Everything you'd want to know about a Tanzania safari.

For migration season — June through October in the north, or January-March for calving in the south — book 9 to 12 months ahead. The good small camps sell out that far in advance. For green-season trips in March, April, May, or November, 3-6 months is fine, sometimes less. Kilimanjaro climbs need at least 6 months lead time because permits are quota'd.

Yes — and most clients do. The trips on our Safaris page are starting points, not menus. Roughly 80% of the trips we run are custom: we move days around, swap parks, change accommodation tier, add Zanzibar or Kilimanjaro, build around a balloon morning or a specific guide. Write us with rough dates and rough wishes.

No. We run private trips only. Every group, big or small, gets their own vehicle, their own guide, and their own dates. If you're a solo traveler worried about cost, tell us — sometimes we can match you with another solo in similar dates by mutual consent.

Never, unless you ask us to. Every Savunda vehicle is private to your party. You're not on a seat-in-coach tour. If your party is 2 people, you have a 6-seat Land Cruiser to yourselves — that's the deal, that's the price.

Yes. Tanzania is one of the most politically stable countries in East Africa. Common-sense precautions apply in Dar es Salaam and Arusha at night — the same advice as any city. On safari you're with your guide essentially the whole time.

Yes. We've hosted hundreds of solo female travelers and the feedback is consistent: people feel safer here than in many parts of Europe or North America. If it matters to you, request Neema as your guide — she's one of the few certified women guides working in the Northern Circuit.

Game-drive incidents are extraordinarily rare. Our rules: stay seated unless the roof is up and the guide says it's fine; no hanging out the windows; no flash photography near big cats at night. In unfenced camps you'll be walked to your tent after dark by an askari.

Mid-range: $350-550 per person per day. Premium: $700-1,200. Luxury: $1,500+. Park fees alone are $80-100/person/day inside Serengeti and Ngorongoro — those are non-negotiable government fees. International flights are extra.

Included: private vehicle with popup roof, professional guide, all park and concession fees, accommodation at quoted level, all meals on safari, unlimited filtered water, airport transfers. Not included: international flights, internal flights, visa, travel insurance, alcohol at camps, tips.

Bank wire transfer (preferred — no card fees passed to you), credit card via Stripe (3.5% surcharge applied), and Wise for international transfers. For tips and small in-country expenses, bring USD cash in newer notes (2013 or later, no tears).

25% deposit confirms the booking and locks in your dates and camps. The remaining 75% is due 60 days before departure. For bookings made inside 60 days, full payment is due at confirmation.

Cancel more than 90 days out: full refund less $250 admin fee. 90-60 days: deposit forfeited. 60-30 days: 50% refund of total. Inside 30 days: no refund, but we'll work to move your dates.

The going rate is $25-35 per day for the guide, given directly on the last day from the whole party combined. For camp staff, $10-15 per guest per day. Tips are not obligatory — they're how guides actually earn a living on top of base pay.

Toyota Land Cruiser 70-series in safari spec: popup canvas roof, six bucket seats but capped at four guests, fridge, USB and 12V charging, satellite phone, recovery kit, two spares, 70L drinking water tank. Average age of the fleet is 4 years.

Maximum four paying guests per Land Cruiser, plus the guide. We cap at four (the vehicles seat six) so everyone has a window seat and the roof isn't crowded for photography.

All four guides hold the Tanzania Professional Guide license (TPGL), equivalent to FGASA Level 3. All are wilderness-first-aid certified, re-certified every 2 years. Several speak additional languages: Emmanuel (German), Joseph (French), John (Italian), Neema (Maa).

Yes, end to end. The guide who picks you up at the airport is the guide who drops you back. We don't hand off between drivers and walking guides like larger operators do.

Only if you're arriving from a yellow-fever country. Direct from the US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, you do not need it. If you have a 12+ hour layover in a YF country, you'll be asked for a certificate. Talk to a travel clinic — this changes occasionally.

Tanzania is a malaria zone, including the parks. Take prophylaxis — Malarone is the most common choice for short trips because side effects are mild. Doxycycline is cheaper. Use repellent at dusk, wear long sleeves in the evening, sleep under the bed net (always provided).

The Ngorongoro Crater rim sits at 2,300m. Most guests notice nothing more than being slightly out of breath walking uphill. Kilimanjaro is a different matter — Uhuru Peak is 5,895m and altitude illness is the most common reason climbs fail. Talk to us if a climb is on your shortlist.

Most nationalities need a tourist visa. US, Canadian, UK, EU, Australian, and most other passport holders all do. Standard tourist visa is single-entry, valid 90 days, $50 USD ($100 for US citizens).

Apply at the official portal: visa.immigration.go.tz at least 10 working days before travel. You'll need a passport scan, photo, flight details, and your first accommodation. Watch out for fake third-party visa-service sites — use only the official .go.tz domain.

Yes, US, UK, EU citizens can still get visa on arrival at Kilimanjaro (JRO), Dar es Salaam (DAR), and Zanzibar (ZNZ). Bring USD cash in clean notes. Queues at JRO can be 30-60 minutes on busy nights. We recommend e-visa anyway.

There are several. For river crossings in the northern Serengeti, July to October. For calving and predator action in the south, late January through February. For green landscapes, baby animals, and 40% fewer crowds, March-May or November.

Dec-Mar: southern Serengeti, calving on the short-grass plains. Apr-May: moving northwest, central Serengeti. Jun: Grumeti River area, dramatic crocodile crossings. Jul-Oct: northern Serengeti and Maasai Mara, Mara River crossings. Nov: heading back south.

You can. Pros: fewer crowds, cheaper rates (often 30-40% less), dramatic landscapes, calves and predator action. Cons: occasional heavy rain, some camps closed, more biting insects. Not the right month for a once-in-a-lifetime trip with no flexibility.

Yes, from age 6 on shared vehicles, any age on private trips. Many camps have a minimum of 8 or 12; we'll match your party to family-friendly camps. We adjust pacing for younger guests and have suggestions for camps with family suites.

Tap water is not safe to drink. We provide unlimited filtered water in vehicles and at camps. Bring a refillable bottle — we hate plastic on safari.