Background info
Tanzania is a top destination for African wildlife Safaris, mountain trekking and relaxing on the beach. Most international travellers will join a group tour or private tour to see and discover this amazing country. Independent travel in the city may be feasible, but for most of us, organised travel is the easiest and preferred way to get around. I climbed the Kilimanjaro and visited the national parks with Encounter Overland many years ago and that was a lot of fun. It was my very first adventure tour outside of Europe and the first of many, many travels afterwards.
Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar
Dar es Salaam is the capital and largest city of Tanzania. This may be your starting point when arriving by air or by train. The city is connected by rail all the way to Cape Town in South-Africa by slow, local trains or by super-luxury Rovos Rail. Most people use Dar es Salaam only as a starting point to somewhere else.
The island of Zanzibar is known for its spice markets and beaches. Freddy Mercury, lead singer of rock band Queen, was born in Stone Town. A museum now exists in his memory.
Mount Kilimanjaro
The Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain of Africa. Tourists can climb the mountain and get to the Kibo Peak at 5895m in 4-5 days. Be aware that you’ll start walking at an altitude of 0 meters (sea level) and have not acclimatised. From the top you may have a view all the way to the Serengeti and Amboseli National Park (in Kenya). Only a little bit of snow is left on the top.
There are several ways to get to the Kilimanjaro and start climbing. The easiest is of course a group tour or private tour. There is a lot of choice by different international and local tour operators. There is an international airport nearby.
I climbed the mountain in a Dutch group many years ago and that was a lot of fun.
Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater inside the Conservation Area is the largest volcanic crater with an intact caldera in the world. Inside this crater there is a lot of wildlife, including the Big Five and thousands of flamencos. The mammals are “trapped” inside the volcano with its high walls around it. There is no great migration here… It is an amazing sight and a one-of-a-kind place to be.
Most, if not all, lodges and resorts are located outside the crater or on walls at the edges of the crater. Inside the crater, there are tenting and glamping options, used especially by budget and overland tours.
Arusha is known mainly for its location with easy access to Mount Kilimanjaro to the East and Ngorongoro and Serengeti to the West. Arusha has a domestic airport.
Serengeti and Great Migration
The Serengeti National Park is a very large national park where 1.5 million wildebeest, zebras and antelopes roam free. It is the largest collection of wild mammals on the planet.
All these animals are looking for food on the green steppes and migrate to find the greenest grass, followed by predators like lions, leopards and hyenas.
The Great Migration is a year-round, world famous phenomenon, where these animals move from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya, while following the rainy season, walking 3000km and crossing several rivers. Being there, where the animals are, requires good timing. The famous jumping-the-river-filled-with-crocodiles event is quite touristy.
Lake Malawi and the South
Most attractions are in the North of the country, but the South is certainly worthwhile. Here you will find more game reserves (eg. Selous) and national parks.
Lake Malawi / Nyasa is shared by 3 different countries: Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique. It is a one of the largest lakes in the world (by volume and by area). This lake has more fish species than any other lake in the world! It is like an outdoor aquarium… Due to decreasing water levels and over-fishing some smaller and larger species are now threatened.
Maasai People
The proud Maasai people are the original inhabitants of Northern Tanzania and Kenya. They can easily be spotted with red clothing and colourful beadwork. Maasai are known to be nomadic, living with cattle and being “Lion Hunters”, but the latter may be a thing of the past. They are also known to be tall and able to jump high while dancing. In some locations near hotels and resorts or in their villages, you may be able to join a “traditional” dance that has now been adapted for tourists from around the world.
Maasai people speak the Maasai language, plus Swahili – and English.