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!
Located in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, close to the Kenyan border in Northern Tanzania, the vibrant town of Moshi is known as a coffee-producing hub boasting vast coffee plantations. The majestic snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro towers over this little African town. Moshi serves as the gateway to the Kilimanjaro National Park and provides an excellent base from which to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. Visitors can enjoy day trips, short hikes, or longer expeditions using Moshi as a starting point. Other popular activities include: spotting the Big Five on a wildlife safari, visiting a local village to learn about Maasai culture, and sampling mouth-watering Tanzanian cuisine.
Travellers heading for the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater will pass through the town of Karatu in the green hills of Tanzania’s northern highlands. Presided over by the towering Ol Deani Volcano, this small, colourful town serves as a popular overnight stop for visitors exploring the area’s many game parks. The town offers a variety of activities including browsing the bustling marketplace, sampling beer at a local brewery, visiting a traditional homestead, or taking a guided walk through the Ngorongoro Forest in search of waterfalls and caves. Whether you are looking for cultural tours, hiking and biking opportunities, a chance to enjoy an authentic rural Tanzania experience, or simply a break between safari game drives, this underrated town has plenty to offer.
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.
Tucked quietly between two of Tanzania’s most dramatic landscapes, Usa River—known locally as Ussa—is a small town resting between Ngurdoto Crater and Arusha National Park at the foot of Mount Meru. The surrounding countryside is a patchwork of farmland, coffee estates, and forested slopes dotted with small villages. Within the town, lively markets line the roads, filled with fresh produce, textiles, and handmade crafts. Visitors can cycle between Usa River and the nearby market town of Tengeru through farmland and villages, passing shaded and open areas that reveal local life, schools, and community centres for a relaxed, immersive cultural experience. Nearby trails lead to the Usa Springs Forest Reserve - also known as Kibola Forest - and the Meru Waterfalls, both known for scenic walks and rich birdlife. Dotted with eco-lodges and comfortable guesthouses, this gateway town is an ideal base for exploring the surrounding Lake Duluti, Arusha National Park, and the wider landscapes of northern Tanzania.
Set in the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania, the town of Lushoto serves as the capital of Lushoto District in the Tanga Region. This highland town is known for its leafy green streets and is surrounded by lush landscapes scattered with pines, eucalyptus, banana plants and an array of tropical vegetation. It provides the ideal base for visitors wanting to hike in the surrounding hills. Home to the local Wasambaa people, Lushoto is the cultural heartland of the region.
The quiet settlement of Pangani lies at the mouth of the river after which it is named, surrounded by pristine beaches that make it an ideal coastal holiday destination. This peaceful fishing town has an interesting history peppered with Arabic and German influences, and offers many walking tours to 200-year-old historical sites. An exciting option for intrepid travellers is a boat safari on the Pangani River, where crocodiles lurk beneath the water’s surface and birdlife abounds in the surrounding mangroves. The submerged island of Maziwe is now a marine reserve providing fabulous snorkelling opportunities and dolphin tours.
Set just a stone’s throw away from the idyllic island of Zanzibar, the town of Bagamoyo lies within the UNESCO-listed Bagamoyo District on Tanzania's coastline. It was once a major trading port, the capital of German East Africa, and a stopover for slave and ivory caravans who travelled from Lake Tanganyika to Zanzibar. Today it is a hub for traditional dhow building and is known for its arts, culture and fascinating history. The town features many colonial-era buildings lining narrow, unpaved streets. Bagamoyo makes for an excellent day or weekend trip from Dar es Salaam.
