| First of all remember cheap is not always | | | | |
| best. Spend as much as you can afford, the | | | | Ask at the TTB for recommended safari |
| trick is to try to get a quality safari at a | | | | companies and where to find their offices. |
| reasonable price. Don't believe all you are | | | | Also the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Office |
| told. I recently met someone in Arusha who | | | | is next door - there is a very nice lady here |
| had decided to take a two day safari to | | | | who can also help by pointing you toward the |
| Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara. He managed to | | | | right companies. |
| get a very good deal. The plan was to set off | | | | |
| at 8 am sharp and returning the next day at 6 | | | | Once you start to look for a safari, you will |
| pm; he was also guaranteed window seat. | | | | be noticed. Noticed that is by the |
| | | | 'fly-catchers'. These are pleasant young men |
| The following day he arrived at the safari | | | | who make a living by guiding tourists to |
| company office in downtown Arusha. The | | | | safari companies; they then get commission. |
| safari set off at 10 am and they broke down | | | | It is best to avoid any temptation you have |
| on the way to the National Parks - twice. | | | | to make a deal with these young fly-catchers. |
| The passengers had to get out and push the | | | | They have eyes set upon the commission only |
| rather old safari vehicle to get it going | | | | and a quality safari is seldom purchased on |
| again. The car was full resulting in one | | | | the street. You will also be pray to the |
| person not having a window seat. The | | | | 'others' who sell curios. It can be an |
| following day they returned at 8.30 pm as the | | | | overwhelming and panicky situation the first |
| car was only able to return at a very slow | | | | time you are exposed to an onslaught of |
| speed. | | | | flycatchers and the others. Remember as |
| | | | westerners we enjoy the luxury of a huge |
| If time is not an issue spend a day or two in | | | | personal space - in Africa this is an alien |
| Arusha looking for the right deal for you. | | | | concept so up close and personal is the way |
| To be rushed for time is not conducive to | | | | to do business. |
| finding a good deal. | | | | |
| | | | Being nasty does not work. All negotiations |
| IF you are to spend more than one night in | | | | and conversations should be carried out with |
| the Serengeti - try to ensure only one night | | | | good humour and to enjoy yourself is the |
| is in the Seronera Valley. This valley is | | | | order of the day. |
| the central Serenegeti and has a high | | | | |
| concentration of game year round. Operators | | | | Low season is the best way to get a luxury |
| get lazy and just send all their clients to | | | | safari at budget prices. Low season is |
| this area. To have at least one night in the | | | | through the long rains. However, it does not |
| northern Serenegeti or Southern Serengeti | | | | rain for the whole of the time and in recent |
| will make the safari more exciting. Which | | | | years the rains have been very sparse indeed. |
| Area of the Serenegeti will depend on what | | | | The few tourists and low prices make any |
| time of year it is and where the migration is | | | | safari a pleasure at this time of year. Each |
| heading? If the operator tells you otherwise | | | | park has something special to offer in every |
| consider changing operators - there are many | | | | season. |
| in Arusha. | | | | |
| | | | Another way to make money go further is to |
| Tarangire is a good park in the dry season - | | | | travel to some of the amazing places in |
| make sure you are camping inside the | | | | Tanzania, such as Uru Village on Kilimanjaro, |
| Tarangire [a little extra cost for a campsite | | | | or the Usambara Mountains, Pangani, the |
| inside the National Parks] and make sure you | | | | Southern Pare Mountains - these areas have no |
| travel to the wilderness area of this most | | | | big game and no park fees. They are easily |
| underrated park. If it is the rainy season | | | | reached on local transport, have reasonable |
| then don't bother with the Tarangire at all. | | | | budget lodges or home-stays on offer. For a |
| | | | very little money you can live for a time in |
| It is not all location either. If you are | | | | Africa proper - where there are very few or |
| staying in lodges then the more expensive the | | | | no other tourists for miles. What a way to |
| lodge the better the experience. Small | | | | experience Africa and get to know the |
| lodges in remote parts of the National Parks | | | | Tanzania people. Take a rest from lion |
| can be expensive but the quality of safari | | | | spotting it can become very tedious for many |
| makes the expense insignificant. | | | | people after the first few prides... where as |
| | | | exploring the Usambara or Pare Mountains |
| In the centre of Arusha is TTB - the Tanzania | | | | could take you all your life with two days |
| Tourist Board. A nice clean air-conditioned | | | | never the same. |
| office; it has two desks and two very helpful | | | | |
| staff. There is a notice board here that | | | | For information on these or any issues |
| heralds recommended safari companies who are | | | | pertaining to Tanzania see for cultural and |
| looking for extra people to fill a safari | | | | safari information help make the world a |
| vehicle. This is the place to start your | | | | better place through responsible tourism. |
| hunt for the bargain safari. | | | | |