Safaris to Tanzania- with wildebeest stampeding across the plains, hippos jostling for space in rivers, elephants kicking up the dust and chimpanzees swinging through the treetops.
Wherever you go in the country, there are unparalleled opportunities to experience wildlife. But it’s not just the wildlife that enchants visitors.
Tanzania’s magical Indian Ocean coastline is also magical, with its tranquil islands, long beaches and sleepy villages steeped in centuries of Swahili culture.
Coconut palms sway in the breeze, dhows glide by on the horizon, and colourful fish flit past spectacular corals in the turquoise waters.
More than anything, though, it is Tanzania’s people that make a visit to the country so memorable,
with their characteristic warmth and politeness, and the dignity and beauty of their cultures.
Chances are you will want to come back for more, to which most Tanzanians would say ‘karibu tena’ (welcome again).
What to do when visiting Tanzania?
🐅 Serengeti National park
Serengeti National Park is a World Heritage Site teeming with wildlife: over 2 million ungulates, 4000 lions, 1000 leopard,
550 cheetahs and some 500 bird species inhabit an area close to 15,000 square kilometers in size.
It is best known for its huge herds of plains animals (especially gnu [wildebeests], gazelles, and zebras), and it is the only place in Africa where vast land-animal migrations still take place.
The park, an international tourist attraction, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981.
The Serengeti is a vast ecosystem with many seasonal differences in terms of weather and climate.
Serengeti National Park experiences a generally cool and and dry season from May to August; a dry and warmer season in September and October; and a wetter and hot season from November to April.
🛤 Mt Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain on the African continent and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. 9.
Kilimanjaro has three volcanic cones, Mawenzi, Shira and Kibo. Mawenzi and Shira are extinct but Kibo, the highest peak, is dormant and could erupt again.
Adding to Kilimanjaro’s appeal is the fact that – somewhat surprisingly – you don’t need any mountaineering equipment or experience to climb it.
That’s right: you can simply hike up to one of the world’s highest peaks! We refer to Mount Kilimanjaro as a non-technical mountain for this reason.
This isn’t the case for countless lesser peaks around the world. And the remaining Seven Summits (even those that are much lower) are all technical mountains.
⛰ Ngorongoro Crater
Volcanic craters form stunning backdrops to some of the most fertile and richest grazing grounds in Africa.
The most famous such crater is without question Ngorongoro, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and home to the highest density of big game in Africa.
The Ngorongoro crater is also the world’s largest inactive caldera. The crater floor covers about 260 square kilometers and is the crater is about 600 meters deep.
Due to the collapse of an active volcano over 2 million years ago, the Ngorongoro crater was formed.
Zanzibar’s Stone Town
Whether it’s your first visit or your 50th, Zanzibar’s Stone Town never loses its touch of the exotic.
First, you’ll see the skyline, with the spires of St Joseph’s Cathedral and the Old Fort. Then, wander through narrow alleyways that reveal surprises at every turn.
Linger at dusty shops scented with cloves, watch as men wearing white robelike kanzu play the game bao.
Admire intricate henna designs on the hands of women in their bui-bui (black cover-all). Island rhythms quickly take over as mainland life slips away.
Chimpanzee Tracking
Wild chimpanzees have made their home in the mountain forests in Mahle National Park near Lake Tanganyika. With no roads in the park, humans enter on foot or travel along the coast by boat.
Trek twice into Mahale Forest with expert local guides who work daily with the chimps and are skilled at tracking their movements.
The best countries to see these endangered creatures are Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.
Although all of the chimpanzees in these places are wild, many groups have become fully habituated to humans.
This means that along with your guide you can get much closer to them to study their behavior and to take photographs.
Chimpanzees are one of four types of “great ape.” The great apes are: chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans.
Wild chimpanzees only live in Africa. Humans and chimpanzees share 95 to 98 percent of the same DNA. Biologically, chimpanzees are more closely related to humans than they are to gorillas.
Ngoma
The Ngoma, also known as the Drum of the Dead due to its relation to indigenous royal ancestor spirits, originated in the Eastern part of Africa, particularly Tanzania,
Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Kenya and especially Uganda. The Baganda, the largest tribe in Uganda, continues many traditional uses of the Ngoma drum.
Culture of Tanzani
Tanzania is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. From the tall graceful Maasai warriors, the ancient ways of the Hadza bushmen,
the resourceful agricultural practices of the Wameru, the artistic talents of the Makonde to the Chaga farmers and traders.
Family are not differentiated: cousins are referred to as brothers and sisters, and uncles and aunts are referred to as fathers and mothers. A typical rural household is large.
The father is the traditional head of the family, but mothers carry power as the managers of the family.
People from all over the world flock to Tanzania to have a safari in some of the best national parks in the world.
The most popular sports in Tanzania are soccer and boxing. Tanzania has also produced several world class runners. For entertainment, Tanzanians enjoy music, dancing and storytelling.
Selous Game Reserve
The Selous Game Reserve is the largest protected game reserve on the African continent covering an area of 54,600 square kilometers comprised of a vast wilderness with forests,
grassy plains, mountains and open woodlands. This reserve was named after Frederick Selous Courtney who was a great Hunter and explorer.
Beaches of Tanzania
With over 1000km of Indian Ocean coastline, exotic archipelagos and inland lakes, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to Tanzania’s beaches.
Zanzibar’s beaches are more developed, but stunning, with blindingly white sand, the obligatory palm trees and rewarding diving.
For something less crowded, head to Pemba, with its idyllic coves, or the mainland near Pangani. To really get away from it all, try the far south,
between Kilwa Masoko and the Mozambique border, or inland along the Lake Tanganyika shoreline.
Ruins & Rock Art
Tanzania offers a wealth of attractions for history buffs. Among the most impressive of the many coastal ruins are those at Kilwa Kisiwani –
a Unesco World Heritage site harking back to the days of sultans and far-flung trade routes linking inland gold fields with Persia, India and China.
Standing in the restored Great Mosque, you can almost hear the whispers of bygone centuries. Inland, armed with a sense of adventure and a taste for rugged travel,
head for the enigmatic Kondoa Rock-Art Sites, spread throughout Central Tanzania’s Irangi hills.
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park is renowned for its excellent wildlife-sighting opportunities. Combined with the low numbers of visitors, this makes it a spectacular destination.
The wider Ruaha area hosts 10% of the world’s lion population and has been a Lion Conservation Unit since 2005.
The middle and end of the Dry season (June to October) is the prime time for watching wildlife in Park.
Animals are easier to spot because the bush thins out and wildlife concentrates around trusted water sources.
Safaris to Tanzania- Ngorongoro Crater- haven for the Big 5 It’s renowned for delivering the easiest and most reliable Big 5 sightings in East Africa,
and is provides what is arguably the best safari in Tanzania.