Tanzania travel guide
Tanzania is perhaps Africa's ultimate destination – come for really wild wildlife, huge skies, the continent's highest mountain and its spiciest island
It’s not just the migration that’s great in Tanzania – though the wildlife (and specifically the game of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater) is what draws most visitors, there’s much more to discover in this diverse East African nation.
Roam around the old streets of Stone Town and relax on the palm-fringed beaches of Zanzibar; spot birds around Lake Victoria or chimpanzees in the Mahale Mountains National Park; dive the clear waters around Mafia island; or climb Africa’s mightiest mountain, Kilimanjaro – all 5,895m of it.
And Tanzania’s north doesn’t have the monopoly on wildlife: Selous Game Reserve, south-west of Dar es Salaam, is Africa’s largest protected area, with varied habitats – plains, rivers, forests and lakes bustling with hippo, elephant, lion, buffalo, wild dog and black rhino. Add in the fascinating relics of ancient trading kingdoms at Kilwa Kisiwani and it’s clear Tanzania offers a kaleidoscope of experiences to discover.
Wanderlust recommends
- Follow the huge herds of Katavi National Park
- Discover Tanzania’s Indian Ocean-side national park – Saadani – and it’s largest reserve, Selous
- Visit Tanzania on an overland expedition through East Africa
- Climb Africa’s highest mountain – take the trek up Kilimanjaro
- Walk with the Maasai over the plains of northern Tanzania
- Stroll the spice island of Zanzibar
- Follow the wildebeest as the set out on the Great Migration across the Serengeti
Wanderlust tips
Smile and greet people with a friendly “Jambo!” to kick off any exchange. Learning a few words of Swahili will help break the ice in many situations. Try to stay relaxed and maintain a sense of humour, particularly when dealing with transport – punctuality isn’t as important here as it might be in your home country!