Shame - I'm hoping to visit Tanzania later this year. Could have used a contact on the ground who might know the best tour companies etc.
Hix
Well, I can provide you the names of a couple of tour companies which are quite good. I personally know some folks in Arusha who have their own companies. It all depends on your budget, and where you plan to visit. Their websites should provide most of the info, including different tour packages & pricing - alternatively, you can decide on which places you wish to visit and they will give you a quote for the trip.
Tanzania is a great place to visit, there's a lot more to see besides the wildlife parks, it's just that not many people know about the other attractions because they're not marketed well. The majority of tourists only know the Serengeti, Zanzibar and Mt. Kilimanjaro since they're the most famous attractions there.
I'd suggest doing some research of your own even before you contact the tour companies. There are a few websites that have a lot of info about the different parks, beaches and other attractions. I'll look for the links and send them to you. If you're only interested in wildlife, then the Northern Circuit is the best since you're guaranteed to see the most wildlife there - it includes Serengeti, Manyara & Tarangire National Parks, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Wildlife viewing also depends on the seasons since the animals migrate to and fro - rainy season isn't a good time to visit since, dry season is usually good since most of the animals congregate near the rivers in the parks but most of the vegetation is yellow and dry, except the areas near water - if you visit after the rains it's nice and green. However, you're guaranteed to see wildlife at anytime in Ngorongoro since most of the animals don't leave the crater.
Do let me know if you need more info, and i'll do my best to provide it for you or at least get you the contacts of those who can help you out. PM me if you prefer. And by the way, i'm also planning to return home sometime this year.......so who knows, we might run into each other at some point
