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Tanzania Safaris

Serengeti plains, the Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro, and the beaches of Zanzibar.

Overview

About Tanzania

Tanzania is home to some of Africa's most famous safari landscapes, including the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro, along with the spice-scented beaches of Zanzibar. It borders Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west and several southern neighbours, and offers a wide mix of wildlife, mountain and coastal experiences.

This page brings together our ready-made Tanzania itineraries and every Tanzania destination guide on the site. Each destination card below links to the main guide for that park or area, and to the detailed pages on where to stay, how to get there, the best time to visit, wildlife, birding and activities. You will also find links to combination guides that pair Tanzania with Uganda, Kenya or Rwanda.

Tanzania suits travellers who want scale. The northern circuit of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara is the classic route, while the southern and western parks, Ruaha, Nyerere, Katavi, Mahale and Gombe, are quieter and more remote, with chimpanzee trekking on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Climbing Kilimanjaro and finishing on Zanzibar are common add-ons. If you are weighing countries, start with our comparison of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania and the Tanzania travel guide.

At a glanceTanzania
Known forSerengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, remote southern and western parks
Best forLarge herds, big cats, mountain climbing, chimpanzee trekking, safari-and-beach trips
Main regionsNorthern circuit, Southern circuit, Western parks, Zanzibar and the coast
Main gatewaysKilimanjaro International (Arusha and Moshi), Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar
Dry seasonsRoughly June to October and January to February
Rainy seasonsLong rains March to May, short rains November to December
Where to go

Top Tanzania Attractions

Each card below links to our main guide for that destination. Under every card you will find quick links to the detailed pages on that area: best time to visit, where to stay, getting there, itineraries, wildlife, birding and activities.

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti is Tanzania's most famous park, a vast plain of grassland and kopjes that supports lions, leopards, cheetahs and enormous herds of wildebeest and zebra. The migratory herds move through different regions through the year, so the best area depends on the month. Game drives, and in some seasons balloon flights, are the main activities.

Serengeti National Park guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Serengeti Great Migration Calen... · Serengeti Hot Air Balloon Safari

Ngorongoro Crater and Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Crater and Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Crater is a collapsed volcanic caldera with a permanent concentration of wildlife on its floor, including elephants, buffalo, hippos, lions and black rhinos. The wider conservation area also protects pastoral Maasai communities and the archaeological sites near Olduvai Gorge.

Ngorongoro Crater guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Birding · FAQs · Ngorongoro Conservation Area Be... · Ngorongoro in the Dry Season

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire is known for its baobab trees and large elephant herds, especially in the dry season when animals gather along the Tarangire River. It is easy to reach from Arusha and is often the first stop on a northern circuit.

Tarangire National Park guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Tarangire in the Dry Season · Tarangire in the Rainy Season

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park

Set between the Rift Valley escarpment and an alkaline lake, Lake Manyara has groundwater forest, hippos and a rich birdlife. It is a short park to visit and suits an afternoon drive on the way to Ngorongoro or the Serengeti.

Lake Manyara National Park guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Karatu and Mto wa Mbu Guide · Lake Manyara in the Dry Season

Arusha National Park and Mount Meru

Arusha National Park and Mount Meru

Arusha National Park is small but varied, with forest, crater lakes, giraffes, buffalo and colobus monkeys, and the slopes of Mount Meru. It is a convenient first or last stop near the airport, with walking safaris an option.

Arusha National Park guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Mount Meru vs Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the world's tallest free-standing mountain. Several routes lead to the summit, and the number of days you spend affects how well you acclimatise. Many climbers combine a climb with a few days of safari.

Mount Kilimanjaro guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Kilimanjaro Routes Compared · Kilimanjaro vs Mount Kenya Trek...

Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park

Ruaha is one of Tanzania's largest parks and sits in the centre of the country, with baobabs, rocky hills and river channels. It is known for lions, elephants and many antelope species, and sees far fewer visitors than the northern circuit.

Ruaha National Park guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Iringa Guide · Ruaha in the Dry Season

Nyerere National Park

Nyerere National Park

Nyerere, formerly part of the Selous, is a large wilderness in the south with the Rufiji River and its lakes at its heart. Boat safaris and walking safaris complement game drives, and it is within reach of Dar es Salaam.

Nyerere National Park guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Nyerere in the Dry Season · Nyerere in the Rainy Season

Mikumi and Udzungwa

Mikumi and Udzungwa

Mikumi is a savannah park on the road between Dar es Salaam and the south, easy to combine with Udzungwa Mountains National Park, a forested range known for its monkeys and birds and for its hiking trails.

Mikumi guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs

Katavi National Park

Katavi National Park

Katavi is a remote western park, known for its seasonal floodplains, large buffalo herds and hippos. It is reached by light aircraft and suits travellers who value wilderness and a very low number of other visitors.

Katavi National Park guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs

Mahale Mountains and Gombe Stream

Mahale Mountains and Gombe Stream

On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Mahale and Gombe protect wild chimpanzee communities that visitors can track on foot. Gombe is linked with Jane Goodall's long-running research, and both parks are reached by boat or light aircraft from Kigoma.

Mahale Mountains guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs · Kigoma and Lake Tanganyika Guide · Lake Tanganyika

Saadani National Park

Saadani National Park

Saadani is one of the few places where bush and beach meet in Tanzania, with wildlife close to the Indian Ocean. It is a practical choice for a short safari from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar.

Saadani National Park guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Getting there · Itineraries · Wildlife · Activities · Birding · FAQs

Zanzibar and Stone Town

Zanzibar and Stone Town

Zanzibar combines a historic Swahili trading town, a UNESCO-listed Stone Town, spice farms and long beaches on the Indian Ocean. Snorkelling, dolphin trips, dhow sailing and kitesurfing are among the activities, and it is the usual finish to a Tanzania safari.

Zanzibar guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Best time to visit · Birding · Jozani Forest Zanzibar Guide · Kizimkazi Dolphin Trips

Pemba and Mafia Islands

Pemba and Mafia Islands

Pemba and Mafia are quieter alternatives to Zanzibar, with coral reefs and a strong diving and fishing focus. Mafia Island is part of a marine park, and both islands suit travellers who want a slower pace.

Pemba guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Game Fishing in Pemba and Mafia · Mafia Island Beaches

Lake Natron and Lake Eyasi

Lake Natron and Lake Eyasi

Lake Natron in the north is an alkaline lake with dramatic scenery and flamingo breeding areas; Lake Eyasi in the Rift Valley is known for its traditional hunter-gatherer and pastoral communities. Both suit adventurous add-ons to a northern circuit.

Lake Natron guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Birding · Lake Eyasi Tanzania Guide

Arusha, Moshi and Dar es Salaam

Arusha, Moshi and Dar es Salaam

Arusha and Moshi are the usual gateways to the northern parks and Kilimanjaro, while Dar es Salaam serves the south and the coast. Each town has its own character, with markets, coffee farms and cultural tours that fill a spare day before or after a safari.

Arusha guides: Main guide · Where to stay · Arusha City Guide · Dar es Salaam Guide

Where to Go in Tanzania: Choosing Your Circuit

Tanzania's parks fall into clear groups. The northern circuit, which includes the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Arusha National Park, is the most visited and has the best road and air links. The southern circuit of Nyerere, Ruaha, Mikumi and Udzungwa is quieter and more remote, and the western parks of Katavi, Mahale and Gombe suit a second trip or a dedicated chimpanzee itinerary. Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru are separate mountain trips, and Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia and Saadani cover the coast.

Most first-time visitors choose the northern circuit for four to eight days, then add Zanzibar. More experienced travellers combine the north with a southern park or head west for chimpanzee trekking. Our planning pages cover each of these routes, including four, seven and ten-day itineraries, the northern circuit, the southern circuit and the western circuit.

Tanzania can also be joined with its neighbours. See the Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar combination, the Uganda and Tanzania safari combination and the Tanzania safari and Zanzibar combination.

Best Time to Visit Tanzania

The main dry season runs from about June to October, with a shorter dry spell in January and February. The dry months are the best time for game viewing in most parks, as animals concentrate near water. The long rains fall from March to May and the short rains in November and December; the landscape is green and quiet, though some roads and camps are affected in the wettest weeks.

The wildebeest migration is a year-round movement rather than a single event, and the best Serengeti region depends on the month. See the Serengeti migration calendar by month, the calving season guide and our best time to visit Tanzania page. For Kilimanjaro, read the best time and altitude guide.

Getting to Tanzania and Getting Around

Most visitors to the northern parks fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport, between Arusha and Moshi, while Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar serve the south and the coast. Within the country, scheduled and charter flights link the main parks, and road transfers from Arusha reach Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro in a few hours. See our route guides for Arusha to the Serengeti, Arusha to Ngorongoro, Arusha to Tarangire, Dar es Salaam to Nyerere and Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar.

For practical details, read the visa guide, health and malaria, tipping, park fees explained and safari safety. Park and conservation area fees are set by the managing authorities and change, so we check current rates when we prepare your quote.

People, Culture and Food in Tanzania

Tanzania has more than one hundred ethnic groups and a strong Swahili heritage on the coast. Cultural visits near the parks include Maasai communities, Hadzabe and Datoga experiences around Lake Eyasi, and coffee and waterfall tours around Moshi. You can learn more in our guides to the Maasai in Tanzania, Zanzibar's Swahili culture, traditional Tanzanian food and Zanzibar's history and spice trade.

Plan Your Tanzania Trip: Where to Stay, Routes, Itineraries and Practical Guides

Every guide below is a full page on our site. Use the groups to find the planning detail you need, from where to stay in each area to route times and month-by-month advice for Tanzania.

Where to Stay by Area

Routes and Transfers

Itineraries by Length and Theme

Practical Guides and Questions

Month-by-Month and Seasonal Guides

Gateway Towns and Cities

Birds and Birding

Culture, People and Heritage

Activities and Experiences

Beaches and Coast

Parks by Season: Dry and Rainy Months

Comparisons: Which Should You Choose?

Where to See Wildlife

Day Trips from Gateway Towns

More Itineraries and Group Planning

Park Birding Guides

Park Questions and Answers

More Places and Towns

Safety, Health and Practical Questions

Multi-Country Combinations Including Tanzania

These guides join Tanzania with its neighbours on one trip, with routes, border crossings, best times and sample itineraries.

FAQs

Tanzania Safari FAQs

The dry months from June to October and January to February are the most popular for game viewing, while the long rains from March to May are quieter and greener. Read our best-time guide for details by park.

The herds move in a rough circle through the Serengeti and into the Masai Mara in Kenya, so the best area changes through the year. See the migration calendar by month.

Four to seven days is common for the northern circuit, while ten days or more allow a southern or western park, or a safari followed by Zanzibar. Compare options in our itineraries.

Yes. Many travellers climb first and then recover on a short safari, or do the safari first. See the safari and Kilimanjaro itinerary and the Kilimanjaro climbing guide.

Zanzibar offers a rest on the beach after a safari, plus Stone Town, spice farms and snorkelling. See the Zanzibar and Stone Town guide and the safari and Zanzibar combination.

Yes. Tanzania pairs well with Kenya for the migration ecosystem and with Uganda for gorilla trekking. See the Uganda and Tanzania safari combination and the Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar combination.

Gombe Stream and the Mahale Mountains, both on Lake Tanganyika, offer chimpanzee trekking. See the Gombe and Mahale guide.

Most visitors need a visa, which can usually be obtained online or on arrival, but the rules change. Read our visa guide and check the official portal before you travel.

Plan your Tanzania trip