My Honest 2025 ‘9 Days – Best of Tanzania Safari’ Review

So, you’re thinking about a safari in Tanzania for 2025, and you want to know what it’s really like. I mean, I just got back from a nine-day trip that was supposed to be the “Best of Tanzania,” and honestly, it changed my perspective on a lot of things. Before I went, I really read so many guides and itineraries, you know, and they all sound kind of similar. That is why I wanted to write something a little different, more or less like a journal of what you can actually expect. This is basically my experience, day by day, with some real thoughts on what made it so special and stuff.

Days 1-2: Arrival in Arusha and Tarangire’s Giants

Alright, so we landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport, and you could just feel the change in the air right away. The heat is, like, a warm blanket, and everyone seems to move at a slightly different pace, which is really refreshing. Our guide met us there, and he was just so welcoming; honestly, it set the tone for the entire trip. That first drive to our lodge in Arusha was a bit of a blur of new sights and sounds, you know? At the end of the day, you’re pretty much tired from the flight, but also buzzing with excitement for what’s next.

Anyway, on day two, we headed out to Tarangire National Park, which is apparently famous for its elephants and baobab trees. And seriously, they were not kidding about the elephants; they are literally everywhere you look. It’s almost like stepping into a different world where these huge, gentle animals are just living their lives right next to your vehicle. We just sat for ages watching a family herd with tiny babies, which was incredibly moving, to be honest. The baobab trees are also something else; they’re so big and ancient-looking that they sort of make you feel very small, really.

Days 3-4: Lake Manyara’s Unique Charm and a Stop in Mto wa Mbu

So next, our trip took us to Lake Manyara National Park, which is a totally different scene from Tarangire. The landscape here is, like, much more green and jungle-like in some spots, which was a little surprising. You drive through this groundwater forest that feels kind of prehistoric, with monkeys and baboons literally all over the place. And then, you know, the forest opens up to this massive, shallow lake. We saw thousands of flamingos, which basically looked like a pink line stretching across the water; it was seriously unreal and pretty much a photo opportunity at every turn.

I mean, we kept an eye out for the famous tree-climbing lions, but apparently, they’re pretty shy and we didn’t spot any that day. But honestly, the bird life alone makes this park worth the visit. Anyway, in the afternoon we did something a bit different and visited Mto wa Mbu, which is a local village right outside the park. This part was actually one of my favorite bits, you know? We got to walk through a banana plantation, try some banana beer, and just see how people live there, which gave the trip a really nice human connection, sort of.

Days 5-6: Into the Great, Wide-Open Serengeti

Alright, so then came the main event, pretty much: the Serengeti. The drive there is long, but it’s part of the experience, as you see the landscape slowly change from green hills into these vast, golden plains. That first moment you see the Serengeti plains open up in front of you… well, it’s honestly hard to describe. It just goes on forever and ever, you know, under this huge African sky. We immediately started seeing huge herds of wildebeest and zebra, which, like, is what the Serengeti is all about, for instance.

Our home for two nights was a tented camp right in the middle of the park, which I was a little nervous about, to be honest. But seriously, it was amazing. At night, you can literally hear the sounds of the plains right outside your tent—I mean, a lion roaring in the distance is something you just don’t forget. Our game drives here were just incredible; for example, we found a leopard relaxing in a tree with its kill. And another time, we got to see a cheetah mom with her cubs, which was basically the cutest thing I have ever seen. At the end of the day, the guides are just so good at finding these things; it’s almost like they have a sixth sense.

Days 7-8: The Stunning Ngorongoro Crater Floor

So, after the Serengeti, you might think it can’t get any better, but then you get to the Ngorongoro Crater. You sort of drive up the rim first, and when you look down into the crater, it’s really like seeing a lost world. The drive down the steep crater wall is an adventure in itself, really. And once you’re on the crater floor, the concentration of animals is just mind-blowing. Literally everywhere you look, there’s something to see: lions, hyenas, elephants, hippos, you know, everything.

This was our best chance to see a black rhino, and after a lot of searching, our guide, you know, finally spotted one in the distance. It was just a little speck at first, but through binoculars, you could see it perfectly. Seeing one was a huge highlight, obviously. We had a picnic lunch right there on the crater floor next to a hippo pool, which was a little surreal, to be honest. I mean, just eating your sandwich while a giant hippo yawns about fifty yards away is a pretty unique experience. You just spend the whole day down there, more or less surrounded by wildlife until it’s time to drive back up the steep walls before sunset.

Day 9: Final Thoughts and the Journey Home

On the final day, it was a bit of a slow morning, which was actually quite nice. We had a final breakfast at our lodge on the crater rim, just taking in that incredible view one last time. The drive back to Arusha for our flight home gave us a lot of time to think about everything we had seen, you know. It’s sort of overwhelming to process nine days of such incredible experiences all at once. You go in thinking it’s all about the animals, but really, it’s about the landscape, the people, and the feeling of being somewhere so wild.

As for some real talk and recommendations, here’s what I learned, basically. Pack layers, seriously, because the mornings are cold and the afternoons are hot. Also, bring a really good camera with a zoom lens, but sometimes, you know, it’s better to just put the camera down and watch with your own eyes. Trust your guide, because these guys are incredibly professional and know so much about the wildlife and so on. And just be open to the whole thing, because, at the end of the day, a safari isn’t like a zoo; it’s wild, and that unpredictability is what makes it so special.

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