Leila: Affordable family Safari during the holidays is possible

By Anganile Mwakyanjala

Dar es Salaam. It’s the holiday season, which marks the end of the year. Tanzanians, much like people worldwide, are eager to kick off their shoes and unwind for at least a few weeks before ringing in the New Year.

As some Tanzanians go upcountry to visit relatives they hardly see throughout the year, those left behind in the cities, especially in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, the most fun the family will see is a trip to Mlimani City Mall or Coco Beach. The grown-ups are left with the usual entertainment in bars and other familiar recreational spaces. Yet, in this festive season, Tanzanians have the opportunity to deviate from the norm and discover the natural parks that have captivated millions of tourists worldwide, drawing them to Tanzania.

Leila Mohamed is a young Tanzanian tour operator whose mission is to get Tanzanians to choose a family Safari during the end-of-year holidays rather than using this holiday to drown as many beers as possible in bars, an activity that is favoured during the holidays.

Leila, a graduate with a degree in wildlife management, opened up her tour company, Explore Ecosystem Tours and Travel, one year ago, and she is a strong advocate for local tourism. “If people from around the world travel thousands of kilometres to witness our wildlife and national parks, why can’t Tanzanians take the time to appreciate the blessings bestowed upon them by God?” she questions. Many Tanzanians have, over the years, warmed up to the idea of visiting the national parks as a form of relaxation.

But there are still a lot of misconceptions, from the cost of going on Safari to choosing the perfect holiday package for a family. But Leila has ideas on how to effectively enjoy a safari trip on a friendly budget. “It’s actually cheaper to travel for a Safari as a group, so this is perfect for families,” she reveals. “If hiring a safari car costs $250 when you come as a family, you can all chip in and divide the cost, which makes it more affordable,” she said.

Leila advises Tanzanian families to opt for Ngorongoro this time of the year, renowned for its breathtaking natural landscape and abundant wildlife. “Your family would get a chance to see all the big five animals and more while you bond with your children and spouse,” she says, adding, “I would recommend three days and two nights for a family to fully enjoy the scenery and beauty of the Ngorongoro conservation area.” Leila advises that they can also add another game drive in Serengeti.

To minimise the cost, it is advised to do a day game drive so that you don’t have to sleep in the national park because that is expensive. “In the park, the cost is determined by the head count, so even if you take one room as a family, it will still be expensive,” she cautions.

One thing that Leila advises Tanzanians to do is sleep in tents, which are very comfortable but add to the adventure spark of the trip, rather than sleep within the concrete walls. The tents get you closer to nature but also spare your pockets from paying a lot of money for the fancy hotel rooms. “Most tents cost less than Sh100,000, which is very much cheaper than the rooms,” she reasons.

“Tour guides can organise all that for your comfort; they will even prepare meals for you and your family,” she notes.

The government has built public hostels near the national parks that can be booked by any Tanzanian who goes on a Safari. The hostels are way cheaper than hotels. These hostels cost just S30,000 to Sh40,000. These hostels are even available in Serengeti National Park.

Another way to have an amazing but affordable Safari is to share the trip into the wilderness with other safari enthusiasts, hence sharing the costs.

This has been proven to not only cut costs but also form new friendships and network with total strangers. “Usually a tour guide will try to align you with people that he or she knows will be fun and you might meet an active group and enjoy the experience,” Leila says.

A Safari trip changes one’s perspective on life, as Leila would attest. “When I went on Safari and came back, it was eye-opening,” she remembers. Our national parks are a beauty to behold. Tanzanians should ask themselves why millions of people travel from across the world just to set foot in our national parks and sit on our beaches. “When you are on Safari and see these majestic animals, you just get to appreciate life and God’s creation,” Leila notes.

“When you get a good guide, they will tell you facts about these animals that will amaze you. You will discover so many new things and see the world in a whole new light,” she remarks.

Tour companies have come up with a model that lets local tourists pay in installments, she notes. “There are people with good salaries who have never gone on a Safari, and some tour companies are targeting them with an incentive to pay in installments for a Safari experience,” Leila says.

“My company and other companies as well have started offering a Safari on loan, where you go on Safari, enjoy the experience, and pay back in installments,” she added.

Leila has found social media to be a necessary tool to reach out to prospective clientele. She employs the daily use of TikTok and Instagram to show her potential clients the beauty of Tanzania and what her company can do to make any tourist, foreign or local, enjoy their expedition in Tanzania. In her quest to promote domestic tourism, she often tags famous Tanzanian celebrities in her posts, and to her amazement, most of them view and like her content, which gives her hope that Tanzanians love to travel but have to be persuaded. “I ensure my clients have the best experience because, through positive word of mouth, that’s how a business flourishes,” she says.

The knowledge gap is very evident. Tanzanians can have a splendid holiday break with their families. Newlyweds can also enjoy a romantic getaway without spending so much of their hard-earned money. Only if these money-saving tips would be freely available, as Tanzania keenly promotes local tourism.