1. Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti takes its name from the Maasai word siringet, which means “endless plains.” Be one of only a few fortunate people to glide in a Hot Air Balloon over the Serengeti Plains floating silently above the awakening bush, while spotting wildlife and enjoying the amazing scenery of Africa, across rivers and over numerous small villages.
Serengeti, the cradle of the Maasai culture and house to the "big 5". Wildebeests, predators (lions, leopards, cheetahs) and other mammals (antelopes, gazelles, zebras, hippos, hyenas). The giraffe (national animal of Tanzania) or the African elephant and buffalo herds, are some of the many animal species that We can find in the Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti National Park is the Oldest park in Tanzania and the main tourist attraction in the country. It was declared Patrimony of the Humanity for UNESCO in 1981 and its wildlife is of incomparable wealth, therefore, make sure you have your photography equipment always ready.
2. Ngorongoro Conservation Area & Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater is often called ‘Africa’s Eden’. A visit to the crater is a main drawcard for tourists coming to Tanzania and a definite world-class attraction.
The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most densely crowded African wildlife areas in the world and is home to an estimated 30,000 animals including some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhino. Supported by a year-round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. Another big draw card to this picturesque conservation Area is the dense population of predators, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopard, which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot.
The Ngorongoro Crater and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are without a doubt some of the most beautiful parts of Tanzania, steeped in history and teeming with wildlife. Besides vehicle safaris to Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, and surrounding attractions, hiking treks through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are becoming increasingly popular options. Either way you choose to visit, the Crater Highlands are an unforgettable part of the Tanzanian experience.
3. Lake Eyasi, Hadza & Dagota Cultural Tour
Lake Eyasi is a very scenic soda lake found on the southern border of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On your tour to Lake Eyasi, you get to meet the Hadza & Dagota.
The Hadza are one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes in Africa and have a population of less than 1000 people. Only 300-400 still live traditionally. You will have the opportunity to make a rubbing stick fire using the hand twirling method. Sit down with the women and children as they gather around a camp fire discussing domestic matters as they prepare something to eat and drink. Enter a makeshift grass hut and learn about their survival methods and way of life. Spend the next hour or two hunting with the Hadza, using only bows and arrows and hunting dogs. Return to their camp to participate in a dance. Finally, before parting you will have a lesson in archery using the Hadzabe’s hand crafted bows and arrows.
Later you will depart for a tour of the Blacksmiths, a sub-tribe of the Datoga. The Blacksmiths weld brass and aluminum into bracelets, necklaces and other intricate objects then trade them with the Datoga and Maasai. You will have the opportunity to ignite a fire on the forge using air bags made from cow hide before proceeding for a tour of the Datoga.
Take a tour of a Datoga homestead (gheid). The Datoga are semi-nomadic Cushitic pastoralists similar to the Maasai. The women still wear traditional garments made from rust-coloured cow hide covered in red ochre. Their skirts have long fringes and colorful beads and they wear brass bracelets and necklaces. The men wear blue or red striped or checked blankets (shuka) wrapped around their bodies. Enter the Datoga hut and learn about their way of life as you enter their sleeping and living quarters and have a chat. You will also enter the cattle corral where livestock are kept. Like the Maasai the Datoga place precedence on cattle which are central to their subsistence and social structures.
Time spent with Hadza & Dagota experiencing the different aspects of Culture is highly recommended.
4. Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National park runs along the line of the Tarangire River and is mainly made up of low-lying hills on the Great Rift Valley floor. Its natural vegetation mainly consists of Acacia woodland and giant African Baobab trees, with huge swamp areas in the south. Both the river and the swamps act like a magnet for wild animals, during Tanzania’s dry season. The Tarangire National Park is reputed to contain some of the largest elephant herds in Africa.
5. Mto wa Mbu Cultural Tour
Bustling with a variety of cultures from around Tanzania, the little town of Mto Wa Mbu lies at the entrance to Lake Manyara National Park. A local agricultural hub, the town is famous for its crops of rice and the distinctive red bananas that Tanzania is known for. A tour of the town in the company of a local guide gives travelers the opportunity to interact with local farmers, as well as artisans, craftsmen and painters. A sampling of the local banana beer adds a unique taste of local flavor.
This cross-cultural melting pot is home to approximately 120 tribes. A bustling, thriving village, it is fascinating to hear the colorful blend of languages and witness first-hand the unique customs. Cultural diversity is seen in the various entrepreneurial ways including a farmer from Kigoma producing palm oil from palm trees that he purchased from the shores of Lake Tanganyika, and the Rangi creating colorful, beautiful mats and baskets using papyrus from the lakes and rivers.
6. Maasai Boma Visits
No visit to Tanzania is complete without a trip at Maasai Boma where you will be immersed in a truly unique and authentic Maasai cultural experience. This opportunity to witness and participate in the daily activities of the Maasai is rare and powerful, and will leave you in awe of how Maasai customs and traditions have remained unchanged over the years, despite rapid changes in the world around them.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area was designated for the Maasai to inhabit when they were removed from the Serengeti by the Tanzanian government. Their villages (bomas) begin to appear on the eastern slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater as the gravel road descends to the plains around the Serengeti. The bomas extend far out into the plains, where they graze their cattle.
7. Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is well known for the tree climbing lions, the soda ash lake and its flamingos, we are talking about breathtaking scenery!
Lake Manyara National Park is a protected area in Tanzania's Arusha and Manyara Regions, situated between Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley. It is administered by the Tanzania National Parks Authority, and covers an area of 325 km2 (125 sq mi) including about 230 km2 (89 sq mi) lake surface. More than 350 bird species have been observed on the lake.
Located on the way to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, Lake Manyara National Park is worth a stop in its own right. Its ground water forests, bush plains, baobab strewn cliffs, and algae-streaked hot springs offer incredible ecological variety in a small area, rich in wildlife and incredible numbers of birds.
The alkaline soda of Lake Manyara is home to an incredible array of bird life that thrives on its brackish waters. Pink flamingo stoop and graze by the thousands colorful specks against the grey minerals of the lake shore.
Lake Manyara’s famous tree-climbing lions are another reason to pay a visit to this park. The only kind of their species in the world, they make the ancient mahogany and elegant acacias their home during the rainy season, and are a well-known but rather rare feature of the northern park. In addition to the lions, the national park is also home to the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world, a fact that accounts for interesting game viewing of large families of the primates.
8. Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro. The name itself is a mystery wreathed in clouds. It might mean Mountain of Light, Mountain of Greatness or Mountain of Caravans.
Kilimanjaro, by any name, is a metaphor for the compelling beauty of East Africa. When you see it, you understand why? Not only is this the highest peak on the African continent; it is also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, rising in breathtaking isolation from the surrounding coastal scrubland – elevation around 900 meters – to an imperious 5,895 meters (19,336 feet).
Kilimanjaro is one of the world’s most accessible high summits, a beacon for visitors from around the world. Most climbers reach the crater rim with little more than a walking stick, proper clothing and determination. And those who reach Uhuru Point, the actual summit, or Gillman’s Point on the lip of the crater, will have earned their climbing certificates, and their memories.
But there is so much more to Kilimanjaro than her summit. The ascent of the slopes is a virtual climatic world tour, from the tropics to the Arctic.
Even before you cross the national park boundary (at the 2,700m contour), the cultivated foot slopes give way to lush montane forest, inhabited by elusive elephant, leopard, buffalo, the endangered Abbot’s duiker, and other small antelope and primates. Higher still lies the moorland zone, where a cover of giant heather is studded with otherworldly giant lobelias.
Above 4,000m, a surreal alpine desert supports little life other than a few hardy mosses and lichen. Then, finally, the last vestigial vegetation gives way to a winter wonderland of ice and snow – and the magnificent beauty of the roof of the continent.
9. Arusha National Park
There's nowhere else on earth that the transition between a pristine mountainous landscape and a bustling city landscape is as abrupt as it is in Arusha National Park. Tucked away in mainland Tanzania, this protected park is largely dominated by the imposing Mt. Meru and wears the crown of the 'most topographically dynamic and beautiful wildlife parks'. Not only does it shelter the Ngorongoro Crater but it is also home to the planet's largest population of African giraffes.
As you enjoy the sights of the white and black Colobus monkeys, you will have an unclouded view of Mt. Meru, the continent's 5th highest mountain peak. It is also interesting to know that the mountain is still an active volcano and billowing fumes can be occasionally be seen rising from the highest summits.
10. Selous Game Reserve
Selous Game Reserve is the biggest wildlife conservation area in Africa and forms together with the bordering Mikumi and Udzungwa National Parks an area which is as big as Switzerland!
It is also the least accessible and the least known. Consisting of woodlands with grassy flood plains and dense forest patches, it provides a home for large herds of elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard and hippo, where in fact the elephant herds are the largest in Africa.
At the heart of the Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania’s largest river, the Rufiji, forms a complex network of channels, lakes and swamps that create one of the most outstanding ecological systems in East Africa. This river also splits the reserve into two different sections.
11. Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park (10.300km²) is the most visited National Park in the southern part of Tanzania. Ruaha National Park forms a border between Africa’s eastern and southern eco- system.
This is a more extensive ecosystem, which includes Rungwa Game Reserve, Usungu Game Reserve, and several other protected areas. The name of the park is derived from the Great Ruaha River, which flows along its South-Eastern margin and is the focus for game-viewing. Ruaha is believed to have a high concentration of elephants than any National Park in East Africa. It is also a place where, magnificent mammals like Kudu, Sable and Roan antelopes can easily be spotted in Miombo woodland. The park is also a habitat for endangered wild dogs. Other animals in the park include lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffes, zebras, elands, impala, bat eared foxes and jackals.
12. Mikumi National Park
Mikumi is Tanzania’s fourth-largest national park. It’s also the most accessible from Dar es Salaam. With almost guaranteed wildlife sightings, the open horizons and abundant wildlife of the Mkata Floodplain, the popular center piece of Mikumi, draws frequent comparisons to the more famous Serengeti Plains.
13. Mahale Mountains National Park
The park like its northerly neighbor Gombe is home to some of the Africa’s last remaining wild chimpanzees, a population of roughly 900, they are habituated to human visitors by a Japanese research project founded in the 1960s.
Tracking the chimps of Mahale is a magical experience.
Mahale is located in the Western Tanzania to the South of Kigoma town, it is bordering Lake Tanganyika-the World’s longest, second deepest and least polluted freshwater lake-harboring an estimated 1000 fish species.
14. Arusha City
Arusha is located at the base of Mt Meru (The second tallest mountain in Tanzania). It’s a getaway to safari destinations & Africa’s highest peak, 5,895m Mt Kilimanjaro, lying some 100km Northwest. To the west lies Serengeti National park, home to the Big 5 and the Magical Wildebeest Migration
15. Arusha Cultural Heritage Center
The Arusha Cultural heritage center is a privately owned collection of shops and galleries that showcases arts from renowned artists around the African continent. It is one of the largest in east Africa and is located along the Arusha - Babati highway on the outskirts of the city of Arusha - Tanzania.
A visit to this place will give an outlook of how creative Africa can be as far as art is concerned.
16. Zanzibar Beach
Unguja, also known as Zanzibar Island, is the main island in the Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar. Stone Town, part of Zanzibar City, is an old trade center, with mosques and winding lanes. The 1883 House of Wonders is a former sultan’s palace with a clock tower. The Old Fort now houses a cultural center and a stone amphitheater. Zanzibar is certainly one of the most attractive and restful locations in the world. With its Indian, Arab, Persian and Portuguese influences, Zanzibar is a cocktail of culture, people, tradition and color. Combine this with its natural beauty, tropical climate and laid back atmosphere, Zanzibar is, in our opinion, one of the best ways to begin or end your Tanzanian safari experience. It is located in the Indian Ocean, about 25 miles from the Tanzanian coast. The coastal areas with white beaches, mangroves, lagoons and coral reefs compliment the richly fertile areas inland where the spice farms are situated. Time spent experiencing the different aspects of Zanzibar is highly recommended.
17. Kikuletwa Hot Springs
Kikuletwa Hot springs got its name from the water that bubbles in underground caves. Surrounded by fig trees, this area is a hidden gem amid a semi-arid landscape. Kikuletwa hot springs has Garra Rufa Fish. These are smart little fish used for pedicures around the world. They work by sucking & nibbling on your skin, tenderly removing dead skin cells through natural exfoliation. So you will emerge with shiny, revitalized feet. A swim at this Blue Lagoon is a shot worth going and highly recommended.
18. Materuni Waterfall
Materuni waterfall is the second biggest water falls in Tanzania. It natural waterfall pool allowing you to take a swim. The waterfall is about 80 M high. Materuni waterfall tour will lead you to the local village lying in the coffee plantations. The villagers will demonstrate the process of coffee farming and guide you through the preparation of coffee from a bean to a cup. Sing and dance along with the Chaga people as they are grinding, roasting and boiling the beans. When the coffee is ready, villagers will serve lunch - a national Chagga meal. This is not to miss when in Tanzania and highly recommended.
19. Lake Chala
Lake Chala is Fed entirely by underground springs from Mt Kilimanjaro, the turquoise blue and green waters are surrounded by diverse plants, trees and wildlife. Kayaking is back at Lake Chala. Enjoy an hour of special views to the crater rim, see birds and with a bit luck Blue Monkeys playing around in the trees at the shore.
Swimming is still not allowed due to administrative restrictions. We will inform you as soon as the approval is given again.