The most popular places to visit in Tanzania
Tanzania Destinations: Tanzania as a country is full of remarkable feature and unforgettable natural attractions and home to over 120 tribes with more than 120 different languages. The country’s different landscapes include mountain including Africa’s highest mountain – Mount Kilimanjaro, forests, endless savannah plains, deep craters, and gorges, Miombo woodlands, and flatlands, and white sandy beaches.
Tanzania is blessed with more than twenty national parks and game reserves which are visited by large numbers of travelers from all over the world. From the Great Wildebeest Migration to the Big and birds, Tanzania is truly a nature lover’s paradise.
Here are the Most Popular Tanzania Destinations
Arusha National Park
Situated only 50 km from Arusha, this park offers unique activities to explore nature, including trekking Mount Meru. The low predator numbers in Arusha National Park mean that you experience every corner of the park during a guided walk.
Every turn provides you with amazing views of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. Walk past herds of buffalo and giraffes to Tululusia waterfall, Ngurdoto Crater and incredible viewpoints. Guided canoe safaris on Lake Momella are another highlight. Gently paddle along watching hippos whilst Fish Eagles call out above. Wading waterbuck, zebras, and warthogs can be seen along the shoreline and over 400 bird species create amazing birdwatching.
Lake Manyara National Park
This beautiful small park on the Northern Circuit is an ideal stop-off on the way to the Serengeti National Park .It is a beautiful place for nature lovers to unwind on the first few days of a safari. Lions reside here, but they can be difficult to spot. Buffalo are found in large numbers along the forested shoreline.
Being home to one of the Rift Valley’s alkaline lakes, large numbers of flamingoes can be seen seasonally feeding on the lake’s algae. The dry season makes for the best wildlife viewing in Lake Manyara. Enjoy spending time in nature, away from busy city life.
Lake Natron & Ol Doinyo Lengai
Situated not far from the popular Northern Circuit, Lake Nakuru and Ol Doinyo Lengai – one of the amazing Tanzania destinations makes for an off the beaten track adventure. Hot, dusty, and outer worldly: Lake Natron and its surroundings show you an unreal landscape that photographers will adore. During the dry season evaporation from Lake Natron triggers an algae reaction that turns this huge alkaline lake red.
A phenomenon that can be seen from space. If birds or animals drink the lake’s toxic water, they will die. The flamingo is the exception. Having evolved to live in this hostile environment, over 2.5 million flamingoes come here to be breed. Waves of pink flamingoes feed on the algae, whilst the impressive shape of Ol Doinyo Lenga stands in the background – a conical-shaped volcano and home to the Maasai’s god, Ngai.
Mahale Mountains National Park
Mahale Mountains National Park feels like a fairytale dreamland where forested mountains rise away from the white sandy beaches of Lake Tanganyika. Sundowners on a dhow is the best way to take in the views of this tropical paradise.
Only accessed by plane and then boat, Mahale Mountains National Park (one of the spectacular Tanzania destinations) is a remote park with very few visitors and offers a chance to disconnect from the world. The forested park can only be accessed on foot. Discover forest waterfalls and swim in the plunge pools, spot outstanding birdlife and with a bit of luck even rare primates such as chimpanzees. Relax, snorkel or dive after a forest walk.
Mikumi National Park
Situated only 218 km from Dar es Salaam, Mikumi National Park makes a wonderful stop-off on the Southern Circuit. Not only huge, it is beautiful. The Ruhebo and Uluguru Mountains rise on the northern boundary, whilst acacias, baobabs and tamarinds do the savannah. Four out of the Big Five, with only the rhino being absent, await you. Large herds of elephants, buffaloes and antelopes reside on the Mkata plains whilst along the forested riverbanks, lions and leopards lie in ambush.
Highlights include seeing the rare wild hunting dogs and a guided walk to Kinole Waterfall to swim in the plunge pool.
Mkomazi National Park
Mkomazi is undiscovered and underrated park, with stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro and an exceptional story to tell, from natural disaster to unfolding restoration and the re-introduction of the Black Rhino and the Wild Hunting Dog. An important migratory route, especially for elephants, exists with Kenya’s Tsavo National Park.
However, during the 1950’s poaching wiped out the black rhino and only eleven elephants remained. In the 1980s the authorities were determined to reverse the situation. Today, more than 500 elephants and more than 200 wild dogs roam free, and the black rhinos are in a protected sanctuary. Numerous antelopes including Oryx and harder to see lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas all reside here.
Mkomazi National Park is among the must visit Tanzania destinations on a safari in Tanzania.
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park
Trek the peak of Africa’s highest mountain on a Mountain Kilimanjaro Trek. You can also head deeper and discover why this mountain with its five distinctive vegetative zones and unique wildlife was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The best way to do this is by joining a one-day hike to the Shira Plateau. Having driven through the band of trees where primates and birds reside, the walk to Shira Crater commences at 3500m. Enjoy outstanding views and an unforgettable experience at your own pace.
Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater is a highlight and world-renowned classic on the Northern Safari Circuit. Descend to the bottom of the world’s largest intact caldera to see some of the world’s best wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater. 20 km in diameter this incredible landscape with open plains, lakes and woodlands can leave you speechless. It is a natural wonder on the Northern Circuit and one of the most popular attractions.
Countless species of animals and birds live in this fertile haven. Even the black rhino resides here, making the possibility of seeing the Big 5 very real. Only giraffes are absent as it is believed that the crater walls are too steep for their long legs to handle.
Ruaha National Park
Located on the Southern Circuit, Ruaha National Park is a perfect destination for visitors hoping to discover amazing wildlife with fewer visitors. The park is the border, or melting pot, between two sets of fauna and flora. Here you will find plants and wildlife of eastern and southern Africa in Ruaha.
An almost unimaginable, over 1650 plant species have been identified here. Needless to say, animal and bird life is outstanding, especially during the dry season when the Ruaha River attracts an incredible number of predators and prey to its banks to provide you with nerve-gripping moments of life and death.
What is more, huge herds of elephants can also be seen swaying gently under the shade of giant baobab trees. Since it is not on the popular Northern Circuit, Ruaha sees far more visitors despite being a top safari destination.
Selous & Nyerere National Park
The Selous Game Reserve and Nyerere National Park are described as one of the largest remaining wildernesses in Africa. The Miombo woodlands are home to a higher diversity of species than anywhere else. Thanks to these qualities it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is possible to see the Big 5 during game drives, boat safaris and guided walks. See some of the largest populations of elephants, buffaloes, hippos and even lions. Howver, the rare black rhino and wild dogs that live here can be difficult to spot.
Thanks to the large size of the park and its location in Southern Tanzania, there are fewer visitors and it doesn’t feel crowded.
if you are looking for a spectacular destination to visit among a long list Tanzania destinations, Selous & Nyerere National Park should be on your list.
Serengeti National Park
Bordering six conservation areas, including Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, creating a vast ecosystem, which allows over 1.5 million wildebeest to complete one of the largest wildlife migrations on the planet. This results in an intense interaction between predators and prey.
Witness this phenomenon on a migration safari. However, as one of Tanzania’s oldest parks and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers world-class wildlife viewing all year round with a high likelihood of seeing the Big 5. You can also discover stunning landscapes, including vast grasslands, granite formations called Kopjes, tree-lined rivers and beautiful ranges of hills. From basics to exclusives luxury camps, there are many different accommodation options to choose from.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is a perfect destination for elephant lovers. Found in northern Tanzania, is home to a very special geological formation, the Tarangire River. During the dry season, this winding river acts like a huge magnet, drawing numerous animals out of the neighbor area to reside at the river until the rains return. On safari, you can see countless tracks meandering towards the river.
This beautiful park offers exception wildlife viewing with lions and leopards residing along the river. Over 500 bird species create superb bird watching.