Overview
Tanzania is our home and East Africa’s great safari country. The northern circuit includes the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, all within reach of Arusha. Add Kilimanjaro or the beaches of Zanzibar for a complete trip.
Safaris in Tanzania fall into a few circuits. The northern circuit around Arusha (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Arusha National Park) is the most popular and is driven in a private 4x4. The southern parks, Nyerere and Ruaha, are wilder and usually reached by light aircraft, and the western parks, Katavi, Mahale and Gombe, offer remote wilderness and chimpanzees.
Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru rise above Arusha and Moshi, and the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia are a short flight away, so a single trip can combine safari, mountain and beach.
Parks & places in Tanzania
- Serengeti National ParkBest time: All year; Jan–Mar calving, Jul–Oct crossings
- Ngorongoro CraterBest time: All year; June – October is driest
- Ndutu & Southern SerengetiBest time: December – March
- Tarangire National ParkBest time: June – October
- Lake Manyara National ParkBest time: All year; birding Nov–Apr
- Arusha National ParkBest time: All year
- Lake NatronBest time: June – December
- Lake EyasiBest time: June – October
- Mkomazi National ParkBest time: June – October
- Kilimanjaro National ParkBest time: Jan – mid-Mar, Jun – Oct
- Ruaha National ParkBest time: June – October
- Nyerere National Park (Selous)Best time: June – October
- Katavi National ParkBest time: June – October
- Mahale Mountains National ParkBest time: July – October
- Gombe Stream National ParkBest time: June – October
- Rubondo Island National ParkBest time: June – August, December – February
Key facts
- Capital
- Dodoma (Arusha is the safari hub)
- Currency
- Tanzanian shilling (TZS); US dollars widely accepted
- Languages
- Swahili and English
- Main airports
- Kilimanjaro (JRO), Dar es Salaam (DAR), Zanzibar (ZNZ)
- Visa
- Most visitors need a visa; apply online for an e-visa
- Time zone
- East Africa Time, GMT+3
Planning your trip to Tanzania
Getting around
On the northern circuit you travel in your own 4x4 safari vehicle with your guide. Light aircraft connect Arusha with the Serengeti, the southern and western parks and Zanzibar, and save long drives.
Health
A yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from, or transit through, a country with yellow fever risk. Ask your doctor about malaria prevention and vaccinations, and take travel insurance that covers medical evacuation.
Money and tipping
US dollars (notes printed after 2009) are widely accepted; cards work at most lodges and in towns. Tipping guides, drivers and lodge staff is customary.
Safety
Tanzania is a welcoming and generally safe country to travel in. Follow your guide’s advice in the parks, and use normal precautions with valuables in towns.
Practical tips
- Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for the northern circuit.
- Allow at least five days for the northern parks, more if you add Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar.
- Book July – October and the Christmas holidays well ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Both are excellent and share the same migration. Tanzania has larger, less crowded parks and the Ngorongoro Crater; Kenya’s Masai Mara is compact and easy to reach. Many travellers combine them.
Tanzania itineraries
More destinations
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