Tanzania vs Kenya Safari Which is Better for First-time Goers

1. Location & Landscape

2. Costs & Your Budget

A safari in Kenya or Tanzania is still reasonably priced, even though an East African safari may not be the cheapest vacation you’ll ever take. We have assisted thousands of people in finding them by customizing each safari to fit the individual’s financial needs. Working closely with clients to identify the points that are non-negotiable and those that are more flexible entails this.

The prices listed below are simply estimates based on a general evaluation of the costs associated with different types of lodging:

Tanzania

Kenya

Tanzania and Kenya Combined

IMPORTANT:  The prices listed above are merely averages for sharing a room with another person during high and low seasons. They don’t include international travel, visas, or extracurricular activities. Keep in mind that permits, levies, and fees related to conservation could all change. The peak or high season typically lasts between July and October and over Christmas and New Year.

If You’re on a Tight Budget: 

Although both nations have fantastic off-season discounts, a safari in Kenya is definitely more affordable. It’s a numbers game: Kenya has promoted itself more aggressively on a global scale, which has resulted in more flights, more lodging options, and more safari enthusiasts (though don’t assume that this implies crowded). Africa is not a location of large hotels with thousands of rooms — a 40-room lodge in Kenya is regarded rare and gigantic! Even then, there won’t be as much traffic as at an intersection in a typical metropolis; the Mara River will be the busiest spot on safari during the Migration).

Your Africa Safari Expert can advise you on how to make the most of your money by selecting appropriate lodging near wildlife areas and possibly forgoing frills like a private pool in favor of an additional day spent game viewing.

If You Want to Splurge

Generally speaking, a safari in Tanzania is more expensive than one in Kenya, particularly if you want to visit extremely exceptional reserves like the Grumeti, Nyerere (Selous), Ruaha, and Mahale. Due to Tanzania’s larger size, transfers by small aircraft are required for practically all travel outside of the Northern Circuit (this is also true if you visit northern Kenya but the distances are shorter).

3. Best Places to Stay

Walk-in Meru tents, high-tech “space bubbles” at The Highlands Ngorongoro, and opulent suites carved out of the rocks at Saruni Samburu are just a few of the accommodations available in Kenya and Tanzania. Your preferred form of lodging is highly individualized, just like your spending limit, and your Africa Safari Expert can assist you in making your lodging selection.

In both countries, there aren’t many big hotels or resorts, so during the busiest/highest safari season, lodges and camps quickly fill up. Plan your trip at least a year in advance if you wish to go during the middle of the year.

General Tips on Accommodation

• Because there is a long waiting list for accommodations like The Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, which is quite popular, make sure to inquire well in advance (at least a year or more).
• There are just a few inter-leading or family suites available, so make an inquiry as soon as you decide you want to go.
• If you are traveling with young children, opt for a resort that is fenced in rather than one that is unfenced and open to wild animals. View our list of the top 10 family safaris in East Africa.
• If you have unique dietary needs (such as being vegan, kosher, or halal), let your Africa Safari Expert know in advance so they can inform your hosts.
• The guide will often drive and track at most lodges in East Africa, unlike many of those in South Africa. Additionally, cars are frequently “closed” as opposed to “open” like those in Southern Africa.

4. Big 5 Sightings, The Wildebeest Migration & General Game Viewing

Kenya and Tanzania aren’t Big 5 locations in the same way that South Africa’s Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve and Kruger National Park are. Every safari there nearly always includes seeing rhinos, leopards, lions, buffalo, and elephants; some lucky visitors even get to see them all in one game drive!

In some ways, striving harder to find the Big 5 makes it more satisfying when you do, even though things are a little trickier in Kenya and Tanzania. Rhinos are among the most endangered species on the planet, making it impossible to see these magnificent creatures. The Ngorongoro Crater is the best location in East Africa for dependable Big 5 sightings. The Crater, which is a part of Tanzania’s well-known Northern Circuit, is a very popular location to look for the Big 5. It is home to some 30 000 animals who are protected within its unbroken caldera walls.

5. Safari Activities

Of course, twice-daily game drives to look for wildlife are the main activity. This is the tried-and-true method of spending a safari day. A national park or a private conservancy or concession, however, may offer amenities like guided hikes, night drives, or hot-air balloon safaris.

In order to view the Wildebeest Migration, go off-road, see crepuscular species, and learn more about the Maasai way of life, consider staying in private portions of the Mara, which have more private conservancies than Tanzania. If you’re eager to expand your safari beyond game drives.

6. Best Time to Visit Kenya or Tanzania

Traveler Types: Best Suited For…

• In general, families with young children choose Kenya since most of the lodges and camps offer family-friendly amenities including private vehicles, kid-friendly activities, and family suites. Kenya still maintains the advantage for family travel, notwithstanding Tanzania’s growth.
• Couples and adventurers have an abundance of options, as both Kenya and Tanzania provide breathtaking honeymoon suites, thrilling excursions like chimp or camel trekking, and superb Migration viewing. Kenya boasts the most private conservation areas, but if you’re ready to spend more, Tanzania provides excellent possibilities.
• Budget-conscious travelers can start with Kenya because it gives exceptional value for their money. However, if Tanzania is where your heart truly lies, don’t lose hope. Instead, be honest with your Africa Safari Expert about your spending limits and travel goals, and let him or her work with you to create a personalized itinerary that checks as many of your travel must-haves as possible.