Tanzania

Tanzania is home to some of the most iconic wildlife destinations on earth. The Serengeti's vast plains support the largest predator population in Africa, and together with the Maasai Mara across the Kenyan border, host the full annual circuit of the Great Migration. Ngorongoro Crater, a collapsed volcanic caldera sheltering an extraordinary density of wildlife within its walls, sits nearby, making northern Tanzania one of the most rewarding wildlife circuits anywhere on the continent.

But Tanzania extends well beyond its northern parks. Zanzibar, a spice-scented island of coral reefs, turquoise shallows, and a UNESCO-listed Stone Town of Persian, Arab, and colonial architecture, sits just off the coast and adds a compelling reason to extend any trip. In the south, the vast and little-visited Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park offer genuine wilderness with walking safaris, boat trips, and wildlife densities that rival the north without the crowds. In the west, Mahale Mountains National Park sits on the remote shore of Lake Tanganyika, where chimpanzee tracking through dense forest is followed by swimming in the world's second deepest lake. Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, draws thousands of trekkers annually to its glaciated summit, while the lesser-climbed Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano sacred to the Maasai, offers a more demanding experience.

Highlights

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Serengeti National Park: Tanzania's most famous park delivers year-round wildlife viewing across endless plains, with the Great Migration passing through between December and July
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Ngorongoro Crater: A collapsed volcanic caldera sheltering one of the densest wildlife concentrations on earth, including a resident population of black rhino
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Zanzibar: A spice-scented island of coral reefs, turquoise shallows, and a UNESCO-listed Stone Town layered with Persian, Arab, and colonial history
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Climb Kilimanjaro: Africa's highest peak is accessible to fit non-climbers via several established routes, with the summit offering one of the continent's most memorable experiences
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Selous & Ruaha: Tanzania's southern parks offer walking safaris, boat trips, and exceptional wildlife in genuine wilderness, with a fraction of the northern circuit's visitors

Hidden gems

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Track chimpanzees in Mahale: Remote and requiring real effort to reach, this park on Lake Tanganyika's shores offers chimpanzee tracking among the most extraordinary wildlife experiences in Africa
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Rubondo Island: A little-visited island park in Lake Victoria, where sitatunga, chimpanzee, and hippo share a lush forest interior with barely another tourist in sight
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Ol Doinyo Lengai: An active volcano sacred to the Maasai, its demanding night climb rewards with a sunrise over the Rift Valley that few travellers ever witness
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Sail on a traditional dhow: Wooden dhows have navigated these waters for centuries; an overnight sailing trip between islands remains one of East Africa's most atmospheric experiences
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Katavi National Park: One of Tanzania's most remote parks, where dry season concentrations of hippo and crocodile along shrinking rivers create scenes of remarkable intensity