Tanzania

Top Attractions

Because the country is vast, it helps to think of Tanzania holidays falling into four broad areas: the famous 'northern circuit' safaris; the wild parks of southern Tanzania; the remote safaris of western Tanzania; and the beaches of the coast & islands. Tanzania's three safari areas are very different; but all combine well with trips to the beach! Looking at each in more detail:

Northern Circuits

1. Arusha

Situated near the Kenyan border, the bustling town of Arusha stands in the foothills of Mount Meru at an altitude of about 1,500m. The town is most popular and convenient springboard from which to explore the legendary northern game-viewing circuit.

2. Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is very easy to access: it’s about 90 minutes’ drive from Arusha and barely an hour from the Ngorongoro Crater. To see the park at its best, we recommend that you either stay within the park or spend two nights somewhere close, entering the park early for a full-day safari.

3. Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is very easy to access: it’s about 90 minutes’ drive from Arusha and barely an hour from the Ngorongoro Crater. To see the park at its best, we recommend that you either stay within the park or spend two nights somewhere close, entering the park early for a full-day safari.

4. Mount Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro, the name itself is a mystery wreathed in clouds. It might mean Mountain of Light, Mountain of Greatness or Mountain of Caravans. Or it might not. The local people, the Wachagga, don’t even have a name for the whole massif, only Kipoo (now known as Kibo) for the familiar snowy peak that stands imperious, overseer of the continent, the summit of Africa.

5. Ngorongoro Crater

In 1951, the enormous Serengeti National Park was declared, encompassing the present Serengeti, plus the Ngorongoro area and surrounding Crater Highlands. Today, this is split into the present-day Serengeti National Park, and the current Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The conservation area now encompasses a large area of the short-grass plains on the southern side of the Serengeti Plain and also the Ngorongoro Highlands, a range of largely extinct ancient volcanoes on the west side of the Great Rift Valley.

6. Rubondo Island National Park

The largest island national park in the whole of Africa, Rubondo Island is found in Lake Victoria (the second largest lake in Africa!). It measures 26km in length, with a width varying from 3km to 10km in different parts of the island.

7. Serengeti Migration Area

The Serengeti is vast and beautiful; it’s one of Africa’s most captivating safari areas. The sheer amount of game here is amazing: estimates suggest up to about two million wildebeest, plus perhaps half a million zebra, hundreds of thousands of Thompson’s gazelle, and tens of thousands of impala, Grant’s gazelle, topi (tsessebe), hartebeest, eland and other antelope – all hunted by the predators for which these plains are famous.

8. Serengeti Migration Area

The Serengeti is vast and beautiful; it’s one of Africa’s most captivating safari areas. The sheer amount of game here is amazing: estimates suggest up to about two million wildebeest, plus perhaps half a million zebra, hundreds of thousands of Thompson’s gazelle, and tens of thousands of impala, Grant’s gazelle, topi (tsessebe), hartebeest, eland and other antelope – all hunted by the predators for which these plains are famous.

Western, Eastern and Southern Circuits

1. Dar es Salaam

Although Dodoma, in the middle of the country, is Tanzania’s designated capital city, Dar es Salaam remains Tanzania’s social and commercial heart, as the country’s largest city and main port. Most travellers fly into and out of ‘Dar’, as it’s always called.

2. Katavi National Park

The far west of Tanzania gives home to two of Tanzania’s lesser known national parks: Katavi National Park and Mahale Mountains National Park. This western circuit is extremely remote thus need flying services. As a result few people make the effort to come here and so it has remained an untouched, unique experience, and absolutely worth visiting.

3. Mahale Mountains National Park

In the extreme west of Tanzania are two national parks that aren’t well known: Mahale Mountains National Park and Katavi National Park. These reserves are exceedingly remote, tricky to access, and costly to visit – but they’re very different from anything else in Tanzania, and totally magical. Mahale is also probably the best place in the world for chimp safaris!

4. Mikumi & Udzungwa Mountains

In Southern Tanzania, on the north-west side of Selous Game Reserve, lie two small, quite offbeat national parks: Mikumi National Park and Udzungwa Mountains National Park. They’re currently visited by very few people, although Udzungwa, in particular, is of considerable scientific importance.

5. Ruaha National Park

In 2008 the Usangu Game reserve merged its borders with Ruaha transforming it into Tanzania’s largest national park; it now covers more than 20,000km². Despite the size of the park there are still only a handful of camps found here, which has built Ruaha’s reputation as Tanzania’s best kept game viewing secret. Ruaha’s wild and untrammelled feel is what sets it apart from other reserves, making it a popular choice for regular east African safarigoers.

6. Saadani National Park

Saadani’s is the only wildlife reserve in East Africa with a beachfront on the Indian Ocean.
Saadani is a place where you can combine some gentle beach time with the odd game drive, guided walks, and perhaps a trips up the Wami River by boat.

7. Selous Game Reserve

Covering 45,000km² of wilderness, with grassy plains, open woodland, mountains and forests, the Selous Game Reserve is Africa’s largest game reserve. It’s about three times the size of South Africa’s Kruger National Park, and twice the size of the Serengeti National Park. In a fitting tribute, it is also one of Tanzania’s three World Heritage Sites.