Tanzania · Northern Circuit

Game Drives in Tanzania

You are planning a safari, and every itinerary keeps mentioning the same activity. So what does a game drive in Tanzania actually involve, what does it cost, and where should you go? Those three questions decide how good your whole trip will be.
This page answers them all. Mawe Lodges runs game drives across the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara. Our professional guides drive custom 4×4 Land Cruisers, and full-day drives start from 300 US dollars. Because our camps sit inside or beside the parks, your drive begins at first light, not after a long transfer.
Below, you will find every drive type we run, current rates, a typical day, vehicle details and the best season. Read on, then send us your dates through the enquiry form or WhatsApp.
Request a Quote
The Experience

What Is a Game Drive?

A game drive in Tanzania is a guided wildlife drive through a national park in a purpose-built 4×4 vehicle. A professional guide drives, tracks animals and explains what you see. You watch lions, elephants and giraffes behave naturally, from a safe and respectful distance.
Game drives differ from self-driving in two big ways. First, guides know where animals move at each hour and season. Second, guides share sightings by radio, so you rarely miss the action nearby.
Prefer to explore on foot as well? Then pair your drives with a guided bush walk. Most of our guests combine both during one stay.
Formats

Types of Game Drives in Tanzania

We run four main drive formats, and each one suits a different goal.
Drive typeTimingDurationBest for
Morning drive06:00 to 09:303 to 4 hoursPredators, cool air, golden light
Afternoon drive15:30 to 18:30About 3 hoursWaterholes, sunsets
Full-day drive07:00 to 17:00Full day with picnicMigration herds, remote corners
Night driveAfter dark2 to 3 hoursNocturnal wildlife in Tarangire
Most guests take two drives per day, one at dawn and one before sunset. However, a full-day drive works best during migration river crossings. In addition, we run private vehicles, so your group never shares with strangers.
Destinations

Where Do Our Game Drives Take Place?

Our game drives in Tanzania cover the Northern Circuit, the richest wildlife region in the country. Each park delivers something the others cannot, so many guests visit two or three in one trip.
01 — National Park

Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti hosts the Great Migration, with over a million wildebeest on the move. Big cats thrive here too, from cheetahs on the plains to lions on the kopjes. Note one rule that surprises many travelers. Off-road driving and night drives are not permitted inside the Serengeti. Our drives leave directly from Mawe Tented Camp and our mobile Gnu camps.
02 — Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater packs astonishing wildlife density into one collapsed volcano. You can see the full Big Five here in a single day. Moreover, the crater floor offers one of the best chances in Tanzania to spot black rhino. We descend early from Karatu Tented Lodge, before the day vehicles arrive.
03 — National Park

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire holds huge elephant herds, ancient baobabs and a river that draws game all through the dry season. Lions, leopards and big buffalo herds follow the water. Tarangire is also the one park on our circuit where night drives are allowed. Baobab Tented Camp puts you right among it.
04 — National Park

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara is compact, green and full of surprises. Tree-climbing lions rest in the branches, and flamingos color the lake shore pink. The groundwater forest also hides elephants, hippos and hundreds of bird species. It makes an easy half-day drive from our Karatu base.
Rates

How Much Does a Game Drive in Tanzania Cost?

A full-day game drive in Tanzania starts from 300 US dollars with Mawe Lodges. Park entry fees and crater fees are charged separately by the authorities. We can book all park fees on your behalf, so you arrive with everything settled.
Drive typePriceNotes
Full-day game driveFrom $300Private 4x4, professional guide, fuel
Morning or afternoon driveOn requestIdeal as part of a camp stay
Night drive, TarangireOn requestRuns from Baobab Tented Camp
Staying at our camps usually costs less overall, because packages bundle drives, meals and rooms. Therefore, send us your dates and group size, and we will quote the full trip.
Request a Quote
A Day on Safari

A Typical Day on a Game Drive

Here is how a full safari day with us usually runs:
05:45
Coffee and tea at camp while the sky turns grey
06:15
Depart at first light, when predators still hunt
09:30
Bush breakfast, then continue or return to camp
12:30
Picnic lunch in the shade of an acacia
15:30
Afternoon drive as the heat fades
18:30
Sundowner stop, then back to camp for dinner
Timing is the quiet advantage here. Operators based in town spend the best light driving to the gate. Meanwhile, you wake up inside the ecosystem and reach the sightings first.
The Vehicles

Our Safari Vehicles and Guides

We drive custom 4×4 Toyota Land Cruisers built for rough park roads. Every vehicle has a pop-up roof for standing views and photography. Each guest gets a window seat, and the vehicle carries drinking water and a first aid kit.
Our guides matter even more than the vehicles. They grew up around these parks and have guided here for years. As a result, they read tracks, birds and behavior that most visitors would drive straight past. They also share sightings across our radio network, which keeps your vehicle in the right place.
After Dark

Night Game Drives in Tarangire

Tanzania restricts night drives to a small number of parks, and Tarangire is one of them. After dark, a whole hidden cast comes out. Spotlights reveal leopards on the hunt, civets, genets, porcupines and wide-eyed bush babies.
Our night drives depart from Baobab Tented Camp with a guide and spotter. Consequently, you can add one to any Tarangire stay without changing your route. Read the full details on our night safari page.
When to Go

Best Time for Game Drives in Tanzania

The best time for game drives in Tanzania is the dry season, from June to October. Grass is short, roads are firm, and animals gather at rivers and waterholes. July to October also brings the Mara River crossings near our Gnu Mara River Camp.
January and February deliver a different spectacle. The wildebeest calve on the Ndutu plains, close to our Gnu Ndutu Camp, and predators follow. Meanwhile, the green season from November to May rewards birders and photographers with dramatic skies and lower rates.
Packing

What to Bring on a Game Drive

Pack light, because the vehicle carries the essentials. Bring these items:
  • ›Neutral, layered clothing for cold mornings and hot middays
  • ›A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
  • ›Binoculars, one pair per person if possible
  • ›A camera with a zoom lens and spare batteries
  • ›A refillable water bottle
Dust rises on dry-season roads, so a buff or scarf helps. Also, keep a light rain jacket handy in the green season.
Ethics

Responsible Game Viewing

Good sightings should never come at the animals’ expense. Our guides stay on established tracks and never drive off-road in the national parks. We keep respectful distances, switch engines off at sightings and never feed wildlife.
These rules protect the parks that make your safari possible. Furthermore, calm vehicles see more, because relaxed animals behave naturally.
Why Us

Why Book Your Game Drives with Mawe Lodges?

Our camps sit inside or beside the parks, so you reach sightings while day visitors are still at the gate. The guides who lead your drives live on this ground and know it in detail. You also see honest rates upfront, from 300 dollars per day, with park fees handled for you.
Finally, drives are only the start. From the same camps, you can add walking safaris, night drives in Tarangire, hot air balloon flights and bush biking. One base, many ways into the wild.

"Our guide found a cheetah with cubs before any other car arrived. He knew exactly where to wait."

Guest review, Tripadvisor
Enquire Now
Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a game drive on safari?

+

A game drive is a guided drive through a national park in a 4x4 safari vehicle. A professional guide tracks wildlife, explains animal behavior and keeps you safe. It is the core activity of almost every Tanzania safari.

How long does a game drive last?

+

A standard game drive lasts three to four hours. Most guests take one at dawn and one in the late afternoon. Full-day drives run from about 07:00 to 17:00 and include a picnic lunch.

How much does a game drive cost in Tanzania?

+

Full-day game drives with Mawe Lodges start from 300 US dollars. Park entry and crater fees are charged separately, and we can book them for you. Package stays that bundle drives, meals and rooms usually cost less overall.

How many game drives per day are normal?

+

Two drives per day is the standard rhythm on safari. You head out at dawn, rest through the midday heat, then drive again before sunset. During migration crossings, one full-day drive often works better.

Are night game drives allowed in Tanzania?

+

Only a few parks permit night drives, and the Serengeti is not one of them. We run night drives in Tarangire National Park from Baobab Tented Camp. Spotlights reveal leopards, civets, porcupines and bush babies.

What vehicles are used for game drives?

+

We use custom 4x4 Toyota Land Cruisers with pop-up roofs. Every guest gets a window seat for clear views and photography. The vehicles handle rough park roads in every season.

Are game drives safe?

+

Yes, game drives in Tanzania are safe. Animals see the vehicle as one large, harmless object, not as prey. You stay seated during sightings, keep voices low and follow your guide's instructions. Our guides train for years and put safety first.

What animals will I see on a game drive?

+

Expect lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo and huge antelope herds. The Serengeti adds the Great Migration, while Ngorongoro offers a strong chance of black rhino. Leopards and cheetahs appear regularly across the circuit.

When is the best time for game drives in Tanzania?

+

June to October offers the best conditions, with short grass and wildlife gathered at water. January and February bring calving season on the Ndutu plains. The green season suits birders and travelers who prefer quieter parks.

What should I wear on a game drive?

+

Wear neutral colors in comfortable layers, because dawn is cold and midday is hot. Add a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen for the open roof. Closed shoes work best for picnic stops.

Plan Your Safari

Ready for Your First Sighting?

Tell us your dates, your group and the animals on your wish list. We will plan your game drives in Tanzania around the season and the herds.