I have experienced more than a thousand first safaris. Every time the same magic — the moment someone sees a lion for the first time, the silence when an elephant appears right beside the vehicle, the adrenaline of a cheetah hunt. And every time I also see the same mistakes, the same missed opportunities.
Here are my 15 honest tips for your first Tanzania safari.
1. Go out early — very early
The best game drives start at sunrise. I pick up travellers when it is still dark. The morning hours (05:30–09:30) are the goldmine: predators are active, the light is beautiful for photography, and the temperature is pleasant. Those who sleep until 08:00 miss half of it.
2. Stand still — and wait
The most common mistake: every time there is something to see, people are busy photographing or whispering. Put the camera down for a moment. Really look. A lion hunt can last 20 minutes. An elephant eating quietly while its calf plays around it. Those moments are worth absorbing without a screen.
3. Sit next to the guide or up front
Many travellers choose the back bench of the vehicle. Understandable — seems most adventurous. But the best sightline is next to the guide or directly behind him. I see things that passengers at the back simply miss. Always ask for the guide-side seat.
4. Good binoculars: half your safari experience
A €50 pair of binoculars does the job. A good €200 pair transforms your experience. You see the eyes of a leopard at 300 metres. You see the colour of a reed bird. You see the body language of a cheetah before she makes her sprint. Binoculars are worth more than an extra lens.
5. Let the guide drive — don't follow other jeeps
In busy parks you sometimes see ten jeeps around one lion. I don't drive there. I find my own track. A guide who knows the herds, the patterns, the places where animals drink — that is who finds you the most. Trust the guide, not the crowd.
6. Bring valid ID
Sounds trivial. But at multiple park transfers, domestic flights or a visit to Zanzibar you need it. Always keep your passport on you.
7. Dress in layers
A game drive at 06:00 in the Serengeti can be 12°C. By 13:00 it is 32°C. Bring a light fleece and dress in layers you can easily remove. I see people every year shivering in their T-shirt during the first hour.
8. Put your phone away
I say this with love: you miss half if you reach for your phone every 5 minutes. I understand you want to share on social media — do that in the evening. During the day: phone away, eyes open. The memory is richer than the photo.
9. Accept that you won't see everything
Tanzania is not a zoo. There are no guarantees. Some days you see less than others — and that is okay. The parks are enormous. The animals follow their own agenda. What I do guarantee: if you move slowly, have patience and look carefully, you always come back with something special.
10. Drink plenty of water
In the open 4x4 you lose a lot of fluid, even without noticing you are perspiring. I always drive with large bottles of water in the vehicle. Drink a few sips every 30 minutes. Dehydration is the most underestimated cause of a disappointing safari experience.
11. Choose the right season for your wishes
June–August is most popular — dry, lots of wildlife, the Great Migration. But January–February is my favourite: the calving season in Ndutu, hardly any tourists, and the most beautiful light you have ever seen. October–November is underrated. Always ask what suits your specific wishes.
12. Talk to your guide — ask questions
A good guide is also an encyclopaedia, a cultural mediator, a friendly face. Ask questions. What does a cheetah eat? Why are the gazelles running west? How long do wildebeest live? I love to explain everything. Travellers who ask questions go home richer.
13. Respect the silence
When there is something exciting — animals, a hunt — speak in whispers. Keep mobile phones silent. Music off. Tanzania is a quiet place, and the silence is part of the magic. The sound of a grassland in the morning, the rumble of a lion in the distance — you never forget that.
14. Bring good sunscreen AND mosquito spray
Two separate products, both essential. Sunscreen in the morning before the game drive. Mosquito spray at sunset. Don't combine both on your skin at the same time — that reduces the effectiveness of both.
15. Enjoy the "small" things too
The elephant steals the show. But don't forget the dung beetle pushing its perfectly round ball with its hind legs. The weaver bird building its nest with millimetre precision. The agama lizard in neon orange. Tanzania is not only the big animals — it is an entire ecosystem. Look down, look up, look everywhere.
Welcome to your first safari. I hope to welcome you personally.