Best Safari Apps for Tanzania Travelers
When planning or embarking on a safari in Tanzania, having the right apps on your phone can greatly enhance your experience—whether it’s for navigation, wildlife identification, photography, or offline maps. Here’s a curated list of the best safari apps that are especially useful for Tanzania travelers:
1. SmartPark App (Tanzania National Parks – TANAPA)
This official app by the Tanzania National Parks Authority offers essential information about all TANAPA-managed parks. It includes maps, park entry fees, rules, lodging details, and real-time updates.
Best For: Park information and navigation
Key Features: Offline park maps, entry procedures, TANAPA contacts
2. iOverlander
A favorite among overlanders and self-drive safari travelers, iOverlander provides detailed user-generated information about campsites, fuel stations, road conditions, and services across Tanzania.
Best For: Self-drive safari planning
Key Features: GPS locations, traveler reviews, offline capability
3. Sasol eBirds of East Africa
This is a highly rated birding app with detailed illustrations, calls, and species distribution maps specific to East Africa—including Tanzania. It’s perfect for birdwatchers or anyone interested in learning more about the region’s diverse avian life.
Best For: Bird identification
Key Features: Over 1,300 bird species, audio calls, offline use
4. Roberts’ Mammals of Southern Africa
Although it focuses on southern Africa, this app is still valuable for identifying the mammals found in Tanzania. It includes high-quality images, behavior notes, and maps.
Best For: Wildlife identification
Key Features: Detailed species profiles, offline functionality
5. Maps.me
A must-have for offline navigation. Maps.me provides downloadable maps with detailed roads, trails, and points of interest in Tanzanian parks and towns.
Best For: Offline navigation and route planning
Key Features: GPS directions, offline use, accommodation and POI markers
6. Star Walk 2
The night skies over the Serengeti or Ngorongoro are stunning. This app helps you identify stars, constellations, and planets in real-time—great for stargazing during your overnight stays.
Best For: Night sky watching
Key Features: Augmented reality, offline sky maps
7. Seek by iNaturalist
Point your phone’s camera at any plant or animal, and this app will try to identify it. It’s great for learning more about species that aren’t in your guidebook.
Best For: Identifying lesser-known species
Key Features: AI-powered recognition, offline recording
8. PhotoPills
For safari photographers, this app helps you plan shots based on light conditions, sun/moon paths, and timing—perfect for sunrise or sunset shots on game drives.
Best For: Photography planning
Key Features: Golden hour calculator, depth of field tool
9. African Safari Tracker
This app allows you to log and track your sightings, with options to mark species, notes, and GPS locations. It creates a digital journal of your safari.
Best For: Wildlife sighting logging
Key Features: Species checklist, maps, trip summary
10. Google Translate
Although English and Swahili are widely spoken, having this app handy can help you understand local phrases or communicate in remote areas.
Best For: Language support
Key Features: Swahili translation, offline translation pack
These apps will help you navigate Tanzania’s wild landscapes, learn more about the wildlife, and capture unforgettable moments. Be sure to download offline maps and guides before heading into areas with limited connectivity.