Tanzania Flying Safaris

We plan tonnes of luxury Tanzania safaris every year, and it completely depends on where you’re trying to get to as to whether you will take a Tanzania flying safari, or be driven by an expert private guide. Some of the more remote and wild areas of Tanzania do require a flight, and often we then provide a private guide on the ground, to meet you when you land at your remote airstrip. The Wildebeest Migration is a huge draw for those wanting to take a Tanzania flying safari, and at certain times of the year we recommend that the flying safari has you hop between two Serengeti locations, just to ensure you do see the Migration, as it can be very unpredictable.

Those naughty Wildebeest have been a little elusive recently – turning back when they should be going North West, and behaving very uncharacteristically. But there’s one thing you can guarantee, they will come eventually head North to the lush grasses of the Masai Mara – being there for this spectacle has to be one of the top wildlife viewing opportunities. There is so much drama and action as they cross the Grumeti River in the Western Serengeti – many of our clients fly straight into this area in June/July, to see as much of the Migration as possible on their luxury flying safari.

We love a good Tanzania flying safari high season special, especially in Tanzania where prices do seem are high. Once again Nomad have come up trumps with any combination of seven nights at Katavi, Mahale, Serengeti Safari Camp, Nduara Loliondo, Sand Rivers Selous and Kiba Point receiving one or two free nights respectively – you can fly between all their camps and to combine any of these would make this one of the top flying safaris in Tanzania, since these camps are exceptionally special.

We don’t need to remind you what a fantastic time of year that is to visit Tanzania – with the rains gone this land starts to dry up and with that the game all remains around the rivers and waterholes, so providing a much better chance of finding and watching wildlife species interact. This special is definitely worth it and one of the best high season specials out at the moment. No Tanzania flying safari would be complete without visiting one of Nomad Tanzania’s famous camps.

A camp which has recently come onto the Tanzania flying safari circuit is Namiri Plains – it is by far the most exciting camp considered for any Serengeti safari at the moment. It is not often that you find a huge private concession within a National Park has only just opened up to the public after twenty years of being out of bounds to those of us on a luxury flying safari. The stunning Namiri Plains region in the Serengeti has been used by Frankfurt Zoo as a research project – researchers have been studying numerous things but have mostly been concentrating on cheetahs. The big cat sightings here are phenomenal as you can imagine. Even better for those of wanting to go on a more wild and exclusive safari – this pristine area will have just one luxury six tented camp – Namiri Plains Camp.

This means that not only will you be able to game drive without seeing another soul, you will also be able to spend time with the researchers who are there most of the time. This means you can really learn about the hardships of trying to conserve Africa’s big cats, and the natural dangers it faces out in the bush. There are often happy evenings spent round the camp fire with a zoologist learning about the cats. To be able to game drive in such a prime part of the Serengeti whilst knowing there is only a luxury camp of six tents and a research camp is very spoiling an certainly one of the best options in the Serengeti when it comes to exclusive safaris.

Manyara Ranch is usually featured first on our tailor made Tanzania flying safaris as logistically that is the route the flights go, although it is possible to the Serengeti first. Manyara Ranch still remains one of our favourite places in Africa since staying there in October 2011 – it’s such a friendly free place and truly represents everything that is magical and wonderful about Tanzania. It has breath-taking sweeping views of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment. We are excited to announce the arrival of gorgeous new walking guide Ruan Schuttle – South African born and an excellent qualified walking guide he will bring the bush to life for you, illustrating not only the larger game but the smaller things which make the African ecosystem tick. Having spent much of his time as a senior walking guide in luxury lodges in South Africa he brings new enthusiasm for the bush with him, which is infectious.

The rains have now left Manyara Ranch and the surrounding bush has begun to dry up which means that the waterhole in front of camp is attracting all kinds of creatures including elephants, lion and buffalo and the bird bath next to the mess tent continues to attract the most beautiful birds of paradise amongst other species. This is a must for any luxury Tanzania flying safari – this place as a magic about it which is hard to put into words. Their hides which are located around the private conservancy near to waterholes provide the perfect place to get up close and personal with the wildlife.

On any luxury Tanzania flying safari we love to offer guests the opportunity to get involved with conservation and we have a great new option in Northern Tanzania. From Olakira, Ubuntu or Sayari Camp you will now be able to go with your guide and purposely seek out reintroduced rhino – on seeing them you will be able to report your findings to local researchers. This is vastly important as the reintroduction of these rhino is a delicate project under threat from so many things, not least predators and the constant feed of information on the rhinos back to the researchers is invaluable. Rhinos are sadly extinct in many parts of Africa due to heavy poaching but valiant conservation efforts all over East Africa mean that these wonderful animals are making a comeback. Vigilant guides and guests help irrevocably in keeping these animals safe and healthy. So play your part in rhino conservation next time you’re in the Serengeti on your flying safari.

Asilia are an excellent ground agent in Tanzania, and team up with us often to create some of the most spectacular flying safaris in the world. They’ve had the most incredible first couple of months of the busy season and we’d like to give you an update. The rains have made the Northern Tanzania flying/driving safari circuit bloom and everything looks wonderfully green and lush. A negative is that the black cotton soil is also at its stickiest, which makes for some fun and games for our clients who opted for a driving safari rather than a flying safari. The bird life is at its most colourful and the animals at their most healthy – all in all a very happy time to visit Tanzania.

After incredible wild dog sightings at Ubuntu Camp the Asilia team couldn’t believe their luck when another pack of 15 wild dogs started hanging out around Oliver’s Camp in Tarangire. Oliver’s has long been high in our esteem since staying there three years ago, and then again in October – it has a certain magic about it, maybe because it’s so remote, or so relaxed, or so comfortable – we’re not sure but reading the bush newspaper on the route from your tent to the mess tent is one of the highlights of any day spent here. The most exciting sighting of these wild dogs was when the Oliver’s Camp walking guide spotted two hunting impala whilst out with clients on a walking safari. The dogs walking very close to the guests (they are not phased or aggressive to humans in any way). Spine tingling moment or what?

Following a luxury flying safari in Tanzania many guests head over to Zanzibar for an Indian Ocean beach break. Guests at Matemwe, Asilia’s luxury lodge in Zanzibar, have spent a lot of June swimming with large groups of dolphin. The 30 or so dolphin have been regular visitors to the Matemwe snorkeling boat to which they seem to have grown attached – this has been a huge highlight for everyone involved.