Mount Meru, lakes & walks
Arusha National Park
A small, beautiful park on the slopes of Mount Meru, close to Arusha, with forests, crater views, lakes and the chance to walk and canoe among wildlife.
Destination guide
Tanzania, the endless plains
The Serengeti’s great herds, a day on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, the baobabs of Tarangire, and the white sand of Zanzibar to finish.
Best timeJun–Oct & Jan–Feb
Ideal length7–12 days
Headline experienceSerengeti & the crater
ArriveKilimanjaro (JRO)
Overview
Why Tanzania?
Quick answer
Tanzania’s northern circuit (Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater) offers safari on a grand scale, with the Great Migration in the Serengeti most of the year and calving around Ndutu from about January to March. Seven to twelve days is ideal, often finishing on Zanzibar.
Tanzania’s northern circuit is safari on a grand scale. The Serengeti hosts the Great Migration for most of the year: calving in the southern plains around February, moving west and north through the dry season. The Ngorongoro Crater holds one of Africa’s densest concentrations of wildlife within its walls.
Add Tarangire for elephants among baobabs, Lake Manyara for its forest and lakeshore, and then fly to Zanzibar for Stone Town’s history and the Indian Ocean.
Finish on the Indian Ocean
A short flight from the northern circuit brings you to Zanzibar: the UNESCO-listed alleys of Stone Town, spice farms, dhow sunset cruises and quiet beaches on the island’s east and north coasts. Three to five nights is ideal after a safari.
Before you travel to Tanzania
Practical guides to plan your trip with confidence:
Talk to a Tanzania specialistWhatsApp +256 709 780 625
Where to go
Highlights of Tanzania
Chimpanzees by Lake Tanganyika
Gombe and Mahale Mountains
Two remote parks on the shores of Lake Tanganyika where forested mountains meet clear water, home to some of the world’s most studied chimpanzees.
Forest, lake & elephants
Lake Manyara National Park
A compact park at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment, packing a groundwater forest, a soda lake and open floodplains into one rewarding game drive.
Flamingos & a living volcano
Lake Natron
A remote soda lake in the Rift Valley near the Kenya border, beneath the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, where lesser flamingos breed and Maasai herders cross a lunar landscape.
Crater safari
Ngorongoro Crater
The world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, a 260 km² bowl ringed by 600-metre walls, with one of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa.
Boats, walks & wild dogs
Nyerere National Park
A vast southern wilderness of rivers, lakes and miombo woodland, where you can explore by boat, on foot and by vehicle, and see some of Africa’s most important wild dog packs.
Lions, elephants & baobabs
Ruaha National Park
A huge, rugged park of rivers, baobabs and rocky hills, with big lion prides, large elephant herds and very few vehicles.
Migration & big cats
Serengeti National Park
Tanzania’s most famous park, 14,763 km² of grassland and kopjes where the Great Migration circles year-round and lions, leopards and cheetahs are part of everyday life.
Elephants & baobabs
Tarangire National Park
A park of ancient baobab trees and big elephant herds along the Tarangire River, the first stop on most Northern Circuit safaris and often the biggest surprise.
Beach & culture
Zanzibar
An Indian Ocean island of white beaches, turquoise reefs and the UNESCO-listed old city of Stone Town, the classic place to relax after a safari.
Also worth adding: Lake Manyara, a cultural visit around Karatu or Mto wa Mbu, and Kilimanjaro’s lower slopes for a day hike.
Practical information
Full travel essentialsGetting to and around Tanzania
ArriveKilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), near Arusha; Zanzibar has its own international airport.
Get around4x4 road safaris from Arusha, with light-aircraft flights into the Serengeti to save time.
VisasMost visitors apply online for an e-visa; Zanzibar uses the same visa.
Good to knowPlastic bags are banned; dress modestly in Stone Town.
MoneyTanzanian shilling; US dollars widely used for safaris.
DrivingOn the left.
When to go
The best time to visit Tanzania
June to October is the classic dry season. January and February bring the calving season in the southern Serengeti. The long rains of April and May are the quietest time to travel.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodGreen / wet season
Journeys
All holidaysTanzania itineraries
Use these as a starting point. Every trip is private and adjusted to your dates, budget and pace.
Honeymoon 12 days Uganda & Zanzibar · Honeymoon
12-Day Gorillas & Zanzibar Honeymoon
Adventure and romance: fly in to trek gorillas in Bwindi, see tree-climbing lions and the Kazinga Channel, then fly to Zanzibar for Stone Town and six nights on the beach.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →
Signature 18 days Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania
18-Day East Africa Grand Safari: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania
The ultimate East African journey across four countries: chimps and gorillas in Uganda, golden monkeys in Rwanda, the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →
Signature 12 days Uganda & Tanzania
12-Day Uganda Gorillas & Serengeti Safari
Primates and plains: chimpanzees and gorillas in Uganda, then a flight to Tanzania for the Serengeti’s great herds, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire’s elephants.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →
Signature 14 days Uganda, Rwanda & Tanzania
14-Day Uganda, Rwanda & Tanzania Safari
Three countries, three great experiences: chimps and gorillas in Uganda, golden monkeys and Kigali in Rwanda, then the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan → Signature 12 days Kenya & Tanzania
12-Day Kenya & Tanzania Safari: Masai Mara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
The great migration ecosystem from both sides: Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara in Kenya, Amboseli beneath Kilimanjaro, then the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire in Tanzania.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan → Signature 15 days Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar
15-Day Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar Safari
Safari and beach across East Africa: the Masai Mara and Amboseli, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, then a flight to Zanzibar for Stone Town and the beach.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →Where you’ll stay
All lodgesLodges in Tanzania
Budget Kendwa and Nungwi, northern Zanzibar, Tanzania
Kendwa Rocks
A laid-back beach hotel on Kendwa beach in northern Zanzibar, with simple bungalows, sea-view rooms and a famous full-moon party.
Northern Zanzibar · Budget
Luxury Kendwa and Nungwi, northern Zanzibar, Tanzania
Zuri Zanzibar
A luxury beach resort on Kendwa beach in northern Zanzibar, with bungalows, suites and villas spread through tropical gardens.
Northern Zanzibar · Luxury
Mid-range Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Tembo House Hotel
A seafront hotel in Stone Town, a few minutes’ walk from the old town, with swimming pools and rooms overlooking the beach or pool courtyard.
Stone Town · Mid-rangeGood to know
Tanzania safari questions
Where is the Great Migration in each month?
Roughly: southern Serengeti and Ndutu for calving from January to March, the central and western Serengeti from May to July, the northern Serengeti and the Mara from July to October, then back south by December. Rain shifts this every year.
How long should I spend in the Serengeti?
At least three nights, ideally split between two areas depending on where the herds are when you travel.
Can I combine Tanzania with gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda?
Yes. Fly between Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam and Entebbe or Kigali. We plan the flights and connections as part of your itinerary.
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Plan your Tanzania safari
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