Tanzania
One of the best countries in Africa to visit
When you hear the word Tanzania, you may think of safari, Serengeti, and wild animals. And there are many more things to do in Tanzania aside from these.
Tanzania is so much more than game drives, iconic African sunsets, and the home of Africa’s highest mountain – Kilimanjaro. It’s also the birthplace of Freddy Mercury (the lead singer of Queen), home to the largest crab in the world, tree-climbing lions, and the only volcano currently erupting carbonatite lava.
If that’s not enough to you to buy a flight to Tanzania and visit, the rest of this list definitely will!
Here are our ten reasons to visit Tanzania:
1. The Great Wildebeest Migration
You should come to Tanzania for safari – at least once. The country is home to many of wildlife experiences, but the the most natural spectacle? The Great Wildebeest Migration. This annual wildebeest migration is the largest animal migration in the world.
Few lifetime experiences can beat that of watching over a million wildebeest plus hundreds of thousands of gazelles and zebra – closely followed by hungry predators – embark on a never ending 800 kilometre-long circular trek through the unfenced Masai Mara and Serengeti each year between June and October in search of seasonal pasture and water. This natural spectacle is both thrilling and deeply moving.
Strictly speaking, there is no ‘migration season’ as the Great Migration is, in fact, an eternal annual cycle from place to place, year in and year out, however there are times when the herds are more condensed and impressive in their numbers.
With so much action, it’s not surprising the annual migration has been named “the greatest wildlife show on earth”.
Read more in our website:
Great Migration: The greatest show on earth – Afrimine Tours
2. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Tanzania is home to quite a few world records; and the country’s crowning glory?
Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa’s highest peak and one of the world’s Seven Summits. The roof of Africa!
Each year, approximately 35.000 people attempt the trek to watch the sunrise from the Rooftop of Africa. Things like altitude sickness and not choosing the best route for Kilimanjaro stop many trekkers from making it to the top. But for those that do, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Along the way, you’ll pass five climate zones which give the mountain vastly different landscapes the higher up you go. And if you’re lucky, you might spot herds of elephants and other wildlife around the base!
Want to join the ranks of successful Mount Kilimanjaro trekkers?
Read more in our website: Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing – Afrimine Tours
3. Stonetown – Zanzibar
If you don’t automatically associate Tanzania with safaris, you probably have heard about Zanzibar. The island lies 35km off the coast from mainland and forms part of the Zanzibar archipelago. On the eastern shores, you’ll find a seafront promenade lined with a mesmerizing mix of Arabic, Persian, Indian, and British architecture. This is Stonetown.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to the 16th Century. Once the home of sultans and an ancient spice trading hub, it’s now a city frozen in time. Stay in old merchant’s houses like the Emerson Spice Hotel – the former home of the last Swahili ruler of Zanzibar. Get lost exploring the winding alleys and visit important historical sites like Tippu Tip’s house, the Shiv Shakti Hindu temple, and the Old Fort.
And when hunger hits, stop by the food stalls at Darajani Market or grab dinner at the Forodhani Gardens night market in Stone Town.
Read more in our website: Zanzibar – Afrimine Tours
4. The Ngorongoro Crater
If you’re looking for some of the most famous places to visit in Tanzania, then the Ngorongoro Crater deserves a spot on your bucket list.
This huge volcanic crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts thousands of animals to its permanent supply of water, Lake Magadi.
Approximately 25.000 large animals live in the natural enclosure formed by the 300km² crater, while the greater conservancy surroundings are home to buffalo, elephant, cheetah and leopard. The unique experience of game driving across the floor of an inactive volcano makes an Ngorongoro safari so unique.
Make sure your tele-zoom lens and binoculars are on board, and you can spend hours spotting lions, elephants, flamingos, hippos, and rhino in Ngorongoro!
Here’s what makes the Ngorongoro Crater one of the best things to do in Tanzania:
- It’s the largest intact ancient caldera in the world.
- It’s nearly three million years old.
- The volcano was one of the tallest mountains in the world before it erupted and collapsed.
- It’s one of the New Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.
5. The Maasai Culture
Beyond the natural beauty, one of the biggest reasons to visit Tanzania is the culture. And most notably, the Maasai people.
Who are the Maasai? They are one of the last remaining indigenous tribes in East Africa and are known around the world for their distinct culture. An estimated one million Maasai live between Kenya and Tanzania, and a visit to one of the tribes is a cultural highlight for any traveller. These semi-nomadic people are known for their warriors, dancing, and ceremonies, easily recognizable with striking red blankets and colorful beaded jewelry.
Combine your safari trip with a boma (village) visit and learn about the Maasai way of life, Maasai traditions, and explore their deep understanding of living in harmony with nature.
Read more in our website: The Tribes of East Africa: Maasai People – Afrimine Tours
6. Nyerere National Park
Nyerere is one of the best places to visit in Tanzania if you want a more secluded and off-the-beaten-track safari experience. Nyerere became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. Its beautiful landscapes and rich diversity make it one of Africa’s most important wilderness areas.
This wild and unspoiled National Park in southern Tanzania boasts an tempting mix of abundant wildlife and varied terrain. Game-viewing here is rewarding, often featuring wild dog, lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and more than 400 bird species. A real highlight of Nyerere is the variety of safari activities available, making every day entirely different from the next. Choose from traditional game drives, boat safaris to get up close to the hippos and crocodiles, or our top tip: walking safaris one of the few National Parks to allow hiking, to take a slower approach to understanding the flora and fauna of Nyerere National Park.
The park is larger than Switzerland covering an area of 30.000 square kilometers and is home to just a handful of small safari camps, ensuring an exclusive and immersive safari experience.
The best time to experience Nyerere National Park is July to October.
Read more in our website:
7. Snorkeling and diving in Zanzibar
Zanzibar isn’t only a beach destination – it’s home to some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. Its beautiful beaches offer turquoise water to explore, with coral reefs under the surface.
Get your PADI Open Water qualification and explore The Spice Islands’ 25 and more dive sites. With warm waters all year round, you can swim past underwater shipwrecks and try to spot over 500 marine species found here. But the real star of the show? The world-famous Mnemba Atoll.
It’s one of the best places to dive in Zanzibar and see the ocean’s biggest fish – the whale shark. Besides these gentle giants, the atoll is also home to endangered sea turtles, dolphins, and neon-tinted tropical fish. If it’s an unbeatable diving experience you’re looking for, Zanzibar is a must-visit.
Read more in our website: Zanzibar – Afrimine Tours
8. The food in Tanzania
Tanzania may be known for its seemingly endless safari destinations, but its food is an underrated part of the country. Food lover will have plenty of things to try with a mix of traditional, Arabic and Indian cuisine influences.
Enjoy your way through the rich culture by trying popular foods in Tanzania like the classic Zanzibar Pizza dish. It’s top-notch street food full of savory and sweet fillings like meat or chocolate and banana.
Other dishes like Biriyani and Pilau are delicious reminders of Tanzania’s history. The Indian-inspired rice dish was brought to the country by Indian migrant workers. Since then, the locals have given it a Swahili twist turning it into some of the best food in Tanzania.
9. Great Rift Valley
If none of these reasons to visit Tanzania has you reaching for your passport yet, the Great Rift Valley will change your mind.
This natural wonder of the world is one of Tanzania’s top natural attractions. Along the 6.000 km geological trench (which runs from northern Syria to central Mozambique), you’ll find majestic mountains and some of the deepest lakes in the world.
Some of the top attractions in Tanzania are found here, including:
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Lake Natron
- Ngorongoro, Empakai, Olmoti and Lengai volcanoes
While the area is vast, it’s a geologic marvel which deserves a prime spot on your Tanzania itinerary.
Read more in our website: Lake Natron & Lengai Tour Experience – Afrimine Tours
10. Chimpanzee in Gombe National Park
Gombe National Park is a wildlife lover’s dream. Apart it being one of Tanzania’s smaller and lesser-known National Parks, it’s home to an important part of world history. In short, Jane Goodall came here in 1960 to start her ground-breaking research on chimpanzees in Tanzania. Her work turned into the longest-running behavioral research program in the world, and it’s still going on today.
If you want to see the chimpanzees that call Gombe home, we head out with you to the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika (the world’s second deepest lake). Here, we’ll take a boat to reach the park and go on guided walks into the forest.
May to October is the best time to visit Gombe for photos and hiking, while the rainy season (November to May) is when the vegetation is lush, and the waterfalls are in full force.
Read more in our website: Gombe Stream National Park – Afrimine Tours
