Welcome to Tanzania, a land of contrasts and extremes!
When you think of Tanzania, images of the Serengeti, the Great Migration, and the Maasai may come to mind. But Tanzania has so much more to offer. It is home to the continent's largest lake, Lake Victoria, as well as the deepest, Lake Tanganyika. Here, you'll also find Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.
Tanzania’s vegetation is incredibly diverse, ranging from lava rock deserts to the eternal ice of Kilimanjaro’s glaciers. Two-thirds of the country is covered by dry forests and savannas, with the Miombo woodlands serving as transitional zones between savannas and tropical mountain rainforests. In the southern and western regions, you’ll find famous national parks like Gombe, Mahale, and Udzungwa.
Tanzania is renowned not only for its rich wildlife and vegetation but also for its diverse culture. Over 100 languages and dialects are spoken across the country, and throughout history, various regional art and cultural traditions have developed. One example is the Makonde woodcarving tradition, widely practiced in southeastern Tanzania and northeastern Mozambique.
Visitors to the Mwenge Market in Dar es Salaam can watch artists at work and admire a wide range of carvings. Traditionally, these carvings were made from precious ebony. However, due to its slow growth rate and resulting scarcity, ebony is now often replaced with African blackwood, which also has a distinguished appearance.
Please keep in mind that during your travels in Tanzania, you may encounter unforeseen or unexpected situations. Flexibility, patience, and an open mind are always valuable companions and often the key to a wonderful journey.
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.
Designated by the Maasai people, Randilen is a community wildlife management area of 327 km², which extends organically from Tarangire National Park's north-eastern boundary and adheres to strict ecological principles that benefit both wildlife and the community. In the dry season between July and October, wildlife is concentrated around a few water sources, particularly the Tarangire River Valley. Wildlife moves into the surrounding hills during the green season, which comes alive with lushness, flowering blooms, epic skies, and exuberant wildlife. Aside from elephant and buffalo, species most likely to be seen are giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, waterbuck, bushbuck, impala, lesser kudu, eland and warthog. Among the predators are lion and leopard, as well as jackals and mongoose.
Located in Northern Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Crater is best known for its natural beauty and abundance of diverse wildlife; which makes it one of Africa’s most popular safari destinations. Surrounded by Tanzania’s highlands, this UNESCO-listed crater is said to be the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. Visitors can look forward to spotting the world-renowned Big Five and a host of other wildlife species including large herds of zebra and wildebeest. It is famed as one of Tanzania’s best tourist attractions offering visitors an array of wonderful activities including excellent bird watching, trekking, wildlife viewing, mountain biking and visiting a local Maasai village. Don’t miss the opportunity to jump on an excursion to the magnificent Olduvai Gorge.
Ndutu Serengeti is a renowned wildlife area located in Tanzania, within the larger Serengeti ecosystem. It's characterized by its vast plains, acacia woodlands, and seasonal marshes, creating a diverse habitat for a wide array of wildlife. This region is particularly famous for its annual wildebeest migration, where millions of wildebeest, zebras, and other herbivores traverse the plains in search of fresh grazing grounds, usually occurring between December and March. Ndutu Serengeti offers excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography, with sightings of predators like lions, cheetahs, and leopards being common. It's also a popular destination for birdwatching, with over 400 bird species recorded in the area.
Situated in the heart of Tanzania, the Central Serengeti encompasses the world-famous Seronera Valley which is known for its prime wildlife-viewing opportunities. This picture-perfect landscape is characterised by endless stretches of savannah-covered open plains interspersed by rocky outcrops of granite and scattered with acacia woodlands and covered in a network of rivers and streams. The Central Serengeti forms part of the great wildebeest and zebra migration and provides an ideal habitat for a variety of wildlife such as giraffe, impala, waterbuck, hippo, elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, hyena, jackal, serval and much more. Popular activities include: game viewing, cultural tours, horse riding safaris, and hot air ballooning over the spectacularly scenic terrain.
Beautiful, relatively tourist-free Kendwa lies on the northwest coast of Unguja, a spectacular tropical island just off the coast of Tanzania. Powder-fine white-sand beaches are lapped by crystal-clear turquoise waters, which contain an extraordinary underwater wonderland perfect for scuba diving. Other activities on offer include parasailing, banana boating, and jet skiing. The beach here is also famous for its exciting Full Moon Party. The tidal patterns here also allow for swimming at any time of the day or night. A unique and wonderful experience provided here is the chance to learn how to build traditional dhows. Village tours are also on offer.
