Tanzania: Home of the Great Migration
Experience safari in its most iconic form—where endless plains teem with millions of wildebeest and zebra, lions lounge in acacia trees, and the mighty Kilimanjaro stands sentinel over abundant wildlife. This is Tanzania—the land that inspired Hemingway and countless wildlife documentaries, offering the quintessential East African safari alongside pristine beaches and authentic cultural encounters.
Tanzania at a Glance
Best Time to Visit
Year-round; June-October (dry season) optimal for wildlife viewing
Ideal Trip Duration
7-14 days
Signature Wildlife
Great Migration herds, Big Five, chimpanzees, endemic island species
Key Highlights
Serengeti Migration, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar beaches
Getting There
International flights to Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, or Zanzibar airports
Visa Requirements
Available on arrival or online in advance
Currency
Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
Languages
Swahili, English
Combines Well With
Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Zanzibar
Recommended Tanzania Itineraries
Cross-Border Safari Odyssey: Kenya to Tanzania
An unforgettable journey through Tanzania’s iconic wilderness
A soul-stirring journey where culture meets conservation and every day is an adventure.
A Journey of Wild Beauty, Cultural Discovery, and Coastal Serenity
Top National Parks & Reserves
Serengeti National Park
Home to the Great Migration and abundant predators
- Key Wildlife: Wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, lions, leopards, cheetahs
- Best Time: Year-round (different migration highlights by season)
- Unique Experiences: Migration river crossings (Jun-Oct), calving season (Jan-Feb), hot air balloon safaris
- Landscape: Endless short-grass plains, rocky outcrops, riverine forests, acacia woodlands
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
World's largest intact volcanic caldera
- Key Wildlife: Dense concentration of lions, elephants, rhinos, hippos, 25,000+ large mammals
- Best Time: Year-round (June-September for clearest visibility)
- Unique Experiences: Full-day crater game drives, Maasai cultural visits, Olduvai Gorge archaeological site
- Landscape: 600m deep crater with diverse habitats, highlands, and archaeological sites
Tarangire National Park
Elephant paradise with iconic baobab trees
- Key Wildlife: Large elephant herds, tree-climbing pythons, diverse antelope species, 550+ bird species
- Best Time: June-October (dry season when wildlife concentrates along the river)
- Unique Experiences: Walking safaris, night drives, seasonal wetland wildlife
- Landscape: Baobab-studded savanna, seasonal swamps, permanent river
Lake Manyara National Park
Compact park with remarkable biodiversity
- Key Wildlife: Tree-climbing lions, hippos, elephants, huge flamingo flocks (seasonal)
- Best Time: July-October and December-February (drier seasons)
- Unique Experiences: Canopy walkway, bicycle tours, cultural visits, night drives
- Landscape: Groundwater forest, acacia woodlands, hot springs, alkaline lake
Mahale Mountains National Park
Remote chimpanzee haven on Lake Tanganyika
- Key Wildlife: Habituated chimpanzee communities, forest mammals, 350+ bird species
- Best Time: July-October (dry season)
- Unique Experiences: Chimpanzee tracking, beach relaxation, boat safaris, fishing
- Landscape: Forested mountains meeting white-sand beaches on crystal-clear lake
Signature Wildlife Experiences
Great Migration River Crossings
Nature's most dramatic wildlife spectacle
Witness thousands of wildebeest and zebra brave crocodile-infested waters during dramatic river crossings in the Northern Serengeti. This life-and-death struggle represents the most sought-after safari sighting in Africa, combining breathtaking drama with remarkable photographic opportunities.
Best time: July-October (Northern Serengeti river crossings)
Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive
Exceptional concentration of predators
Descend 600 meters into the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera to explore a 260 sq km natural sanctuary that contains one of Africa’s densest concentrations of wildlife. The crater offers reliable sightings of all Big Five animals, including endangered black rhino, within spectacular volcanic scenery.
Best time: Year-round (clearest views June-September)
Chimpanzee Tracking in Mahale
Intimate encounters in pristine forest
Trek through the lush forests of the Mahale Mountains to spend time with one of Africa’s most studied chimpanzee communities. Unlike gorilla encounters, chimps are highly active, providing fascinating opportunities to observe complex social behavior, tool usage, and remarkable intelligence.
Best time: July-October (dry season with most reliable chimp sightings)
Hot Air Balloon Safari
Aerial perspective over the Serengeti
Float silently above the plains at dawn, watching predators hunting and thousands of animals beginning their daily movements from a unique vantage point. The flight concludes with a champagne breakfast in the bush, creating an unforgettable safari memory.
Best time: Year-round (best wildlife viewing June-October)
Big Cats of the Serengeti
Unparalleled predator viewing
The Serengeti ecosystem supports the highest concentration of large predators in Africa, including over 3,000 lions. Specialized safari experiences focus on locating and observing these magnificent cats, including the tree-climbing lions of Central Serengeti and the cheetahs of the southern plains.
Best time: Year-round (December-March for lion cubs)
Beyond Wildlife: Cultural & Adventure Experiences
Mount Kilimanjaro Climb
Conquer Africa’s highest peak (5,895m) through a 5-8 day trek up this iconic snow-capped mountain—no technical climbing skills required.
Maasai Cultural Immersion
Experience authentic cultural exchanges with Maasai communities who maintain traditional lifestyles while adapting to modern conservation challenges.
Stone Town Historical Tour
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage labyrinthine streets of Zanzibar’s Stone Town, where Arab, Persian, Indian, and European influences blend.
Spice Plantation Experience
Discover why Zanzibar earned its name as the “Spice Island” through interactive tours of aromatic plantations producing cloves, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Southern Highlands Coffee Route
Visit small-holder coffee farms in the highlands around Mbeya and Arusha to learn about Tanzania’s renowned coffee production from bean to cup.
When to Visit Tanzania: Seasonal Guide
Dry Season (June-October)
- Peak wildlife viewing with animals concentrated around water sources
- Spectacular wildebeest river crossings in Northern Serengeti
- Excellent visibility with minimal vegetation and clear skies
- Comfortable temperatures and little rain
- Peak season rates and higher visitor numbers in popular parks
Green Season (November-May)
- Lush landscapes with dramatic skies perfect for photography
- Wildebeest calving season in Southern Serengeti (January-February)
- Excellent birdwatching with migratory species present
- Lower visitor numbers and special offers at many properties
- Short rains (November-December) and long rains (March-May)
Featured Accommodation
Singita Sasakwa Lodge
Grumeti Reserves, Western Serengeti Refined Edwardian-style manor house offering panoramic views over private wilderness reserve.
Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Ngorongoro Conservation Area Opulent lodges perched on the crater rim, blending Maasai-inspired design with sumptuous colonial elegance.
Nomad Lamai Serengeti
Northern Serengeti Architecturally stunning lodge built into a kopje overlooking Mara River crossing points.
Conservation & Community Impact
Tanzania faces significant conservation challenges balancing tourism development with habitat protection across its vast wilderness areas. Sustainable tourism plays a vital role in funding conservation efforts and providing alternatives to land conversion.
Great Migration Ecosystem Protection
Tourism revenue helps maintain the integrity of the greater Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, preserving crucial migration corridors and dispersal areas outside formal protected areas.
Empowering Local Communities
Kikooko partners with community-owned conservancies where tourism directly funds education, healthcare, and sustainable development while creating incentives for wildlife protection.
Practical Information
Health & Safety
Tanzania is generally safe for tourists, particularly in national parks and established tourism areas. Yellow fever vaccination may be required, and malaria prophylaxis is recommended. We provide comprehensive pre-departure information.
Visa & Entry Requirements
Most visitors require a visa, available on arrival ($50-$100 depending on nationality) or online in advance through Tanzania’s e-visa portal.(Please refer to previous comment)
Tanzania's Safari Circuits
The Northern Circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire) offers iconic wildlife and higher visitor numbers. The Southern Circuit (Ruaha, Selous) provides wilder, less-visited experiences. The Western Circuit (Mahale, Katavi) features remote wilderness and chimpanzees.
Accommodation Types
Options range from ultra-luxury lodges and tented camps to mid-range safari properties and budget-friendly camping experiences across all major parks.
Getting Around
Most safaris utilize private 4×4 vehicles with expert guides. For longer distances between parks, we arrange scheduled light aircraft flights to maximize your time and experience.
Our Latest Tanzania Travel Blogs
- Category: Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Wilderness
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to see the Great Migration?
The migration is a year-round, circular movement, with different highlights each season. January-March features calving in Southern Serengeti; April-May shows herds moving northward; June-October offers dramatic river crossings in Northern Serengeti; November-December has herds returning south.
How does Tanzania compare to Kenya for safari?
Both offer exceptional wildlife viewing with some key differences: Tanzania features the Ngorongoro Crater, more of the Serengeti ecosystem, and generally larger national parks. Tanzania’s parks tend to have fewer visitors per square kilometer, while Kenya offers excellent community conservancies and some unique northern species.
Should I include Zanzibar in my Tanzania safari?
Zanzibar provides the perfect complement to an active wildlife safari, offering beautiful beaches, cultural experiences, and relaxation. We typically recommend 3-5 nights on Zanzibar following your mainland safari, easily connected via short flights from most national parks.
What's the best way to experience Mount Kilimanjaro?
For climbers, we recommend the 7-day Machame or 8-day Lemosho routes for proper acclimatization and highest summit success rates. For non-climbers, day hikes on the mountain’s lower slopes provide excellent experiences of the montane forest zone and cultural interaction.
How physically demanding is a Tanzania safari?
Standard game drive safaris in Tanzania are not physically demanding, making them suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Activities like walking safaris, chimpanzee tracking, or Kilimanjaro climbing require moderate to excellent fitness and can be incorporated based on your preferences.
Plan Your Tanzania Safari
Our Tanzania specialists are ready to help you craft the perfect safari experience tailored to your interests, travel style, and timing preferences.
