tanzania
Where extraordinary safari meets beach
T anzania is one of the most famous safari destinations in the world. Home to some of the most famous destinations like the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater Conversation Area. No other country in Africa has dedicated more land to the preservation and conservation than Tanzania with almost 25% of the lanmass. But Tanzania has also probably some of the best hidden safari pearls in Africa with Nyerere (formerly known as Selous), Katavi and Ruaha National Park. The western part of Tanzania is also home to the chimpanzees in Gombe and Mahale National Park, by Lake Tanganyika. Tanzania is also home to the largest mountain in Africa, and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world -Kilimanjaro. A trekkers dream destination.
Apart from an astonishing 19 different national parks and wildlife areas, the opportunity to trek Kilimanjaro and its amazing culture, Tanzania is the best beach destination in Africa. "Everyone" has heart about the tropical island of Zanzibar, but Tanzania also have an amazing coastline full of hidden gems. The Zanzibar archipelago including Pemba Island, offers some of the best diving anywhere in Africa. And the lesser known island of Mafia is home to some of the best snorkelling and whaleshark diving anywhere in the world. Whatever you are after, Tanzania will not disappoint you, and whether you are an experienced safari traveller or you have yet to have your first African safari adventure -Tanzania will deliver, you have our guarantee.
No country in Africa can match Tanzanias diversity!
Serengeti National Park
The most iconic national park in Africa
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Established in 1951, Serengeti is the oldest and most popular national park in Tanzania
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The park covers more than 14 700 km2
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The name comes from the Maasai word "siringet", which means "the place where the land runs on forever" or "endless plans".
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Most famous for The Great Migration where more than 6 million hooves moves throughout the year in search for the rain and fresh grass.
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One of the best parks to visit in search for "The Big 5"
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The park can be visited year around
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Activities include:
Game drives, balloon safaris
Serengeti National Park
Zambia
Malawi
Kenya
Rwanda
Uganda
Indian ocean
Congo
Serengeti is widely know for its incredible wildebeest migration, but stay away from the busy peak season. December through May is our favourite time here!
A days drive from the safari capital of Arusha and many airstrips for fly-in
Can be visited year around, but with different high-list. Peak of migration in the north is Aug-Sep, while Jan-March is calving season in the south. May offers lush and great value for money.
Combine with Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater or drive through Serengeti to Lake Victoria
One of the best destinations in Africa to spot the Big 5. Few things beats the wildebeest migration, and Serengeti is all about the right location at the right time of year.
Ngorongoro Conservation
The legendary crater that is a "must visit" for safari travelers
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Imagine the world's largest inactive, intact, unfilled volcanic caldera and spanning 19 km. across
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This Conservation Area is one of the most famous in Africa
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Few animals ever get in or out of the crater, with exception of the migrating wildebeest and zebras.
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The was proclaimed a world heritage site in 1979.
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The crater is home to a few Black Rhino, which are special to see in this unique landscape. In Tanzania, this is one of the areas you have the highest chance of seeing these shy animals.
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Activities include:
Game drives
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Zambia
Malawi
Kenya
Rwanda
Uganda
Indian ocean
Congo
The crater is like no other destination on earth. With its own microclimate and unique wildlife. This is a bucket list destination.
The crater can be accessed from 2 sides. Either from the Serengeti or from the east from Arusha, which is 3hrs drive.
The north is good all year around. However, if you do want to avoid the tourist hordes, you should stay away from the peak seasons (July & December). The north is the area least exposed to the heavy rain season, so late May and early June
Fantastic to combine with both Serengeti as well as Lake Manyara, the neighbouring parks.
Getting into this area during the lower months is a must. To enjoy the crater without a huge amount of people and its lush and green.
tarangire National Park
A unique and remote safari destination
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Tarangire is an underestimated park, and often overlooked as many head straight for the more famous Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater
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Lions are common, large population of elephants, a river running consistently with water (even through the drought) and topographical variation unlike the other northern parks.
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The Tarangire River flows through the park and is the life source for the parks animals. During the drier months, large herds of antelope and elephants come down to drink.
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This is a wonderful park to start your safari on the north.
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Activities include:
Game drives, night drives
Tarangire National Park
Zambia
Malawi
Kenya
Rwanda
Uganda
Indian ocean
Congo
Tarangire is one of the few parks in the area to offer night drive. Ask your safari planner how to arrange one.
This park in on the way to the Ngorongoro Crater, so it a great start off to your safari. Arusha town is a short 2 hours drive away.
This parks prime is from June to October. However May and June you will see the park lush and green.
Great to combine with Ngorongoro crater as well as Serengeti to form a northern circuit.
A unique wildlife viewing experience is offered along the river in the drier months. With large amounts of predators, and gorgeous landscape. This is a great safari starter.
Mahale National Park
The last safari frontier and home of the elephants
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This mountain park is the best place in all of Africa for a chimpanzee safari
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In addition this beautiful park is bordering Lake Tanganyika with a massive percentage of endemic fish.
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98% of the Tanganyikan cichlid species and 59% of non-cichlid fish are endemic to this lake, totaling at over 240 kinds of fish.
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It's the worlds 2nd largest, -deepest and -longest freshwater lake, divided to four countries (Tanzania possesses 46%).
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Accessing the park is a journey in itself, it is only accessible by boat – which takes you straight to your lodge. The boat departs from Ikola or Kigoma, depending on where you are.
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Most people come to Mahale Mountains for its exceptional chimpanzee treks.
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Finding the chimpanzees can have you trekking all day, but this is very depending on season.
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Activities include:
Chimpanzee trekking, birding and snorkelling
Mahale National Park
Zambia
Malawi
Kenya
Rwanda
Uganda
Indian ocean
Congo
One of the best places in Africa to spend time
with chimpanzee families
in their natural habitat.
This area requires a flight which is the quickest way in. The closest city is Kigoma, 2hr boat ride.
The best season for chimpanzees is from the start of June to October.
Perfect to combine with Katavi National Park in the east or even Bwindi Forest in Uganda for Gorillas.
If you are lucky and find the chimps quickly, do not worry about what to do the rest of the day; You can go kayaking, birdwatching, snorkeling or diving, fishing or enjoy a barefoot walk on the pristine beaches.
Katavi National Park
A park that hasn't changed in 100 years
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This is unlike anything, or anywhere, Katavi is a destination with remnants of Tanzania. This is one of the very few parks that really let you feel that you're exploring and discovering a new place, before anyone else.
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The Katuma River is one of the best game viewing experiences in the dry season. With larges herds all coming through to the few water points left. This is a wildlife Mecca.
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The entire park area is almost 4,500 sq. km. large, and is the third largest park in Tanzania.
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This is one of the best parks to see predators hunting, the amount of lions and buffalo makes for quite the spectacle when they set off into furious duels, with theirs lives as stake
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Activities include:
Game drives
Katavi National Park
Zambia
Malawi
Kenya
Rwanda
Uganda
Indian ocean
Congo
The is the Africa of old. An untouched wilderness full of wildlife experiences waiting to be seen.
Easy accessible from a charter flight directly into the park or with a drive of about 3,5-4 hours
We recommend visiting from June to October, as October is the peak of the dry season.
Perfect to combine with Mahale mountains for chimpanzees or even Ruaha National Park to the eat.
The highlight is the hippo pools in the dry season. The river dries up and leaves hundreds of hippos in the mud pools. This is a sight not to miss.
Ruaha National Park
One of the 7 natural wonders of the world
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Ruaha is the second largest National Park in Tanzania with its 20,226 square kilometers (7,809 sq mi).
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The name from the park is derived from the Great Ruaha River stretching 475 km (300 mi). The park is situated in the southern highlands, in the very heart of the country.
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Ruaha is a truly spectacular park, with great overviews. The landscape is diverse and consists of large plains, hilltops, bush and the most important and at heart of it all, The Great Ruaha River!
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In the wet season (Jan-Apr) it is an flowers and birds (more than 450 species).
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In the dry season it is probably one of the best places in the world to spot large mammals and predators. If the most important thing for you is to see predators like lions, leopard and even cheetahs, this is definitely your park.
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Activities include:
Game drives, walking safaris
Ruaha National Park
Zambia
Malawi
Kenya
Rwanda
Uganda
Indian ocean
Congo
Ruaha in a highlight in the south of Tanzania and a park you don't want to miss out on.
Ruaha is accessible from Dar es Salaam in the east by road or either fly into the park or the closest town of Iringa.
The best time to visit this park is from April through to October.
This is a fantastic park to combine in a road trip through the south of Tanzania. or either combining this with Katavi and Mahale in the west.
Special features of this area are its high number of predators. Lions and leopards are frequently seen and even hunts are seen by guests.
Nyerere National Park
SELOUS game reserve
Africas largest conservation area
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At the heart of Southern Tanzania is Africa's largest wildlife protected area uninhabited by man, where Tanzania's greatest population of elephants wanders in an area much larger than Switzerland!
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Selous is the largest wildlife reserve in Africa, measuring over 50 000 km2.
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Because it is a Game Reserve, our private safari cars are allowed to drive off the beaten track, which allows for an exciting safari experience where you never know what to expect around the next corner!
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This is one of the few destinations in Tanzania, you can experience both river safaris, walking safari and game drive in one day!
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This is a UNESCO world heritage site.
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Activities includes:
Game drives, walking safaris and boating safaris
Nyerere National Park
Zambia
Malawi
Kenya
Rwanda
Uganda
Indian ocean
Congo
There's something truly wild about getting out on the Rufiji river, up its waterways, with not a soul around. True wilderness!
From the Selous it is about 5hrs to the capital of Dar es Salaam. Most of our guests drive in and either fly out or drive back to catch a flight to the islands.
Unfortunately this is not an all year destination due to the high rains, the park becomes inaccessible by road. So the best time is from May to December.
Perfect to combine with an island adventure. I you wanting a short safari and then the beach. This is the destination for you.
The opportunity to see the park from both the river and the land, make it truly unique in its offering as a park compared to the other Tanzanian reserves.
Kilimanjaro National Park
Hike Africa's tallest mountain.
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Normally referred to just as Kilimanjaro or Mount Kilimanjaro, this mountain will take your breath away – practically speaking!
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It reaches 5,895 meters into the Tanzanian skies and with its flat top has gotten the fitting nickname "The Roof of Africa".
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This is the world's tallest free standing mountain!
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Kilimanjaro has many routes that takes you to the top, but at this altitude you're best off not rushing it.
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The trek is not to be taken lightly and choosing the right route and length of trip will be crucial for your success. Tanzania Explorer crew and staff have trekked the mountain and all the routes we offer and have first hand experience – invaluable in our opinion.
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You should have at least 5 nights, preferably 6 nights and 7 days on the mountain, to get the most out of the trek and the acclimatization.
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At night, the skies that are so clear you can see The Milky Way with your own eyes.
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Activities include:
Trekking
Kilimanjaro National Park
Zambia
Malawi
Kenya
Rwanda
Uganda
Indian ocean
Congo
The highlight of this trek, is to have to opportunity to summit the mountain and find yourself standing onto of the world.
Easily accessible from Arusha town, with is the tourism capital of northern Tanzania.
You can trek Kilimanjaro all year. However, if you can choose your time -August to mid October is in our opinion the best time.
Easy to combine with Ngorongoro Crater as well as the Serengeti or even Zanzibar.
There are several factors to take into consideration when contemplating whether to do it or not (these are thoroughly explained in our "How to prepare for Kilimanjaro" document that you receive with a suggested itinerary). Ask us for one.
Other destinations
HOME OF THE GORILLAS
HOME OF LAKE MALAWI
HOME OF CONSERVATION
HOME OF THE ZAMBEZI RIVER
