well! I will have to go back again and do it then.” “Not that I really need a reason to come back to Tanzania,” she added with a laugh.

Beyond the Big Five

Both Saonli and Nishma agree that there is no ‘bad time’ to go to Tanzania on safari. “The game viewing is great throughout the year, and we saw so many animals, even witnessing some of the Great Migration, despite having visited in November.”

“Visiting Tanzania is much more than just the Wildebeest Migration. At any time of the year, it offers a diverse range of experiences, from observing big animals to small ones as well. Additionally, it boasts the Ngorongoro Crater, described as the seventh wonder of the world,” said Nishma.

Since they were on a working trip to Tanzania, Saonli and Nishma did not have much time for traditional game viewing. However, traveling between the lodges and parks in 4x4s, they managed to see the big five as well as an unexpected and rare sighting in the Serengeti, which both of them commented on. “The highlight for me was seeing a Black Mamba,” said Saonli. “We were traveling between two camps, and suddenly it appeared right in front of the vehicle! It was so quick we couldn’t even capture a picture of it!”

“The shock of my life was when we saw the black mamba,” said Nishma. “We were just in the vehicle, and it was right there. That can be quite dangerous because it can literally enter your vehicle through the bottom, so the driver quickly got us away. I would have never imagined that I would have seen a black mamba. Although I found it frightening, it was fascinating to see.”

Saonli mentioned that their driver told them it was incredibly rare to see a black mamba on the road like they did. “We were thrilled!” said Saonli. “It just goes to show that there is so much more to see here than just the big five!”

Stargazing Under Tanzania’s Dark Skies

The unspoiled beauty of Tanzania also allowed Saonli to stargaze in a way she, as a city dweller, had never before experienced. Born in India and having lived in Dubai and London for many years, the dark skies and celestial view left her star-struck. “I don’t know if my colleagues noticed it, but I spent a lot of time just looking at the sky,” she admitted. “On our way to one of the camps, we got a little lost in the dark, and although we did eventually reach our destination, the time in the dark gave me ample opportunity for stargazing,” she said. “It wasn’t a planned activity or part of our itinerary, but I love stargazing – it was incredible; seeing a night sky full of stars was spectacular!”

“I’m a city person, so I’m not as experienced in these things as some of my colleagues. The first time I went on Safari in Kenya, I wasn’t as interested in these things as I was on this trip. I didn’t expect how much I would love it!”

Saonli said she couldn’t recommend the country more. “Tanzania is so unique and has so much to offer. The people and cultures are awesome, the game viewing is fantastic, and there is also the mountain, the rift valley, the vast open plains, the crater and waterfalls, and of course, there is also the beach!”

The Allure of Zanzibar

After their time on the safari circuit of Tanzania was up, Nishma and Saonli flew to Zanzibar, where they stayed at Diamonds Mapenzi Beach and Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa, as well as visiting many other resorts in the destination, which is very popular with Somak clients.

Being very well-travelled, Nishma had been to the island before but said it had changed a lot. “It is very smart and upmarket, but there is still something for everyone. Even the three-star plus resorts were very impressive, and the service everywhere was spectacular!” Nishma even said that after this trip, the destination has surpassed Mombasa as her most recommended beach destination. “It suits every age and type of traveller, and what impressed me the most is how safe it is! I was speaking to one of the expatriates who we met there, who is widely travelled and has lived all over the world, and she told me her favourite place is Zanzibar because it is so safe. If the budget allows you, then definitely I would recommend it,” she said.

Saonli said what struck her about Zanzibar was how accessible everything was. “You can go to the north, to the south, east, and west, all in one day in a car,” she said. She also mentioned how safe the Spice Island is for tourists. “While we usually don’t encourage our clients to wander around outside of their resorts, while we were travelling between resorts we saw many people out and about, it really seems very safe.”

“Zanzibar offers amazing value for money,” said Nishma. “While there are far more resorts there now than when I first visited, the island is still unspoiled, and because there are not too many restaurants outside the resorts, many of them offer all-inclusive packages. But if you are in the Stone Town area, you can go out to eat, or you could even try the restaurants at other resorts if you want something different.”

Insider Knowledge

One of the reasons Somak Luxury Travel encourages its staff to travel to the destinations it offers is to enable employees like Nishma and Saonli to develop an understanding of the destinations to better advise and assist clients.

For instance, Nishma said after her trip to Tanzania she will be advising clients to get their visa ahead of travel rather than at the airport on arrival. “People can get them online, but more and more, travel advisories are recommending getting it on arrival,” she said. “The queues for visas at the airport are very long. We were literally in the queue for more than an hour – there are many procedures, even once you have handed in your passport. We were in that queue at Arusha airport, and we saw other people coming off flights and just showing their visa and going straight through,” she said, laughingly describing the “Visa Envy” they experienced.

“I work in operations, and we deal with clients while they are on their holidays, and if something goes wrong, we are the people who help to make things right,” said Saonli. “One thing that this trip helped me better understand was the logistics of Tanzania. We even experienced some of the difficulties that can happen on any trip, for instance, Nishma lost her luggage at one point, and we got lost, and even missed a flight. Now I feel empowered to help our clients when things don’t go as planned for them.”