Letting People Know How Great Tanzania Is: An Interview with Adventure Camps Marketing

If you are looking for adventures in the wild, then Tanzania is one country that has a lot to offer. Who better to talk to about this wonderful country and the safari experiences it offers, than to people who live there and have an enormous experience working in this field?

So today, we will have a little chat with Flo and David from Adventure Camps Tanzania, asking them to share a little bit about the country, its national parks and wildlife. 

Can you tell us in a few words what you guys do at Adventure Camps Marketing?

Flo and David: We spread the word about the camps and lodges we represent in Tanzania – let people know on Social Media and the internet, about what they offer. The safari camps are Lake Manze in Selous and Mdonya Old River in Ruaha; the lodges are Lupita Island resort in Lake Tanganyika and Fanjove Private Island off the south-east coast. We also represent the House of Spices in Zanzibar. All these properties are small and full of character, with between 4 and 10 rooms. Perfect for tailor-made itineraries that suit the individual clients.

What’s the most fulfilling thing about what you do? That something about your work that secretly puts a smile on your face when you think about it or makes you want to get out of bed in the morning?

F&D: Letting people know how great Tanzania is – the wildlife is second to none in Africa, and the people are amazing.

You probably meet lots of people from Europe and the US who come to Africa for the very first time. What are some common misconceptions that people have about Africa, and Tanzania in particular?

F&D: A lot of people think that there are fences round the game parks and reserves, and round the camps – there are none. These are totally wilderness areas and the wildlife themselves decides who lives where – especially the lions!

You’ve lived in Africa most of your lives. You’ve probably had countless trips and adventures in the bush and one could say that “you’ve see it all”. What is something about African wildlife and the bush that keeps amazing you no matter how often you experience it?

F&D: Coming close to the wild animals – this you can do especially well in the Selous, where the vehicles are allowed to go off-road, so you can (respectfully) get quite close, without disturbing the animals. And also in the Selous is the Rufiji River – words cannot describe this enormous expanse of rivers and lakes. On a boat safari you can get close to amazing birds, and of course to crocs and hippos, maybe see an elephant crossing.

If somebody is coming to Tanzania on a fairly limited budget, what activities would you recommend to them above all else? In other words, what would be on top of your list of “must-see” and “must-do” things in Tanzania?

F&D: We would suggest visiting the Selous in southern Tanzania – it is only an hour’s flight from Dar es Salaam, so reasonably priced to reach by air. And you can do game drives, boat safaris and walking safaris.

After the Selous, we would definitely suggest the Ruaha National Park, the biggest in Tanzania and simply phenomenal.

If you have the budget, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater should be seen once – and Kilimanjaro of course. These are in the north, but there are huge distances to cover – best to fly in to Moshi/Arusha to see them. And once they’ve seen them, most experienced safari goers move to the south of the country, where there is true wilderness and less cars and other tourists.

If you could change one thing about the safari industry, what would it be?

F&D: It would be good if there were fewer tourists in the wild places, even if it meant safari was more expensive. Better for the wildlife and the environment. That’s why we like to promote small and special camps who are very eco-friendly.

Thank you, Flo and David, it’s been a very insightful chat. For readers who would like to know more about Adventure Camps and the properties they represent, make sure to have a look at their website: https://www.adventure-camps-tanzania.com/

Photos courtesy of David Liebst