Safaris in Tanzania: Tanzania’s vast wilderness is home to some of the world’s most incredible wildlife, and preserving this natural beauty is crucial for future generations.
Eco-friendly safaris allow you to enjoy Tanzania’s iconic landscapes while minimizing your environmental footprint. By choosing sustainable tourism practices, you not only enhance your travel experience but also support biodiversity, protect delicate ecosystems, and contribute to local economies.
Here are the best ways to make your safari in Tanzania sustainable and responsible: Experience Safaris in Tanzania
Tanzania’s vast wilderness is home to some of the world’s most incredible wildlife, and preserving this natural beauty is crucial for future generations.
Eco-friendly safaris allow you to enjoy Tanzania’s iconic landscapes while minimizing your environmental footprint. By choosing sustainable tourism practices, you not only enhance your travel experience but also support biodiversity, protect delicate ecosystems, and contribute to local economies.
Here are the best ways to make your safari in Tanzania sustainable and responsible:
Staying at eco-conscious lodges is one of the easiest ways to reduce your environmental impact while on safari. Many lodges in Tanzania prioritize sustainable practices, such as using solar power, sourcing locally grown food, and reducing water waste.
Look for accommodations like Ngorongoro Crater Lodge or Kikoti Camp, both of which have certifications like Green Globe and are involved in conservation initiatives to ensure your stay supports local ecosystems.
One of the main draws of a Tanzanian safari is the chance to witness incredible wildlife in their natural habitats. However, we must be mindful of our interactions with them, and there are ways to ensure we do so responsibly.
This includes:
Responsible wildlife viewing ensures that animals aren’t stressed or endangered by human presence.
Plastic pollution is a global issue, and Tanzania is no exception. One way to reduce your impact is by minimizing plastic use during your safari. Bring reusable water bottles, eco-friendly toiletries, and reusable shopping bags. Many eco-friendly lodges, such as Greystoke Mahale, provide filtered water stations, so you can refill your bottle without contributing to plastic waste.
When you engage with local communities during your safari, it’s important to do so in a respectful and sustainable way.
Opt for tours and experiences led by locals, such as visiting community-run projects like the Mto wa Mbu Cultural Heritage Centre, where you can learn about traditional farming and handicrafts. You can also participate in cultural festivals, such as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area’s Cultural Festival, which showcases local music and dance.
Additionally
Purchase locally-made crafts and dine at locally-owned restaurants, as this not only boosts the local economy but also fosters a deeper connection between you and Tanzania’s cultural heritage.
Small-group safaris reduce the environmental strain on wildlife and ecosystems. Fewer vehicles mean less noise, air pollution, and habitat disturbance, making your safari experience more intimate and eco-friendlier.
Better yet
Small-group tours are often more flexible and allow for a more personalized, low-impact journey through Tanzania’s national parks.
Many safari operators and lodges in Tanzania are actively involved in conservation efforts. Before booking, check if they contribute to local wildlife or environmental initiatives, such as the African Wildlife Foundation’s anti-poaching programs or habitat restoration projects.
Furthermore, consider offsetting your carbon footprint by investing in carbon offset programs that support reforestation, renewable energy, and community development. By participating in these efforts, you help protect Tanzania’s wildlife for future generations while balancing the environmental impact of your trip.
In short
An eco-friendly safari in Tanzania allows you to experience the country’s majestic wildlife and landscapes while preserving them for future generations. By choosing sustainable lodges, respecting wildlife, reducing plastic waste, supporting local communities, and offsetting your carbon footprint, you can enjoy a responsible and enriching adventure.
Ready to explore Tanzania’s wild beauty while minimizing your impact? Start planning your eco-friendly safari today!
EXCELLENT Based on 108 reviews Shiva K2025-08-27Verified Outstanding Tanzania safari (6 days) Thanks to Benson Safari for making this happen. Appreciate the prompt communication prior to our trip and willingness to work with me in building a customized itinerary to meet our needs. Thanks to Mr Benson, Grace and Paul Balthasar Ngoty, our driver and guide. 1) Witnessed absolute magic at Mara River in Northern Serengeti. Saw multiple wildebeest crossings across the river on Aug 20 and 21. From Kenya back to Tanzania. Early for this time of year. Great stay at Aurari tented camp, about 45 minutes from the river (will post separate review under Aurari). 2) Enjoyed our stay at Serena lodge in Central Serengeti, 3) Miracle Air balloon ride was fantastic….saw lions, elephants and lots of deer and zebras (will try to post separate review). 4) Magic again inside Ngorongoro crater (witnessed a lioness kill a wildebeest) with a 2 day stay at Serena in Ngorongoro (will try to post separate review), 4) Finally stopped by at a Masai village (will try to post separate review if possible under Paulo Emanyata, name of village, with young Chief Paulo giving us a grand tour) on the way back to Arusha and onto Kilimanjaro.Make sure you have a good pair of binoculars and a good camera w a powerful zoom lens (400mm).Vegetarian food is not an issue at all the lodges and camps. The Chefs were extremely flexible and worked with us to provide great Indian vegetarian food.; even food without garlic if that’s in line with your liking. Be prepared for rugged terrain (bouncy) with a lot of dust. Have a lot of patience and rise up early and be prompt with your multiple game drives. Request lodges to pack lunch daily for you; this way you maximize your time spent on watching the crossings or going on game drives. Great country - Tanzania and great people. Loved every day of our stay.Finally don’t forget to buy Napenda (“ I like” in Swahili) coffee from Mr Benson. He owns a coffee farm. Asante sana ( picked up some Swahili and people thought I was a local.) Marek V2025-08-25Verified GREAT EXPERINECE - RECOMMEND We had already second experience with BENSON SAFARIS and again great. All was perfectly organized and program was one big experience. Our guide Liberatus was friendly, experienced and taking care about us each day. We saw all big animals, big 5 and many othres. Accomondations were fantastic experience and very good foood. I RECOMMED BENSON TO ALL TRAVELLERS. Marek Eileen Z2025-08-11Verified An unforgettable safari experience We took a family trip of five with Benson Safari, and it was filled with joy and wonderful surprises, not only from the breathtaking beauty of Mother Nature, but also from the amazing people we met along the way.From the very beginning, the booking process was smooth and stress-free. Grace and Benson were both incredibly patient and professional. They carefully listened to our needs and drafted a customized itinerary that perfectly fit our schedule.Because we traveled across both Kenya and Tanzania, we had different guides in each country, and all of them are nice people to work with. Special thanks to Edmund and Obi, who are both knowledgeable, fun, patient, and wise. If you have the chance, I highly recommend spending as much time with each guide as possible. Through our conversations and shared moments, we came to appreciate not only their skill as guides, but also their depth as individuals. They shared insights that helped us avoid unnecessary hassles, and their exceptional talent for spotting wildlife made every game drive unforgettable.This was our very first safari, and it truly exceeded our expectations. As we kept saying throughout the trip: we will definitely return for a second safari and when we do, Benson Safari will be our choice again. Rania A2025-07-31Verified 10/10 experience ! One of the best and most memorable experiences of my life! The safari was incredible from start to finish. Huge shoutout to Liberatus, our tour guide, who was amazing. His knowledge and passion made the experience 10 times better. He went above and beyond to make sure we had the best possible adventure. Highly recommend this safari ! STEVE S2025-07-11Verified Fantastic six days with Benson Safari!! My wife and I spent six days visiting Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. All were fabulous and gave us an amazing view of all that Africa has to offer in terms of the animals, the expansiveness of the plains and the ability to get so close to the animals in their wild habitat. Our guide was amazing and worked very hard to show us "the big five" as well as the diversity of the animals, plants and other aspects of the ecosystem. fernanda a2025-06-16Verified Excellent It was an amazing experience! We loved so much! We spent 5 days with our guide Obi at Serengeti. He is really nice, excellent driver and knows everything about Serengeti. Stephan P2025-03-12Verified great experience with an awesome guide We organized our Safari with Benson. The planning was really smooth and we received a detailed and structured offer. Our guide and driver - Charels Setundu - was very friendly and helpful from the beginning and throughout the whole trip. You can feel his passion for the country and wildlife, and his experience made our journey special. He skillfully guided us to some of the most stunning locations and ensured we had the opportunity to see as many animals as possible. His dedication made our safari memorable, and we felt very happy to have such an excellent guide.Furthermore, the hotels selected by Benson Safaris were also top-notch. Each hotel was of a very high standard, with clean and comfortable rooms in beautiful locations.In summary, our safari with Benson Safaris exceeded our expectations. The combination of having a passionate guide and excellent accommodations made it a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We recommend Benson Safaris to anyone. shepherdfamily20252025-02-23Verified Unforgettable Family Adventure A great package which was delivered in full. The accomodation was sensational and food was excellent throughout the journey. Obi was our driver / guide and he was simply outstanding. The Serengeti is a must do and we would highly recommend using Bensons for your trip to Tanzania - Their Communication, organisation and execution was first class - Once in a life time trip which provided us with life long memories. Wes H2025-01-24Verified Great trip! I used Benson Safaris in 2017 when my wife and I did a safari in Tanzania. I told her I wanted to bring the kids some day when there were older. Well that was in Dec. of 2024. I was so happy with Benson Safaris that I reached out to use them again. Benson Safaris did a great job of communicating prior to the trip and the trip itself was grand. The two guides we used (one in Kenya, Edmund, and one for Tanzania, Lebetas) were knowledgeable, courteous and fun. We requested 4 out of 5 star accomodations and the places where we stayed were great. High marks all around. AS2025-01-01Verified Great Safari in Northern Tanzania My wife and I had a 7-8 day private safari through Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Parks in October 2024. We discussed and booked the tour with all transfers, hotels and camps directly with Benson Safaris. Everything was to our best satisfaction! We can recommend Benson Safaris in every respect and without restriction.
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