Places to visit in Tanzania

The vast Serengeti is one of the best places to see Tanzania’s wildlife, and you could easily spend days in just this one national park – easily one of the most popular things to do in Tanzania. Larger than Northern Ireland, you can see wildebeest and zebra calve towards the start of the year at the Ndutu Plains on the edge of the national park, as well as part of the Great Migration as the herds make their way north through the Serengeti and later return for the next year’s young to be born.

Whenever you visit, you’ve got a good chance of spotting the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo are all found here, to name only a few of the fascinating creatures living in the national park. But you could also spot cheetah and hyena, plains animals such as giraffe, a string of antelope and gazelles, plus more than 500 species of bird.

One of the best areas to explore year-round is the central area, Seronera, which attracts many animals thanks to its year-round water sources. The woodland by the banks of the river is particularly good for spotting more elusive leopards.

Called the eighth wonder of the world, the Ngorongoro Crater sits inside an ancient extinct volcano, with cliffs rising 600m to the rim above. This self-contained natural world has one of the densest populations of large mammals to discover, with around 30,000 living in this 102 square mile landscape of grasslands, wetlands and forests.

Home to one of Tanzania’s biggest black rhino populations, along with other members of the Big Five, it’s easily one of the most unusual places on Earth for a safari. The world’s biggest intact unflooded volcanic caldera, the crater is also a particularly good place to spot lions, who can be seen relaxing and hunting close to the road. Part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you can learn more about human history around here too, with fossils dating back around 3.6 million years discovered in the volcanic rock of nearby Olduvai Gorge.

Easily the most eye-catching lake in Tanzania, the dramatic reds and vibrant pinks of Lake Natron are caused by micro-organisms attracted by the salt in its shallow waters. And in turn, thousands of flamingos flock here to enjoy their favourite snack – spirulina, a type of blue-green algae which breaks down to give the birds their own famously rosy feathers.

With its shallow waters reflecting one of Tanzania’s active volcanoes, Ol Doinyo Lengai, or ‘mountain of God’ in Maasai, the whole area is a fantastic place for hiking, including walks to waterfalls where you can swim in the pools. Whether you’re a bird-lover, a keen photographer or just hoping to see one of the country’s most dramatic landscapes, Lake Natron is a fascinating sight.

The ‘gateway to safari’, Arusha town marks the starting point of many safari holidays in Tanzania but the nearby Arusha National Park is well worth a visit, not least because it’s one of the few places in Tanzania where you can enjoy walking safaris. It’s also home to the highest concentration of giraffe in Tanzania, as well as the rare black and white colobus monkey.

But one of the big highlights is the unusual mix of landscapes packed into the small national park, including the seven Momella lakes. These saline lakes are all a slightly different shade of blue-green, and you’ll spot birds galore from a canoe safari, along with hippos and zebra nearby.

Arusha has its own crater, the Ngurdoto Crater, where you can spy buffalo, warthogs and more monkeys. And looming in the distance, Mount Meru is an option for keen climbers and those hoping to acclimatise to altitude before summiting Kilimanjaro, with more great walks around the foot of the mountain.

One of the largest game reserves in the world, Nyerere National Park (formerly part of the Selous Game Reserve) is also one of country’s least visited – far from the crowds of the Serengeti, you can revel in the sight of Tanzania’s wildlife with a fraction of the usual number of human companions.

A huge variety of animals live here too, including leopards and rhino, as well as lions and elephants, giraffe, wildebeest and endangered wild dogs – Nyerere is known as one of the best places in Tanzania to see these rare predators. Another highlight is cruising along the Rufiji River, the largest river in Tanzania, to spot wallowing hippos and basking crocodiles, plus birds galore; African fish eagles, bee-eaters, kingfishers to name a few.

You can even enjoy a bird’s eye view, with small planes taking you high above the vast wilderness to get a very different perspective on the huge national park stretching out below. Definitely one of the most unusual things to do in Tanzania.

Often compared to the Serengeti thanks to the landscape of the Mkata Floodplain, Mikumi National Park is another of Tanzania’s less-visited reserves, part of the Southern Safari Circuit. On these sprawling grasslands in the shadow of the Uluguru Mountains, you’ll spy herds of buffalo, wildebeest, zebra and large groups of impala, as well as lion and spotted hyena on the lookout for their prey, plus elephants, warthogs and various monkeys and apes, such as yellow baboon.

This is another great location to see birds, with around 400 species to spot, including ostriches and pelicans. If you are short of time, it’s an easy day trip from Dar es Salaam, or combines well with Nyerere National Park on a longer safari holiday in South Tanzania.

Africa’s highest peak, this 5,895m-tall dormant volcano is the world’s highest free-standing mountain. One of the ‘Seven Summits’, the tallest mountains on each continent, no trip to Tanzania is complete without a chance to stop and marvel at this snow-capped peak that’s set almost on the equator.

For many visitors to Tanzania, Kilimanjaro is the end goal, climbing to Uhuru Peak on the Kibo crater rim. With seven different routes leading to the summit, all varying by difficulty, time needed and experience required, it’s a memorable challenge as well as giving you the chance to journey through a series of different climate zones, from lush forest to icy rock.

But you needn’t climb the entire way to the Roof of Africa to get a taste of Kilimanjaro, with some easier things to do in this corner of Tanzania, such as day trips to lower-lying camps or cycling routes through the villages around the foothills. The mountain is surrounded by 250 square miles of national park too, where you’ll find elephants and buffalo, along with monkeys, baboons and birds.

Off Tanzania’s coast lies Zanzibar, an archipelago famed for its white sandy beaches and rich cultural history. Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, boasts winding alleys, bustling markets, and historic architecture, while the island’s beautiful beaches are ideal for relaxation. We recommend the north and east coast beaches for chilled out beach time during your Tanzania holiday. If you’d prefer to stay on the mainland, we recommend spending a few days in Pangani. Our lodge overlooks the white sand beach and palm trees, and is the perfect spot for some relaxation. Take a dip in the Indian Ocean, visit nearby Maziwe Island for a spot of snorkelling or simply soak up the sun.

Simply choose your favourite bite-sized trips or ready-made itineraries, add them to your Travel Plan and request a quote. Our Travel Specialists will then put together a holiday that’s right for you. Plus you’ll have the same team for the life of your booking & support from our local partners on the ground 24/7.