Self-drive safari Vs Guided safari in Tanzania

A safari regardless of whether it is is guided safari or self drive safari is one of the most amazing and memorable vacations worth taking. It gives one an opportunity to explore remote destinations and encounter some of the world’s most amazing wildlife and primates up-close in their natural habitat. It also exposes one to the rich cultural diversity all around Africa. These safaris can be done in two ways; as a self-drive safari or a guided safari.

A self-drive safari is a safari where a traveler hires/rents a 4×4 vehicle to drive themselves across either one or a number of countries in Africa. Before embarking on your self-drive safari, carry along with you a personal valid driver’s license that is acceptable in the specific destinations and identification documents such as passports and visas. While on a self-drive safari, you are entitled to 24/7 roadside assistance so there is no need to worry.

The best cars to hire for a self-drive safari through the mostly rugged terrains of the different African countries include; Land cruiser TX, Land cruiser V8, Land cruiser GX, Land cruiser TZ, Rav 4, Tourist Vans, Nissan Patrol, among others.

Pros of a self-drive safari

1. Self-drive gives a traveler an opportunity to explore the destinations in depths at their own pace since there is no particular plan to follow.
2. It leaves a traveler in-charge of their safari since they design their own itinerary focusing on their interests.
3. It gives a traveler a choice of where to stop and how long they spend in a particular spot observing a particular wildlife or attraction.
4. A self-drive safari can be a bit cheaper sometimes since one does not need to pay for some services such as services of an expert local driver guide.
5. Self-drive gives travelers an opportunity to choose a car of their choice for their comfort since there are always a variety of rental cars to choose from.

Cons of a self-drive safari

1. Renting a self-drive vehicle can be expensive sometimes in terms of fuel and costs of having the car in your possession since it’s charged on a daily basis.
2. Due to luck of guidance from an expert local guide, wildlife encounters can easily be missed as a result of the tourist having little or no knowledge of the destination.
3. A self-drive safari may leave one with a lot of unanswered questions since there is no guidance what so ever from a destination expert but rather it’s only google that answers the questions and in case of no internet connection, no answers are obtained.
4. Since one is both the driver and tourist, a number of spots may go unnoticed while he/she is focusing on the road.

A guided safari/ privately guided safari is a safari that takes one through one or more of the destinations in Africa in the company of your own driver guide. This destination guide stays with you from the time of arrival at the destination to the time of departure. He/she is always at your disposal to assist you through the entire safari.

On a guided safari, the entire itinerary is pre-planned by a local safari expert so the guide always knows the logistics of the journey back to front.

Pros of a guided safari

1. Guided safaris give travelers a stress-free vacation since they just sit back and relax for the entire journey during the trip as the guide takes them around and plans their meals and activities.
2. Since one gets to have their guide from the start to finish, the guide takes care of the schedules, makes all the necessary arrangements and offer valuable information about the destination.
3. Travelers are able to get first-hand knowledge about the destination from the guide through the stories he shares with them during the long drives.
4. It allows one to explore the destination in depths since they don’t need to figure out the destination since it would have already been figured out by the driver guide.
5. Since during a guided safari one travels in the company of a knowledgeable driver guide who knows the destination, he ensures they do not miss out on any sightings.
6. Guided safaris give travelers an even better experience due to the expert tips the guides provide. This is because they understand animal behavior, know the best spots for a particular species of wildlife and always gives an insight of what to expect in the different communities.

Cons of a guided safari

1. There is less flexibility during this safari since it’s pre-planned and the guide is strictly following the available plan.
2. Guided safaris are always more expensive than self-drive safaris due to the extra expenses such as guide fees.
3. There is less privacy since the guide is always present most of the times when transferring between destinations or during activities.
4. Some activities at certain destinations can only be done with local ranger guides from the lodges hence leading to double expenses.

Both self-drive and guided safaris take travelers through various safari destinations in Africa such as Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Amboseli National Park in Kenya, Victoria Falls shared by both Zimbabwe and Zambia, among others.

Each of these safari types has its own advantages and disadvantages therefore the type of safari choice one makes must depend entirely on their interest and preferences. Which so ever choice you make, be certain it will be a memorable and worthwhile experience.