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Tanzania, home of several UNESCO Heritage Sites and voted #1 safari destination in the world, is open and ready to welcome travelers to experience its abundant wildlife, rich cultural diversity, and untamed natural beauty. We’re the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), the leading agency for the tourism industry in Tanzania; a members-only non-profit agency representing over 300 licensed tour operators and DMC’s that specialize in creating private, group, educational and tailor-made safaris. Providing itineraries that include land and air transport, Mt. Kilimanjaro climbs, sojourns to Zanzibar and Mnemba Islands, hot air ballooning, as well as cultural tours, TATO members are the ultimate experts in all things Tanzania. Read on for the latest inspiration and guidance for planning an unforgettable escape to East Africa’s most captivating and incomparable travel destination. Visit us at tatotz.org. Planning a Safari to Tanzania's Northern Circuit Extraordinary wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, captivating cultures – Tanzania has it all and more. But no visit to the destination is complete without the quintessential African safari. That’s where TATO comes in. With so many options to choose from, Tanzania has been divided into three main safari areas: the Northern, Southern and Western Circuits. Containing the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Kilimanjaro National Park, the Northern Circuit is by far the most popular, so it is only fitting that we start there. Read on for the top things to consider when planning a safari in Tanzania’s iconic Northern Circuit. And stay tuned next month as we dig into exploring Tanzania’s beautifully-wild and remote Southern Circuit. …AND DON’T FORGET TO JOIN US TODAY, JUNE 29 @ 1:00 PM EDT / 8:00 PM TZ TIME For a special one-hour session led by TATO to discuss Tanzania’s long-awaited tourism reboot. Registration is FREE. Click here to sign up. FAM TRIPS ARE HERE Join us in Tanzania this September 19-29 for the FAM trip of a lifetime as we experience the World's #1 Safari Destination up close and personal. This is an opportunity for qualified members of the travel trade to come and see what makes Tanzania so special first-hand. If you are interested in joining us, in-person, to help reboot Tanzania's tourism industry, please email famtrip@tatotz.org with your name and contact details. WHEN TO GO Photo Credit: Jorge Tung   Exceptional game viewing takes place during Tanzania’s dry season (June to October) when lack of rain forces animals to congregate around water sources, making them easier to spot. However, don’t rule out the green season (November to March), which offers the best value for money, crowd-free game viewing, incredible colors perfect for photographing, and the cuteness of baby animals everywhere. Peak season, which comes with the highest rates, runs from early December to early January.   Those with sights set on the Great Migration should know that Tanzania is the only place on Earth that it can be seen 365 days of the year. We also know it by its other name: “the Circle of Life.” This is when the thousands of zebras (known for their big black eyes and incredible sight) and the wildebeest (known for their long noses and keen sense of smell) band together and walk in the endless circle around the Serengeti on the crusade for safety and green pastures  Photo Credit: Joel Herzog   Aim for December through May, during which the wildebeest and zebra, having just dropped their calves, are largely concentrated in the southern Serengeti, or June through October when chances of witnessing a Mara River crossing in the north are quite high. Keep in mind that the Great Migration is a continuous, year-long journey with milestones to witness every month across various areas including Grumeti, Seronera, Kogatende, and Ndutu. Contrary to common belief that the migration exclusively moves to Kenya for set periods of time, Tanzania is the Great Migration 24/7/365. YOUR TIME Photo Credit: Ray Rui   You will want to dedicate at least a full week to your Tanzania safari and 2-3 nights at each park to get a true immersion. There are a few different modes of travel to consider based on your available time and desired itinerary. Driving is the most authentic way to safari. You can drive in and out of each park, which will allow you to truly maximize your game drive experience in each one. It also provides the added benefit of having the same guide from start to finish. One great itinerary for this is to combine Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park as they are closest together. Other options depend on your total time allowance, the time of year, if your plans include onward travel to Zanzibar or other east African countries, and of course, your budget. That might include driving out and flying back, flying out and driving back, or flying out and back. ACCOMMODATION STYLES Photo Source: Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO)   There are plenty of accommodation styles to fit different tastes and comfort levels. Consider the following when planning your stay: Mobile Camps: This is the most intimate, combining the comforts and privacy of a lodge with the wild, close-to-nature thrill of camping. These are classified as mobile camps, which are camps that are set up for short periods of time, usually 3-5 months placed in the likely migration hotspots. By their nature, they may lean towards basic in amenities but vary in service levels from simple to high-end.   Permanent or Semi-Permanent Tented Camps: These remain in the same area for longer periods and have private and separated bungalows that have more structural foundation. These camps are still very close to nature but move less often or only when nature or law requires. Permanent camps have some brick-and-mortar style but provide the feeling of a tented experience in each of the individualized tented bungalows. These camps can be as luxurious as any lodge or hotel.   Lodges or Tented Lodges: These are a combination of tented camps and lodges offering the best of both worlds, (i.e., have more solid structures, main lodges, running water, verandas, plunge pools), but remain close to nature with individual private bungalows that you need to walk to from the lodges. The main lodge is typically situated in a well-constructed permanent facility whereas the accommodations can have mostly a brick-and-mortar placement with tented features that provide more immersion into the natural environment and wilderness.   Hotels: Brick-and-mortar establishments located inside or outside the parks that offer more commonly accepted amenities and other modern comforts the western world is used to. These are often in the middle of parks but have the hallways and rooms we typically associate with hotel experiences. Cost can vary from mid-range to high-end luxury. Photo Credit: Jeff Lemond