Tanzania is a vast country with a huge array of activities and experiences available.
Whilst big-game viewing will most likely always be important on a Tanzania safari, there are plenty of opportunities to look beyond standard game viewing, whether it is walking, fly-camping, cultural experiences, chimp tracking, boat cruises, trekking, fishing, snorkeling or scuba diving.
Big game viewing
Big game viewing
Most big-game viewing in Tanzania occurs on game drives in either open or closed 4×4 vehicles. In the north of the country, it is usual to take a private ‘closed’ vehicle (and guide) and travel overland between the safari regions which are close together, although there are an increasing number of camps now offering a fly-in option with game drives in open vehicles. In the south and west of the country, where regions are linked by internal flights, open vehicles are used. The best regions for seeing big game are the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Nyerere, Ruaha and Katavi. Please view our Regions page for more information on these and other areas.
Night Drives
Night Drives
Night drives are not universally available in Tanzania National Parks and Game Reserves, and are therefore only possible from a number of specific properties in a few parks such a Tarangire and Ruaha. They are usually at extra cost.
WALKING SAFARIS
Walking Safaris
Walking is widely available in Tanzania. Whilst some safari properties offer nature walks as individual activities, the country is also an excellent destination for longer, more adventurous walking trails, often walking over several days and staying in fairly basic ‘fly-camps’ in the wilderness. All walks are fully guided with a back up crew to provide meals, drinks and undertake camp chores. In Mahale and Gombe Stream national parks, walking is the main activity when searching for primates such as chimpanzee.
Some of the best ‘dedicated’ walking safaris are found in the Nyerere National Park, where operations such as Sand Rivers Selous Walking Safari offer genuine wilderness walking with big game encounters. Other regions that offer good overnight walking safaris or trails include Katavi, the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Serengeti National Park.
To learn more, please visit our dedicated Walking in Tanzania page.
Kilimanjaro & Trekking
Kilimanjaro & Trekking
Mount Kilimanjaro offers superb mountain trekking and the trek to Uhuru Peak (at 5,895 metres/ 19,370 feet, the highest point in Africa) is a challenging and rewarding adventure. From the dense forests of the lower slopes, where wildlife can be seen, you traverse rolling moorland, rocky ridges and alpine desert before the final ascent up the prominent ‘Kibo Dome’. The views from on top of the Kibo Dome are awesome and inspiring, if not especially picturesque. For more information please see our dedicated Trekking & Kilimanjaro page.
Mount Meru offers a shorter high altitude trek (usually 3 days/ 2 nights from Arusha), whilst the Ngorongoro Highlands offer some good lower level trekking, with an ascent of the active volcano Ol Donyo Lengai possible for the really hardy and experienced (we actually do not recommend this as the conditions on the volcano are incredibly dangerous).
Birding
Birding
With over 1100 species recorded, Tanzania is one of Africa’s premier birding destinations. On any safari, even those with little bird knowledge are likely to record well over 100 species over a period of a week. Changing habitats and altitude will prove even more productive. We do not specifically arrange birding group tours, but many of our customers are keen birders and putting together an individually designed itinerary is very easy.
Some of the key areas to include are the montane forests around Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, the riverine woodland and waterways of the Nyerere National Park, the drier bush habitats and miombo woodland of Ruaha and Katavi and the Great Rift Valley lakes of Natron and Manyara. In particular, Lake Natron is one of the largest breeding grounds for the lesser flamingo. Specialist guides are available for the more serious birder, who may also wish to consider destinations such as the Usambara Mountains, and Udzungwa Mountains National Park and the southern highlands.
Species Specific Interests
Species Specific Interests
Tanzania offers a very wide range of wildlife viewing, but some of the key species that can be specifically focused on include chimpanzee, elephant, wild dogs and the big cats.
The Serengeti is one of the best regions in Africa to see all three big cat species – lion, cheetah and leopard, whilst elephant viewing is especially good in Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, and at the end of the dry season elephants can be seen in vast herds in Katavi National Park.
In Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania has the best places in Africa to see chimpanzees in the wild. Chimps have been studied in these regions for many years, and some families habituated to the presence of humans, making viewing excellent. It is also possible to see habituated chimps on Rubondo Island in Lake Victoria.
Tanzania is also a great country for seeing giraffe, and there is a growing population of wild dogs, especially in the Nyerere National Park. The waterways of the Rufiji River are some of the very best areas in Africa to see hippo and crocodiles. On Zanzibar, it is possible to snorkel with dolphins, whilst on Mafia Island it is possible to snorkel with whale sharks. The Serengeti also home to the Great Migration, one of the greatest wildlife shows on earth.
CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
Tanzania is a fairly heavily populated country with a multitude of ethnic tribes and colourful peoples, and even staying within the designated National Parks & Reserves, you will meet local people in the form of guides and camp staff. Some safari camps and lodges, especially those outside of national reserves, work closely with local villages and as a guest you can learn as much about the local community as you desire. The best opportunities are arguably around the Ngorongoro Highlands, where the colourful Maasai dominate, and hunter-gatherers such as the Hadzabe provide a less touristy experience.
The coastal islands offer a different insight into daily life, with Zanzibar in particular offering a melting pot of history and culture.
PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARIS
PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARIS
Most people who head out on safari plan to take a few photographs. However, in depth photographic safaris are growing in popularity, whether in the form of small group trips or individually tailored holidays.
We are best equipped to arrange individually tailored photographic holidays. The flexibility and service we offer allows you to carefully plan your safari to meet your exact requirements, whilst our specialist knowledge is crucial, not just in terms of knowing where to photograph particular species, but also in terms of being able to provide suitable vehicles and guides.
In Tanzania, photographing big game is possible in many of the parks, especially prime areas such as the Serengeti, where the wildebeest and zebra herds can also be found. The Ngorongoro Crater is an amazing scenic spectacle and the best place to see rhino, whilst the Nyerere National Park will offer a different opportunity with magical waterways and fantastic opportunities to photograph birds and water-dwelling species such as hippo and croc. In the west of the country, Mahale and Gombe are without doubt the best places in Africa to photograph chimps in the wild.
WATER BASED SAFARIS
WATER BASED SAFARIS
The Nyerere National Park, with the Rufiji River and a string of four beautiful lakes that connect off the main river, offers some of the best boating safaris in Africa. Throughout the rest of the country, there is very little on offer, though Lake Tanganyika offers scenic cruises and kayaking.
FISHING
FISHING
Whilst there are some freshwater fishing opportunities on Lake Tanganyika and in some of the great rivers such as the Rufiji, the best fishing on offer in Tanzania is big game fishing off the coast (both traditional and on fly). There is not really a ‘fishing culture’ but most beach hotels can arrange deep-sea fishing through local specialists. Bill fishing, particularly for sailfish, is superb from September to March. Marlin (blue, black and striped), broadbill swordfish, shark, barracuda, trevally/kingfish are just some of the other species regularly caught.
SCUBA DIVING & SNORKELING
SCUBA DIVING & SNORKELING
Diving is widely available off the islands of Mafia, Zanzibar and Pemba, where there is some excellent diving. Mafia Island, Mnemba Island off north-east Zanzibar and Mesali Island off western Pemba are some of the best diving locations. In recent years Fanjove Island has discovered several good dive sites.
Snorkeling is good in most places, but it is usually necessary to go out in a boat, rather than snorkel from the beach. Mnemba and Chumbe Islands off Zanzibar offer some of the best conditions. On Zanzibar, it is possible to snorkel with dolphins. However, one of the greatest highlights would be snorkeling with whale sharks off Mafia Island, which is possible between November and March.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Other activities available on a limited basis include hot-air ballooning, sailing, kayaking, mountain biking and horse-riding. We can also cater for very specific interests such as dendrology, Lepidoptera, archaeology etc.
In particular, hot-air balloon safaris are popular in the Serengeti National Park. Take-off is at dawn, and you float over the plains for about an hour before landing (usually bumpy). A ‘champagne’ breakfast is served before you transfer back to your lodge/camp. Although expensive and commercial, balloon safaris are memorable and the views are magical.