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Classic Tanzania Safari & Beach
Arusha, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Zanzibar
12 NightsFrom $7,373 PPThis iconic Tanzania safari and beach trip offers 14 nights of luxury accommodation in three destina... -
Northern Tanzania & Zanzibar
Arusha, Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Zanzibar
12 NightsFrom $6,779 PPThis itinerary includes three national parks in northern Tanzania - Tarangire National Park, the Ngo... -
Serengeti and Zanzibar Honeymoon
Serengeti National Park & Zanzibar Island
11 NightsFrom $8,064 PPAn itinerary that beautifully combines the iconic Serengeti National Park with the romance of Zanzib... -
Tanzania Migration Safari
Arusha, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park
10 NightsFrom $8,064 PPThis 10-night safari is designed to maximize your chances of seeing the Great Migration as the herds... -
Southern Tanzania & Zanzibar
Selous Game Reserve, Ruaha National Park, Zanzibar Island
12 NightsFrom $9,547 PPAn itinerary that beautifully combines the Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park. Here, you wi... -
Tanzania: Off The Beaten Track
Selous Game Reserve, Ruaha National Park & Mafia Island
13 NightsFrom $10,244 PPThis safari explores the two southern parks in Tanzania that are much quieter and off the beaten tra...
What to do in Tanzania
Tanzania is a country home to the biggest wildebeest migration on Earth, the tallest mountain in Africa, the whitest sandy beaches on Earth, and much more. With 15 national parks and hundreds of experiences to enjoy, here are a few of our Tanzania highlights.
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Experience The Great Migration
Each year, approximately 1.5 million wildebeest, accompanied by 200,000 zebra migrate across the plains of the Serengeti National Park and the Masai Mara in search of green pasture and fresh rains. Their pilgrimage starts in the southern Serengeti plains, where their calves are born between January and March. They then move in a clockwise direction, up to the Mara River between August and October, making their way back down through the eastern plains in November/December. You can see experience the Great Migration year-round in the Serengeti.
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Descent into the Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest caldera in the world. The crater itself extends around 20 kilometres in diameter, and is about 610 metres deep. The game viewing down in the crater is fantastic – home some of the largest tusker elephants, rare black rhinos, and incredible lion prides. That said, the most thrilling part of a safari in the Ngorongoro Crater is the descent down the crater walls. At the top of the crater, you be amongst the clouds but as you descent down, the landscape will change to a vast open plain, home to an abundance of wildlife. Image: Entamanu
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Relax on Zanzibar Island
Zanzibar is an island off the eastern coast of Tanzania’s mainland. This paradise island is known for its white sand beaches, azure waters, friendly local people and a wealth of home-grown local spices and fruits. Zanzibar’s capital is called Stone Town and is a UNESCO world heritage site. The city has so much history and culture behind it, so we would definitely recommend spending a morning or afternoon exploring the alleyways with a private guide.
The Best National Parks & Reserves in Tanzania
Tanzania is home to 15 national parks, each offering unique game viewing experiences and exceptional accommodation and guiding. Whether its northern, southern or western Tanzania, we have included a selection of the best national parks to visit.

Northern Tanzania
Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti is the most iconic park in Tanzania, if not, all of Africa! Although the Serengeti is home to the Big Five (elephant, cape buffalo, leopard, lion and rhino), the biggest attraction to this incredible park is the wildebeest migration. Approximately 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra set out on an annual pilgrimage in search of fresh rains and green pasture. They move in a clockwise direction and can be seen throughout the year in different locations of the Serengeti. Arguably, the most exciting times of their journey are January to March when their calves are born, and the July to September window where the famous river crossings take place, but you are able to see the herds all year round. Mobile tented camps are great options for those who want the best wildebeest migration experience – these camps pack up and move every few months, in conjunction with the herds’ movement. Along with the wildebeest migration, the resident wildlife in the Serengeti is fantastic, with Big Five sightings on offer.

Southern Tanzania
Selous Game Reserve
The Selous Game Reserve is located in the southern part of Tanzania and has certainly become more popular over the last few years. This is because of its relatively good access into and out of the park. From Dar es Salaam, it is a short 30-minute flight into the park, and after your safari, it is very easy to fly over to Zanzibar for some relaxation. The best area for game viewing is around the Rufiji River where you can do a safari from a boat, vehicle, or on foot. The Selous is a great place to see African wild dog – one of the best opportunities in all of Tanzania. The Selous is a great option for those looking for a safari off the beaten track but still with exceptional wildlife sightings. The safari camps here are often situated along the banks of the Rufiji River or the lakes, so the sound of hippo will become normal to you after a stay here!

Northern Tanzania
Tarangire National Park
Located in northern Tanzania, Tarangire is a national park often combined with the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. The park itself is known for its congregating herds of elephant, seen best between the months of July and October. The landscape is diverse – you can drive from one area of vast, open plains to another area where dense scrubs and a network of swamps dominate the land. Tarangire homes some more rustic tented camps which offer that “wilderness” experience, such as Oliver’s Camp and Kuro Camp. Tarangire is a great option for those who want to do a shorter safari, as you can drive from Arusha to Tarangire easily. On the other hand, it’s also a good option for those who are looking to do a longer safari and combine multiple safari parks and reserves. Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park are often combined in a northern itinerary which works very well as they each offer unique landscapes and wildlife sightings.
Image: Olivers Camp, Tarangire

Northern Tanzania
The Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest inactive caldera in the world and was created by the collapse of a volcano over two million years ago. As a result, the area around Ngorongoro is rich and fertile, providing a haven for wildlife. The crater floor homes the Big Five and is one of the best opportunities in Tanzania to see black rhino and large tusker elephants. Interestingly, the crater floor is missing some animals – there are no giraffe. While the views are spectacular, it is the drive from crater rim down to floor that is an unforgettable experience in itself. For accommodation, you can stay on the crater rim in places like Entamanu, the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge and the Ngorongoro Serena Hotel, which all offer exceptional views over the crater. The other option is to stay in accommodation in the Ngorongoro highlands which, although is a little further back, offers seclusion and tranquility as you are surrounded by the forests. These include Plantation Lodge, the Manor and The Highlands. For more information, please get in touch and we can run through various options with you.

Western Tanzania
Mahale National Park
Situated on the western border of Tanzania is Mahale Mountains National Park. The landscape is truly breath-taking – the lush forests contrast against the blue azure waters of Lake Tanganyika. The park’s habitats include rainforest, grasslands, woodlands, and mountains, which homes around 900 chimpanzees. Some of these are habituated which means you can trek to see and spend time with to watch them play, eat and interact with one another. There are only two luxury camps in the Mahale Mountains National Park – Gresystokes Mahale and Mbali Mbali. Both of these camps offer a range of activities. Of course, chimpanzee trekking is top of the list, but you can also do boat safari on Lake Tanganyika, hike the winding forest trails in the mountains, visit local villages and enjoy kayaking during sunset. Mahale is one of the most untouched destinations in Tanzania and internal flights can be quite expensive, but if you want a chimpanzee experience alongside a Tanzania safari, it is definitely worth it.
Image: Greystoke Mahale

Southern Tanzania
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park is definitely more “off the beaten track” than other national parks in Tanzania, but it offers such a fantastic safari experience. Ruaha is the largest national park in Tanzania and its name takes after the Great Ruaha River that flows through. This is the best area for game viewing, where lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, kudu and sometimes African wild dog can be seen. Ruaha combines well in a safari itinerary with the Selous Game Reserve and is definitely one to consider for safari enthusiasts. This park is arguably one of our favourites, because it feels a lot more authentic and ‘wild’ than other parks. Although there are some luxurious properties, like Jabali Ridge and Ikuka, most of the accommodation in Ruaha is tented camps, which makes it feel very authentic.
Image: Jabali Ridge

Island
Zanzibar
Zanzibar (although the official name is Unguja) is an island located off the eastern shores of Tanzania’s mainland. The capital, named Stonetown, is filled with colonial history and winding alleyways to explore. The southern shores have some of the best diving spots to explore coral reefs including potential dolphin sightings. The northern and eastern beaches are white-sand havens, and this is where most of the luxury hotels are located. Spend a week or so waking up to the sound of gentle waves and island bliss. Zanzibar also homes Jozani forest and organic spice farms, hence its nickname “Spice Island”. There is a wealth of accommodation to choose from on Zanzibar Island – from small, boutique properties to much larger hotels. Generally, the northern and eastern coasts offer the best beaches, so hotels like Baraza, the Palms, the Z Hotel and the Residence are all good options.

Northern Tanzania
Mount Kilimanjaro
Tanzania is proud to home Africa’s tallest mountain, named Mount Kilimanjaro, which stands at a height of 5,895 meters above sea level. Interestingly, some of the best views of the mountain are in Amboseli National Park in Kenya, but on a clear day, the mountain peak can be seen from Tanzania’s northern city, Arusha. There are several routes you can take to climb the mountain including Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Shira and Rongai. They all vary in length and time to ascend, but for first-time climbers, the Machame route is the most popular as you have a longer time to acclimatize. On clear days, you can see the mountain from Arusha, but often the tip is behind the clouds. Interestingly, the best views of Mount Kilimanjaro are actually from Amboseli National Park which is located in Kenya. The famous ‘Amboseli postcard’ is the mountain in the background, and a herd of elephants in the foreground.
Activities to do in Tanzania

Your Private Tanzania Safari
Tanzania is a country like no other. Located in East Africa, Tanzania is home to Africa’s largest mountain, Africa’s most loved national park and Africa’s most idyllic island – Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti and Zanzibar respectively. Although there are currently no direct flights between London and Tanzania, and the US and Tanzania, with one changeover, it’s easy enough to get into and once you are there, you will find it difficult to leave.
The Lion King was inspired by the plains of the Serengeti. Although Tanzania and Kenya both argue which country has the original ‘Pride Rock’, the ecosystem and the relationships between the animals were all inspired by life in Tanzania. Although the circle of life does not always end happily (especially when it comes to crocodiles and wildebeest river crossings), a safari in the Serengeti is truly memorable. Early morning game drives and evening sundowners (drinks while watching the sunset) are enjoyed every day, with your friendly safari guide often becoming your best friend. It’s a place like no other – everyone needs to experience it.
While the wildlife is second-to-none, the people of Tanzania are extremely kind and warm-hearted. The guides train incredibly hard to get to where they are, so rest assured that you will have a friendly, knowledgeable and experienced guide with you at all times.
Image credit: Dunia Camp, central Serengeti
Best Safari Camps to see the Great Migration
The wildebeest migration is the gem of a Tanzania safari crown. Although the herds are always on the move, they migrate in a fairly predictable pattern across the plains of the Serengeti. Depending on the time of year, here are some of the best camps and lodges to witness them from.

Gemma our Africa Safari Specialist
When can I see the Great Migration in Tanzania?
The wildebeest migration herds move in a clockwise direction around the plains of the Serengeti National Park, so it’s possible to see them at all times of the year. The period between July and October, the herds are in the very northern plains of the Serengeti before crossing the mighty Mara River into Kenya’s Masai Mara. This is an excellent time to be in the northern Serengeti as there are over 10 crossing points to witness a famous river crossing. The period between January and March is also a fantastic time to see the herds as it is calving season down in the Ndutu plains (southern Serengeti).
What is the safari accommodation like in Tanzania?
There is a wide range of safari accommodation to choose from. As an overview, the two main types of safari accommodation are tented camps, and safari lodges. Lodges are often permanent structures, larger and more hotel-like. Safari tented camps are much more rustic, but can still be as luxurious and comfortable as lodges – if not more. These are canvassed tents but often have very elegant features, like ensuite bathrooms, free-standing baths, chandeliers, the list goes on. For those who are keen to see the migration herds, mobile tented camps are a good option. These are safari camps which pack up and move every couple of months, to be in the best location for the herds.
Is Tanzania good for a honeymoon safari?
Yes definitely. Tanzania is often regarded as one of the best destinations for a honeymoon because of its exceptional safari experience, but also the ability to combine it with the paradise island of Zanzibar. With regular internal flights, honeymoon couples can be on safari in the morning (in the Serengeti, Selous or others), fly to Zanzibar and be on the beach sipping cocktails by the afternoon. The guides and staff in all of the safari camps are also very accommodating with honeymoon couples, and plan lots of surprises along the way to make it truly special.
Which national park is best in Tanzania?
With 15 national parks, there is a big choice in Tanzania but it completely depends on what you safari you are looking for. For those who are wanting to tick off the most iconic parks, then combining the northern parks like the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater is a great option. For those who are wanting a safari experience off the beaten track, the southern parks of Selous and Ruaha are absolute gems. There is also Katavi and Mahale which are southern/western parks, offering that authentic and wild experience.
How much is a Tanzania safari?
Depending on which parks you visit, which accommodation you stay in and what time of year you go, a Tanzania safari can be anywhere from £3-4,000 per person upwards. At an average, safari camps will charge around $700 per person per night. Although this may seem a lot compared to the standard ‘nightly cost’ of another holiday, this amount covers all park fees, concession fees, safari activities, guiding, all meals and the majority of the time, all drinks.
Key Facts
GMT+3 | ET+8
Tanzanian shilling
Dodoma
Families, Adventure
Jun - Oct & Dec - Mar
Serengeti National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar
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