Top 5 Safari Destinations From Dar Es Salaam : Dar es Salaam is probably the best place to begin a safari in Tanzania, despite not being the most well-known compared to Arusha in the north of the country. One of Africa’s best-kept travel secrets is the former capital of Tanzania (Dar es Salaam), because it:
- Simple accessibility to some of Tanzania’s least crowded and most rewarding wildlife encounters;
- Location on the coast, close to pristine white-sand beaches and exotic islands;
- Swahili culture is distinctive, making it home to some of Africa’s most intriguing cuisine, history, and handicrafts.
- Furthermore, unlike Arusha and the Serengeti, which appear to be almost constantly swamped with tourists, Dar es Salaam welcomes visitors but isn’t overrun by them.
TANZANIA SAFARI FROM DAR ES SALAAM
Here are our top picks for the best five safari locations in southern Tanzania that can be best visited from Dar es Salaam:
- Nyerere National Park
The largest uninhabited wilderness area in Africa, Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve), offers an unmatched view of the African bush and wildlife.
Wildlife: Animals such as monkeys, antelope, bushbuck, sable, reedbuck, waterbuck, and curly-horned greater kudu are abundant in Selous. On the ground, lion sightings are frequent, and crocodiles and hippos are common in the river. Additionally, there will be plenty of elephants and a chance to see endangered African wild dogs. Selous is one of only two locations where you can see the elephant migration.
When to visit: The best time to see wildlife is during the dry season, which lasts from June to November. Predators are frequently spotted during this time, and elephants are migrating.
The rainy season, which lasts from January to April, offers excellent birding opportunities in lush bush, but the roads are frequently impassable. Good game viewing, but it can be hot and muggy from December to February.
- Ruaha National Park
Although it is the largest and has amazing wildlife, Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park is not the most well-known compared to northern safari parks of Tarangire, Arusha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro. The landscape is also breathtaking and diverse, with ancient baobab trees, a river that is bordered by greenery, and wetlands that are surrounded by rocky hills.
Wildlife: Because Ruaha is situated in a zone where bird and mammal species from the northern and southern hemispheres converge, it is home to a substantial bird and mammal population. There is too much wildlife to list here, but it includes numerous antelope species, a sizable wild dog population, a leopard, a cheetah, a hyena, and a leopard.
When to Visit: Aim to visit between June and October, which is the dry season.
- Mikumi National Park
Because of the wildlife’s abundance, diversity, and tendency to congregate in large herds, the Mkata floodplain in Mikumi is frequently compared to the Serengeti.
Wildlife: A wide variety of animals, including buffalo, wildebeest, giraffes, elephants, lions, zebras, leopards, crocodiles, hippopotamuses, impalas, hyenas, and more, are likely to be spotted.
When to visit: Mikumi is easily reachable on a day trip from Dar es Salaam. Wildlife is easiest to spot during the dry season from June to October, but sightings are almost guaranteed year-round.
- Mafia Island
Mafia Island Marine Park attracts deep-sea fishermen and scuba divers from all over the world looking for a unique kind of safari. The coral is flawless, there is an abundance of marine life, and the Indian Ocean is always warm.
Wildlife: The coral reef is home to a variety of vibrant tropical fish, and spotting a whale shark while snorkeling or diving is an unforgettable experience. With the help of a knowledgeable guide from Focus East Africa Tours, you can catch a variety of fish, including sailfish, marlin, barracuda, wahoo, kingfish, trevally, tuna, Dorado, snapper, and rock cod. On land, there are plenty of birds to see, as well as local monkeys, squirrels, bushbabies, and monitor lizards.
When to go: The best months to go fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving are December through March and June through October.
- Saadani National Park
This is the only park in Tanzania that is situated on the Indian Ocean and has a mix of sandy beaches, open grasslands, mangroves, coastal forest, and acacia woodlands.
Wildlife: The area is home to a variety of birds, as well as lions, elephants, giraffes, leopards, and buffalo, among many other large mammals. The opportunity to observe wildlife on the beach is truly special.
When to visit: The best months to see migratory birds and mammals are January and February and June and August.
CONCLUSION
All of these locations provide comfortable lodging options in addition to an unforgettable, uncrowded safari experience. For this reason, locals and foreigners who want to go on safari choose the southern region of Tanzania, near Dar es Salaam. We advise you to come soon to see for yourself.
