Self-drive safaris can offer a unique and immersive experience in wildlife areas, with chances to explore at your own timing and connect with nature. However, these are things you must know to ensure that you get the expected experience on your Tanzania adventure with ease.
Park Regulations
Most national parks have strict regulations to ensure the safety of both animals and visitors and these may include minimum distances which must be maintained from certain wildlife (e.g. 50 meters from elephants). Some areas might be off-limits to self-drive vehicles most especially where animals are much concentrated or vulnerable.
Also, you must note that parks do not allow you to go off-track while searching for the animals. Furthermore, you must observe the speed limit while driving in the park as exceeding it come with the heavy penalties. On top of that, animals have a right of the way while in the park, knocking one will come with penalty that must be paid before exiting the park.
The park entrance fees also vary from park to park, the prime parks in Serengeti national park, Ngorongoro national park and Nyerere national park charges higher fees compared to the less popular parks like Mikumi national park ,Tarangire national park and more.
Animal Behaviour
In some areas, animals may be more accustomed to the presence of vehicles and humans, allowing for closer encounters. For example, certain parks have habituated populations of lions or elephants that might not shy away from vehicles. Early morning and late afternoon are at times the best times for wildlife activities, increasing your chances of encountering animals.
You need to pay attention to this attention these animals not to nock them as nocking animals will greatly affect you financially as well as affecting the conservation effort that are being taken to protect these animals.
Furthermore, never step out of your car as this can make the animals to attack you and be endangered while in the park. Remember these animals are wild and some are still afraid of human and vehicle presence.
Vehicle Type on Tanzania road trip
Open-top vehicles can provide a closer experience compared to standard closed SUVs as animals may not be as disturbed by open vehicles although safety should always be a priority. Smaller vehicles may allow for more maneuverability in tight spaces helping you to get closer to wildlife without scaring them away.
It should be ideal to go for your Tanzania self drive safari a pop roof car that will give you an opportunity to vies the animals from the top. However, never attempt to sit at the top of the roof of the car as you can fall off and get injured or even lose you life in the due process.
Lastly, always ensure to go with a 4×4 vehicles on your self drive safari as the terrain and road conditions in places like lake Natrone national park, Serengeti national park and other can only be navigated by such powerful cars due to the poor infrastructure.
Driving Skills and Knowledge
Knowledge of animal behaviors can help you predict where to spot them and how to approach them safely. For example, keeping a safe distance when animals are feeding or when with young ones can be crucial. Familiarity with the park’s roads and trails can help you to find wildlife hotspots.
This is a challenge as a self driver you are likely to face as you have got limited knowledge about the animal spots in the parks. However, following the experienced driver during your game drive will help you to encounter all the animals that you have come for. These people are usually good people who are ready to direct you to where you can find the best of the best in parks like Ngorongoro conservation area.
Season and Climate
Knowing the different season of animal concentration before determining which park, or the area of the park you are visiting will greatly impact your experience. For instance, it is better to plan to visit southern Serengeti in Ndutu during the calving season between December and March when wildebeest and other animals settle in this area. And Kogatende plain in northern Serengeti should be visited around July to October during the Mara River crossing of wildebeest when the region offers the perfect experience.
Whereas other parks like Ngorongoro conservation area or even some part of Serengeti like Seronera can be visited all year round with perfect experience and huge animal concentration regardless of the season.
Beside the animal concentration, the dry season experience differs from that of wet season. Wet season is defined with slippery roads that will affect your driving experience. Whereas the roads in dry season are rough but with a lot of dusty.
Respect and Ethics on Tanzania self drive
It’s essential to approach wildlife responsibly and respectfully by avoiding loud noises or sudden movements that could stress the animals or scare them away to hiding. Additionally, always pay attention to guidelines regarding litter and habitat preservation in order to ensure that wildlife can thrive in their natural environment.
Violating these guidelines always comes with heavy penalties that might greatly increase your total planned expenditure during your stay a Tanzania self drive safari.
Local Guides and Resources
Self-drive safaris offer an option to hire local guides or sometimes join guided tours occasionally because these professionals can provide valuable insights and help position you for the best views while adhering to safety regulations.
On some safaris like cultural safari, you might need to hire a local guide to lead to the the local tribes like Hadzabe and Datoga tribes that are found around Lake Eyasi.
Conclusion
While self-drive safaris bring you closer to wildlife than traditional tours, the best experience is with respect for the animals and the environment. By understanding park regulations, animals behaviors and the impact of your vehicle, can maximize your wildlife encounters while ensuring a safe and enjoyable adventure. Therefore, always prioritize safety and ethical considerations in helping to protect the wildlife you wish to observe.