What to see in Tanzania: 10 must-sees
Discover what to see in Tanzania: 10 must-see destinations, from Serengeti National Park to Mount Kilimanjaro. Predominantly UNESCO heritage and national park; each entry includes the best time to visit and the link to its official source.
UNESCO Heritage(6)
Explore the Serengeti, a UNESCO World Heritage park with 30,000 km² of savanna in northern Tanzania. Every year you can witness the world's most spectacular wildebeest and zebra migration: millions of animals cross the plains toward the Mara River in search of fresh pastures, pursued by lions and crocodiles. The open grasslands, dotted with acacias, allow you to spot herds and predators without obstruction along the entire route. Plan your visit between June and October if you want to see the Mara crossing, the most dramatic stretch of the migration cycle.
Climb to the roof of Africa, Kilimanjaro's 5,895 meters—a solitary volcano rising alone over the plains of Tanzania with no mountain range around it. Choose from its 7 ascent routes, from the busy Marangu trails to the steeper Machame slopes, and in just a few days cross coffee farms, rainforest, alpine moorland, and the summit glacier. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and summiting Uhuru Peak at dawn, with the smoking crater at your feet, calls for acclimatization, a steady pace, and respect for the altitude.
Follow the track that descends 600 meters from the rim to the floor of this intact volcanic caldera, the largest in the world at 310 km², and roam its plains, home to some 30,000 animals: lions, elephants, buffaloes, black rhinos, and leopards—the complete Big Five in a single day of safari. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the crater is reached from Arusha and packs in flamingo lakes, wildebeest herds, and some of the easiest rhinos to spot in Tanzania.
Wander the maze of alleys in Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where carved wooden doors and coral-stone balconies show the Swahili, Arab, and Persian blend that shaped centuries of Indian Ocean trade. Browse the market beside the dhows moored in the harbor and join a spice tour through the clove, cinnamon, and vanilla plantations that made the island famous. In the evening, stroll through Forodhani Gardens and try the seafood skewers in front of the old sultan's palace.
Explore the ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani, an island off the Lindi coast where a Swahili city flourished from the 9th to the 15th century on the gold and ivory trade. Walk through the remains of mosques, palaces, and sultans' tombs that once controlled Indian Ocean traffic, such as the great Husuni Kubwa palace and its domed mosque. This UNESCO World Heritage Site testifies to a vanished civilization that linked Africa with Arabia and Asia by sea.
Cross the Selous Reserve, in the Lindi region—Africa's largest game reserve at 50,000 km², an area larger than Switzerland. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, here you navigate the meanders of the Rufiji River among hippos and crocodiles while elephants and giraffes graze on the banks. Walking and boat safaris let you explore miombo woodlands and lagoons without the crowds of the country's northern parks.
National Park(3)
Climb a tree in Lake Manyara National Park and you'll understand why its tree-climbing lions are famous: here they rest on acacia branches, behavior that is rare in other reserves. Explore its 330 km² between Arusha and the alkaline lake that gives the park its name, where thousands of flamingos turn the shore pink. Cross the groundwater forest to see elephants among giant fig trees, or follow the birdwatching trails: hundreds of species have been recorded. Safaris combine plains, the Rift escarpment, and shallow waters in a single day.
Head into Tarangire National Park, in the Manyara region, and roam plains dotted with centuries-old baobabs where some 7,000 elephants gather during the dry season. Follow the Tarangire River, a vital water source when water runs scarce, and watch zebras, wildebeest, and giraffes approach its banks. Hike and birdwatch among more than 500 recorded species, from ostriches to colorful weavers. Wake at dawn beside the baobabs as elephants cross your trails, and end the day with silence broken only by the flight of hornbills.
Dive in Mafia Island Marine Park, an 822 km² marine reserve off the coast of Pwani, where untouched reefs shelter dugongs and turtles that nest on its beaches. Explore its calm waters by dhow, watch shorebirds among the mangroves, and swim over coral gardens with exceptional visibility. The villages of Chole and Juani showcase local life tied to the sea for centuries.
Archaeological Site(1)
Visit Olduvai Gorge, in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where Louis and Mary Leakey found hominin remains some 2 million years old. Walk through the sediment layers exposed by erosion, see the replicas of stone tools and fossils in the small museum next to the ravine, and listen to local guides explain each stratum. From the viewpoint you can make out the excavated slopes that yielded some of the oldest known human ancestors.
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