Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
prices are at a premium. Some lodges and camps, mainly in Selous Game Reserve and in
the western parks, close for a month or so around April and May.
Apart from these considerations, when to go depends in part on what your interests are.
For birding, the rainy season months from November/December through to April are par-
ticularly rewarding. For walking in wildlife areas, the dry season is best. For general wild-
life viewing, tailor your choice of park according to the season. Large sections of Katavi,
for example, are only accessible during the dry season, and almost all of the camps close
during the rains. Tarangire National Park, although accessible year-round, is another park
best visited during the dry season, when wildlife concentrations are significantly higher
than at other times of the year. In the Serengeti, by contrast, wildlife concentrations are
comparatively low (although still spectacular) during the dry season; it's during the wet
season that you'll see the enormous herds of wildebeests massed in the park's southeastern
section before they begin their migration north and west in search of food. The dry season,
however, is best for lions and other predators. If you are timing your safari around specific
events such as the Serengeti wildebeest migration, remember that the timing varies from
year to year and is difficult to accurately predict in advance.
WHAT TO BRING
»binoculars
»field guides (four good ones: The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals by
Jonathan Kingdon; The Safari Companion - A Guide to Watching African Mam-
mals by Richard Estes; Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania by Dale Zimmer-
man, Donald Turner and David Pearson; and Field Guide to the Birds of East
Africa by Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe)
»good-quality sleeping bag (for camping safaris)
»mosquito repellent
»rain gear and waterproofs for wet-season travel
»sunglasses
»camera (and large memory card)
»extra contact lens solution and your prescription glasses (the dust can be irritat-
ing)
»mosquito net (many places have nets, but it doesn't hurt to bring one along)
»for walking safaris: lightweight, long-sleeved/-legged clothing in subdued col-
ours, a head covering and sturdy, comfortable shoes
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