Many countries offer safaris, but few can match Tanzania’s variety. In one trip you can watch the Great Migration thunder across the Serengeti, descend into a volcanic crater teeming with wildlife, climb Africa’s highest mountain and relax on a tropical island. Here’s why Tanzania belongs at the top of your list.
Around 1.5 million wildebeest, with hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, move through the Serengeti ecosystem all year, followed by lions, cheetahs, hyenas and crocodiles. From the calving season in the south to the river crossings in the north, it’s one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth.
The world’s largest intact volcanic caldera shelters a remarkable concentration of wildlife, including one of the best chances in East Africa to see the black rhino.
Tarangire’s elephant herds and baobabs, Lake Manyara’s tree-climbing lions, the flamingos of Lake Natron, the wild south of Ruaha and Nyerere, and the chimpanzee forests of Gombe and Mahale: each park offers something different.
Stand on the Roof of Africa at 5,895 metres, with no technical climbing needed, or enjoy a day hike on its forested slopes.
End your journey on white sand beaches, snorkel coral reefs and explore the historic streets of Stone Town.
Tanzania is home to more than 120 ethnic groups. Meet the Maasai, join the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers at Lake Eyasi, or visit a coffee farm on Kilimanjaro’s slopes.
Tanzanians are famously welcoming. “Karibu”, meaning welcome, is a word you’ll hear everywhere.
From simple camping safaris to luxury lodges, Tanzania offers options for every traveller.
Unlike some destinations with a short safari season, Tanzania offers excellent wildlife viewing in every month, from the calving season in the south to the river crossings in the north and year-round resident wildlife in the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire.
More than a quarter of Tanzania is protected as national parks, reserves and conservation areas. In the wilder parks of the south and west, you can drive for hours without seeing another vehicle.
Tanzania’s attractions fit together naturally. Many travellers climb Kilimanjaro, spend a week on safari in the northern parks and finish on Zanzibar’s beaches, all in one trip, with short domestic flights connecting them.
With more than 1,100 bird species, Tanzania is a paradise for birdwatchers, from flamingos and pelicans to raptors, rollers and rare endemics.
Every safari helps fund the protection of wildlife and wild places through park fees, and supports communities living alongside the parks.
Yes. The northern circuit offers easy access, abundant wildlife and iconic scenery, making it ideal for first-time visitors.
Yes. The Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti give you an excellent chance of seeing all five.
At least four to five days for the northern highlights. A week or more lets you explore at a relaxed pace.
Yes. Tanzania is a welcoming, popular destination. Standard travel precautions and your guide’s advice keep you safe.
Both are excellent. Tanzania offers larger parks, the Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, while the Great Migration moves between both countries.
First-timers love the classic northern circuit: easy access, abundant wildlife and famous parks. Families enjoy short drives between parks, child-friendly lodges and the excitement of seeing elephants and lions up close. Honeymooners combine intimate safari lodges with romantic beach hideaways on Zanzibar. Photographers come for the Migration, the big cats and the dramatic light over the plains. Adventurers head for Kilimanjaro, walking safaris and remote parks such as Katavi and Mahale. And culture lovers spend time with the Maasai, the Hadzabe and the Chagga coffee farmers on Kilimanjaro’s slopes.
Ask people who have been on safari in Tanzania what stayed with them, and the answers are rarely just about ticking off animals. It’s the silence of the Serengeti at dawn, the sound of lions roaring at night, the first view into the Ngorongoro Crater, the warmth of the people and the laughter shared with their guide around a campfire. Tanzania has a way of staying with you long after you’ve gone home.
Ready to experience it? Browse our Tanzania safaris.
