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Mousebird Safaris Review & African Safari Tips

My brother and sister-in-law just had the most beautiful wedding and to match, they headed off on the honeymoon of a lifetime on an African Safari with Mousebird Safaris and then finished in Dubai. How incredible is that? They loved their African Safari so much, and so appreciated the tips that people kindly gave them on my Instagram, that they wanted to return the favour and give you all their advice on booking your own Tanzania Safari. One of the main reasons they wanted to put together this post is because, quite honestly, Mousebird Safaris’ website (at the time) didn’t look the most professional and we were all a little worried. It has since had an update and it looks great! My brother and sister-in-law had the most amazing time on their 5-Day Safari Tour, and I think you’ll agree, they took the most incredible photos!  African Safari – What to book? They booked the 5-Day Mid Range Group Joining Tour via safaribookings.com which meant they visited Tarangire National Park, Central Serengeti, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara National Park.  How much does an African Safari cost?  For two people the cost was $2880. More affordable options are available in the public campsites. They paid a 10% Deposit when booking, the rest was paid in cash when they arrived in Tanzania and met the guide. This also included their airport transfers, so one less thing to worry about.  How do I prepare for an African Safari? It’s really important to get your recommended vaccines, and you may need to take Malaria Tablets too. They used this website to find out which vaccines and information they needed and then booked in with their NHS GP. You can pay privately too but your GP should be able to supply your vaccine history and provide you with what you need.  What essentials to take with you?  Binoculars The Best Camera you can get your hands on with multiple lenses Mini Portable Fans SPF 50  Mosquito repellent (Several different types of sprays/plug-ins/bracelets)  Malaria Tablets  After bite  Neutral coloured clothes (avoid black/blue clothing as this attracts mosquitoes and other flies. Camouflage-printed clothing is not allowed at all.) Hand Sanitiser  Wet wipes Paracetamol  Imodium Suitable footwear  Cap/Safari hat  Sunglasses  Long trousers (It is quite cool when the vehicle is moving)  Long sleeve tops/fleece it is a little chilly in the morning and evening Packable waterproof jacket  Bag pack (for the essentials whilst on the drives)  Pack your stuff in a duffel bag Standard UK plug sockets were in all of their accommodations What camera is best for a Safari? They borrowed my Sony A7iii with a 55-210 lens for all of these shots and they came out incredibly. Some animals got so close that they could have done with a closer-up lens too but definitely worth investing, hiring, and borrowing, the best camera you can possibly get your hands on! African Safari – What was the Accommodation like?  The night before: Arusha Tulia Boutique – The night before the Safari we were recommended to stay here due to their late flight. It was £70 for the night and included breakfast. It’s always recommended to arrive a day before your Safari Tour starts in case of any delays. They also left their main bags here and only took with them what they needed. It’s also recommended not to fly home straight away so that you have a full day as their final day was cut short due to their flight time. Clean hotel and has friendly staff. Tea and coffee-making facilities in the room. Live sports (English Premier League) in the bar/restaurant. Securely gated accommodation. Perfect for a 1-night stay to refresh before or after your Safari. The hotel accepts USD and Tanzania Shillings. However, you will be better off with Tanzania Shillings for the shops surrounding. Night 1&4: KanKari lodge – Located on the outskirts of Karatu town in the Ngorongoro Highlands, on the way to the Serengeti and on their last day on the way to Lake Manyara. The views here were amazing. Their lodge here was very spacious with a nice bathroom (shower, toilet, and double basin unit). They also had a private decking area, and mosquito net in the room and on the windows. A very nice 4-course meal was included in the stay. Clean and spacious pool area. Securely gated accommodation. Friendly staff who make you feel welcome. The hotel accepts USD and Tanzania Shillings.  Night 2: Kon tiki – Located in Serengeti National Park, around 1.5 hours away from public campsites which meant more travelling but also more chances to spot other animals. Delicious food morning and evening, good choice of juices/water/tea and coffee. Luxurious tents furnished with a large bed, and private bathroom (shower, toilet, and wash basin). Great WiFi in all areas, friendly staff, and beautiful scenery. This accommodation is inside the Serengeti National Park and not fenced off which adds to the experience. When they arrived there were several Thomson Gazelle in view of their tent. Each room is equipped with a walkie-talkie and flashlight. The staff were amazing and very helpful. The hotel accepts USD and Tanzania Shillings.  This is all that they saw whilst driving to pick the rest of their group up so don’t be put off by the extra travel. Also the accommodation was well worth the extra drive they said. Grant gazelle Thomson gazelle Impalas Zebras Elephants Giraffes Hyenas Ostrich Jackals (This was their only sighting of Jackals) Night 3: Ang’ata Ngorongoro Crater Camp The Tripadvisor really does not do this place justice but apparently, it has moved locations. It is a Fantastic scenic location with Buffalo’s in the surrounding area so a good chance to spot one of the big 5. A very spacious tent complete with a queen-sized bed, sofa, and a good-sized washroom. The tent had its own shower, toilet, and basin unit. The staff were amazing, very polite, helpful and funny. The staff went above and […]

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