Solo Female Travel in Tanzania
Solo Female Travel in Tanzania, Year in, year out, more women are willing to travel around on their own. For women, traveling solo is both intriguing and intimidating. Uncertainty may creep in and ruin all your positive expectations. Maybe it’s your first time traveling alone. There’s always a doubt about your being safe out there or whether you’ll enjoy the trip.
On this blog, we offer advice and safety tips for your safari. We’ve also narrowed down the four best places in Tanzania that women traveling solo love. We remain at your disposal should your concern remain unanswered after reading this blog.
Is Tanzania safe for solo female travelers?
Tanzania is generally safe for women traveling solo. According to Solo Female Travelers, Tanzania has a solo female travel safety index of 2. This score is calculated based on variables such as risk of scam, risk of harassment, risk of theft, attitudes towards women, UK travel advisory, US travel advisory, and the Global Peace Index.
The score ranges from 1 to 4, with 1 being the safest country and 4 being the most dangerous. With a solo female travel safety index of 2, Tanzania surpasses Uganda and Kenya, its East African peers, and South Africa, Morocco, Turkey, and the United States.
Tanzanian Culture & Religion
Tanzania is a cultural melting pot with over 120 ethnic groups. The good thing is that many Tanzanians speak Kiswahili or Swahili, the official language of the country, with roots from Arabic, English, German, and Indian languages. That said, it’s worth learning basic Swahili words, including the following:
- Jambo: Hello
- Tafadhali: Please
- Asante: Thank you
- Msaada: Help
You will need a local translator for your visit to some rural regions. The Hadzabe, for instance, still live in the wild forests on the shore of Lake Eyasi in northern Tanzania. Their livelihoods mainly depend on hunting and gathering. They only speak Hadza, a local language characterized by clicking sounds similar to those of the Khoisan.
The Maasai also live alongside lions in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. A few of them are civilized and can speak formal languages. Their unique Adumu dance is something you can’t afford to miss. You can also try the dazzling outfits that set them apart from other tribes.
Other interesting tribes you should visit during your safari include the Chagga at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the Sukuma on the shores of Lake Victoria, and the Nyakyusa in the south, among others.
The majority of Tanzanians (63%) are Christians, 34% are Muslim, and 3% practice folk religions. Many citizens along the mainland coastal regions, such as Dar es Salaam, Pwani, Tanga, and Mtwara, are Muslim. Zanzibar is almost Muslim.
These stats tell how you should behave when interacting with locals, especially along the coast and in Zanzibar. For women, it’s considered rude to display some body parts like hips, backs, stomachs, and knees. Dress modestly when visiting local villages.
Is that much? No, not really. Here’s a thing—these dress-modestly etiquettes apply only when visiting local villages, places of worship, and homes. You don’t have to put on a long dress or cover your head on the beach or at your hotel.
Getting around in Tanzania
Public transport is a widely used way of getting around in Tanzanian towns. From the airport in Arusha, our representative will pick you up and drive to your hotel. Most guests use this time to unwind and recover from jet lag. For the rest of your safari, you will be with our expert driver guide, showing unforgettable wildlife scenes.
In towns, however, most Tanzanians use public transport to get around. We highly recommend using a private taxi or ride-hailing apps like Bolt and In Driver when getting around in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mwanza, and Arusha. Please note that cars drive on the left in Tanzania.
Best Destinations for Solo Female Travelers in Tanzania
That largely depends on what you want to do or see in Tanzania. With a myriad of captivating attractions, Tanzania offers dozens of things to see. Here are our five solo female travel destinations in Tanzania.
1. Serengeti National Park
Especially if it’s your first time in Tanzania, the Serengeti never disappoints. And no two safaris are the same. It’s the home of the Great Migration and the Big Five, a World Heritage Site, and, of course, a great destination for solo female travelers. There’s much to see here: you can watch large prides of lions, trek large herds of ungulates crossing rivers, or watch birds. You can stay in a permanent camp or a mobile camp.
Places to stay: Our favorite lodges for women on solo travel include the Serengeti Safari Camp and the female-run Dunia Camp.
2. Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Adjacent to the Serengeti is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a World Heritage Site. It spans 8,292 square kilometers (3,202 square miles) and it houses more than wildlife. The Maasai call it home and have coexisted with lethal predators like lions. What can you see in this destination? You can search for the Big Five in the Ngorongoro Crater, which also hosts over 25,000 animals. The Maasai will feel proud to host you in their locally built bomas.
Places to stay: Entamanu Ngorongoro, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, and The Manor at Ngorongoro.
3. Zanzibar
Zanzibar is a great place for anyone for a destination to chill and relax. This 50-island archipelago is home to some of the world’s finest beaches – the Carribean type. Here, you can do a lot of waters sports: snorkeling, diving, surfing, and swimming. The Stone Town is another fabulous thing in Zanzibar. It blends the acrhitetural designs of ancient Portuguese, Arabs, Indians, and Persians. Our favorite beaches include Nungwi, Kendwa, Jambiani, and Paje.
Places to stay: Zuri Zanzibar, Tulia Zanzibar, Kilindi Zanzibar, and Melia Zanzibar.
4. Nyerere National Park
The north may get busy in the high season as many travelers strive to witness the Big Five and trek the wildebeest migration. But the south, where Nyerere National Park is located, is quiet and untouched. Here, you can search for unusual wildlife sightings such as African wild dogs, sable and roan antelope, and blue wildebeest. The park also offers a wide range of activities on top of traditional game drives. Boat riding, fly camping, night drives, and walking safaris.
Places to stay: Roho ya Selous, Sand Rivers, Beho Beho, and Siwandu Camp.
Plan your safari with Explore African Safaris
At Explore African Safaris, we guide solo female travelers to Tanzania’s finest destinations. We listen and take attention to every detail. Call our experts to start booking.
