Tanzania or Kenya
Tanzania or Kenya : Speaking of safari destinations in East Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya, they will surprise you on your adventurous journey. Both countries offer once-in-a-lifetime safari experiences, leaving their visitor’s mouths open.
You are probably trying to figure out which of these two countries you should visit, Tanzania or Kenya. If you have enough time, you can visit both Tanzania and Kenya. However, time may not be enough for you to visit both of these scenic countries. If time is the problem, it is good to pick one of them for a joyous safari.
Tanzania and Kenya have some features in common worth knowing. For instance, their climate is almost the same. The terrain and scenery in Tanzania and Kenya are almost the same, despite some key differences.
Size (Tanzania vs Kenya)
Tanzania is larger than Kenya. Then, you will need much more time to get the most out of Tanzania. Tanzania safaris tend to be longer, contrary to Kenya safaris.
Kenya is, therefore, good for visitors in a hurry. You will go to your specific destination, explore it, and travel back home. In Tanzania, on the other hand, you will need more days to enjoy the travel. There are a lot of activities in this country.
The cost of the safari (Tanzania vs Kenya)
A Tanzania safari is usually costlier than a Kenya safari. The higher taxes on Tanzania tourism account for the expensive nature of Tanzania safaris. Therefore, you will spend more on a Tanzania safari compared to a Kenya safari.
Tourism infrastructure (Tanzania vs Kenya)
Kenya has a more developed infrastructure than Tanzania. The roads are good and favor Kenya tourism, not to mention the hotels, lodges, and tented camps. In Tanzania, the tourism infrastructure is not good compared to Kenya. This is probably because Kenya is wealthier than Tanzania.
Accessibility (Tanzania vs Kenya)
Getting to Kenya is easier than getting to Tanzania. Kenya has four international airports, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Moi International Airport in Mombasa, Kisumu International Airport, and Eldoret International Airport. Kenya has more direct flights from the United Kingdom, Europe, and parts of the United States. The busiest airport in East Africa is Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and it supports Kenya tourism at large.
Tanzania has three international airports. These are Julius Kambarage International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro International Airport in Kilimanjaro, and Abeid Karume International Airport in Zanzibar. Kilimanjaro International Airport is the favorite airport for Tanzanian tourism.
Therefore, you can access Kenya more easily on international travel than in Tanzania. Getting around Kenya is also easier due to the developed infrastructure. In addition to developed roads, Kenya has more internal flights than Tanzania. The train services in Kenya are more active than in Tanzania.
Safari experiences (Tanzania vs Kenya)
If you happen to visit either Tanzania or Kenya, you will undoubtedly get unmatched safari experiences. These two countries, however, differ in the safari experiences that a visitor will have after visiting one of them. Here are some differences:
Mountain hiking
Tanzania tops Kenya in terms of mountain hiking safaris. If you want to include hiking trips in your safari tour, Tanzania is the best place. Here, you will meet the highest peak in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro.
Mount Kilimanjaro is 5895 meters above sea level and is one of the world’s most challenging peaks. The feeling of being on top of Africa is exciting. Mount Kilimanjaro is famous; Mount Meru is another towering mountain in Tanzania. It is 4566 meters high.
Kenya, on the other hand, is home to two famous mountains in Africa, Mount Kenya and Mount Elgon. Mount Kenya is Africa’s second-highest mountain, while Mount Elgon is the seventh-highest mountain. Both are breathtaking peaks towering high above sea level.
Wildlife
Both Tanzania and Kenya host a large population of wild animals. A wildlife safari in Tanzania is a dream for every safari-goer. The top national parks in Tanzania include Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and Tarangire National Park. The Ngorongoro Crater, Nyerere National Park, and Ruaha National Park are also captivating wildlife destinations.
The top destinations include Masai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, Tsavo National Park, and others.
Both Tanzania and Kenya host the Big Five. In Tanzania, you will see these beautiful animals in Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater. In Kenya, you can see the Big Five in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Tsavo National Park, and Meru National Park.
The Great Migration (Tanzania vs Kenya)
The Great Migration is one of the most magnificent natural events on earth. This annual migration features over 1.5 million wildebeests, and thousands of zebras and gazelles. These grazers migrate from the south of Serengeti to the north, crossing the Mara River into the Masai Mara.
A large part of the Great Migration occurs in the United Republic of Tanzania. This migration usually starts with a calving season in the southern Serengeti. About 500,000 calves are born. The herd attracts hundreds of predators, like lions, leopards, and cheetahs, in the southern Serengeti and Ndutu areas.
The herd starts to move between April and May. By July, the herd crosses the Grumeti River to the western corridor. This is the first obstacle to the herd of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles.
Between August and September, the migratory animals encounter one of the greatest obstacles, the mighty Mara River. They have no other choice but to cross this terrifying river. As they brave the river, the Nile crocs take their share from the herd.
On your safari in Kenya, you can trek the Great Migration between September and early October.
Are you ready to take on an adventure in Tanzania or Kenya? Focus East Africa Safaris is your ultimate tour operator. If you want to discover many things about the two countries, plan a trip with us.
