Solo Trip to Serengeti

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Going on a dream safari vacation is at the top of most people’s bucket list, at least it was on mine. But planning for a trip this big seemed overwhelming and pricey. 

In this post I will share with you my journey through Serengeti National Park and Nogorongoro Conservation area, along with some helpful tips for planning your dream safari vacation. 

BEFORE YOU GO

Famous for its annual wildebeest migration and vast wildlife population, Serengeti National Park is the ultimate safari destination. If the wildebeest migration is on your must see list, June and July are the best months to experience it. Otherwise visiting Serengeti during the dry season (July-October) is recommended as this is when wildlife viewing is at it’s best. 

PLANING YOUR VISIT

There are many factors you need to take into account when planning for your safari vacation. I had a set budget when I started planning mine. I quickly realized that a private safari tour would eat most of my budget so I looked into group tours. During my research I found TourRadar. 

Through TourRadar I booked a 12 day guided tour with a group of 14 people. The tour started with a 5 day Safari adventure and ended in Zanzibar. The total cost included room and boarding, transportation, and extra services such as single boarding and a hot air balloon ride through the Serengeti.

BOOKING A FLIGHT & VISA

Booking a plane ticket to Tanzania can be expensive. This is why searching months in advance is something I highly recommend doing. Purchasing my ticket 9 months ahead of my scheduled trip saved me a ton of money. I found my flight thru JustFly.com with Emirates airline for $1137 round trip.

Once you have your dates saved and flight booked for your trip, it is time to get your VISA. As a US citizen Visas are required to enter Tanzania. You can apply for a VISA through their site; https://immigration.go.tz/index.php/en/ or purchase one upon arrival. Total cost for a VISA is approximately $100.

VACCINES & INSURANCE

Vaccines: Tanzania does not require a Yellow Fever vaccine, however Malaria and Typhoid medication is highly recommended. Average cost for these medications range between $300-$400.

Insurance: If you book a trip through an agency you will be required to purchase a Travelers Insurance. This is important because it will cover you in the event anything unexpected were to happen. Average cost of insurance is about $80.

TRAVELING SOLO

Now that you have everything ready! I have one more piece of advice before I dive in to my day by day itinerary. As I planned my solo trip to Tanzania, one of the most frequently asked questions was “is it safe to travel alone?” Here it is; YES! It is completely safe to travel alone in Tanzania. As a female traveler I have always been extremely cautious and practiced common sense. To point out the obvious don’t wear flashy items, don’t flash your fancy camera and new iPhone around. Do not walk alone at night, even in groups I’d recommend against wandering around the streets late at night. For transportation always make arrangements with your hotel, do not take public transportation nor try to flag down a cab. The cabs the hotels provide you will take you to your destination plus they will wait to take you back to your hotel safe. Overall I felt really safe, traveling alone.

Now that you have the planning part down let’s dive into my 5 day itinerary. 

Recommended items I packed for my trip.

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5 Days in Serengeti National Park - Itinerary 

Day 1 - Mto wa Mbu Village and Lake Manyara National Park 

I landed in Kilimanjaro National Airport 2 days prior to our departure to Serengeti National Park.

The tour started in the city of Arusha known for being a gateway to safari destinations and Africa’s highest peak; Kilimanjaro. 

Our first adventure began with a cultural walk through the Mto wa Mbu village. During our visit we took a tour through their local market, artisans’ shops and farmer fields. Our walk ended with a delicious meal prepared by the women who run the village accompanied with some delicious banana beer. 

Lake Manyara National Park

After our great visit at Mto wa Mbu village we made our way to Lake Manyara National Park. Known for having over 400 species of birds including pink flamingos, pelicans and storks and being home to giant fig trees, acacia woodlands and mahogany trees. During our drive through the park we were able to spot baboons, giraffes and elephants. 

Our first night was spent at Twiga Campsite. Piece of advise if you are camping through your journey, like I did, be prepared to not shower every day. This might not sound like a big deal but when you spend most days in a car sweating and driving thru dirt roads a shower is the one thing you really want before going to bed. And when you finally get to shower the water is cold! Pack some baby wipes and some drying sheet to keep your clothes fresh.

Day One Summary: 

• Mto wa Mbu Village

• Lake Manyara National Park

• Twiga Campsite

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Day 2 - Mto wa Mbu and Serengeti National Park 

Day two started with a visit to a Maasai Village located in the Monduli District. During our visit we learned about the Clean Cookstove Project, which is a project dedicated to train women in the village as stove engineers in order for them to build clean-burning stoves in their homes. Indoor smoke from open fire stoves has severe side effects specially for women. Therefore implementing clean cookstoves in the village can drastically improves their health and quality of life.

Serengeti National Park

After our visit to the village we continued our journey to Serengeti. Finally! This was the main reason I traveled to Africa. So when you get to do this, make sure you charge your camera and grab those binoculars, because as soon as we entered the park we were greeted by a group of lions and their cubs. Good thing I was prepared to capture this moment.

During our drive we even got a close visit with a young cheetah who jumped on the back of one of our cars. Fun to see from a distance but I am sure I would’ve been so scared if it was my car.

Our stay for the next few days was at Seronera Campsite.

Day Two Summary:

• Maasai Village Visit. Learn more about the Clean Cookstove Project: https://planeterra.org/what-we-do/our-projects/maasai-clean-cookstoves-tour/

• Serengeti National Park

• Accommodation: Seronera Campsite

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Day 3 - Serengeti National Park

For me day three started with a Hot Air Balloon ride across Serengeti National Park, one of the many optional activities Tour Radar provides. On our way to our destination we spotted a leopard. It was frightening how close it was to the campsite. Which I have to say, staying at a campsite in the middle of the park has its pros and cons. Pros because I got to witness the most stunning sunrises and sunsets, plus being surrounded by nature was soul cleansing, and cons because I was surrounded by some of the most dangerous animals in the world.

If I can recommend one activity to splurge on during this trip, it is going on a Hot air Balloon. It is by far one of the most majestic experiences I have ever lived. As you are flying above Serengeti you can see underneath you herds of elephants, giraffes, lions, it is truly unbelievable. Plus after your journey you get to enjoy some champagne along with a delicious breakfast in the middle of the park.

After my morning ride, we spent all afternoon on the look for wildlife. Amongst all the wildlife we saw this day, my highlights were seeing a lion, a cheetah and hippos living with crocodiles. We also saw plenty of Ostriches which I probably don’t need to see ever again, they are literally everywhere.

Day 3 Summary:

• Hot Air Balloon ride across Serengeti National Park

• Serengeti National Park

• Accommodation: Seronera Campsite

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Day 4 - Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro

Day four marked our last day exploring Serengeti. We took one final drive and made our way to Ngorongoro Crater. Ngorongoro Conservation Area it is famous for providing Africa’s best wildlife viewing. The abundance of wildlife is due to a permanent water supply from the crater. During our drive we spotted buffaloes, elephants, lions, wildebeests, zebras, but truly we were all hoping for a rhino spotting this day. Which didn’t happen.

During our visit to Ngorongoro we stayed at Simba Campsite. My favorite campsite of all. My decision is solely based on this campsite having a warm shower.

Day 4 Summary:

• Serengeti National Park

• Ngorongoro Crater

• Simba Campsite

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Day 5 - Ngorongoro

This was our last chance to be able to spot a rhino. I have never seen a rhino in real life so being able to see one in its habitat was a huge must do for me. Unfortunately we were not able to spot any rhinos. They are super difficult to spot as they spend most of their day laying down.

As a final treat we got to witness a female lion feeding her cubs after a kill. That was also an incredible moment, I did not think I’d be able to witness.

After spending our final day in Ngorongoro we made our way back to Arusha. Where more adventures awaited us. Overall this was by far the best experience in my life. And one adventure I highly recommend doing. I hope this guide got you pumped and ready for your next dream safari vacation!

Day 5 Summary:

• Ngorongoro

• Arusha

• After your safari tour don’t forget to tip your drivers, cooks, and guides.

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USEFUL THINGS TO KNOW. 

1. Spoken languages in Tanzania; Swahili and English

2. 1 Tanzania Shilling = 0.00043 US Dollar, 1 Dollar: 2330 Shillings

3. Passports are required to enter Tanzania. Visa needed.

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QUICK LINKS

VISA:  https://immigration.go.tz/index.php/en/ 

Travel Tour: https://www.tourradar.com/

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OVERALL COSTS

Flight: Via JustFly - Emirates Airline $1137 round trip. 

Tour: $4000 via TourRadar (This covered for my Safari Trip in Serengeti and Zanzibar)

• Safari Trip: $2,999.00 (Serengeti & Zanzibar)

• Single Boarding: $439.00 (This is extra, if you want your own tent and hotel room during your stay)

• Hot Air Balloon: $579.00

Visa: $100

Malaria Tablets: $180

Typhoid Tablets: $100

Additional costs: Tips ALWAYS tip your tour guide and driver. Souvenirs, and additional stays in hotels while I was traveling alone. For the Safari trip and tour I’d recommend tipping anywhere from $10-$15 a day for each person.

Additional Options for a Safari Tour: Visit Serengeti National Park

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