What are the best activities in Tanzania?

Tanzania is a paradise for safari and savannah lovers. If you love wild animals, you will be charmed by the many national parks and African nature. Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater, the Selous Reserve, not to mention the famous Zanzibar archipelago, discoveries are countless in this magnificent country, and it is sometimes difficult to make a choice.

So discover in this article our tips on the best activities to experience in Tanzania!

Kilimanjaro

At almost 6,000 meters above sea level, Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa, but also the highest mountain in the world at the heart of the savannah.

Climbing it is a dream shared by many people around the globe. If you are one of them, set aside 5 to 10 days to get there, as several trekking routes are available to reach the summit.

A magnificent adventure awaits you, accompanied of course by professional and experienced guides to help you throughout your journey and ensure your safety.

The Big Five and the must-see parks

Tanzania has 22 national parks, home to four million animals! There are thousands of bird species, as well as 430 species of mammals, including of course the Big Five.

But who are they? The Big Five are lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes. If you want to observe them in their natural habitat, you can board a 4×4 and let a professional guide you, who will help you spot them and teach you everything there is to know about these majestic animals!

Regarding the choice of parks to visit during your stay, you will find in the north of the country the most iconic (and therefore the most visited) parks such as Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. However, if you want to enjoy parks that are a bit less sought after and wilder (but just as exceptional), then the Selous Reserve will delight you!

We have also selected for you some lesser-known but equally exceptional parks!

Ruaha National Park, the kingdom of elephants

Ruaha National Park is the largest in the country: it covers 20,000 square kilometers. During the dry season, the Ruaha River attracts lions, buffaloes, gazelles, leopards, cheetahs, kudus, and wild dogs, but above all about 12,000 elephants in search of water!

Saadani National Park, combining safari and beach

Facing the Zanzibar archipelago, Saadani Park is the only one with a beach on the Indian Ocean, more frequented by birds and green turtles than by tourists. You can also spot buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes, and if you choose to take a boat trip on the Wami River, you might be lucky enough to see hippos and crocodiles.

Gombe Stream National Park, in the footsteps of Jane Goodall

On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Gombe Stream National Park is one of the smallest in the country and is only accessible by boat. It is visited on foot, accompanied by a guide.

In this dense forest, you can (with a bit of luck) get close to the great apes: they go about their business without worrying about the human presence.

The park owes its fame to the British ethologist Jane Goodall, who started her behavioral research program there in 1960.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration is one of the most fascinating natural phenomena in Tanzania. Thousands of zebras, wildebeest, antelopes, and predators move, depending on the season, from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the east to the south of the Serengeti. Between May and July, they move west to the Kirawira plains, before heading (between July and November) to the north of the Serengeti to cross the Mara River and reach the wetlands of the neighboring park, the Maasai Mara in Kenya.

In November, the wildebeest cross the Tanzanian border again through the northeast of Serengeti Park before repeating the journey. Between December and January, you can witness the birth of thousands of wildebeest, an unforgettable event!

Olduvai, one of the cradles of humanity

Olduvai is one of the most important prehistoric fossil sites in Africa: this 50-kilometer-long passage is located in the Great Rift Valley. 45 kilometers to the south, in Laetoli, travelers can even observe the footprints of three hominins dating back 3.7 million years…

Walking in the Olduvai Gorge is a unique experience. Not far from the main track, a giraffe tibia and a prehistoric elephant tooth rest on a stone marker. This marks the exact spot where, in 1959, a couple of paleontologists excavated the skull of a previously unknown species, thus confirming Darwin's hypothesis that Africa is the cradle of humanity.

Even today, many archaeologists work on the site to study the different aspects of the lifestyle of the first humans.

Explore Zanzibar

40 km from the Tanzanian coast, Zanzibar is a dream destination: white sand beaches, crystal clear water, and coconut trees as far as the eye can see! So here are some activities to do on site.

Discover the Jozani Forest

Protected by the Jozani Chakwa Bay National Park, the forest of the same name is home to a particular species of monkey: the red colobus. Visitors can observe it eating in the branches, but also (with a bit of luck) get close to it!

Enjoy the beaches

The magnificent white sand beaches have made the archipelago famous: Blue Ray beach, Nungwi beach (for party lovers), Paje beach, Jambiani, or even Kiwengwa, the choice seems endless!

Prison Island: the island of turtles

What was once a place of detention for slaves is now a refuge for turtles! Prison Island (or Changuu Island) is home to giant turtles previously brought from the neighboring Seychelles. Their size will impress you, as will their age: some are over 120 years old!

Scuba diving

It is in the north of the archipelago that you will find the best sites, near Ras Nungwi and in the Mnemba atoll. Diving is accessible to everyone, whatever your level, and the spectacle will be breathtaking. Rays, green turtles, clownfish, and sometimes even whale sharks, you will witness a real parade!

Zanzibar spice markets

The archipelago is a major exporter of spices, but also the world's leading exporter of cloves. The island is home to the markets of Pemba and Unguja: it's the perfect opportunity to bring back souvenirs, think of your future dishes 😉

Stone Town

In this city, you can find the fort founded in the 11th century by the Arabs of Oman, the House of Wonders (former residence of the Sultan), Saint Joseph's Cathedral, but also the house of Freddy Mercury! You will also have the opportunity to see a memorial at the site of the former slave market: these five stone statues linked together by chains are a must-see monument to understand the city's past.