TANZANIA SAFARIS

Tanzania, the largest country in East Africa, now consists of the mainland and the islands of Zanzibar. Before that as part of the scramble by the European powers to colonise Africa at the end of the 19th century, the mainland known as Tanganyika was claimed by Germany with the British claiming the island Zanzibar. Following the WW1, Germany was forced to surrender its territory to Great Britain with the mainland and Zanzibar, still independent of each other, becoming British protectorates. In 1961, Tanganyika became independent with Zanzibar following two years later. In April 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar joined to form Tanzania and the rest, so they say, is history.

WHERE TO GO

Tanzania offers extraordinarily rich areas of wildlife and some of the most varied safari experiences in the world. The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are unmissable and unforgettable, both for the stark beauty of the landscape and the density of wildlife. Don’t forget to include a trip to the Olduvai Gorge, home to the earliest known human remains, in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, while drifting over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon in the early morning makes for a breathtaking experience.

The birdlife of Tanzania is also astonishing, with Lake Manyara National Park in the south and Lake Victoria in the west both excellent birding spots.

If you’re feeling active, hike to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, the ‘roof of Africa’, for outstanding views over the Kenyan plains, while if white sand and clear blue seas are your thing, the Zanzibar Archipelago is the perfect place to relax and unwind before heading home.

Lake Manyara National Park — Lake Manyara

With over a third of this vast country protected for wildlife viewing, Tanzania is a popular choice for new and experienced safari-goers. The endless plains of the Serengeti are at the heart of the country, and witnessing thundering herds of wildebeest and giraffe (numbering up to one and a half million) during the Great Migration between May and September (when many cross into Kenya) is top of most visitors’ wish lists.

The Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to approximately 25,000 mammals including black rhino and the largest density of lions in Africa, is another staple on a Tanzania trip.

But there’s plenty to see away from these popular hotspots. Selous Game Reserve in the south, while three times larger than Serengeti, sees fewer visitors and offers a more remote and exclusive safari experience. Other parks to the west include the Ruaha National Park, home to 8,000 elephants, the largest population in East Africa, and Katavi NP, home to a number of primates.

Away from the vast plains, there are huge lakes including Lake Victoria, the biggest lake in Africa, and mighty mountains such as Kilimanjaro, the largest freestanding mountain in the world. If you want to combine your trip with some beach time, head to Zanzibar where white sandy beaches stretch for miles.

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ITINERARIES

We have a great selection of sample itineraries below that we have created to provide you with everything you need for a fantastic holiday. These itineraries can be amended to suit your requirements, please get in touch to discuss your bespoke safari.

Highlights of Tanzania and Zanzibar

The Wild West (Silver)

Tanzania-Selous-Sand-Rivers-Selous-Fly-Camping

Selous & Pemba (Silver)

FEATURED CAMPS

We have the best selection of resorts & camps in Tanzania to suit all of your needs and requirements. If you would like any additional information on any of these resorts & camps, please contact us directly

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&Beyond Mnemba Island

Lemala Ewanjan Camp

Lemala Ngorongoro Camp

Serengeti Under Canvas

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

The Palms

Lamai Serengeti

Kleins Camp

Breezes Beach Club and Spa

Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp

Baraza Resort and Spa

Zanzibar Serena Hotel

Tanzania-Selous-Selous-Serena-Luxury-Safari-Camp-Pool

Selous Serena Luxury Camp

Tarangire River Camp

Sand Rivers Selous

Sanctuary Swala Lodge

FEATURED CAMPS

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MORE ABOUT TANZANIA

Tanzania is a superb destination for a twin themed holiday offering arguably the best wildlife safaris in the region easily linked to the beaches south of Dar es Salaam or on the main Zanzibari island or on the outlying islands of Mafia, Pemba and Mnemba.

The most well known of the wildlife area in Tanzania is the Serengeti, home of the Great Migration and a name synonymous with the vast open plains (which give it its name) and host to huge herds of zebra and wildebeest (over 1 1/2 million strong), patrolled by numerous predators, which gather to calve in the southern Serengeti each January, before moving northwards to Kenya’s Masai Mara, usually in April – this though is not a precise event and depends on when the annual rains arrive. This is the heartland of Tanzania.

Tanzania though also has many other National Parks of which the Selous, Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the incredible Ngorongoro Crater are but a few. Its coastline boasts beautiful beaches with hundreds of miles of palm-fringed sands. Its cities are relaxed and friendly. Its huge lakes, Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa are bountiful with fish. Its mountains are massive and mysterious and include Mount Meru, Ol Doinyo Lengai and the Usambaras in addition, of course, to Mount Kilimanjaro – the ‘Roof of Africa’ and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.

Yet despite all these attractions, Tanzania has enough space to allow the traveller to feel the open spaces, the sense of freedom and of peace.

Tanzania can be combined with Zanzibar or Mozambique.

We would advise all travellers, prior to booking, to consult the Foreign & Commonwealth Office travel advice for the country(s) they are thinking of visiting, both in respect of the safety of travel and also passport and visa requirements. Please click here.

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WHEN TO GO

Tanzania is comfortably warm all year, though it can be chilly early morning and during the night on safari. There are short rains in November and December, and long rains in April and May.

Temperatures

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Low (°C)	22	22	21	19	16	14
High (°C)	30	30	29	28	27	25

	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Low (°C)	14	15	17	18	20	29
High (°C)	25	25	26	27	28	29

Rainfall

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Avg (mm)	141	137	89	69	28	28

	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg (mm)	18	18	37	57	78	87

Currency	TZS
Capital City	Dodoma
Population	49.25 million
Language	Swahili, English
Time Zone	GMT +3:00

NEED TO KNOW

When travelling anywhere new it’s good to understand a little bit more about your destination. Below are a few additional details about Tanzania.

Currency	TZS
Capital City	Dodoma
Population	49.25 million
Language	Swahili, English
Time Zone	GMT +3:00

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Tanzania lies just south of the equator, on the Indian Ocean coastline the African continent and is just under twice the size of France. It is also home to Lake Victoria, the second largest fresh-water lake in Africa as well as to the world famous Serengeti (endless plains in Swahili) Ngorongoro Crater and the Zanzibar islands, which historically were a major staging point for trade and this is reflected in the number and diverse cultures that settled on the islands, their architecture, religion and food.

Tanzania shares land borders with Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia and has an Indian Ocean coastline. The capital is Dodoma, not Dar es Salaam, the latter of which is the principal hub for international flights although there is a major airport next to Kilimanjaro which acts as the gateway to the Serengeti.

Tanzania is probably best known for the annual migration when millions of wildebeest and zebra, and their predators, move between the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara in Kenya in August/September returning to the Serengeti to calve in November/December.