Are Safaris Safe?

Are Safaris Safe? That is a great question – and the answer is: ‘Not Always‘.

… but of course, any kind of tourism can be unsafe if you are unprepared, have not researched where you’re going or who you will be going with. You’re right to be cautious with a Safari too – because you’re going to be seeing some of the most deadly land animals on earth.

Whether your Safari is safe or not, depends on a few things. Firstly, your guide, your preparation, your accommodation and what you’re going to be eating.

Your Guide

It goes without saying – the guide is very important when it comes to being safe on a safari in Tanzania. There have been some issues in the past where guides con, exploit or are reckless with tourists. The common trick is to hide park entrance fees or pretend that they are accredited tour guides and have no idea how to drive around the animals.

Travellers are usually caught out here when they look for the cheapest safari they can. At best – the guide may hide park fees and you end up spending more than you need to, or you do not see any of the animals. At worst – your guide gets lost in the middle of the bush (has happened many, many times), you are left without food or water, get very sick from the food or your guide could scare an elephant by driving too close (the last thing you want to do).

The trick is to find a guide who is registered with the local authority and is part of a tour guide union. Most of the time, these guides know the parks well and have huge pride in their work. If you need some help here, we’re ready when you are!

Your Preparation

Every year, we hear stories from travellers who have not prepared properly for their Safari adventure. We have to be honest here – it can be tricky to bring everything you need, but a small amount of reading can save you from misery, pain and sickness.

The first thing to consider is your route – where you are going, and what will the weather be like. While Lake Manyara and the surrounding areas rarely dip between 15 degrees, some areas in the Ngorongoro Highlands can be as low as 5 degrees. If you haven’t packed a jumper, jacket or long trousers, then you’re in for some trouble. It is ideal to pack layers! We will go over exactly what you need in another blog post.

Secondly – it is advised to take yourself a first aid kit. A little bag with wipes, sanitiser, plasters and anti-sickness medication (including malaria tablets). You should have wet wipes, a clean towel and always enough clean pants and socks. This way you can avoid any discomfort or potential for infection.

Your Accommodation

Whether your accommodation is safe or not depends on where you are going. Most of the public camp sights are very well maintained, guarded by rangers and well previsioned; there are some exceptions to that rule, however.

You should be aware that if you are camping in the wild, the animals will be very close to you. That includes Lions, Hiena’s, Girraffess, Buck and Buffalo. While most of the time you will be safe it is not a very good idea to wander away from the camp on your own or to walk through the camp at night. It is a good thing to note that people have been killed while staying in the camps – mostly people who have not followed the rules, or have allowed their children to run into the bushes to play. If you have children ALWAYS make sure you know where they are and keep a close eye on them.

In some camps, the guides advise you to stay in your tent (even if you need the toilet). We can put your mind at ease: A trip to the toilet is possible but make sure to flash your touch around. This scares away some of the animals and lets you see them before they see you. You should however be very wary between the times of 4am and 6am – this is when the lions hunt. Unless there are lots of other people around, be very cautious.

We would recommend that you stay within a campsite as there will be local guides and guards who can help you out. Do not go on your own and sleep in the wild.

In conclusion

Yes – a safari is completely safe! As long as you ensure that you use an accredited government registered guide, you prepare properly for your safari and you plan your accommodation in advance.