Exclusive access is precious anywhere. At kiba point, your own safari guides, boat and 4x4s give you this on a daily basis.
Though we avoid the tyranny of repeated game drives, often a bit of four-wheel driving is what’s needed to get you to the more offbeat wildlife El Dorados of this vast wilderness. With a dusty track ahead of you, open-sided safari cars, and no prescribed schedule, we get that proper Nomad feeling.
The best way to focus on the details of bush life, is to walk. We can bird-watch, stalk insects, find medicinal plants. It helps that our guides are walking encyclopaedias. It’s not just the little things though, we can even stalk elephant this way - working through the bush, suddenly emerging at secluded waterholes.
From a closed safari vehicle, the bush can seem far away, unapproachable. But when you get out into it - as we do - you can have ecstatic days in nature. Head out with the gang to the natural hot springs, or for fishing in the swirling Rufiji, or a picnic in our treetop hide, as the wild animal world and his wife pass by.
If you slow down to Nature’s pace, you get a truer sense of the wild. We love drifting on a river boat, the waters swirling brown beneath us. Beast and fowl are never far away of course, hippopotamus dip and crocodiles do slide from the banks like the movies, white chested fish eagles watch you go by.
This is all about experience. A safari spent in the game rich plains of Ruaha, and the endless wilderness of Nyerere, the south is hard to beat.
Pack lightweight is the first tip. Next neutral colours are great - khaki, beige and olives - however not every item needs to be khaki by any means. There is no harm in a splash of colour in the bush. Long sleeves and trousers are a necessary addition to protect you from the sun and insect or mosquitoes in the evening. You are on the move a lot so always have a pair of comfy, sturdy shoes whether that be walking boots, trainers or safari style boots. This is especially important if you are embarking on a walking safari. Bring a light, warm jacket for those early mornings and sometimes even a beanie may be required depending on the time of year. Finally, do bring a good hat - wide brimmed or just a baseball cap - needed to protect you from the African sun.
Many people underestimate how immersive a safari experience is. Time in the bush can be tiring – most mornings you will be up before sunrise as the wild wakes up your day continues into long evenings spent under the stars. If you’re travelling with children, we always recommend a private guide and exclusive vehicle (included as standard with Nomad) that means a lie in here and there is always possible.
There is no rule for the number of days on safari but we would recommend taking your time in each location and not rushing through safari parks. Give yourselves time to stop and immerse yourself in the area. Many travellers consider a pit stop at the beaches of Zanzibar or Mafia Island to re-charge post safari and before they head back to the real world.
Always take a good pair of binoculars. And slow down. Take time to enjoy and area or the safari camps. There is sometimes nothing more special than spending the afternoon or early morning on your veranda and letting the wildlife come to you.
We advise against drinking the tap water in Tanzania and as such, we provide safe drinking water in all camps and vehicles so guests can remain well hydrated throughout their trip.
Usually it is 15kg per person in a soft-sided bag. This is not a hard and fast rule so do check with your tour operator or aviation company. These are small bush planes, and is a good way of making sure you pack light.
Firstly, you should only tip of you genuinely feel that the service you have received warrants it. Tips are never expected, but always appreciated. Tipping amounts very much depends on your experience but we tend to work with a range of 10-15 US dollars per guest per day. Equally, it's not unusual for a family or group to pitch in slightly below this as a group tip.
This is the trip of lifetime so you must have a good camera (or phone) to capture those wonderful memories. More importantly is a decent pair of binoculars - essential for your time in the bush. Sunscreen and insect repellant should be in the bag as well as a good water bottle, although you will be provided with a Nomad water bottle as part of your stay - hydration is really important on safari and in dry climates. Check your luggage restrictions with your tour operator as there are restrictions on luggage allowance for domestic flights in Tanzania. Also, if you react to insect bites be sure to bring antihistamines. It is a good idea to carry loperamide (commonly sold as Imodium) just in case.
Not all travellers into Tanzania require a visa. You must have a single entry tourist visa or business visa, is the general rule but there are country exemptions from this. On the most part, single entry or business visas can be obtained on arrival but we recommend where possible, to process the visa online ahead of travel - just make sure you allow enough time to do so!