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. With all of this diversity on offer, the most difficult part of your Tanzanian holiday experience is likely to be deciding where to go!
Arusha, Tanzania's safari capital, is located at the foot of Mount Meru, close to Mount Kilimanjaro, the Manyara, and Tarangire and Ngorongoro National Parks. From Arusha, it’s only a short trip to the Serengeti. Just to the north, on the slopes of Mount Meru, is Arusha National Park. Developed by the Germans as a centre of colonial administration because of the temperate climate, Arusha is a good place to take a day off from your safari travels.
After the Serengeti, Tarangire has the greatest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania and in the dry season the Tarangire River is a magnet for thirsty wildlife. Large herds of elephants and migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland gather and not surprisingly the predators follow. This is also the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as oryx and gerenuk are regularly spotted. Tarangire is also known for its spectacular baobab trees, and its breathtaking views of the Masaai Steppe and the mountains to the south. Located just a few hours drive from the town of Arusha, Tarangire is a popular stop for safaris travelling through the northern circuit on their way to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. The park extends into two game controlled areas and the wildlife are allowed to move freely throughout.
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.
With the Lake on its east and the Manyara Escarpment to its west the Lake Manyara National Park offers breathtaking views and a large variety of habitats. Acacia woodlands, water forests, baobab strewn cliffs, algae-streaked hot springs, swamps and the lake itself. And thanks to this the small Park is able to support a large number of animal species and incredible bird life. Manyara has the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world and the lions here are also renowned for their tree climbing.
The Ngorongoro Crater is game viewing gone crazy and it is not surprising that with is one of Tanzania’s major tourist drawcards. Within the crater rim a daily wildlife drama is played out as large herds of zebra and wildebeest graze nearby lions, leopards, elephants and black rhinos. Outside of the crater a similar drama continues in a more spread out manner with Masai herdsmen thrown into the mix.
The rich Acacia-dotted plains of the eastern Serengeti are home to abundant wildlife. Visitors flock here to view the world-renowned Wildebeest migration. We find an unsurpassed display of predators and predator activity among the endless grassy savannah, scattered gnarled Acacia trees, and weathered rocky outcrops. The area is unspoiled, silent, and remote from the busier central Serengeti.
Apart from the Cheetah, for which the area is famed, the area teems with wildlife. Prides of Lion and large packs of Hyenas. Leopards range along the river valleys and wooded hills; Serval Cats hunt in the tall grass, and Caracals at the base of kopjes and the water holes. This exclusive expanse of the Serengeti is among the best places in the world to photograph large cats. The permanent water attracts herbivores en mass - Elephants, Giraffes, Zebra, Warthog, and many more- making for an action-packed game experience.
The northern Serengeti is a mass gathering 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. Visitors can view the annual spectacle of half a million migrating Wildebeest making the treacherous river crossing at certain times of the year. Commonly spotted wildlife includes many plains game such as Buffalo, Zebra, Gazelle, Impala, and Giraffe, as well as Lion and Leopard. Visitors can look forward to bird watching, hot air ballooning, game safaris, and guided bush walks.
As previously described
Resting approximately 40 kilometres from the Tanzanian coast, this idyllic archipelago consists of Zanzibar and Pemba islands as well as numerous smaller islets. Zanzibar Island is characterised by exquisite white sand beaches fringed by palm trees and lapped by turquoise waters lined with coral reefs brimming with an abundance of exotic marine life. This underwater paradise is a mecca for watersport enthusiasts who flock here for the excellent scuba diving, snorkelling, deep sea fishing, kayaking, kitesurfing, and sailing on traditional dhows. The island’s old city, Stone Town, features a maze of narrow alleyways lined with boutiques, bars, restaurants, lively bazaars, mosques and ornate Arab houses. Don’t miss the chance to relax in the lap of luxury on the exclusive private island of Mnemba, lying just 3 kilometres off the coast of the main island.
Sandwiched between tropical greenery and the warm azure waters of the Indian Ocean, remote Matemwe beach is arguably the most enchanting of all the beaches in Zanzibar. Located on the last stretch of sand before the beaches give way to rugged cliffs on the uninhabited north-east coast of the island, Matemwe offers an unspoiled natural landscape, perfect for a relaxing tropical beach holiday. With its lovely shallow lagoon and the coral gardens of the renowned Mnemba Atoll resting just off the coast, Matemwe boasts some of Africa’s most impressive diving and snorkelling sites where you can marvel at the abundance of exotic marine life including colourful reef fish, turtles and many species of dolphin. Above water, visitors can experience a local fishing trip on a traditional dhow, visit nearby markets and villages, or simply kick back under a palm tree and unwind, far from the stresses of the modern world.
