Summary of Tanzania’s Best Destinations
- The Serengeti, Northern Tanzania
- Mount Kilimanjaro, Northern Tanzania
- Zanzibar, East Coast
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Northern Tanzania
- The Selous, Southern Tanzania
- Mahale Mountains, Western Tanzania
- Tarangire National Park, Northern Tanzania
- Katavi, Western Tanzania
- Ruaha National Park, Southern Tanzania
- Mafia Island, East Coast (Indian Ocean)
When you travel to Tanzania, the best places to visit and enjoy a safari include Katavi, Selous, Ruaha, Tarangire, and Ngorongoro. Of course, there’s also the Serengeti where you can witness the great annual migration of millions of wildebeest. Some of the best beaches on earth can be found in the Zanzibar archipelago, and Mafia Island is equally idyllic. For more action, you can hike up Africa’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Other incredible mountains include Mahale, where you can visit the largest remaining population of chimpanzees in the wild. Explore all 10 of Tanzania’s best destinations below.
The Serengeti, Northern Tanzania
Address
Tanzania
Phone +255 764 597 219
The Serengeti National Park offers the absolute classic African safari setting. The migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra starts here. The vast expanse of grasslands makes the Serengeti fantastic for spotting lion kills because you can see the whole spectacle clearly. There are mobile camps that are worth staying at because the wildlife concentrates in certain parts of the park depending on the time of year and the rains. The best time to go is between December and June; however, you can’t really go wrong any time of the year. A hot-air balloon ride at dawn is a truly magnificent experience.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Northern Tanzania
Address
Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Africa is known as one of the best destinations for adventure travel, and what can be more adventurous than hiking up the world’s tallest free-standing mountain? Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, standing at 19,340 feet (5896m), will take you approximately 6 days to conquer. The exciting thing about this mountain is that anyone who is fit and determined can make it up. No special climbing equipment or expertise is needed. Serious hikers sometimes use nearby Mount Meru as a practice climb.
Zanzibar, East Coast
Address
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Zanzibar is one of Tanzania’s top destinations due to its fascinating past and incredible beaches. Zanzibar’s location in the Indian Ocean has made it a natural trading center throughout history. Famous for its spices, Zanzibar also became an important slave trading post under its Arab rulers. Stone Town, Zanzibar’s capital, is a World Heritage site, boasting beautiful traditional houses, narrow alleyways, a Sultan’s palace, and many mosques.
Moreover, Zanzibar has many stunning beaches that can be enjoyed on any budget. Some of the surrounding islands offer a paradise for luxury travelers, such as Mnemba Island, which is absolutely idyllic for a romantic vacation.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Northern Tanzania
Address
Tanzania
The Ngorongoro Conservation area borders the Serengeti in northern Tanzania and includes the world’s largest crater, which acts as a natural enclosure for almost every species of wildlife found in East Africa. This includes the very rare black rhino. The Ngorongoro Crater is where you’ll witness some of the densest populations of wildlife in the world, making it a truly amazing place for photographers. The Maasai still live within the conservation area, and it’s also home to Oldupai, where some of the earliest remains of man have been found.
The Selous, Southern Tanzania
Address
Morogoro, Tanzania
Phone +255 734 844 444
The Selous is Africa’s largest reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is less crowded than the Serengeti. You can spot elephants, cheetahs, black rhinos, African hunting dogs, and plenty of hippos and crocodiles. The Selous swamps, rivers, and wetlands allow tourists to experience their safari by boat, which is a significant draw. Moreover, walking safaris are popular, and you can also enjoy night drives.
Accommodations in Selous and surrounding areas are somewhat limited but all offer a very intimate and unique safari experience.
Mahale Mountains, Western Tanzania
Address
PWMM+88P, Kalambo, Tanzania
Phone +255 27 297 0404
Mahale served as the research base for a team of Japanese anthropologists for several decades. Despite the gorgeous clear waters of Lake Tanganyika and the draw of the chimps, Mahale was not widely recognized as a tourist destination until about a decade ago. It’s still remote, but absolutely worth the trip. Apart from the 1000 chimps, there are other primates to see, including red colobus and yellow baboons.
The best time to visit Mahale is during the dry season from May to October. A visit to Mahale is often combined with at least a few nights in Katavi. Mahale is linked by chartered aircraft to Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Kigoma.
Tarangire National Park, Northern Tanzania
Address
Babati Rural, Tanzania
Phone +255 27 297 0404
Tarangire is a popular day trip for those following a northern safari itinerary, but its baobab-dotted landscape and numerous dry riverbeds deserve much more time. During the dry season (August to October), Tarangire boasts one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Tanzania. It’s an excellent spot for wildlife enthusiasts to observe elephants, zebras, giraffes, impalas, and wildebeests.
Walking safaris can be enjoyed in Tarangire, making it an excellent destination for birdwatchers. Be prepared to deal with tsetse flies here; during certain times of the year, they can be quite bothersome.
Various accommodations in Tarangire include lodges, campsites, and luxury tented camps.
Katavi, Western Tanzania
Address
4528+Q96, Ikuu, Tanzania
Phone +255 767 536 128
Katavi has all the credentials of being a top wildlife destination in Africa. It is teeming with animals that are beautiful and unspoiled. The reason Katavi sees so few visitors is its remoteness. This serves as a great reason to visit if you’re looking for a unique safari experience, as there are only two camps, and it is only accessible by light aircraft.
Katavi is best experienced during the dry season (June to November) when its pools are filled to the brim with as many as 3000 hippos.
Ruaha National Park, Southern Tanzania
Ruaha is a remote and large park filled with wildlife, especially elephants. Visitors can also see lions, cheetahs, leopards, and numerous kudu, along with nearly every other African mammal you’d like to encounter. The park provides access to the Great Ruaha River, and during the dry season (May to December), you can enjoy some spectacular game viewing.
Ruaha is accessible only by light aircraft, and it is recommended to stay at least 4 nights to make the trip worthwhile. This duration also allows ample time to explore the vast unspoiled African wilderness. Thankfully, the accommodations in Ruaha make it a pleasure to spend several nights.
Mafia Island, East Coast (Indian Ocean)
Address
Mafia Island, Tanzania
With fewer than 1000 visitors per year, Mafia Island is an undiscovered Tanzanian gem. It boasts a rich history along with a strong Swahili culture unspoiled by mass tourism. Much of the island and its beautiful beaches have been designated as a marine park, making it one of the premier locations for deep-sea fishing, diving, and snorkeling in Africa. You might encounter whale sharks, turtles, and many other fascinating wildlife species.
There are around half a dozen boutique hotels and intimate resorts available for guests, including eco-friendly options like Kinasi Lodge, Pole Pole, and Ras Mbisi Lodge.
You can easily reach Mafia Island by plane from Dar es Salaam, with Coastal Aviation offering regular flights.
