Things To Do in Tanzania

Game drives are the heart of a Tanzania safari, across the Serengeti, Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and the wild southern and western parks. Few countries offer such density and variety of wildlife. The big cats are a highlight.

The Serengeti stages the great migration, the year-round movement of nearly two million wildebeest and zebra, with the calving and the dramatic river crossings among the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth. Timing is everything.

Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, is walked to its summit over several days, while Mount Meru offers a fine climb and warm-up. No technical skill is needed for the big walking summits. The achievement stays with you.

A dawn balloon safari over the Serengeti drifts silently above the plains and the migration herds, ending with a champagne breakfast in the bush. It is the most magical hour of any safari. The aerial view is unmatched.

On foot, with an armed ranger, you experience the bush at a different pace, reading tracks and approaching wildlife in the conservancies and walking areas. It is a raw, exciting complement to the game drives. The detail comes alive.

Boat safaris on the Rufiji River in Nyerere wind through channels and lakes rich in hippo, crocodile and birds, a wilder, quieter experience than the northern parks. The water offers a fresh angle on the wildlife.

Canoeing on the lakes and rivers, such as around Arusha National Park, lets you paddle quietly among hippos, birds and shoreline game, a gentle, active way to see the wild from the water. It suits all abilities. The pace is peaceful.

The Lake Tanganyika forests of Gombe and Mahale offer some of the wildest chimp tracking in Africa, where Jane Goodall worked and where large chimp populations live among forested mountains. It is remote and exclusive.

Tanzania combines superb birding with its big game, from the Serengeti plains and Lake Manyara’s flamingos to the Rift lakes and the Eastern Arc forests. Birds are seen on every safari. The variety is wide.

Tanzania’s cultures run from the Maasai of the northern plains to the Chagga of Kilimanjaro and the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers of Lake Eyasi. Done through the communities, these visits add a human dimension to a safari. The contrasts are striking.

Beyond the headline parks, Tanzania’s wildlife runs from the great cats and herds of the north to the elephants of Ruaha and the chimps of the west, with birds everywhere. A wildlife-focused trip ties it all together. The richness is the appeal.

Tanzania is a photographer’s dream, from the migration and big cats of the Serengeti to the elephants and baobabs of Tarangire and the crater wildlife of Ngorongoro. A photo trip builds in the light and the time. The subjects are world-class.

Zanzibar and the Tanzanian islands offer the perfect safari finish, with white sand, warm water, Stone Town’s culture and the quieter shores of Mafia and Pemba. A few days here unwinds a trip beautifully. The contrast with the bush is the appeal.

The reefs of Zanzibar, Mafia and Pemba offer warm, uncrowded diving among coral, turtles, whale sharks and dramatic walls. Mafia’s whale sharks and Pemba’s walls are world-class. The water is warm year-round.

Snorkeling over the shallow reefs of Zanzibar’s Mnemba atoll and the Mafia marine park brings coral, fish and turtles within easy reach, no training needed. It suits families and first-timers. The water is warm and clear.

Off Zanzibar’s south coast and elsewhere, dolphin watching trips head out to see pods in the wild, best done with responsible operators that keep a respectful distance. It is a popular coastal outing. The dolphins are a delight.

Humpback whales pass the Tanzanian coast and islands on their seasonal migration, and boat trips head out to watch them breach and spout. Mafia and Pemba are among the spots. The sightings are seasonal and special.

The deep water off Mafia, Pemba, Zanzibar and Latham Island is rich in marlin, sailfish and tuna, with charters from the islands and a wild, uncrowded feel. Lake Victoria adds giant Nile perch. The grounds are productive.

A bush breakfast, laid out on the plains after an early game drive, is a relaxed safari tradition, eaten in the open with the savanna around you. It turns a meal into part of the adventure. The setting makes the meal.

Sundowner drinks at a scenic spot, watching the sun set over the plains at the end of an afternoon drive, are one of the best-loved rituals of a safari. A cold drink and a sunset close the day perfectly. The light is glorious.