Camping in Tanzania: Beginners Guide

A visit to Tanzania is a great idea for travel lovers, as the country is home to breathtaking beaches, glorious mountains, and spectacular safari parks. Nature lovers can enjoy being surrounded by the extraordinary biodiversity of the region, as it is home to a number of wild animals and exotic birds, such as elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, gazelles, hippos, rhinos, wildebeests, waterbucks, cheetahs, hyenas, owls, pigeons, flamingos, storks, hornbills, ibex, impalas, reeducks, and many species of butterflies! A great idea to have a unique and unforgettable trip in Tanzania is to go camping. Here is a guide for beginners!

• Where to Go

The first step in planning a camping trip is to decide where to go.

• One could go to Serengeti National Park, which is home to lions, leopards, zebras, gazelles, crocodiles, hippos, and wildebeests, and offers scenic views of the range of landscapes, including pools, rivers, grassy hills, and the vast savannah. Some good camping spots are Osero Tented Camp, Zawadi Serengeti Camp, and Kisura Serengeti Camp!
• Another great camping location is Ngorongoro Crater, where tourists can spot lions, leopards, elephants, antelopes, hyenas, buffaloes, and black rhinos! The vast grassland is excellent for a walking safari or game drive, and the perfect spot for a camping trip. Tourists can stay at Entamanu Ngorongoro Camp, Lemala Tented Camp, or Lion’s Paw Camp by Karibu!
• Tourists could also camp at Tarangire National Park, which is home to animals such as giraffes, badgers, zebras, baboons, and elephants, and birds such as herons, shrikes, and storks!
• Other great camping locations include Lake Manyara National Park, Mahale Mountains National Park, Selous Game Reserve, Mwiba Wildlife Reserve, and Ruaha National Park.

• When to Go

Deciding the time of the trip is very important, as budget, activities, and bookings depend on this. A great time to go camping in Tanzania is from June to October, which is the dry season of the region. This means that one is unlikely to be disturbed by rain or thunderstorms. This is a good time for game viewing, as animals gather around waterholes. Tourists can also witness a spectacular moment of the Great Migration as the migrating wildebeests cross the Grumeti river. Tourists could also visit in November to March, which is the low season as the region faces short rains. As there are less tourists, the prices for various services are lower.

• What to Pack

Making a packing list is a great idea as it allows tourists to ensure that they are not leaving anything behind. For a camping trip, it is a good idea to carry important documents such as passports, IDs, and vaccination certificates, devices such as mobile phones, cash, credit cards, a camera, spare batteries, necessary medication, tickets, masks, hand sanitizer, soap, tissues, and insect repellant. For clothing, travellers should keep light weight, light colored fabrics, a fleece or jacket, a hat, a scarf, shoes for comfortable walking, sandals, and clothing with pockets. It is also a good idea to keep a light weight bag that can be carried at all times.

• Glamping

A great way to enjoy a camping trip is to go for a glamping experience. This is also known as luxury camping or glamorous camping. Guests enjoy unique accommodation, which combines the adventure and fun of camping with comfort and luxury. Travellers can go to Migombani Camp near Lake Manyara, which offers exciting facilities such as swimming pools, hot showers, cozy lounges, and free Wi-Fi. Tents at Sanctuary Swala at Tarangire national park offer a great camping experience as tourists stay in a resort in a private section of the Park, and enjoy facilities such as a dining area, a lounge, and a library, all of which feature contemporary African designs under traditional thatched structures.