10 Best Places to Visit in Tanzania, Attractions (Updated 2024)

Tanzania, a bustling and stunning nation with world-class parks and reserves, is endowed with the ideal mix of unrivaled wildlife watching and brilliant tropical beaches. Tanzania is so large (nearly 1.5 times Texas’ size), thus it helps to categorize the main tourist spots into four regions:

• Western Tanzania: – head to the far-flung corners of Katavi and Mahale for the ultimate off-the-beaten-path Tanzania safaris.
• Southern Tanzania: – includes the wonderfully wild and underrated Nyerere (previously Selous) and Ruaha, some of the best-kept Tanzania safari secrets.
• Tanzania Coast and Islands: – the country’s beaches, especially those on islands like Zanzibar, are breathtaking and very accessible.
• Northern Safari Circuit: – the most popular Tanzania safari route comprising the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Tarangire, and Kilimanjaro.

The best time to visit Tanzania and what you want to see and do while on safari there will determine where you travel. While the Northern Safari Circuit is a popular choice for both novice and seasoned safari travelers, Southern and Western Tanzania are undiscovered gems in this varied location. To learn everything you need to know about organizing your ideal Tanzania safari, read our guide to safaris in Tanzania.

The Best Places to Visit in Tanzania

1. Serengeti National Park:

In Tanzania, the Serengeti, which is a synonym for “safari,” is the place to go for the most exciting wildlife viewing. The Serengeti is one of the best safari locations in Africa because of its immense size, accessibility, luxurious lodges and camps, and abundance of wildlife year-round. The Serengeti hosts the majority of the Wildebeest Migration (from around January to September). Additionally, it frequently appears on the top Tanzania safari excursions.

The Serengeti National Park

2. Ngorongoro Crater:

Put roughly 30 000 animals into the crater of a long-gone volcano. The Ngorongoro Crater is created when wetlands, forests, grasslands, and some extraordinary accommodations are combined. Excellent wildlife viewing is available at this outstanding Tanzania safari location in an incredibly distinctive environment. It is recognized for offering East Africa’s quickest and most consistent Big 5 sightings, and it offers what is perhaps Tanzania’s best safari.

NGORONGORO, #1 Safari Tanzania!? TRAVEL GUIDE to the CRATER and Great Migration

3. Tarangire National Park:

Tarangire is worth considerably more than the typical day trip because it is close to Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. Elephant populations, in particular, are among the greatest in the nation near the Tarangire River during the dry season, which lasts from June to October. With more than 500 different bird species, the park is one of the most rewarding safari destinations in Tanzania for bird watchers. Its entire variety of huge predators adds to the attraction. Tarangire is a stunningly diversified environment with riverine forests, enormous wetlands, and open forests with renowned baobab trees from Africa.

SAFARI in TANZANIA: Better than SERENGETI!? Tarangire is ELEPHANT Paradise!

4. Lake Manyara National Park:

Lake Manyara, which is a part of Tanzania’s renowned Northern Safari Circuit, provides simple wildlife viewing in a stunning environment. A wide variety of large species, including buffalo, hippo, giraffe, elephant, leopard, and its renowned tree-climbing lions, may be seen in the park. An excellent location for bird watching is Lake Manyara. In the center of the lake, you may frequently observe flocks of pelicans and flamingos, while the floodplains, woodlands, and evergreen forests are all in full bloom.

SAFARI in TANZANIA: Lake Manyara with TREE CLIMBING LIONS and Elephant PARADISE!

5. Zanzibar and Tanzania Islands:

Zanzibar, Tanzania’s Spice Island, is the perfect place to round off your East African safari trip. It’s the place to go in Tanzania for gorgeous beaches and coral reefs, dhow (traditional boat) cruises at dusk, and exploring scented back-street marketplaces. It’s ideal for both families and honeymooners. The other islands in Tanzania’s Indian Ocean are also worth visiting. Pemba, Mafia, and Chole are top-notch beach vacation spots with excellent diving, upscale boutique lodging, and all the luxurious pampering you could want.

ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA: Guide to PARADISE! The MOST Beautiful Beaches in Africa!

6. Ruaha National Park:

Ruaha distinguishes itself from other safari locations with its untamed and unrestrained nature. Despite being Tanzania’s largest national park, this hidden gem has only a few safari camps. There are a ton of animals, including buffalo, giraffe, kudu, sable, roan, lion, cheetah, and leopard, but no other tourists huge be found. It is the largest elephant population in Tanzania and a stronghold for endangered African wild dogs.

Amazing Safari in Ruaha, Tanzania

7. Selous Game Reserve:

Larger than Switzerland, Selous (pronounced “suh-loo”) is Africa’s largest game reserve. One of East Africa’s most beautiful ecosystems is born from a complicated network of channels, wetlands, and lakes that are formed by the enormous Rufiji River, the region’s lifeblood. Here, lions, crocodiles, buffalo, and hippos all thrive. The reserve is also one of Africa’s most significant refuges for endangered wild dogs. Don’t miss a fly-camping trip, a guided walk, or a boat safari in this gorgeous environment.

Tanzania Safari | Selous Game Reserve

8. Lake Tanganyika:

The Great Rift Valley’s rocky cliffs enclose the longest freshwater lake in the world. Due in large part to the Mahale Mountains and Gombe Stream National Parks’ proximity to the lake, it is one of the biologically richest places on our planet. These two remote locations are worthwhile because they both offer some of Tanzania’s most exceptional safari experiences: watching wildlife in a tropical rainforest and amazing chimpanzee trekking.

Lake Tanganyika

9. Mount Kilimanjaro:

The legendary Mount Kilimanjaro won’t fail to stir your soul, whether you’re happy to stand in its massive shadow or long to ascend to its chilly summit. It is the tallest free-standing peak on Earth and the highest mountain in Africa, rising to a height of 5 895 meters (19 340 ft). But contrary to what you may believe, access to its snow-capped peaks is much easier. There is no need for tough climbing if you climb Kili between July and October or between January and March. However, arranging the logistics of a trek to the peak does require some preparation.

CLIMBING MOUNT KILIMANJARO

10. Arusha: A Gateway to Safari

As the undeniable safari center of Tanzania, Arusha is a must-see destination for anybody traveling to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, or Lake Manyara because logistics frequently require an overnight stop in or near the city. Arusha, which is located in the shadow of Mount Meru, has two airports: the larger Arusha Airport for charter flights to final destinations, and the smaller Kilimanjaro International Airport. You will have many options to purchase souvenirs, partake in cultural activities, and visit nearby points of interest if you stay in Arusha for a while.

Arusha, Tanzania: Gateway to African Safari & Serengeti