Regional Summaries
To get a quick ideas of where to go and what to do, have a glance at our Regional Summaries below then look at our sample itineraries.
The North - Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Kilimanjaro
- Northern Tanzania offers the vast grass plains of the Serengeti and the phenomenal wildebeest migration; the Ngorongoro Crater with its incredibly high density and diversity of wildlife, plus the very scenic African Rift Valley. These are the top wildlife destinations for visitors interested in huge amounts of wildlife and stunning, varied scenery.
- No visit to Tanzania is complete without a visit to these places.
- Other attractions include Tarangire National Park, which has the second highest density of elephants in Africa, and Lake Manyara with its tree climbing lions and flamingos on the soda lake.
- For those wanting an active safari there is Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, as well as many other walking and cycling destinations.
- People interested in the local culture will enjoy a visit to a Masai ‘boma’, as well as spending time with the last few remaining “click tribe” people north of the Kalahari Desert – the Hadzabe.
- There are also many hidden gems to which we can lead you, as well as luxury lodges with balloon rides over the Serengeti, remote fly camping and donkey treks up the still active Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano.
- The North of Tanzania has something for everyone, all within a few hours drive or a short flight from each other.
The Wild South - The Wilderness of Yesteryear - Selous and Ruaha
- There is far more space and far fewer people in the South. The Selous Game Reserve is the largest in Africa (the size of Belgium) and largely unexplored.
- It is home to some of the last black rhinos on the planet, large tusker elephants and African Hunting Dogs. Ruaha National Park on the Great Ruaha River is large, wild and rugged.
- In contrast, the mountains of the South – the Udzungwas and Kitulo – are small compact remnants of the ancient habitat of East Africa. They are great for exploring on foot and packed with endemic bird and insect species.
- New large mammal species are still being discovered here. You will probably not see another visitor in some of these places.
The East - Step Inside The Unique Swahili Culture Of Zanzibar
- The Coast gives you Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia islands as well as the mainland. All these places are excellent for beaches, ancient Afro/Arabic culture, spice gardens, scuba and watersports and a good way to relax for part of your safari.
- The mainland boasts some of the finest beaches anywhere (Pangani was voted one of the top ten beaches by the UK’s Daily Telegraph in 2007) with a lot less people than on the islands.
- Inland the Eastern Arc Mountains and Mkomazi National Park are wonderful areas for combining walking safaris and lightweight camping with luxury tented lodges. There is less wildlife than the North but you are likely to have the place to yourself. There is also the chance to see the Black Rhino and African Hunting Dog conservation programmes. These areas provide an easier way of getting off the beaten track than going to the South and can be used as a link between the North and the Coast.
The West - The Crucible of Africa - Mahale Mountains and Katavi
- This is where East meets West Africa. It is one of the remotest parts of Tanzania. Be entranced by Lake Tanganyika, a crystal clear mystical lake 700 kilometers long fringed by the Mahale Mountains rainforest. Mahale is the home to some of the most habituated, wild chimpanzees anywhere.
- Nearby is Katavi National Park, a remote savannah ecosystem with huge herds of buffalo, hippos and strangely behaving crocodiles.
- To reach these places takes a light aircraft flight of several hours from the international airports, but the trip is very worthwhile. Visiting the chimpanzees or Katavi is best organized as an extension to your main safari.
