Your Serval Wildlife day tour begins in the morning when your professional Tansania Toll Safaris driver guide collects you from your hotel or agreed pickup location in Arusha.

Serval Wildlife is situated in the Siha District of Kilimanjaro Region, west of Mount Kilimanjaro. The journey from Arusha generally takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, although the exact travelling time depends on your hotel location, traffic and road conditions.

As you leave Arusha, the urban scenery gradually changes into rural landscapes, farms and small communities. The drive toward Siha offers beautiful views of northern Tanzania’s countryside, with Mount Meru behind you and Mount Kilimanjaro ahead when weather conditions are clear.

Upon arrival at Serval Wildlife, you complete the entrance procedures before receiving a short orientation. Sanctuary staff explain the rules for approaching and interacting with the animals, helping ensure both visitor safety and animal welfare.

You then begin your guided wildlife experience. Unlike a national park safari, where animals are normally viewed from a vehicle at a distance, Serval Wildlife provides opportunities for closer observation and guided encounters with selected animals.

Depending on conditions and sanctuary programs, you may see giraffes moving through the grounds, zebras and antelopes in open areas, ostriches, serval cats and other resident species. Certain supervised feeding experiences may also be available.

You will have plenty of time for photography, learning about the animals and enjoying the peaceful natural surroundings before taking a break for lunch or refreshments according to your booked package.

Major Activities at Serval Wildlife

• Guided wildlife experience
• Close range animal observation
• Wildlife photography
• Supervised animal feeding where permitted
• Conservation education
• Nature walking within designated areas
• Scenic mountain viewing
• Birdwatching
• Relaxation within the sanctuary environment

Wildlife Encounters at Serval

The main highlight of the tour is the opportunity to experience selected African wildlife at much closer range than is normally possible during a traditional safari.

Under the supervision of sanctuary staff, visitors may observe and interact with certain animals according to the rules in place on the day. These experiences are designed to help visitors better understand the animals while maintaining appropriate safety and welfare standards.

Because animals and wildlife programs can change, specific encounters cannot always be guaranteed. The experience should therefore be approached as a guided wildlife and conservation visit rather than a fixed list of animal interactions.

Giraffe Experience

Giraffes are among the most memorable animals visitors may encounter at Serval Wildlife. Their remarkable height, patterned coats and calm movements make them particularly impressive when viewed from nearby.

Where permitted and supervised, visitors may have opportunities to observe or feed giraffes while learning more about their behaviour and feeding habits.

For photographers, giraffes framed against the greenery and northern Tanzanian landscape can provide some of the most memorable images of the day.

Zebras and Plains Wildlife

Serval Wildlife may also provide close views of zebras, elands and other plains animals living within the managed environment.

Zebras are especially striking at close range, where the individual differences in their black and white stripe patterns become easier to appreciate.

Your guides can provide information about the animals, their natural behaviours and their wider role in East African ecosystems.

Serval Cats

The sanctuary takes its name from the serval, an elegant African wild cat recognised by its long legs, large ears and beautifully patterned coat.

Servals are naturally shy and can be difficult to observe in the wild, making the opportunity to learn about them particularly interesting.

Depending on animal welfare requirements and the sanctuary’s program on the day, visitors may observe resident serval cats while learning about their adaptations, behaviour and natural habitat.

Conservation and Wildlife Education

The experience is not only about photography. It also provides an opportunity to learn more about wildlife care, conservation and responsible interaction with animals.

During your guided visit, staff may explain the background of resident animals, the importance of suitable habitats and some of the challenges facing wildlife in Tanzania.

For families travelling with children, this educational element can make Serval Wildlife a particularly engaging addition to a northern Tanzania itinerary.

Photography Experience

Serval Wildlife is one of the most popular locations in northern Tanzania for travellers interested in close range wildlife photography.

The combination of animals, natural vegetation and mountain landscapes can create excellent opportunities for portraits and travel photographs.

Visitors should always follow staff instructions and avoid disturbing animals simply to create a photograph. The best encounters are those where both the guest and the animal remain comfortable.

Lunch and Relaxation

After your wildlife experience, you can enjoy time to relax and have lunch according to the arrangements included in your tour.

Depending on your confirmed package, lunch can be arranged at Serval Wildlife or at another suitable location along the route.

This gives you time to rest, review photographs and enjoy the peaceful surroundings before beginning the journey back to Arusha.

Extra Activities

Depending on time and your selected itinerary, additional experiences may be arranged.

• Extended Wildlife Photography

Spend additional time photographing selected animals and landscapes.

• Nature Walk

Explore designated areas of the property while learning about plants, birds and the surrounding environment.

• Birdwatching

Look for bird species living around the vegetation and open spaces.

• West Kilimanjaro Scenic Experience

Enjoy additional stops for landscape photography when conditions and routing allow.

• Local Community Experience

A community or cultural stop may be incorporated with prior arrangement.

• Chemka Hot Springs Extension

Travellers wanting a longer day may combine the wildlife experience with a visit to Chemka Hot Springs, depending on timing.

• Moshi Extension

A short Moshi visit may be added when specifically arranged in advance.

Return to Arusha

After completing your Serval Wildlife experience and enjoying lunch, you begin the drive back toward Arusha.

The journey takes you once again through the countryside of northern Tanzania, with opportunities for scenic views along the way.

Depending on traffic, road conditions and the duration of your wildlife experience, you generally arrive back in Arusha during the late afternoon or early evening, where your driver guide drops you at your hotel or another agreed location.

Approximate Day Trip Schedule

• 07:30 to 08:00 Pickup from your hotel in Arusha
• 08:00 to 10:00 Scenic drive toward Siha District
• 10:00 to 10:30 Arrival, registration and safety briefing
• 10:30 to 12:30 Guided Serval Wildlife experience
• 12:30 to 13:30 Photography and additional wildlife observation
• 13:30 to 14:30 Lunch and relaxation
• 14:30 to 15:30 Additional experience or leisure time
• 15:30 to 17:30 Return journey to Arusha

Times are approximate and may change according to traffic, sanctuary scheduling, wildlife activity and your confirmed program.

Serval Wildlife Quick Facts

Destination: Serval Wildlife

Location: Siha District

Region: Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania

Starting Point: Arusha

Approximate Driving Time: 1.5 to 2 hours each way

Recommended Tour Duration: Full day

Main Experience: Guided close range wildlife observation

Common Wildlife: Giraffes, zebras, elands, ostriches, serval cats and other resident species

Physical Difficulty: Easy

Best For: Couples, families, photographers, honeymooners, solo travellers and groups

Tour Operator: Tansania Toll Safaris

Why Visit Serval Wildlife?

Serval Wildlife offers something significantly different from a traditional safari in Serengeti, Tarangire or Ngorongoro.

Instead of viewing wildlife mainly from inside a vehicle, this experience provides a more intimate environment where selected animals can be observed from much closer distances under supervision.

It is particularly suitable for travellers who are interested in wildlife photography, animal education and relaxed wildlife experiences without spending an entire day on game drive roads.

Its location between Arusha and the Kilimanjaro region also makes it easy to incorporate into a northern Tanzania holiday.

Serval Wildlife and a Traditional Safari

A visit to Serval Wildlife should be viewed as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, a traditional Tanzania safari.

In national parks such as Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, wildlife lives within vast natural ecosystems and encounters are unpredictable.

Serval Wildlife provides a different experience centred on controlled observation, education and closer encounters.

Combining both experiences gives travellers two very different ways to appreciate Tanzania’s remarkable wildlife.

Best Time to Visit Serval Wildlife

Serval Wildlife can generally be visited throughout the year.

Clear mornings can be particularly rewarding because visibility toward Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru may be better before clouds develop later in the day.

Weather conditions change throughout the year, so light clothing, sun protection and a light rain jacket are useful additions to your day bag.

What to Bring

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Lightweight clothing
• Hat or cap
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Camera or smartphone
• Spare camera battery or power bank
• Refillable drinking water bottle
• Light rain jacket
• Small backpack
• Personal medication
• Cash for personal purchases and tips