Tanzania is not one place.
Northern circuit, southern parks, mountains and coast. Which you choose changes the trip far more than which camp you sleep in.
Top safari destinations
Swipe through the places we plan journeys around, north to south.
SerengetiEndless plains, and herds that move with the rain.
NgorongoroA volcanic crater with wildlife on its floor all year.
TarangireBaobabs, elephant country and far fewer vehicles.
Lake ManyaraGroundwater forest and a soda lake, on the way west.
Arusha National ParkWalk with a ranger under Mount Meru, an hour from town.
Lake NatronFlamingos, an active volcano and serious heat.
Kilimanjaro National ParkAfrica's highest summit, with no technical climbing.
ZanzibarStone Town and white beaches after the parks.
Southern circuitNyerereBoat safaris on the Rufiji, in a park the size of a country.
Southern circuitRuahaBig, dry, remote and rarely visited.
Southern circuitMikumiOpen floodplain within a day's drive of Dar es Salaam.
Start with the northern circuit
Six places within reach of Arusha, each doing something the others do not. Most first journeys combine two or three of them; the mistake is trying to fit them all into a week.
Northern circuitSerengeti3+ nightsVast, seasonal and worth the nights. Where you stay within it matters more than whether you go.Explore destinationNorthern circuitNgorongoro1–2 nightsA collapsed caldera holding dense wildlife year-round. Extraordinary, and busy. Go early or not at all.Explore destinationNorthern circuitTarangire2 nightsBaobabs, big elephant herds and a fraction of the vehicles. The park most itineraries cut and most travellers remember.Explore destinationNorthern circuitLake Manyara1 nightGroundwater forest, escarpment views and birdlife. A natural first or last stop rather than a destination in itself.Explore destinationNorthern circuitArusha National Park1 day – 1 nightForest, crater lakes and Mount Meru, under an hour from town. The one northern park where you walk with a ranger.Explore destinationNorthern circuitLake Natron1–2 nightsFlamingos, Ol Doinyo Lengai and Maasai country. Hot, dusty and rough on the road, on the back way to the Serengeti.Explore destinationMountain and coast
Africa's highest mountain and the island off the coast. Both have their own pages with us.
MountainKilimanjaro National Park7–9 days5,895 metres and no technical climbing. Four routes, and honest advice on the time it takes to adjust.See the climbsCoastZanzibarAfter the parksStone Town's old streets and long white beaches, an hour's flight from Arusha. Best as the end of a safari.Explore destinationThe southern circuit, on request
Wilder, emptier and further away. Nyerere and Ruaha are reached by light aircraft from Arusha, Mikumi by road from Dar es Salaam. We arrange them on request.
On requestNyerere3–4 nightsBoat safaris on the Rufiji River in one of Africa's largest parks. By light aircraft from Arusha.Explore destinationOn requestRuaha3–4 nightsBig, dry, remote baobab country along the Great Ruaha River, with very few vehicles. By light aircraft from Arusha.Explore destinationOn requestMikumi1–2 nightsOpen floodplain under the Udzungwa mountains, about five hours by road from Dar es Salaam.Explore destinationYour journey doesn’t have to follow one route.
A few ways to combine them. Routing is always confirmed against real logistics and seasons.
KilimanjarotoArushatoTarangiretoNgorongoro
Climb first, then rest your legs on safari.
See this journeyOnce you know roughly where, the season and the shape of the journey are the next two decisions.
