TANZANIA

TANZANIA

TANZANIA

An East African Eden...

When it comes to magnificent natural splendour, astounding wildlife, seductive beaches, charming ancient towns, ancient archaeological sites, and geological wonders - it's hard to beat Tanzania! This lush East African Eden is the stunning backdrop to one of nature’s most remarkable events - the spectacular Great Wildebeest Migration. It's also the home of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, which rises from lush, grassy plains near Arusha to tower over the continent. Its snow-capped peak is a sight to behold. From the vast plains of the Serengeti to the ancient volcanic walls of the Ngorongoro Crater and glistening Lake Manyara, its surface turned pink by a host of flamingos, Tanzania is a safari destination like no other.



When it comes to magnificent natural splendour, astounding wildlife, seductive beaches, charming ancient towns, ancient archaeological sites, and geological wonders - it's hard to beat Tanzania! This lush East African Eden is the stunning backdrop to one of nature’s most remarkable events - the spectacular Great Wildebeest Migration. It's also the home of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, which rises from lush, grassy plains near Arusha to tower over the continent. Its snow-capped peak is a sight to behold. From the vast plains of the Serengeti to the ancient volcanic walls of the Ngorongoro Crater and glistening Lake Manyara, its surface turned pink by a host of flamingos, Tanzania is a safari destination like no other.


SENSATIONAL SAFARI EXPERIENCES

A safari in Tanzania offers some unique perspectives for adventurous spirits... For example, hot-air balloon safaris over the Serengeti are an extraordinary way to witness the country's breathtaking landscapes. As dawn breaks, you gently ascend above the plains, floating silently over this incredible wilderness. The panoramic views from the balloon offer a serene and majestic spectacle, capturing the vastness of the Serengeti in a way that’s impossible from the ground. The experience culminates with a champagne breakfast in the bush, making it a truly unforgettable adventure.


Walking safaris in Tanzania provide an intimate and immersive way to explore the country’s rich biodiversity. Accompanied by experienced guides and armed rangers, you’ll tread the same paths as the wildlife, learning to read animal tracks, identify plants, and understand the intricate web of life in the African bush. Whether you’re traversing the rugged terrains of Ruaha National Park or the scenic trails of Tarangire, walking safaris allow you to connect deeply with nature, offering thrilling encounters with elephants, giraffes, and even the elusive leopard.


For a different kind of adventure, boat safaris along the Rufiji River in Nyerere National Park present a unique way to see Tanzania’s wildlife from the water. Glide past pods of hippos and basking crocodiles while spotting elephants and waterbucks on the riverbanks. The lush riverine forests and expansive waterways are home to a plethora of bird species, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. As the sun sets, the tranquil waters reflect the vibrant colours of the African sky, creating a magical end to an exhilarating day on safari.


Let's look at more of the highlights a safari in Tanzania offers...

A RICH CULTURAL TAPESTRY

Tanzanian culture is shaped by more than 120 ethnic groups, each contributing to the nation’s vibrant identity. The Swahili culture, particularly dominant along the coastal regions, reflects a blend of African, Arab, and Persian influences, rooted in centuries of trade. Swahili, both the language and the culture, plays a unifying role across the country, while English is also widely spoken, especially in business and education.


Music and dance are central to Tanzanian life, with traditional performances often accompanying celebrations and rituals. The Maasai, a semi-nomadic group, are perhaps the most internationally recognised, known for their distinctive attire and jumping dance, "adumu." Yet Tanzania’s cultural expression extends far beyond the Maasai, including taarab music from Zanzibar, which blends Arab and African rhythms, and the energetic ngoma drum dances found in many regions.


Tanzania’s cultural diversity is also reflected in its cuisine, influenced by the country’s history of trade. Dishes often feature rice, cassava, and plantains, with coconut milk and spices common along the coast. Chapati, a flatbread introduced by Indian settlers, is now a staple, and meals are often shared communally, reinforcing the importance of community in Tanzanian life.


A RICH CULTURAL TAPESTRY

Tanzanian culture is shaped by more than 120 ethnic groups, each contributing to the nation’s vibrant identity. The Swahili culture, particularly dominant along the coastal regions, reflects a blend of African, Arab, and Persian influences, rooted in centuries of trade. Swahili, both the language and the culture, plays a unifying role across the country, while English is also widely spoken, especially in business and education.


Music and dance are central to Tanzanian life, with traditional performances often accompanying celebrations and rituals. The Maasai, a semi-nomadic group, are perhaps the most internationally recognised, known for their distinctive attire and jumping dance, "adumu." Yet Tanzania’s cultural expression extends far beyond the Maasai, including taarab music from Zanzibar, which blends Arab and African rhythms, and the energetic ngoma drum dances found in many regions.


Tanzania’s cultural diversity is also reflected in its cuisine, influenced by the country’s history of trade. Dishes often feature rice, cassava, and plantains, with coconut milk and spices common along the coast. Chapati, a flatbread introduced by Indian settlers, is now a staple, and meals are often shared communally, reinforcing the importance of community in Tanzanian life.


A RICH CULTURAL TAPESTRY

Tanzanian culture is shaped by more than 120 ethnic groups, each contributing to the nation’s vibrant identity. The Swahili culture, particularly dominant along the coastal regions, reflects a blend of African, Arab, and Persian influences, rooted in centuries of trade. Swahili, both the language and the culture, plays a unifying role across the country, while English is also widely spoken, especially in business and education.


Music and dance are central to Tanzanian life, with traditional performances often accompanying celebrations and rituals. The Maasai, a semi-nomadic group, are perhaps the most internationally recognised, known for their distinctive attire and jumping dance, "adumu." Yet Tanzania’s cultural expression extends far beyond the Maasai, including taarab music from Zanzibar, which blends Arab and African rhythms, and the energetic ngoma drum dances found in many regions.


Tanzania’s cultural diversity is also reflected in its cuisine, influenced by the country’s history of trade. Dishes often feature rice, cassava, and plantains, with coconut milk and spices common along the coast. Chapati, a flatbread introduced by Indian settlers, is now a staple, and meals are often shared communally, reinforcing the importance of community in Tanzanian life.


ICONIC NATIONAL PARKS

LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

Lake Manyara is a scenic gem, once described by Ernest Hemingway as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”. With a compact game-viewing circuit it offers a microcosm of Tanzanian safari, starting with a lush groundwater forest where baboons, blue monkeys, bushbuck, and forest hornbills abound. Beyond the forest lies the grassy floodplain, home to buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, and dark-hued giraffes, with sweeping views across the lake to volcanic peaks. Acacia woodland shelters tree-climbing lions, elephants, and banded mongoose, while hot springs bubble near the lakeshore. With over 400 bird species, including iconic flocks of thousands of pink flamingos that sometimes cover the lake's surface, it’s a birdwatcher’s paradise.

ICONIC NATIONAL PARKS

LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

Lake Manyara is a scenic gem, once described by Ernest Hemingway as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”. With a compact game-viewing circuit it offers a microcosm of Tanzanian safari, starting with a lush groundwater forest where baboons, blue monkeys, bushbuck, and forest hornbills abound. Beyond the forest lies the grassy floodplain, home to buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, and dark-hued giraffes, with sweeping views across the lake to volcanic peaks. Acacia woodland shelters tree-climbing lions, elephants, and banded mongoose, while hot springs bubble near the lakeshore. With over 400 bird species, including iconic flocks of thousands of pink flamingos that sometimes cover the lake's surface, it’s a birdwatcher’s paradise.

ICONIC NATIONAL PARKS

LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

Lake Manyara is a scenic gem, once described by Ernest Hemingway as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”. With a compact game-viewing circuit it offers a microcosm of Tanzanian safari, starting with a lush groundwater forest where baboons, blue monkeys, bushbuck, and forest hornbills abound. Beyond the forest lies the grassy floodplain, home to buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, and dark-hued giraffes, with sweeping views across the lake to volcanic peaks. Acacia woodland shelters tree-climbing lions, elephants, and banded mongoose, while hot springs bubble near the lakeshore. With over 400 bird species, including iconic flocks of thousands of pink flamingos that sometimes cover the lake's surface, it’s a birdwatcher’s paradise.

THE GREAT WILDEBEEST MIGRATION

The Serengeti is home to the Great Wildebeest Migration for most of the year. Recognised as the most spectacular mass movement of mammals in the world, it sees more than a million wildebeest, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebra,  complete a circular route through the Serengeti and into the Masai Mara National Reserve in neighbouring Kenya and back again. They follow the rains and the fresh grazing that grows in their wake. 


It's a circle of life like no other, with the herds calving in the lush grasslands of the southern Serengeti before moving northwards along the western corridor, crossing the treacherous Grumeti and Mara Rivers in the far north of the Serengeti and spending July to October in the Mara before heading south again. Nicknamed "the greatest show on Earth" - it's a highlight of any safari to Tanzania.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

Tanzania’s lesser-known national parks offer a quieter yet equally captivating safari experience. Gombe National Park, made famous by Jane Goodall’s pioneering work with chimpanzees, provides visitors with the rare chance to track these intelligent primates through lush forested hills. Located along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, it’s a small but special gem for wildlife lovers, combining chimp trekking with stunning lakeside views.


In the far west, Katavi National Park offers a raw and untamed wilderness where crowds are rare, but wildlife is plentiful. Known for its massive buffalo herds and large populations of hippos and crocodiles, it’s an ideal destination for adventurous travellers seeking a more off-the-beaten-path safari. Mikumi National Park, often compared to the Serengeti, offers easy access and is perfect for a shorter, more accessible wildlife experience, with open savannahs teeming with lions, elephants, and giraffes.


For something different, Mkomazi National Park, near the Kenyan border, is a stronghold for endangered species, including the black rhino and African wild dog. Meanwhile, Saadani National Park, Tanzania’s only coastal wildlife sanctuary, offers a rare combination of safari and beach, where elephants and lions roam near the Indian Ocean, and visitors can relax on sandy shores after a day of game viewing. Together, these parks showcase Tanzania’s rich diversity, far beyond its more famous reserves.


OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

Tanzania’s lesser-known national parks offer a quieter yet equally captivating safari experience. Gombe National Park, made famous by Jane Goodall’s pioneering work with chimpanzees, provides visitors with the rare chance to track these intelligent primates through lush forested hills. Located along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, it’s a small but special gem for wildlife lovers, combining chimp trekking with stunning lakeside views.


In the far west, Katavi National Park offers a raw and untamed wilderness where crowds are rare, but wildlife is plentiful. Known for its massive buffalo herds and large populations of hippos and crocodiles, it’s an ideal destination for adventurous travellers seeking a more off-the-beaten-path safari. Mikumi National Park, often compared to the Serengeti, offers easy access and is perfect for a shorter, more accessible wildlife experience, with open savannahs teeming with lions, elephants, and giraffes.


For something different, Mkomazi National Park, near the Kenyan border, is a stronghold for endangered species, including the black rhino and African wild dog. Meanwhile, Saadani National Park, Tanzania’s only coastal wildlife sanctuary, offers a rare combination of safari and beach, where elephants and lions roam near the Indian Ocean, and visitors can relax on sandy shores after a day of game viewing. Together, these parks showcase Tanzania’s rich diversity, far beyond its more famous reserves.


OFF THE BEATEN TRACK

Tanzania’s lesser-known national parks offer a quieter yet equally captivating safari experience. Gombe National Park, made famous by Jane Goodall’s pioneering work with chimpanzees, provides visitors with the rare chance to track these intelligent primates through lush forested hills. Located along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, it’s a small but special gem for wildlife lovers, combining chimp trekking with stunning lakeside views.


In the far west, Katavi National Park offers a raw and untamed wilderness where crowds are rare, but wildlife is plentiful. Known for its massive buffalo herds and large populations of hippos and crocodiles, it’s an ideal destination for adventurous travellers seeking a more off-the-beaten-path safari. Mikumi National Park, often compared to the Serengeti, offers easy access and is perfect for a shorter, more accessible wildlife experience, with open savannahs teeming with lions, elephants, and giraffes.


For something different, Mkomazi National Park, near the Kenyan border, is a stronghold for endangered species, including the black rhino and African wild dog. Meanwhile, Saadani National Park, Tanzania’s only coastal wildlife sanctuary, offers a rare combination of safari and beach, where elephants and lions roam near the Indian Ocean, and visitors can relax on sandy shores after a day of game viewing. Together, these parks showcase Tanzania’s rich diversity, far beyond its more famous reserves.


OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

ARUSHA TOWN TOUR

This popular day trip can be completed in just a few hours, with minimal or no transport needed depending on the sites visited. Starting near the Clock Tower with one of our guides, you’ll walk northwards in an anti-clockwise direction, exploring landmarks such as the Natural History Museum, Arusha Declaration Museum, the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre, independence monuments, the local market, and the Masai Market. The tour covers about 4 km and usually takes 2-3 hours, with transport provided for sites that are farther apart.


If you wish to visit all the attractions and spend around an hour at each, the tour can be extended to a full day.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

ARUSHA TOWN TOUR

This popular day trip can be completed in just a few hours, with minimal or no transport needed depending on the sites visited. Starting near the Clock Tower with one of our guides, you’ll walk northwards in an anti-clockwise direction, exploring landmarks such as the Natural History Museum, Arusha Declaration Museum, the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre, independence monuments, the local market, and the Masai Market. The tour covers about 4 km and usually takes 2-3 hours, with transport provided for sites that are farther apart.


If you wish to visit all the attractions and spend around an hour at each, the tour can be extended to a full day.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

ARUSHA TOWN TOUR

This popular day trip can be completed in just a few hours, with minimal or no transport needed depending on the sites visited. Starting near the Clock Tower with one of our guides, you’ll walk northwards in an anti-clockwise direction, exploring landmarks such as the Natural History Museum, Arusha Declaration Museum, the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre, independence monuments, the local market, and the Masai Market. The tour covers about 4 km and usually takes 2-3 hours, with transport provided for sites that are farther apart.


If you wish to visit all the attractions and spend around an hour at each, the tour can be extended to a full day.

SAFARI INFO

Tanzania offers global travellers a rich tapestry of experiences, from the iconic wildlife safaris of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater to the towering peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. Its diverse landscapes, from vast savannahs to tropical forests provide endless opportunities for adventure.

Climate

Tanzania's weather varies greatly across the country, shaped by its expansive landscape and diverse terrain. Along the coast, including Zanzibar, the climate remains tropical throughout the year, with warm temperatures and elevated humidity levels. In contrast, the highland areas, such as those near Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire, enjoy cooler, more temperate conditions. The Serengeti’s open plains experience both hot, dry periods and cooler times, largely dictated by the cycles of rain and drought.