Halal-Friendly Safaris in Tanzania – Important Tips

31st March 2019 bushbuck

Halal-friendly tourism has been around for a very long time. Recently, more modern tourism companies have started making halal safaris more accessible and available for Muslims.

So what is halal-friendly tourism?

Halal friendly tourism is a niche in the travel industry. It specializes in providing travel and tourism services that are in accordance with Islamic beliefs and customs. During halal tours, only strictly halal foods are served, though most of the hotels/lodges/camps/resorts do not have no-alcohol policies, we still indicate our request to them so that any food containing alcohol is indicated and therefore avoided by the believer. Several of our tour guides are Muslims and those who are not are also aware of requirements.

This goes to show that with a fair amount of planning, devout Muslims can travel extensively and stay halal. In this article, we shall share simple tips for Muslims who want to have the most halal-friendly safari in Tanzania. Each tip is based on personal experiences, research and expert advice from accommodation providers and from feedback provided by previous visitors.

1. Explain your expectations in detail

The best time to disclose your expectations is before booking. Don’t assume that the tour consultants know everything you want to have in a halal safari. Explain everything in detail about your strict dietary requirements.

Here’s a checklist you can use as a sample. Your tour consultant must know that you’ll require:

A prayer mat: Most hotels do not provide prayer mats. You might do well to pack a portable prayer mat so that you can pray when it is time to do so. This will normally be within the hotel premises.
Hotels and/or lodges that serve halal food. Muslims will want to only consume halal food and drink. Early notification will guarantee that the hotel kitchen staff are prepared to serve accordingly. Early notification will also enable the hotel management to stock a sufficient amount of halal products for you.
Request for a Muslim tour guide.
An alcohol-free minibar.
There are few lodges, hotels and resorts that have private plunge or swimming pools in case you have reservations about bigger communal pools.
A private tour vehicle and tour guide. Mention that you wouldn’t want alcoholic refreshments during game-viewing drives.

2. Tools to pack for prayers

A lot of advantages can be derived from staying in a tech-savvy lodge especially one that has WiFi and internet connection. One of the benefits of such a decision is a qibla app. A Qibla app will, among other things, help you determine the right direction to face during prayers.

If however, you have no access to the internet, don’t worry. You may ask your guide which way is East. Alternatively, you can watch the direction of the rising and setting sun. The sun rises in the East and sets in the West.

A compass is another gadget you might consider packing. Just in case all else fails.

3. Proximity to a Mosque

Most believers value communal prayers. If you prefer to worship and pray in mosques, then it is important to discuss this during booking. This is only possible during your stay in a City. When in the parks, prayers can only be performed within the vicinity of accommodation you are booked in.

Halal safaris in Tanzania may provide transportation for Muslims who prefer to attend prayers in mosques. Tanzanian cities host a good number of beautiful mosques. Your tour consultant can arrange for trips to as many as you’d like to visit and worship in. Please do request so as to advice possibility.

As mentioned above, when you are on an all-inclusive PRIVATE luxury safari that included all the national parks of the Northern Circuit, Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. There are no mosques in these parks and therefore you have the possibility of arranging to go back to your hotel/lodge/camp when it’s time to pray.

4. Excellent prayer tips for a happier Halal Safari

With a bit of planning and mindfulness, you can incorporate prayers into your daily safari routine. The following tips might help:

Be attentive so that you can hear Adhaan (call to prayer). If a pre-dawn alarm works for you, then you should probably set a timer or an alarm clock. You are more likely to pray your Fajr prayers at the hotel prior to setting off for game-viewing.
Ask your tour guide on a day to day basis about the schedule so that you can plan your prayers for Zohr, Asr and Magrhib accordingly.
Be sure to return to the lodge early enough for dinner and the prayers of
According to most scholars, you can shorten your Farz prayers when travelling so this is an added advantage.

There is no reason to miss your salah (prayer) while on safari in Tanzania. Halal safaris make room for prayer breaks. The drivers understand that they must break at lunch and other periods for the prayers ofZuhr, Asr and Maghrib prayers. The prayers of Fajr (morning) and Isha (evening) can be performed at the hotel or lodge.

5. Peak season is the best time to have a Muslim-Friendly, Halal Safari in Africa

Every devout Muslim who has ever been on an African safari, agrees that peak period is the best time to have a fantastic halal safari. This is mainly because the safari peak period is wintery and cold in most Eastern and Southern countries in Africa. This means that tourists will be modestly dressed.

Halal safaris are available, affordable and accessible in Tanzania. To enjoy the Muslim-friendly travel adventure of a lifetime, consider the tips on our list. Book your safari in Tanzania with a reliable safari tour company like Bushbuck Safaris Ltd and you won’t be disappointed. Get your Halal Safari Quote today.