Traveling to Tanzania and going on a walking safari is a unique experience. Whether traveling in the northern part of Tanzania or the quieter southern and western parts of the country, you can find opportunities to go on a walking safari there.
A walking safari is a whole new experience from just getting on a jeep and looking at animals. It’s a much more intimate way of not only seeing animals in their natural habitat but also experiencing more details about their lifestyle.
For example, most safaris offer the experience of simply seeing animals and taking pictures of them. In contrast, a walking safari will help you appreciate how to examine footprints and track the animals that made them. You’ll be able to see birds chirping as they fly around trees and insects crawling around.
To ensure your safety during these walking safaris, you will be accompanied by at least 2 people, one of which will be armed in case of emergencies. Usually, you’ll have one guide and one tracker but sometimes you can get two guides or one guide and a park ranger.
Most walking safaris in Tanzania are possible year round. But if you’re looking for something specific, like the migration of wildebeest, you’ll need to plan your schedule more carefully. The migration happens all year round so you need to plan your visit depending on which stage of the migration you want to see. So where should you go in Tanzania for a specific walking safari experience? Here are our top choices, along with a little safety reminder!
Things to Remember About Walking Safaris in Tanzania
When walking in the national parks of Tanzania, it’s important that you abide by the strict rules that TANAPA (Tanzanian National Park Authorities), the NCAA (Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority) or other private reserves lay out. These rules were made to make your experience enjoyable and safe.
Some of these rules include limiting the number of guests that can walk together in a group. There should be no more than six-eight guests going on a walk. Additionally, the party must be accompanied by at least one armed experienced ranger.
Seven of The Best Places to Experience a Walking Safari in Tanzania
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
The Serengeti National Park is one of the best-known walking safari destinations in the world. This location is teeming with life and wonder. If you’re looking for an immersive experience, the Serengeti National Park is a great place to start.
However, walking safaris are only conducted by certain camps who have the respective license – so you’re going to have to choose your accommodation wisely if you want to explore the Serengeti on foot. The wildebeest migration is definitely one of the highlights of this walking safari adventure.
The Seronera River at the heart of the Serengeti is an ideal spot if you’re looking for grazing herbivores or hippos (and other thirsty animals).
RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania. It’s home to many animals, tall baobabs, rolling hills, and beautiful grasslands.
Ruaha National Park is a great option if you’re a fan of photographing scenery and animals. You’ll be able to see elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and many more.
Compared to other national parks in the Northern Circuit, Ruaha has relatively few tourists. Your visit here will give you a truly authentic and immersive experience.
NYERERE NATIONAL PARK
The Nyerere National Park spans 19,000 square miles, making it one of the largest protected areas in Africa. There are only a few camps here, and it can feel like quite a remote location for a walking safari.
Nyerere National Park is an important location for preserving endangered wild dogs. Alongside them, you’ll have the chance to see hippos, buffalos, leopards, elephants, and lions.
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
This national park lies south of the bird haven Lake Manyara. People trying to avoid large crowds of the Serengeti usually come to Tarangire National Park. The park is an excellent option if you’re a fan of beautiful scenery with big baobab trees and fewer tourists.
You’ll be able to see large herds of elephants in this area. Additionally, you can spot lions and an occasional leopard. If you visit in the dry season, you’ll be able to enjoy a large concentration of mammals that come to the Tarangire River for water.
NGORONGORO CRATER
The Ngorongoro crater is a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. It’s also the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. A volcanic caldera is a large cauldron-like hollow that forms as a result of emptying a magma chamber in a volcano eruption.
The crater is critical to the Ngorongoro ecosystem because it is home to many species that are vulnerable to extinction, and has the highest density of lions in the world.
As for accommodation, there are no camps or lodges inside the crater, but you can find some perched up on the rim. They give you an incredible view of the area. And some of them offer walking safaris along the crater rim.
LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
This national park is located just north of Tarangire National Park. It is a narrow strip of land with dense woodlands.
This lake is a great place to go if you want to see water birds like pink flamingos because there are over 500 species of birds to be found here. You will also encounter large herds of buffalo, giraffe and antelope.
It’s also a popular park for its tree-climbing lions and the most-studied elephants in Tanzania. You can even explore the treetop walkway that takes you up into the forest canopy.
MAHALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
The Mahale Mountains National Park is located on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. It’s named after the Mahale Mountains range in its borders.
The Mahale Mountains are home to a chimpanzee population of about 700 primates. You may also encounter leopards, blue duikers, red-tailed monkeys, and red colobus monkeys, and they can all be explored on foot.
Getting there is an adventure in itself. You’ll need to ride a boat for about 90 minutes from Mahale Airstrip before arriving at your camp. As for trekking the forest, the best time to do it is from August to October.
Choosing the Best Walking Safari in Tanzania
There are many walking safaris available in Tanzania. They all offer opportunities to observe large and small animals in their natural habitats, but each location offers different highlights. For example, the Nyerere National Park is perfect if you want more of a remote feeling. The Ngorongoro Crater Rim is perfect if you want picturesque scenes.
Choosing the best walking safari will depend on what kind of experience you are looking for. Make sure you thoroughly research the location you’re going to for the best time.
