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WHERE TO GO
Tanzania
An overview of where to go and what's on offer in Tanzania...
Established as one of the most varied safari destinations in Africa, Tanzania can boast of palm fringed shores, mountainous forests, volcanic grasslands and wending river systems. Each of these differing habitats gives rise to a broad spectrum of safari activities such as the great wildebeest migration in the Seregenti, chimpanzee trekking in Mahale, boating and walking safaris in Nyerere and Ruaha and sun kissed beaches on the spice island of Zanzibar. It is no wonder it is a destination many return to time and time again!
The best parks & regions in Tanzania
Tanzania is often considered solely as being the “other half” to the great wildebeest migration between the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in the north of Tanzania…but this is to completely overlook the country’s vast array of safari options.
As per the above, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Parks are considered as the only safari options worth considering. In our opinion, for those in the know, better to consider Nyerere and Ruaha or even the distant and remote Katavi and Mahale for something that will be remembered for a lifetime!
Do see Parks & Regions on this page for more information.
Best time to visit Tanzania
As with most of Africa, the June to November window is still one of the best to head any of the parks in the country, in particular to the southern and western parks.
On top of this, with the wildebeest herds calving in the southern grasslands of the Serengeti at the start of the year, from late December to March, the game viewing in this window can also be very rewarding and a good time to avoid some of the larger crowds.
Please see our When to Go section for a more detailed breakdown of the areas and months below.
Tanzania safari holidays
The topography in Tanzania allows for a huge array of different safari combinations and activities. It is possible to swim in Lake Victoria after walking with chimps to then see the wildebeest of the north or camp in the bush and then luxuriate in the finest luxury on a white sand beach. The options (and budgets!) are endless!
With so many nuances to factor in, there is no substitute, in our experience, for having a talk through with someone but, to get you started we have also developed a Safari Finder that should allow you to get a few options initially.
Do see Best Safaris & Holidays on this page for more ideas of what is on offer.
Tanzania Wildlife
Without doubt, the wildebeest herds of the Serengeti plains are the most famed animal to roam the plains but vast buffalo numbers in Katavi, crocodiles in Nyerere, elephant in Tarangire or lion in Ruaha show that you can return time and time again.
For those looking for the more illusive animals the southern parks have reliable wild dog numbers while the only animal that is not really on show is the rhino.
Don’t miss our Tanzania Wildlife Guide on this page.
Get help with a Safari to Tanzania
As much as AI has changed the way we all approach our lives, there is still no substitute for picking up the phone and having a chat through the options with one of us on +44 1525 840 149
This allows us to completely tailor the property choices, costs and itinerary length to your needs…but we also understand that this is not always possible with the busy lives we all lead.
With this in mind, we have also put together a safari finder tool that should help you to narrow down the initial stages at which point we can jump in to “round off the edges” as it were.
Alternatively please feel free to >send us an email with your timings, group size and rough likes and dislikes and we can get the ball rolling.
Where to Go in Tanzania
Tanzania
Do visit our full guide to Africa Destination Guide page to take in all that Southern and East Africa has to offer.
What are the best parks & regions in Tanzania for 2026/27?
Take a look at the below links for more information about the best parks and regions in Tanzania for 2026/27.
Do also see our full Africa Safari Finder to find the best parks, trips and activities.
What safari & adventure holiday types is Tanzania recommended for in 2026/27?
With a range of activities on offer across Africa please see a selection of some of the more popular below:
Don't miss our full What to Do in Africa safari guides for full details and ideas.
What are your top safari trips & itineraries to Tanzania for 2026/27?
1 Serengeti and mountain gorillas
Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania
Visits : Kigali, Serengeti National Park, Volcanoes National Park
This incredible itinerary takes you to the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda to trek for the majestic mountain gorillas. The experience has been described as humbling, dramatic and simply extraordinary, and when you… More…
2 Great Safari, Great Beach
Africa, Tanzania, Zanzibar
Visits : Nyerere National Park, Southern Tanzania, Stone Town, Zanzibar and islands, Zanzibar beaches
Along with the first itinerary we feature in this section, this itinerary has long been a favourite with safari clients and, with properties like Pongwe Beach hotel, it is now possible to… More…
3 Beach Selous and Zanzibar
Africa, Tanzania, Zanzibar
Visits : Mainland Coast, Nyerere National Park, South of Dar, Southern Tanzania, Zanzibar beaches
A really well paced itinerary, this is a simple but really effective itinerary that gives a couple of days on the beach, on to safari and then to spend the remaining time… More…
4 Selous Ruaha & Zanzibar
Africa, Tanzania, Zanzibar
Visits : Nyerere National Park, Ruaha National Park, Southern Tanzania, Zanzibar beaches
Unbelievably it is actually possible to safari in both the Selous and Ruaha within this budget. For this amount of money, this itinerary offers exceptional value for money and, for those wanting… More…
5 Northern Honeymoon June to November
Africa, Tanzania, Zanzibar
Visits : Ngorongoro Crater, Northern Tanzania, Serengeti National Park, Stone Town, Zanzibar and islands, Zanzibar beaches
We have searched high and low for a well priced trip to the north of Tanzania in what must be the main season for honeymooners to Tanzania and we think we may… More…
Don't miss our new Africa Safari Finder to find safari ideas by destination, region and type...
What are the best hotels & lodges in Tanzania for 2026/27?
We highly recommend the following hotels & lodges for Tanzania for 2026/27. These are all tried and tested by The Africa Specialists™ so don’t hesitate to call us with any queries over them or to check availability for you to your schedule.
NB. All prices for properties exclude applicable park fees and are guide prices.
Legendary Serengeti Mobile Camp
Serengeti National Park
From $950 per person per night
See the camp now
Do also see our full Top Five Hotels & Lodges in Africa guide to the best safari accomodation in Southern and East Africa.
What kind of wildlife highlights should you expect to find across Tanzania in 2026/27?
For 2026/27, we expect you’ll be able to find the following wildlife in the Tanzania bearing in mind the quality of guiding, budgets, time of year and duration of stay all affect your chances of finding or seeing any of the following outstanding animals that dwell in Tanzania…
Please visit our full Africa Wildlife page for a full guide to Tanzania’s wildlife in and where to go to find it!
Do visit our Best Time to Visit Africa page for a full guide
What to do in Tanzania in 2026/27
Do visit our What to Do speciality guide pages for Tanzania for 2026/27. These have all been put together by The Africa Specialists™ for you but don’t hesitate to call us with any queries over the options and ideas seen or to check availability for you to your schedule.
Please visit our What to Do in Africa for our full guides
FAQ’s for Tanzania safaris in 2026/27
When is the best time to go on safari in Tanzania?
As with most of the safari countries of East and Southern Africa, the window between June and November is deemed the main dry season in Tanzania and, as such, one of the best times to head to any of the main safari areas such as the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Nyerere, Ruaha or Mahale.
There is another period, from the middle of December to the middle of March which is also worth considering as the wildebeest herds are in the southern grasslands of the Serengeti and so offer a less expensive option for those on more of a budget.
Please see our in depth “when to go” section for more information.
Do I need a visa for Tanzania?
It is possible to get a visa on arrival in Tanzania as well as in advance of travel using the Tanzanian e-visa web site. We would normally recommend getting the visa prior to arrival as this will allow you to avoid queuing when you get off the plane.
On the above web site it is also possible to check if you are coming from one of the countries that are unable to get the visa on arrival.
NB. It has also recently become a requirement to have government issued insurance for those that are visiting the island of Zanzibar. This insurance must be in place prior to arrival and can be purchased through the below site:
Where can you see the Great Migration?
The “great migration” refers to the annual movement of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles across the open grassland plains of the Serengeti (in Tanzania) and the Masai Mara (in Kenya).
It is possible to see the herds throughout the year although there are periods of the year when it is generally seen as being preferrable as the herds are not on the move but are more stationary so allowing you to get a sense of the scale and number of animals involved.
Please have a look at our Great Migration page that outlines which areas and when are best throughout the year.
Which parks should I visit in Tanzania?
This is a question that we have been asked a lot over the years as Tanzania is one of the most diverse countries in Africa and so offers a range of different options.
In a nutshell, the famous northern parks of the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire combine to offer the vast animal numbers of the great migration, the elephant populations of Tarangire and the geological wonder of the crater.
For those that are wanting a more serene safari then the southern parks of Nyerere and Ruaha offer excellent game viewing and a lower budget.
Finally, for those wanting to get off the beaten track then Mahale for chimps and Katavi for remote wilderness are also on offer.
Can you combine a safari with Zanzibar?
Heading to the white sands and azure waters of the island of Zanzibar is easily combined with a safari to any of the main safari destinations in Tanzania.
For many, flying through Arusha from the Serengeti or other northern safari parks is very easy and involves around 3 hours of flying time.
For those heading to the southern parks of Nyerere and Ruaha, you will need to route through Dar es Salaam before taking the short, 20 minute “hop” onto the island.
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