Compare Tanzania and Kenya for a safari.

Compare Tanzania and Kenya for a safari.

Compare Tanzania and Kenya for a safari. Apart from being East African countries, Kenya and Tanzania happen to also be one of the countries with the highest amount of wildlife. The famous great wildebeest migration takes place in both Kenya and Tanzania annually and tourists fly in from all around the world to come and witness this amazing world phenomenon. Wanting to know more about Tanzania and Kenya in terms of safari destinations, look no further. Let us dive into the comparison of these two amazing countries so that you can choose where to go on a safari wisely.

Wildlife of Tanzania Vs Kenya

When it comes to wildlife, both these countries, as said before, are very blessed by God and nature. The great wildebeest migration takes place annually in both countries (both in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya). The wildebeest migration involves a million number of wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, and antelopes, to mention but a few, to move hundreds of kilometers annually following the rains in search of greater pastures and breeding areas. These animals are also always being stepped on by their predators all the way (lions, cheetahs, and leopards, to mention a few). When you visit either Kenya or Tanzania, spotting the big five animals (lion, buffaloes, elephants, rhinos, leopards) is on higher chances than any other tourism destination. All in all, when it comes to wildlife spotting, both countries are good to go.

Infrastructure developments

Both Tanzania and Kenya are third-world countries; however, when it comes to terms of development, Kenya stands out amongst the two countries. This is because Kenya happens to have better roads constructed and better hotels that offer accommodation facilities to tourists or visitors. But when it comes to the number of airports, Tanzania happens to have more airports than Kenya, which tourists use to fly in and out of the country annually. Both countries have good accommodation facilities which range from luxury to budget. However, when it comes to prices, Tanzania tends to be more expensive than Kenya. This is because Kenya has a lot of accommodation facilities, which puts the competition bar high and the prices lower. For budget travelers, Kenya is the best option since the prices are slightly low due to the high rate of competition, mostly in terms of accommodation.

The best time to visit

For both Kenya and Tanzania, the best time to visit is during the dry season of the year, which also happens to be the peak season of the year when a high number of tourists visit the countries.  During the dry season of the year tourist destinations are more accessible than during the wet season when the routes or trails used to go there are muddy and slippery. Also, during the dry season, most of the outdoor tourism activities can be easily done than during the wet season.

Beaches

Since both Tanzania and Kenya have open access to the Indian Ocean, they happen to have beaches, but since these countries are not on the same page financially, Kenya’s beaches are more developed than the Tanzanian ones. Though Tanzania’s beaches are not well-developed, they are very beautiful and good for relaxing when you visit Tanzania. Tanzania also happens to own the famous Zanzibar Island which is surrounded by some of the best beaches that tourists fly all over the world to come and check out. When it comes to beaches both these two countries are worth visiting.

Food

When it comes to food, both countries, Kenya and Tanzania, happen to have the same staple food, which is Ugali (pounded cornmeal), and also coconut milk rice which is loved very much and served a lot along with other dishes. The only thing that separates Tanzanian food and Kenyan food is the species. When it comes to Tanzanians, they cook their food with a lot of species since they were influenced by the Indians who lived at their coast, and Kenyans use fewer species in food. International cuisines are also prepared in both countries, which makes the two perfect destinations for food lovers.

Culture

Both Tanzania and Kenya are culturally rich countries that also happen to share a common group of people (Masai) who are known for being cattle keepers. When you visit either of the two countries, you will get to have the best cultural experiences where you will get to listen to stories, watch them perform cultural dances which you can join if interested, test their food if interested and with permission from your guide. For cultural experiences, both countries are suitable.

What to pack for a safari in Kenya or Tanzania

When it comes to what to pack for a safari in either of the two countries, the things or items that you should pack very much depend on the activities you are looking forward to doing. And since Tanzania and Kenya have the same tourism activities almost differentiated by a few attractions, the items or things that are to be packed for a safari in either of these two countries are the same. Some of these items or things include hiking boots/ trekking boots, binoculars, a camera with extra batteries, hat/cape, insect repellant, sunscreen, sunglasses, jacket/ raincoat, backpack, refillable drinking water bottle, travel documents, personal first aid kit, to mention but a few.

Note; Either you visit Tanzania or Kenya, you should very much put it in mind to always respect the people you have found at a particular tourist destination as well as their culture. On top of that you should always listen to and respect your guide at all times. If you want to do something you should always inform your guide or ask for permission before doing it.

Having finished reading this article, If you have any questions about Tanzania and Kenya hesitate not to contact us via email to  info@bujosafaris.com. You can as well decide to send an inquiry we shall be glad to help out in any way. In case you have decided to visit both countries, we can also make it possible for you and draft a combined safari itinerary.