TANZANIA - Tailor Made Safaris, Honeymoons Safaris, safari holidays and Beach Holidays in Tanzania The seasonal Great Migration across the vast Serengeti plains remains one of the most stupendous natural events in the world, although safaris at any time northern parks in Tanzania are superb due to the resident herds that do not migrate. (See Migration map below for general timings). We recommend that on safari holiday or Honeymoon safari you have your own private 4 x 4 vehicle with a guide, or if time poor you could fly between the camps or lodges. The Ngorongoro Crater, now a World Heritage site, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park and the Serengeti together offer an exceptional tailor made safari destinations suitable for luxury safari holidays or honeymoon safaris.   Some luxury safaris lodges and camps to consider in these areas are Klein's, Serengeti Safari Camp, Plantation Lodge and the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. All have good game viewing and offer different styles of luxury and accommodation in varied environments. To the south lies the Tarangire National Park, famous for its elephants and abundant game. Here you can stay at Oliver’s traditional tented safari camp and take a game drive with your own private guide and a 4x4. on a safari holiday or honeymoon safari. If you wish to travel more independently and away from the lodges, there are luxury mobile camping safaris available. These private trips can take you to the remotest of places and are a very special way of seeing the bush and vast plains at your own pace. They are particularly suitable for a family or small group of friends who want a private tailor made safari away from anybody else or for that matter any luxury safari holiday or honeymoon safari. These safaris can be as simple or as comfortable as you require, they can also be mixed with nights at permanent camps and lodges. Game is generally viewed from open-topped Land Rovers, but walking safaris, night drives and cultural visits to nearby villages are very popular too. If you are considering taking a mobile safari it is worth having a specialist guide accompany you as it seriously enhances the experience and you will most probably see more game. In the Serengeti Park it is possible to arrange for a balloon safari which is a magical experience on both a luxury safari holiday or a honeymoon safari. In the far south lies the Selous Game Reserve the largest game reserve in Africa. Here the superb Sand Rivers Selous and the exclusive use luxury Kiba House both offer some of the best tailor made safari accommodation and game viewing available in Tanzania perfect for a luxury safari holiday or honeymoon safari .  Boating on the Rufugi River, walking and 4x4 safaris are excellent here with prolific game all year round and excellent bird life.  Further afield are the Ruaha, Mahale and Katavi Parks & Reserves all offering unique tailor made safari options with walking safaris, fly camping and Chimpanzee tracking.  Places to stay might include Jongomero, Greystoke and Chada, respectively. Off the Tanzanian coast lies the island of Mafia with its splendid lagoons, excellent diving and water sports. Here, Kinasi Lodge is a good simple place to stay and enjoy the island's swahili comforts. Off Dar es Salaam lies the island of Zanzibar and smaller sister Pemba, both of which offer an excellent choice of luxury boutique beach hotels, with a few resorts and some simple beach lodges all of which combine very well with a Tanzanian safari. Baraza, Fundu Lagoon, Blue Bay and Shooting Star are all good examples respectively. In Dar es Salaam by far the best hotel is Oyster Bay. All are suitable for a beach break after a honeymoon safari or safari holiday The highest mountain in Africa is Kilimanjaro. Its snow-capped peak at just under 20,000 feet and dominates the surrounding plains. A Kilimanjaro climb takes six nights minimum. For the more energetic this is a lifetime experience and an achievement not to be missed. Please contact us for details but as a guide climbs cost from about £1500 to £3500 per person dependant on the ground operator, season, support team and level of comfort required. Please have a look at our Tanzania Hotel Directory for more information or at our list of suggested itinerary ideas or call us for further advise and planning for your tailor made Tanzania safari on tel: +44 1798867750 MAP of TANZANIA BIRDS AND WILDLIFE If you are a serious ornithologist, there are field guides to the birds of East Africa available in bookstores. Although the animals in the Tanzanian Parks may seem completely unconcerned by your presence, they are wild and dangerous. Do not leave your vehicle whilst in the park or stray away from the group if on a guided walk. LANGUAGE Official language is English, with most of the local people speaking Swahili and or Kikuyu. FOOD AND DRINK Most of the food in the hotels and restaurants is based on European cuisine and is of a high standard. Tap water is usually safe in the towns only so recommend drinking bottled or purified water, which is readily available SEASONS SUMMER - September to April On the coast it rains in April and May. Inland it rains from March to May and there are light rains in November. WINTER - May to August Owing to its proximity to the Equator, the temperatures in winter remain warm to hot. BEST: Northern Tanzania: June through October/December through March Selous and Mikumi: June through October Ruaha and Uzungwa: June through October Mafia and Zanzibar: July through October/December through March Western Tanzania: April through October MIGRATION In the Serengeti the Great Migration is continually on the move.  When the herds of wildebeest and zebra are on the southern sweet grass plains from December to May, they usually give birth, but by the end of May the herds move northwards following the rains to cross the rivers separating Tanzania and Kenya. They return south in late October to early November, and head back to the sweet grass to give birth again. If you are travelling outside these times the population of resident game remains high in all areas. SUGGESTED COMBINATIONS The following are some of the areas that can be combined: Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro crater and Serengeti followed by Zanzibar. The Selous and the Ruaha. The Selous and Zanzibar. Cape Town, Zanzibar, Tarangire and Lake Manyara. Mt Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar beach holiday. CLIMATE Due to its geographical location, East Africa has no defined winter and summer. The coastal areas are tropical, tempered by monsoon winds. Tanzania enjoys a moderate climate, especially in the north, where the high elevation provides cool nights. The coast and southern parks can be hot and dry in the Tanzanian summer (October to March) and humid in the wet-season months of November, April and May. The Tanzanian winter - June to September - is warm. Avg Monthly Temperature (max F) Avg Monthly Rainfall (inches) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 92 01 92 02 90 05 85 14 80 10 79 01 78 1 80 1 84 1 87 1 89 2 89 2