Escaping the Crowd During Tanzania Peak Season

Escaping the Crowd During Tanzania Peak Season

Tanzania is jam-packed with crowds every peak season, June to October. And there’s a good reason for that. The country’s flagship park, the Serengeti, hosts some of the most diverse wildlife on earth and the Great Migration.

2.5 million years ago, a volcano erupted inside the Ngorongoro Mountains to form the present-day world’s largest unbroken caldera: Ngorongoro Crater. And in the north, stands the highest freestanding mountain in the world. These places teem with tourists in thousands, especially during the peak season, particularly in the months of June, July, and August. The same is observed for Zanzibar.

For some travel agents, the advice may be as simple as avoiding the high season. But we feel you: we see you have plenty of things to do at your workplace. That your free time coincides with the peak season. So, skipping your tour isn’t a splendid idea. And that’s why we are here. Below are some of our tips to get the most out of your Tanzania safari tour during the peak season.

Stay in private concessions.

This tip mainly applies to visitors going to the Serengeti because it’s the only park in Tanzania with well-protected, well-maintained private concessions. While the main park is sometimes overcrowded as jeeps compete for a front-row seat to the wildebeest migration, concessions remain quiet throughout the year. And yet, there’s abundant wildlife in these areas.

Mwiba Wildlife Reserve is just south of the Serengeti.  Its freshwater springs draw many animals, such as elephants, lions, giraffes, and buffalo. There’s resident wildlife in the reserve. Plus, an expert driver can take you to the main park for a game drive.

Singita Grumeti Reserve in the west is another prime location to avoid many visitors. Between May and June, this reserve teems with massive wildebeest herds. Staying inside this reserve offers you a unique opportunity to watch the Grumeti River crossings. Add night drives, bush walks, and off-road drives to your experience.

Wake up early.

From our experience, we’ve noticed an important behavior of many safari guests. Not so many visitors can wake up early to catch the dawn. As a result, those who do it often explore raw beauty ahead of everyone. And there’s a good reason for that. Lions, leopards, and other predators are still active, scanning the wilderness for a possible morning meal.

During the morning, you also observe nature up close. Sounds of twigs, breaking branches, and birds make the background noise, contrary to late morning when many engines are rumbling, ruining the experience. Mornings are pretty cool compared to afternoons. Remember to wear layers, long pants, and long sleeves.

Access remote locations in famous parks.

Even in crowded areas like Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, there are still areas that are lesser-known. In the Serengeti, popular areas include the Seronera and Kogatende. You can visit remote areas, including Namiri Plains. This area teems with many lions, leopards, and cheetahs. There are fewer safari vehicles going around these kopje-dotted plains, but there’s a thriving population of the big cats.

Another remote region is the Southern Serengeti. This region teems with resident plains game such as resident wildebeest, zebras, buffalo, and impalas. Similarly, lions, leopards, and cheetahs also inhabit the rock outcrops in the savannah plains. Other remote regions include Western Serengeti and Northern Serengeti.

For the case of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, crowds are common in the crater. Remote areas include Empakai Crater, Olmoti Crater, and Ndutu Plains. Empakai is perfect for watching flamingos and animals like lions, wildebeest, elephants, and buffalo. You can also see Maasai cattle herds grazing along these animals. You can also visit Ndutu Plains, where plains game like wildebeest, zebras, and buffalo make frequent appearances.

Visit little-known parks.

Sometimes it’s a splendid idea to avoid the crowds and head to off-the-beaten-path parks. Northern parks are often crowded as many safari-goers rush to tick the Big Five, watch the wildebeest migration, and climb Mount Kilimanjaro. But there are hidden gems that still offer the same-level safari experience as their cousins in the North.

So, the best thing to do is to go to the South. Here, you will meet Nyerere National Park (previously Selous), the country’s largest park, and Ruaha, the second-largest park. Both offer water-based adventures in addition to rewarding game drives through the vast wilderness.

Ruaha, for instance, has massive elephant herds, large prides of lions, and the Great Ruaha River. In contrast, Nyerere has pristine forests that paint the best background for every photo. And they also have an incredible bird population. Another thing that makes Ruaha and Nyerere unique is a variety of safari activities that a guest can do. Night game drives, fly camping, walking safari, and boat cruises.

You can also head to the West. This region has Katavi, Gombe, and Mahale as its main drawcards. Katavi offers some of the best views of animals and birds. Elephants, buffalo, wildebeest, zebras, lions, etc. Add many bird species that you can find in these parks.

The peak season is remarkable for most types of safaris. Be it a Kilimanjaro climb, a game drive in the Serengeti, or a cultural visit. You’ll enjoy good weather conditions and the scarcity of water to your advantage: to view animals close to water sources.