The name Tanzania conjures up images of wildebeest stampeding across vast savannah, rain forests teeming with monkeys and birdlife, and great plains brimming with legions of game. All of these natural wonders and more are on offer in this exceptionally diverse African nation. Visitors typically visit Tanzania to partake in at least one of the four well-known Tanzanian tourist experiences: a relaxing seaside vacation on the picturesque island paradise of Zanzibar, an underwater tour of some of the world’s most renowned dive sites around the gorgeous Spice Islands, a safari adventure in some of Africa’s most impressive game reserves, or a hiking excursion around Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. Whichever of these incredible holidays you choose, you will undoubtedly be welcomed by some fabulously friendly and peaceful inhabitants who, despite being divided into 120 different ethnic groups and cultures, live in harmony with one another and provide some of the most wonderfully exotic local cuisine you could imagine. With all of this diversity on offer, the most difficult part of your Tanzanian holiday experience is likely to be deciding where to go!
Resting at the foot of Mount Meru, the sprawling city of Arusha is known as the safari capital of northern Tanzania. It serves as an excellent base from which to explore the remarkably scenic surrounding area which includes majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as the Manyara, Tarangire and Ngorongoro National Parks. Arusha is a good spot to take a day or two off from the safari circuit as it features a temperate climate and lush surrounds. Visitors can look forward to exploring the wildlife-abundant Serengeti National Park; the magnificent Arusha National Park; and taking on the challenge of climbing Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth highest mountain.
Situated in northern Tanzania, Tarangire National Park is a breathtaking safari destination famed for its dramatic landscapes and exceptional wildlife. Dominated by ancient baobab trees and the life-giving Tarangire River, the park provides sanctuary for vast herds of elephants, zebra, and wildebeest, alongside smaller groups of giraffe and impala, especially during the dry season when animals gather in extraordinary numbers. Travellers can look forward to thrilling game drives that reveal lion, leopard, and even cheetah, together with more than 500 bird species that make the skies shimmer with colour and sound. Unlike busier safari parks, Tarangire offers a more tranquil, intimate atmosphere, allowing visitors to truly connect with nature. Its sweeping vistas, rich biodiversity, and sense of untamed wilderness make it an unmissable highlight of any Tanzanian adventure.
Located between the Central Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve to the north, the Northern Serengeti is a remote African wildlife wonderland. The vast, rolling savannah of the Northern Serengeti, is known as the hub of the great migration. The landscape is characterised by vast stretches of savannah interspersed with acacia trees and riverine woodlands. Wildlife can be seen along the banks of the Mara River and visitors can view the annual spectacle of the half a million migrating wildebeest. Commonly spotted wildlife include: a multitude of plains game such as buffalo, zebra, gazelles, impala, giraffe as well as lion and leopard. Visitors can look forward to bird watching, hot air ballooning, game safaris and guided bush walks.
Resting approximately 40 kilometres from the Tanzanian coast, Zanzibar Island is characterised by exquisite white-sand beaches fringed by palm trees, and the turquoise waters and reefs here brim with an abundance of exotic marine life. This is a great mecca for watersport enthusiasts who flock here for excellent scuba diving, snorkelling, deep-sea fishing, kayaking, and kitesurfing opportunities. Visitors can even go sailing on traditional dhows. The island’s old city, Stone Town, features a maze of narrow alleyways lined with boutiques, bars, restaurants, bazaars, mosques and ornate Arab houses.
