Tanzania's Greatest Wild Places
Our Top Destinations
Six places that define a Tanzanian journey — from the migration plains to a collapsed volcano, a river of hippos and an island of white sand.
Northern Circuit
Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti is the reason most travellers come to Tanzania. Grass runs to the horizon in every direction, broken only by kopjes where lions lie out the heat of the day. Between June and October the plains fill with the Great Migration; the rest of the year the resident big cats and vast herds keep the park just as alive.
- The Great Migration and river crossings
- Some of Africa's highest lion and cheetah densities
- Endless plains and classic kopje sundowners
- Balloon safaris at first light
Northern Circuit · UNESCO
Ngorongoro Crater
A collapsed volcano twenty kilometres across, with its own lake, forest and grassland on the floor. The crater holds one of the densest concentrations of wildlife anywhere in Africa, and it is the single best place in Tanzania to see all of the Big Five inside one day.
- Big Five in a single crater floor drive
- Black rhino, one of the last strongholds
- UNESCO World Heritage caldera
- Flamingos on Lake Magadi
Northern Circuit
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire is elephant country. In the dry season, hundreds gather along the Tarangire River beneath ancient baobabs, and the park quietly outperforms far busier destinations. It also gives you a completely different landscape — dense, sculptural and green after rain.
- Huge dry-season elephant herds
- Iconic baobab-studded scenery
- Tree-climbing pythons and big cats
- Excellent birding, over 500 species
Southern Circuit
Nyerere National Park
The southern circuit is Tanzania without the crowds. Nyerere — formerly part of the Selous — is one of Africa's largest protected areas, laced with the channels of the Rufiji River. Here you can swap the vehicle for a boat, or walk with an armed ranger through country few travellers ever see.
- Rufiji River boat safaris
- African wild dog and rare predators
- Walking safaris with armed rangers
- Very few vehicles, very wild feel
Indian Ocean Archipelago
Zanzibar Island
Twenty minutes by air from the mainland and a different world: white sand, warm shallow water, spice farms inland, and the coral-stone alleys of Stone Town. Most travellers finish their safari here, trading early game drives for slow mornings and dhow sunsets.
- White-sand beaches at Nungwi and Kendwa
- Stone Town heritage and spice tours
- Snorkelling and diving at Mnemba Atoll
- Jozani Forest red colobus monkeys
Northern Tanzania
Kilimanjaro
Africa's highest peak, and a climb that needs no technical skill — only good pacing, a strong crew and enough days to acclimatise. Many travellers pair a summit attempt with a short safari or a week on the coast afterwards.
- 5,895m summit at Uhuru Peak
- Machame, Lemosho and Marangu routes
- Trekking crew, cook and mountain guide included
- Easily combined with safari or Zanzibar
Not sure where to go? Let us help you choose
Tell us how long you have and what you most want to see. We'll match the right parks to your season and build the route around them.