From the Serengeti's endless plains to Zanzibar's white-sand beaches — a hand-built guide to the parks, peaks and places we know best.
Tanzania holds Africa's tallest mountain, its largest game reserve and some of the most wildlife-rich savannahs on the continent. Add to that the spice islands of Zanzibar, the ancient cultures of the Maasai and Hadzabe, and Lake Tanganyika's chimpanzee forests — it's hard to think of a single country that offers more.
Our trips are tailor-made, but they almost always weave through the four classic regions: the Northern Circuit for big-game safaris, the Southern & Western Circuits for wilderness and adventure, the Coast & Islands for rest and snorkelling, and the Highlands for trekking and culture.
The classic Tanzanian safari. A loop of world-famous parks within driving distance of Arusha, home to the Great Migration, the Big Five, and some of the most photographed landscapes in Africa.
The Serengeti is the heart of any Tanzanian safari. Its 14,750 km² of open plains, riverine forest and granite kopjes host the world's largest wildebeest migration — 1.5 million animals moving year-round between the southern calving plains and the Mara River in the north.
A 260 km² volcanic caldera with steep walls trapping a self-contained ecosystem. Inside you'll find one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa — including the Big Five and one of the few remaining populations of black rhino.
Tarangire is a quieter alternative to the Serengeti, defined by its huge baobab trees and the Tarangire River, which becomes a dry-season magnet for elephant herds — often more than a thousand at once. Excellent for birding, with over 550 recorded species.
A small but beautifully diverse park — groundwater forest, alkaline lake, escarpment cliffs and open savannah within 330 km². Famous for tree-climbing lions, vast pink flamingo flocks, and troops of olive baboons. Great for a half-day game drive en route to the Serengeti.
Often overlooked, Arusha NP is perfect for a first or last day in Tanzania. Mount Meru rises above lush forest, the Momela Lakes attract flamingos, and you can do walking safaris and canoe safaris among giraffe, buffalo and zebra — but no big cats, so it's safe on foot.
On the Rift Valley floor between Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, Lake Eyasi is home to the Hadzabe — one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer peoples in Africa — and the pastoralist Datoga. A morning spent hunting with the Hadzabe is one of the most memorable experiences of any trip.
Africa's largest single protected area lies in southern Tanzania. The southern parks see a fraction of the visitors of the north and offer something many travellers prize above all else — wilderness and walking safaris in landscapes that feel truly remote.
Carved out of the legendary Selous Game Reserve, Nyerere NP is now Africa's largest national park at over 30,000 km². Known for boat safaris on the Rufiji River, walking safaris, and excellent wild dog populations.
Tanzania's largest national park (20,200 km²) and the home of one of Africa's biggest elephant populations and largest lion prides. Ruaha is rugged, dramatic and quiet — the polar opposite of the Serengeti's open plains.
The closest savannah park to Dar es Salaam — easy to reach by road in 4–5 hours. Mikumi's Mkata Floodplain is sometimes called “Little Serengeti”, with herds of buffalo, elephant, giraffe, eland and good lion sightings.
Far from the safari mainstream, the Western Circuit needs a bush flight or two to reach — and that's exactly its appeal. Habituated chimpanzees, the deep waters of Lake Tanganyika, and Katavi's untouched flood plains await those willing to go further.
On the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, Mahale's forested slopes shelter around 1,000 chimpanzees — the most accessible habituated population in the world. Tracking them through the rainforest is one of the great wildlife experiences anywhere.
The smallest national park in Tanzania, made famous by Jane Goodall's pioneering 60-year chimpanzee study. Gombe is more compact and easier to reach than Mahale, with strong odds of quality time with our closest cousins.
One of the wildest, least-visited parks on the continent. In the dry season (August–October), Katavi's Katuma River concentrates extraordinary numbers of hippos, crocodiles, buffalo and lion into a small area — and you may be the only safari vehicle in sight.
The classic end to a Tanzanian trip — soft white sand, warm turquoise water, fragrant spice farms and Stone Town's labyrinth of carved doors and Swahili history. Or, for something quieter, drift further south to Mafia or north to Pemba.
A UNESCO-listed maze of coral-stone alleys, ornate wooden doors, spice markets and crumbling Sultan-era palaces. Most visitors spend 1–2 nights walking the old town, eating at the Forodhani night market, and learning about the island's complicated Swahili-Arab-Indian-European history.
Zanzibar's most popular beach area, on the northern tip of the island. Wide white sand, swimmable water at all tides (unusual on Zanzibar), lively beach bars and the best sunsets on the island. Nungwi has the most variety, Kendwa the most space.
The east coast is wilder, less developed and famous for kitesurfing. The reef is closer to shore, the tides more dramatic, and the villages more traditional. Paje is the kitesurf hub; Jambiani feels like an old fishing village with boutique guesthouses.
For travellers who want something quieter than Zanzibar: Pemba in the north is hilly, lush and famous for diving. Mafia in the south is the place for swimming with whale sharks (Oct–Mar) and turtle hatching seasons in Chole Bay.
Tanzania has the two highest peaks in Africa, both within sight of each other. Whether you want to summit Africa's roof or just enjoy a day's walking through highland forest, there's a mountain trip here for every level.
The highest free-standing mountain in the world and the most popular trekking peak in Africa. No technical climbing required — just stamina, acclimatisation, and the right route. We run six Kilimanjaro routes; the Lemosho and Machame routes have the best summit success rates.
Africa's fifth-highest peak, often climbed as acclimatisation before Kilimanjaro. The 4-day route through Arusha National Park passes giraffe, buffalo and zebra on the lower slopes — you climb a mountain and do a walking safari in the same trip.
The volcanic highlands around the Crater are dotted with Maasai bomas, walking trails and less-visited craters like Empakaai and Olmoti. Soft adventure trips here mix walking, cultural interaction and gentle game viewing in cool, pine-scented air.
For travellers who want to escape the safari circuit entirely. The Usambara Mountains in the north and the Udzungwa Mountains in the south are forested, cooler and full of endemic wildlife — a different Tanzania, full of hidden waterfalls and quiet trails.
Tanzania is a year-round destination — what changes is which experience is at its best. Here's a rough month-by-month guide to help shape your trip.
| Month | Northern Safari | Southern Safari | Kilimanjaro | Zanzibar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan – Feb | Calving Hot, dry, southern Serengeti | Good Lush green | Good Clear skies | Peak Hot, kite season |
| Mar – May | Long rains Quiet & lush | Closed Many camps shut | Avoid Wet, muddy | Wet Quiet, low rates |
| Jun – Jul | Excellent Migration heading north | Good Drying out | Peak Cool, clear | Good Cool breeze |
| Aug – Oct | Peak River crossings, Mara | Peak Best dry-season game | Peak Best summit weather | Good Mild & dry |
| Nov | Short rains Migration heading back | Mixed Light rains | OK Some afternoon showers | OK Building heat |
| Dec | Good Migration in southern Serengeti | Good Green & quiet | OK Fewer crowds | Peak Festive season |
Tell us when you'd like to travel, what excites you most, and roughly how long you have. We'll come back with a tailor-made itinerary — usually within a working day.
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