Step out into the vast open plains of Tanzania and you suddenly feel very, very small. And so you should. You've just joined one of the largest, wildest animal populations in the world. Wildebeest, monkey, antelope, lion, cheetah, crocodile, gazelle, flamingo — they're all out there. Despite troubles from rowdy neighbours and a weak economy, Tanzania offers some of the best wildlife spotting opportunities on the continent. Its famous parks make the often rather pedestrian towns well worth the stopover.

Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park	Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park An almost perfectly shaped volcano rising sheer from Tanzania's northeastern plains, Mt. Kilimanjaro is one of Africa's most magnificent sights. Snowcapped and not yet extinct, at 19,343feet, it's the highest peak on the continent. The name of Kilimanjaro is as shrouded in mystery as the mist-enveloped summit. 'Mountain of Light' is one of the several possible translations, although many locals refer to the snowy peak as Kipoo or Kibo. Daunting as it looks, it's possible to scale the mountain without technical mountaineering skills - all you need is determination, warm clothing and a properly equipped guide. There's no doubt you'll go through the pain barrier on the way to the top, but the reward is unforgettable - a sunrise view over what seems like half of Africa spread out below. From cultivated farmlands on the lower levels, the mountain rises through lush rainforest to alpine meadow and finally across a barren lunar landscape to the twin summits. The lower slopes of the mountain also offer great hiking.
Selous Game Reserve	Selous Game Reserve The Selous ecosystem consists of the Reserve, the Kilombero Game Controlled Area in the west, and the Mikumi National Park in the north. The Selous is of great historical interest, from prehistoric man, through the passage of caravans transporting slaves and ivory, through World War 1 campaigns to its current status as an excellent safari destination. Walking (accompanied by an armed Park Ranger) is allowed in the Reserve, and is probably one of the best ways to enjoy the natural beauty and diversity of plant life of the area. There are sections of magnificent grass plains, wetlands, swamps and dense forest.
Serengeti National Park	Serengeti National Park The Serengeti National Park spans 5,714 square miles reaching up to the Kenyan border in the north and is claimed to be one of the finest Parks in Africa, with its vast, open grasslands allowing for excellent wildlife sightings. Two World Heritage Sites and two Biosphere Reserves have been established within the Serengeti region. The Serengeti’s unique ecosystem has inspired writers, filmmakers, photographers and scientists. Its ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth with the features of climate, vegetation and fauna barely changing in the past million years.
Ngorongoro Crater	Ngorongoro Crater The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact caldera in the world, and some scientists maintain that, before it erupted, it would have been higher than Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa. The Crater is situated in a Conservation Area, where wildlife is protected and the Maasai herdsmen graze their cattle side by side with predators and prey. The Ngorongoro Crater forms part of the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area where the wildlife is protected. The local Maasai have permission to graze their cattle on the Crater floor, and it is not unusual to see Maasai cattle and buffalo grazing together, with a lion gazing fixedly mere metres away.
Ruaha National Park	Ruaha National Park The Ruaha Valley is a visual treat, with rocky outcrops and mountain ranges and the Great Ruaha River, with its deep gorges, swirling rapids and excellent fishing (in season). With large herds of elephant, wildebeest and zebra, a numerous predator population and more than 400 bird species, a Ruaha safari is a naturalist’s dream. The Great Ruaha River, fed by the Mzombe River up north, provides excellent game-viewing opportunities. Wildlife in Ruaha is unique in both numbers and variety of species. These include Grant’s gazelle, roan antelope, eland, kudu, sable, did-dik, impala, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, zebra and giraffe, elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, bat-eared fox and spotted and striped hyena.
Tarangire National Park	Tarangire National Park Tarangire is by no means the biggest of the Tanzanian parks, but its landscape of open plains dotted with thousands of baobabs makes for an unforgettable safari. Tarangire is known for its tree-climbing lions, for very large herds of buffalo, and for predators tracking the vast herds of antelope. Tarangire is one of the few places in Africa where large herds of 300 or more elephants can be seen. Lion are readily seen, particularly during the dry season when huge herds of wildebeest and zebra arrive from the Steppe.
Lake Manyara	Lake Manyara Lake Manyara National Park is one of the most diverse of Tanzania’s national parks, a tiny (125 square miles) combination of Rift Valley soda lake, dense woodlands and steep mountainside. The Park was established specifically to protect the elephant herds that have made the area world-renowned. The Park was once favoured by big game hunters – Ernest Hemingway featured it in his book The Green Hills of Africa. Today the wildlife is protected, and includes blue and vervet monkeys, baboons, giraffe and impala.

From classic tented camps, to mobile safaris, to luxurious lodges, Tanzania offers a wide range of accommodations.

Ngorongoro Crater	Ngorongoro Crater Lodge Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is perched on the edge of the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater at the eastern edge of the Serengeti in northern Tanzania. It lies within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which covers more than 3,100 square miles) of pristine African wilderness. Inspired in design by the Maasai mud-and-stick manyatta (homestead), Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is without doubt one of the most architecturally spectacular safari lodges in Africa.
Klein's Camp	Klein's Camp With Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Park to the north and the Serengeti to the west, Klein’s is one of the most strategically positioned wildlife sanctuaries in the world. The camp is set on the edge of the Kuka Hills, commanding breathtaking views of the valley through which hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra migrate, in addition to excellent year-round game viewing. Action-packed night game-drives and extensive bush walks into the Serengeti are unique in Tanzania and an absolute highlight.
Grumeti	Grumeti River Camp Every year during Africa’s annual Great Migration, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra and other herbivores cross the Grumeti River, risking the jaws of some of the largest crocodiles on earth. Large pods of hippo grunt from their watery hideaway below the camp and black-and-white Colobus monkeys live in Grumeti’s bird-filled riverine trees. At night, the nocturnal orchestra of owls and bush babies is punctuated by the primeval sounds of lion and hyena.
Lake Manyara	Lake Manyara Tree Lodge From soaring groundwater forests and a tranquil lake, to the mountain escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Manyara boasts an incredible wealth of habitats and diverse African wildlife. Guests at Lake Mayara Tree Lodge are offered an exciting, interpretive safari experience in game-rich surrounds which include large herds of elephant and buffalo. The Lodge, which was designed to exert minimal impact on the environment, is situated in the remote southwestern region of the Park.
Mnemba	Mnemba Island Lodge Mnemba Island Lodge is situated on an exclusive island just 2.8 miles off the north-eastern tip of Zanzibar in the azure Indian Ocean. Surrounded by an atoll of breathtaking coral reefs, it boasts some of Africa’s most wonderful dive sites. Mnemba is renowned as one of the most romantic ocean destinations in the world, offering a privacy and rustic exclusivity unparalleled on the African coastline.
Tanzania Under Canvas	Tanzania Under Canvas The locations of these migratory camps are carefully plotted to coincide with the documented movements of the annual Great Migration as it traverses the Serengeti plains. Having secured some of the Serengeti’s best semi-permanent campsites, we are able to bring our guests as close as possible to the migration or resident game.
Greystoke Mahale	Greystoke Mahale As you make the approach to Greystoke by dhow, the outline of the camp is visible against a backdrop of deep green forest and pale beach. The focal point of Greystoke is the bar and dining area rising up from the sand and loosely modelled on traditional Tongwe architecture. Your home at Greystoke Mahale is in wildly exotic wooden bandas looking out across the beach, with interiors fashioned from seasoned dhow timber. The six-suites are open-fronted, with adjoining bathrooms, and upstairs chill-out decks, designed for the most demanding castaway.
Sand River Selous	Sand River Selous Discerning travelers consider Sand Rivers to be one of the finest lodges on the continent, with its unique blend of timeless safari elegance combining with the rigours of a genuine bush adventure. Sand Rivers is set on a rocky peninsula with magnificent views over a vast sweep of the Rufiji river, its exposed sandbanks home to hippo, crocodile and spectacular bird life. The lodge is small but perfectly formed.

The population of Tanzania consists mostly of members of more than 120 black African groups, the majority of which speak a Bantu language. The largest ethnic groups are the Sukuma and the Nyamwezi. Other groups of significant size include the Haya, Ngonde, Chagga, Gogo, Ha, Hehe, Nyakyusa, Nyika, Ngoni, Yao, and Masai. The population also includes people of Indian, Pakistani, and Goan origin, and small Arab and European communities. People living in rural areas make up 66 percent of the population. About 45 percent of Tanzanians are Christians; Roman Catholicism is the largest denomination. Islam is the religion of about one-third of the people on the mainland and is dominant on Zanzibar. Less than one-fifth of the population follows traditional religions. Swahili and English are the official languages of Tanzania, but many people continue to use the language of their ethnic group.

Daily Life

Cultural Origins Tanzania's 100 or more different tribal groups are mostly of Bantu-speaking origin. The Arab influence on Zanzibar and Pemba Islands is evident in the people, who are a mix of Shirazi (from Persia), Arabs, Comorians (from the Comoros Islands) and Africans from the mainland. Asians are a significant minority especially in the towns and cities. Europeans (either by descent or expatriate) are a smaller minority. The major non-Bantu-speaking people on the mainland are the Nilotic speakers such as the Maasai who inhabit parts of northern Tanzania. Swahili and English are the official languages, with English the principal language of commerce. There are also many local African tongues, reflecting the tribal diversity of the country. Outside the cities and towns, far fewer local people speak English than in comparable areas in Kenya. It's said that the Swahili spoken on Zanzibar is of a much purer form than elsewhere, and quite a few travellers head to the island to learn it. The two main religions are Christianity and Islam, with a signficant Hindu minority in urban areas. The majority of Muslims are concentrated along the coast and in the islands. Compared to Islam, Christianity took a long time to make an impact, and even then (during the 19th century) it was practiced mainly among tribes of the interior. There are still some tribes who follow neither of the big-name religions and instead worship the ancient spirit of their choice. Principal among them are the Maasai, who put their faith in the god Engai and his Messiah, Kindong'oi, from whom their priests are said to be descended. It's claimed that there is no religious bias present in the country's political and civil administration. Tanzanian music and dance dominates much of East Africa. Strong in rhythm and renowned for hard-hitting lyrics, the country's Swahili-based sounds are kept very much alive by a thriving dance-band scene. Remmy Ongala is the country's best known export. Zanzibar is at the heart of the distinctive taarab, or sung poetry, tradition. The goddess of this haunting style is Siti bint Saad, the first East African singer to make commercial recordings, way back in 1928. There's precious little difference between local food in Kenya and Tanzania - which is not great news for gourmets. As in Kenya, nyama choma (barbecued meat) has taken over in a big way, especially in restaurants with attached bars. But on the coast and on Zanzibar and Pemba Islands, there's a delicious range of traditional Swahili dishes based on seafood. The national brew is Safari Lager and a popular local liquor is a lethal white-rum-style concoction called konyagi.

Tanzania is known for the great variety of its wildlife and is especially famous for its big game animals associated with the African savanna. The major big game species include elephants, rhinoceroses, zebras, giraffes, and lions and other large cats. Although many of these species are protected in national parks and game reserves, hunters have severely reduced the number of large mammals in Tanzania, particularly elephants and rhinoceroses. Tanzania’s rhinoceroses are critically endangered. Birds—including ostriches, flamingos, and vultures—abound in Tanzania, as do reptiles such as pythons, mambas, and cobras.

Defassa Waterbuck	East Africa Acacia Savanna These dramatic savanna/grassland complexes are among the most distinctive in the world, with globally outstanding concentrations and diversity of large land mammals. The largely intact rangelands of East African Acacia Savannas support one of the world's most spectacular migration of large mammals. The region experiences a dramatic cycle of seasons with periods of drought alternating with monsoon months. As the drought approaches, great numbers of grazing wildebeests and zebras migrate north in search of food. Then, when the rains return, the animals alternate between two habitats: the Serengeti and Mara Plains. Predators follow.
Wood Gathering	Eastern Arc Coastal Forests A belt of lowland forests that run along the coast of eastern Africa from southern Somalia to the Mbemkuru River in southern Tanzania constitutes this ecoregion.
Mountain Gorilla	Albertine Rift Montane Forests The Albertine Rift Montane Forests begin near the lowland Congolian rainforests, stretch eastward up and over the area's mountain ranges, with some isolated mountains nearly reaching the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Bushfire	Montane Grasslands and Shrublands This habitat of the Chimanimani Mountains supports a rich array of plants and animals, including some species that are restricted to a single mountain. The ecoregion supports large numbers of endemic grassland plants.
Green Turtle	East African Marine Comprised of approximately 3,200 hectares of mangroves, the Rufiji Delta (found in this ecoregion) is one of the most important coastal wetlands in East Africa. Coral reefs along the coastline of Tanzania, Tanzania, and northern Mozambique, form an almost continuous fringing reef - one of the largest of its kind on Earth.
Grevy's Zebra	Sudanese Savannas The Sudanese savannas comprise of large expanses of acacia woodland areas. Most of the trees here are deciduous, characterised by an understory of grasses, shrubs, and herbs.
Kiunga Reserve	East Africa Mangroves Compared to Southeast Asia, African mangroves support relatively low species diversity. However, the East African mangroves support the greatest flora and faunal diversity of African mangroves, as well as provide critical habitat for maintaining nearby coral reefs and populations of fish and birds.

• How do I get to Tanzania?
  
  
  There are regular international flights from Europe and South Africa to Nairobi (Kenya), Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro International Airports. Daily scheduled domestic flights combine these gateways with the wildlife areas of Tanzania.
  
  
• What types of wildlife will I see?
  
  
  Tanzania's spectacular wilderness highspots and national parks feature a wealth of wildlife, including elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, rhino, cheetah, wild dog, hippo, zebra and giraffe - plus the famous 'Jane Goodall' chimpanzees on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. The annual Great Migration of millions of herbivores is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and can be viewed at various Tanzanian and Kenyan locations throughout the year. Tanzania also boasts over 1,000 species of birds and 35 antelope species. A great diversity of fish species is found in Africa's three largest lakes (Victoria, Tanganyika and Niassa) all of which border Tanzania.
  
  
• What should I wear?
  
  
  You will need to pack comfortable, casual and semi-casual clothes for your Tanzanian safari. Bright colors are not suitable for wildlife-viewing. It is best to have some warm clothing for early-morning and evening game-drives, especially in winter.
  
  
• How safe is Tanzania?
  
  
  Your safety is of paramount importance, and even though Tanzania is a safe destination, it is wise to take certain standard security precautions. Please carry a record of your passport number, airline tickets and travellers cheques, and ensure that these items are kept in a safe place. Make use of your hotel safety deposit box for expensive items and never leave baggage or personal items unattended, especially at airports.
  
  
• What kind of medical precautions do I need to take?
  
  
  Travel to Tanzania poses no medical threat, but there is malaria in certain areas. Please consult your physician or health department for the latest health and anti-malaria precautions when travelling in Tanzania.
  
  
• Which is the best time to visit Tanzania?
  
  
  Tanzania offers excellent game-viewing opportunities throughout the year. The climate is tropical on the coast, on the islands and in the Selous area. It is temperate in the other parks. Temperatures on Mounts Kilimanjaro and Meru can drop to below freezing. Maximum temperatures are about 86°F during summer (September to April) and 77°F during winter (May to August). Mid December to March is great summer weather. It is dry and very warm until March. Due to its altitude Ngorongoro Crater is much cooler than elsewhere and June, July and August can be very cold on the rim of the Crater. The best climbing on Mount Kilimanjaro is from August to October and from January to March. Our consultants will advise when and where are the best times to view the Great Migration.
  
  
• When is the rainy season?
  
  
  Late March to late May is traditionally the 'long rainy' season and is considered the winter period. June to late October is the dry season. Late October to mid December is when the 'short rains' occur, usually in the form of magnificent and short-lived thunderstorms.
  
  

Africa Guide
Comprehensive country information, travel advice and climate charts.

Lonely Planet: Destinations
Your guide to unfamiliar places on the African continent.

Lonely Planet: Traveler Reports
Useful advice from travelers who have visited Africa.

World Wildlife Fund: Global Ecoregions
Fourteen major habitat types showing diversity of life on land.