The question almost every traveller asks
You've made your decision: you're going to Tanzania. The Serengeti, the elephants, Zanzibar — it's all on your list. But then the planning begins. And fairly quickly, you run into a fundamental choice: do I join an organised group tour, or do I book a tailor-made private safari?
It's a question we deal with every single day at Makasa. And our honest answer is always the same: there is no universally correct answer. What does exist is the best choice for your specific situation. In this blog, we lay out the differences clearly so you can choose with confidence.
What is a group safari?
On a group safari, you travel alongside other tourists you haven't met before. You share a vehicle — usually a large jeep or minibus for 6 to 12 people — with a group of strangers. The route, the parks and the daily schedule are fixed in advance. You depart on a set date, stay in pre-determined accommodations and follow a programme that is identical for everyone in the group.
Group safaris are offered by large tour operators and are generally cheaper per person than private trips. They're popular with solo travellers who don't want to travel alone, or with budget-conscious travellers willing to trade flexibility for a lower price.
What is a private safari?
On a private safari, you — and only you, together with your own travel party — have a dedicated guide and a dedicated vehicle. There are no strangers in the car. You decide when you leave camp, how long you stay at a sighting and what pace you travel at. The route and accommodations are put together entirely around your wishes, budget and travel dates.
At Makasa, every single trip is a private safari. That's not a premium add-on to our offering — it's the only way we organise travel. Because we believe Tanzania is far too extraordinary to fit into a standardised package.
The honest comparison
Let's put the two options side by side on the points that actually matter:
Price per person
Group: lower
Private: higher, but more value
Flexibility
Group: none — fixed route & schedule
Private: complete — you decide
Privacy
Group: shared with strangers
Private: your party only
Pace
Group: adapted to the group
Private: adapted to you
Guide attention
Group: shared among 6–12 people
Private: 100% focused on you
Departure date
Group: fixed dates only
Private: any date you choose
Accommodation
Group: pre-selected
Private: entirely your choice
Atmosphere
Group: social, but unpredictable
Private: intimate and personal
When does a group safari make sense?
A group safari can be a good choice if you're travelling solo and actively want to meet new people. Or if your budget is very tight and you're willing to accept less flexibility in exchange. For some travellers, the social dynamic of a group is genuinely appealing — sharing the excitement of a lion sighting with others, and sometimes forming friendships that last beyond the trip.
But honestly: for Tanzania, those advantages tend to fade quickly once you realise what you're giving up. A fellow traveller who wants to move on just as you've found a cheetah with cubs. A guide who pitches his commentary to the least experienced person in the vehicle. A morning when the group votes to sleep in while you desperately want to be on the plains at first light. The Serengeti deserves more than a compromise.
Why a private safari is almost always the better choice
Tanzania is not a destination you 'tick off'. Most travellers fly more than ten hours to get there. Some save for years to make the trip happen. For many, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It would be a real shame to let that experience be shaped by the preferences of people you've never met before.
A private safari gives you something no group trip can match: the freedom to make it the journey of your life. When a herd of elephants crosses the track, you stay as long as you want. When your guide whispers that there's a leopard in the tree ahead, he pulls up slowly and quietly — no jostling for position. When the children are tired after the morning drive, the afternoon is yours. When the couple celebrating their anniversary wants a candlelit bush dinner, we make it happen.
What about the price difference?
It's true: a private safari costs more per person than a group tour. But that calculation is less straightforward than it seems. A group safari with a large international operator may look cheaper on paper, but often comes with higher margins, less experienced guides and generic accommodations with no individual character.
At Makasa, we work without intermediaries. Ngomi and Selma know Tanzania inside and out, have direct relationships with the finest lodges and camps, and build your trip as efficiently as possible — so that every euro goes where it belongs: into your experience.
Travelling on a tighter budget? A private safari is still absolutely possible. We match the accommodation choices to what you can and want to spend, without ever compromising on the quality of your guiding and the experience itself.
The Makasa approach: always tailor-made, always private
Makasa organises exclusively private safaris — and that's not a coincidence. It's a choice we've made consciously every day for more than fifteen years. Because we believe Tanzania is too extraordinary for a one-size-fits-all approach. Because your trip should be as unique as the destination itself.
We always start with a conversation. What do you want to see? Who are you travelling with? What are your dreams and what are your limits? Based on that, we build a journey that fits you perfectly — from the very first park to the final sunset on Zanzibar.
Our honest advice
Choose a group safari if social interaction and a very low budget are your absolute priorities. Choose a private safari if you want to get the very best out of Tanzania — on your terms, at your pace, for an experience you will never forget. At Makasa, we'll always help you make the right call, even if that means pointing you in a different direction.
👉 Book a free consultation call with Makasa and find the safari that's right for you →
