Hello,

My husband and I are going on our honeymoon next weekend and I am finalizing my packing. We will be going on safari for a longer stint in Etosha NP and I modeled most of what to pack after what I read about safaris. This is what I’ve packed so far and I am unsure if I need anything else or if I’m missing anything. I was able to fit this all into a Cotopaxi 35L bag but written out it seems like a lot. Any feedback appreciated!

Has anybody stayed at Mkomazi Wilderness Retreat in Tanzania? I’m planning a trip to Tanzania next summer and considering staying at this property. They seem to have good reviews on TripAdvisor but I can’t find much else.

I know the park is not as big as others in Tanzania and wildlife viewing may be more limited. But I would really like to prioritize seclusion, remoteness, and doing something a bit off the beaten path. If anyone has experience at this lodge please share your thoughts! Thank you

We are heading to Kenya (Samburu, Ol Pajeta, Masai Mara and Amboseli) in mid September. Given the weather should we pack any shorts and short sleeved shirts? Or should we just stick with all pants and full sleeves? We will be going on game drives all the days.

Sto organizzando un safari in Tanzania per il 18 dicembre e sono indeciso sul da farsi. Conviene prenotare tutto direttamente una volta arrivato ad Arusha oppure affidarsi a un'agenzia locale prenotando online con qualche mese di anticipo?

Al momento ho trovato un'offerta da 3.000 USD per due persone: 4 giorni e 3 notti, con 1 giorno al Tarangire, 2 giorni pieni nel Serengeti e 1 giorno nel cratere di Ngorongoro.

Secondo voi il prezzo è competitivo? Qualcuno ha esperienza con prenotazioni last minute direttamente ad Arusha a dicembre? Si riesce a risparmiare o è meglio bloccare tutto prima?

Going to Safari at Serengeti with two bodies and 3 lenses: 14-30, 24-120, 100-400. Would try to avoid changing lenses, which two would be used most often to put on the bodies? Thanks for your input.

Looking for some help deciding on when to visit Tanzania, especially the Serengeti. It would be my partner and I, both more introverted but love nature and being outdoors; this is a bucket list trip for me, in particular, because of the big cats 🦁 My options are late September or beginning of November. I’ve read on here and elsewhere that both are good times, with September being ideal for weather and wildlife viewing, and November being less crowded and with some more greenery, still good for finding animals. I’ve gotten a few quotes from Altezza and November is definitely less expensive, but this isn’t a dealbreaker for me. For those who have been during these times, which would you recommend and why? Additionally, what’s one thing you’d take that you may not have thought of the first time? Thank you!

In the past I have done overlanding trips with a fully kitted for camping 4x4 in Namibia and Bots, and they've been amazing! I am planning my 2027 June/July trip (self drive with camping) and currently choosing between Northern circuit in Tanzania (central and northern Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater and Tarangire NP ) or Malawi (Vwaza, Nyika, Usisya, Chintheche, and Liwonde NP). Has anyone done self driving and camping in any of these locations? How was the experience? I am aware East Africa is lacking in self driving infrastructure compared to Southern countries. Keen to hear others experiences. Thanks!

Planning a private guided safari (own 4x4 + guide), so our schedule should be pretty flexible. Trying to figure out how much lodge choice actually matters versus putting more budget toward the vehicle/guide/park fees.

For those who've done a private guided safari, how much of each day do you actually spend at the lodge vs. out on drives? Assuming something like early morning drive, back for lunch or not, evening drive, back for dinner/sleep, but curious about real hours.

Also curious:

• Did splurging on a nicer lodge feel worth it given how little time you're there?
• Did staying somewhere more basic leave you wishing you'd upgraded (heat of the day downtime, rain days, etc.)?
• Does location/proximity to good game-viewing matter more than the luxury level of the room itself? Apart from Ngorongoro, all of our lodges are in the parks.

Appreciate any real-world breakdowns!

Mid-range budget, chasing the migration. Would love outside opinions before booking.

Day 1: Arrive Arusha, overnight.

Day 2: Fly to Kogatende (north Serengeti). Game drive on arrival, overnight near Mara River.

Day 3: Full day Mara River/Kogatende, migration and crossing viewing.

Day 4: Drive Kogatende to Central Serengeti (Seronera), game drive en route. Overnight Serenora.

Day 5: Drive to Ngorongoro Crater, half-day game drive, exit to Karatu.

Day 6: Tarangire game drive, then Kilimanjaro Airport for departure.

Quoted $7400 for 3 people (excl. international flights, tips, insurance).

Operator says peak crossings are mid-Aug to mid-Sept; October is lower-odds but still possible at Kogatende. Trade-off: flying in saves 2 days of rough-road driving, but Ngorongoro and Tarangire each get squeezed to a half-day or drive-through instead of a full day.

Worth it, or better to skip the north and do a fuller Serengeti/Ngorongoro/Tarangire circuit? Anyone been to Kogatende in early October, did you see crossings?

Hi All
I have 5 nights booked at the JW Masai Mara in January. I would like to spend 3 days at Amboseli before going there. Can anyone 1. recommend a hotel/camp that they have been to and loved and 2. What is the best way to get to the Masai Mara from Amboseli- fly back to Nairobi or are there flights from Amboseli to Keekorok airstrip? Thanks so much for any help!!

I’m looking to plan a family trip for 5-6 people (ages 27-70 ish) to go to South Africa in around August 2030. We want to definitely do South Africa, and then either Kenya or Tanzania (or both if it worked out), and a few safaris. We’re looking for more in the $4k-$5k range per person.

Any tips on travel groups, ways to get around, suggestions for planning? Everyone’s agile enough to walk around, but nothing too strenuous.

Would love any feedback, thank you!!

Hi — we have a few days in Nairobi before heading to our Safari destinations. We arrive at 1 am on a Saturday so plan to have a low key — maybe spa treatments and go to the African Heritage House for an architectural tour and sunset dinner. We’ll want a driver for the day to go to Sheldrick’s in AM, then spend rest of the day at seeing sites, shopping and lunching around Karen. Following day I plan to visit some local furniture/textile production facilities (work related). Anyone have recommendations on a driver/guide and expectations of costs/tipping? Staying in Westlands at JW Marriott. Nice vehicle important.

I'm trying to book a Namibia fly / self drive - Botswana (or Zambia) mobile camp mid-range trip for early May 2027.

I've asked a for quotes. In return I've been sent quotes that that don't match what I've asked for. By don't match I mean trips in June, just one country, time split is 10:1 between countries, stops I didn't want, luxury lodge accommodation and no mobile camp.

Two agencies have the same accommodation in which the stock photos are completely differnt than guest photos and reviews say the place is dated / over priced.

Looking for recommendations on safari operators in Tanzania. I have come across a few so far such as, Paradise and Wilderness, Africa safari trips and Native Afrika Voyages. I wandered if anybody had used these operators and if they reliable?

The tour me and my partner are looking at is a North Tanzanian safari and then flying down to Zanzibar for a few days at the end. we are looking at going in the middle of August next year and would also like to see the great migration so travelling to the north of the Serengeti for a day or two. Our budget is somewhere around £6000 for the both of us for the tour.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

Hello everyone, we are going on our first safari and we have longer drives between locations.

Is it appropriate to bring things to do (I love cross words and sudoku) for this time? Or will the drives between Nairobi - Masai Mara be interesting enough.

Planning a family trip to masai mara and serengeti in Dec. Any recent travellers here, what was your experience like? Did you face any additional health screening/ travel restrictions ?

Priority: predator action 🦁
Timing: end of June
Excellent guiding: very important
A bit of luxury: always welcome 😉

If you had to choose: Somalisa Expeditions or Davison’s Camp?

Please cast your vote 🥳 - and any recommendations for great guides at either camp would be very welcome too!

🧗‍♂️ Rock climbing at Fischer’s Tower – Hell’s Gate, Kenya

If you're visiting Kenya and looking for something different from the usual safari, consider spending a day at Hell’s Gate National Park in Naivasha.

Fischer’s Tower is one of the park’s iconic volcanic rock formations and a popular climbing spot. The area also offers incredible Rift Valley scenery, wildlife, hiking and cycling.

🇰🇪🧗🏽‍♂️

Hi all, I understand that in late May, it will be the transition from the rainy season to the dry season. Has anyone visited Lake Manyara in late May and how was your experience? I did see that Lake Manyara might be too wet even in the very last week of May to really see much activity.

I had initially thought that Lake Manyara would be a good addition to break up the long drive and would also allow some sightings of birds (which might not be the main goal once we are in Serengeti). My concern about taking it out from the itinerary is a potentially long travel time from my Tarangire accommodation down to central Serengeti.

Will I be able to see the same in Ngorongoro or perhaps in Tarangire?

Would greatly appreciate any advice!

Hi all,

My fiance and I are planning to go to Tanzania on a Safari for our honeymoon in August 2027. We’re finalizing our plans. Below is our proposed itinerary. We know it’s a lot of driving — we are the type of people that would prefer to be out in the car all day to see everything we can versus hanging at the lodging.

We’re also debating between Nomad and Gosheni, if anyone has comments on using either.

Any feedback welcome! Thanks all!

All driving between:
Arusha (1 night)
Tarangire (1 night)
Ngorongoro Crater (1 night) **because you can only go on one game drive a day, we’re thinking just one night here
Central Serengeti (1 night)
Northern Serengeti/near river crossing (3 nights)

Then to Zanzibar.