Safari Gear List
Tanzania Safaris|Big 5 Private & Sharing Package

strBelow is the recommended packing list for a multi-day safari. Items numbered with a "+" can be adjusted upwards based on the number of safari days on your itinerary. Note that nearly all of these items are already included on our climbing gear list. The bold entries represent the additional gear list items to bring on your safari. Neutral colors are recommended to avoid attracting tsetse flies.

Technical Clothing

1 - Waterproof Jacket, breathable with hood

1 - Soft Jacket, fleece or soft-shell, for cold temperatures at night

1+ Long Sleeve Shirt, for protection from the sun

1+ Short Sleeve Shirt, light-weight, moisture-wicking fabric

1+ Hiking Pants

1 - Shorts (optional)

1 - Bathing suit (optional)

2+ Underwear, moisture-wicking fabric recommended

Headwear

1 - Brimmed Hat, for sun protection

1 - Bandana, Buff or Dust Mask, for face coverage for dust and sweat (optional)

Footwear

1 - Hiking Boots or Shoes

1 - Sandals or Flip-Flops (optional)

2+ Socks, wool or synthetic,

Accessories

1 - Sunglasses

1 - Neck Pillow, for napping in the vehicle (optional)

1 - Daypack, small

Other

Toiletries

Prescriptions

Sunscreen

Lip Balm

Insect Repellent, containing DEET

Hand Sanitizer

Snacks (optional)

Headlamp or Flashlight

Camera, with zoom lens of 300mm or more (optional)

Binoculars (optional)

Paperwork

Trip Receipt

Passport

Visa (available at JRO)

Immunization Papers

Insurance Documents

Parks, Reserves & Conservation Areas
Tanzania Safaris|Big 5 Private & Sharing Package

Arusha National Park

is a small but very accessible park located 16 miles northeast of Arusha. It is a great place for a day trip. Although it measures just 53 square miles (137 square km), it has a remarkable range of habitats. The most prominent feature here is Mount Meru, the second highest peak in Tanzania. The park also contains a miniature volcanic crater (Ngurduto Crater), a river (Jekukumia River), a highland rain forest, acacia woodlands and a string of crater lakes (Momella Lakes). When it comes to wildlife, Arusha National Park is home to Colobus monkeys, velvet monkeys, buffalo, hippos, elephants, and giraffe. Waterfowl is abundant here as well. The park offers many beautiful panoramic views, including spectacular views of both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru.

Lake Manyara National Park
Tanzania Safaris|Big 5 Private & Sharing Package

Lake Manyara National Park is located 75 miles (125 kms) west of Arusha between the cliff of Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara. The park is 205 square miles (330 square kms) and 70% of that is covered by Lake Manyara itself. The park contains a large variety of habitats - such as arift wall, acacia woodlands, and an area of open grasslands. The most famous residents of the park are the tree climbing lions, which are occasionally seen on the branches of acacia trees. Other animals found in the area include large herds of buffalo, elephants, giraffes, impalas, monkeys, baboons, hippos, as well as million pelicans and flamingos. A great variety of smaller animals can also be observed in the course of the single day

Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Tanzania Safaris|Big 5 Private & Sharing Package

Located in the great rift valley, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a gigantic fracture of the earth crust. Within this beautiful and unique landscape lies alkaline soda lakes, a series of peaks and volcanoes, dense rain forests, vast plains, acheological sites and Masai villages. This protected area is the land of the semi-nomadic Masai, who can be seen grazing their vast herds of cattle. Although the Tanzanian government has tried to encourage the Masai to give up their customs and adapt to modern African life, the proud Masai have resisted. During your visit, it is possible to visit nearby Masai villages, called boma, to observe their traditional dance and to go inside their mud and dung huts

Ngorongoro Crater
Tanzania Safaris|Big 5 Private & Sharing Package

Ngorongoro Conversation Area houses one of the world's greatest natural spectacles - the NGORONGORO CRATER home to almost 30,000 animals. Once an active volcano, Ngorongoro Crater collapsed leaving a caldera 12 miles (20 kms) in diameter. With no breaks at all in its steep walls, this is the largest intact caldera in existence. The bottom of the crater is 165 square miles (265 square kms) and is dotted with watering holes. The crater shelters an abundance of animals in an area naturally enclosed by the slopes of the volcano. The crater is famous for viewing black rhinos, for which there are very few left. Other animals that can be seen include elephant, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, monkeys, and ever hungry predators including lions and hyenas.

Serengeti National Park
Tanzania Safaris|Big 5 Private & Sharing Package

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK covering an immense 9,170 square miles (14,763 square kms), is Tanzania's largest national park and undoubtedly the best known wildlife sanctuary in the world. Over three million large game animals inhabit these rolling grasslands, known as the 'endless plains'. Here one can witness the unique migration of almost 1.5 million wildebeest undertake a circuit of 600 miles (1,000 kms) in search of new pastures, from the central plains to the permanent water holes at the park corridors. About 35 species of plain animals can be observed including the 'big five' - elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, buffalos - and large herds of wildebeest, gazelle and zebra

Olduvai Gorge
Tanzania Safaris|Big 5 Private & Sharing Package

Olduvai Gorge is known as the 'cradle of mankind'. Through the excavation of Dr. Louis Leakey and his wife Mary, the gorge has yielded numerous remains dating back almost two million years. The remains of the earliest human were found in this area which revolutionized theories of how man evolved. The historical findings of the famous skull, other fossils and stone artifacts have strengthened the belief that Africa is the birthplace of prehistoric man. There is a small museum here which displays some of the finds from this region. Olduvai Gorge lies between the great wildlife sanctuaries of the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park, and is a common rest stop during the bumpy ride between these parks

Tarangire National Park
Tanzania Safaris|Big 5 Private & Sharing Package

TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK park covers approximately 2,600 square miles (6,700 square kms), and lies to the south of a large open grass plain in southern Masai land, 70 miles (115 kms) from Arusha. It is the sixth largest national park in Tanzania and is home to Tanzania’s largest population of African elephants. The park is named after the Tarangire River, which is a permanent water source for its inhabitants. The river draws large herds of wildebeest, zebras, gazelles and hartebeests as well as the lions, leopards and other predators who prey upon them.Other animals that can be seen include buffalo, giraffe, elands, warthogs, greater kudu, gernuks and impalas. Huge magnificent baobab trees and volcanic mountain ranges add to the scenic splendor of this unique national park.

Lake Natron
Tanzania Safaris|Big 5 Private & Sharing Package

Lake Natron is a salt lake in Tanzania's Rift Valley, located north of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, near the Kenyan border. Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano, dominates the landscape here. The surrounding area is semi-arid and dusty. Though millions of flamingos make their home on the lake, feeding on algae, not much else is supported by this hot, harsh habitat. The only fish in these waters is the alkaline tilapia. The lake is 170 square miles wide and less than 10 feet deep, but the size of the body of water varies depending on the precipitation and evaporation. Between July and October is the flamingo's breeding season and the best time to visit. However, visitors to this place come more for the scenery than for the wildlife.

Safari Accommodations
Tanzania Safaris|Big 5 Private & Sharing Package

Our safari extensions utilize standard hotel lodges and permanent tented camps. The lodges are located in the towns of Arusha and Karatu. The permanent tented camp is located in northwest Serengeti, near the Grumeti River, a perfect spot for migration viewing.

Standard Hotel Lodges

Our standard hotel lodges feature nice, clean rooms with double beds and private bathrooms with hot showers. Linens are included as well as mosquito netting. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in an indoor communal dining hall. Amenities available at standard hotel lodges include:

^ Telephone ^ Mosquito netting ^ Swimming pool

^ Wifi internet access ^ Fireplace ^ Storage room

^ Laundry services ^ Desk and chair ^ Bar

Permanent Tented Camps

Permanent tented camps are spacious, canvas tents set on a solid base. The primary permanent tented camps our guests visit during a safari are SERENGETI HELTAGE CAMD, ANGANI SERENGETI CAMP, MBUGANI TENTED CAMP, SERENGETI PURE TENTED CAMP and THOM TREE CAMP . All are quiet, comfortable settings with private bathrooms with flush toilets and hot showers. Each tent is furnished with two beds, tables and chairs, linens, mosquito netting and a covered porch, with electricity and wifi. Meals are served in a dining tent.

Luxury Safari Lodges

Upgraded luxury accommodations are available for our safaris. SERENA LORGE and SOPA LORGE provide extensive amenities and unrivaled warmth of personal attention in Tanzania's most beautiful places. Please inquire for more information

SAFARI Parkages