Acacia trees silhouetted at sunset, Tanzania

Home/Destinations

Tanzania safari destinations

Twelve places, grouped by region, with the months each one is at its best. The month you can travel decides which of them belong on your route, so start there.

12Destinations

5Regions

26Itineraries

01 · 5 destinations

The northern circuit

Most northern itineraries begin and end in Arusha. Tarangire usually comes first, then Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.

17 itineraries in this region

Arusha

The safari capital of Tanzania — gateway to the northern circuit and Kilimanjaro.

Best timeJune – October: cool and clear, with the clearest views of Kilimanjaro and Meru.

Explore Arusha

Tarangire

Ancient baobabs and the largest elephant herds in northern Tanzania.

Best timeJune – October, when herds of several hundred elephant gather along the river.

Explore Tarangire 8 itineraries

Lake Manyara

Tree-climbing lions, flamingo-pink shallows and the Rift Valley escarpment.

Best timeJune – October for game viewing; November – March for birds and the largest flamingo flocks.

Explore Lake Manyara 4 itineraries

Ngorongoro Crater

The world's largest intact volcanic caldera, and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Best timeYear-round. June – October is dry and clear; January – March is green, with fewer vehicles.

Explore Ngorongoro Crater 15 itineraries

Serengeti

Home of the Great Wildebeest Migration and the Big Five.

Best timeYear-round. June – October is the dry season; January – March is calving on the southern plains.

Explore Serengeti 14 itineraries

02 · 2 destinations

The southern parks

Ruaha and Nyerere form the classic southern circuit, linked by daily light aircraft. Both permit walking safaris and night drives, and see a fraction of the northern circuit's vehicles.

4 itineraries in this region

Nyerere / Selous

Boat safaris on the Rufiji, walking safaris and wild dogs.

Best timeJune – October. Many camps close during the long rains, March – May.

Explore Nyerere / Selous 2 itineraries

Ruaha

Tanzania's largest park. Vast lion prides, wild dogs and almost no other vehicles.

Best timeJune – October, and October is the single best month.

Explore Ruaha 3 itineraries

03 · 2 destinations

The western chimpanzee parks

Two forest parks on the shore of Lake Tanganyika, reached by light aircraft and then boat. Chimpanzee trekking has a minimum age: 15 at Gombe, 12 at most Mahale camps.

2 itineraries in this region

Gombe Stream

Tanzania's smallest national park, where Jane Goodall's chimpanzee research began in 1960.

Best timeMay – October, for the best trekking conditions and the clearest lake.

Explore Gombe Stream 1 itinerary

Mahale Mountains

Wild chimpanzee trekking where the mountains meet Lake Tanganyika.

Best timeMay – October, the dry season and the months most camps are open.

Explore Mahale Mountains 1 itinerary

04 · 1 destination

Kilimanjaro

The highest point in Africa at 5,895 metres. A trek rather than a technical climb, and the number of days on the mountain matters more than anything else.

Kilimanjaro

Africa's highest peak, and the world's tallest free-standing mountain.

Best timeJanuary – March and June – October. Avoid April and May, the long rains.

Explore Kilimanjaro 4 itineraries

05 · 2 destinations

The islands

The Indian Ocean end of a Tanzanian safari. Zanzibar has Stone Town and the easier access; Pemba has far fewer visitors and the better diving. We run the safari first and the beach afterwards.

5 itineraries in this region

Zanzibar

Stone Town, spice markets and the white-sand beaches of the Indian Ocean.

Best timeJune – October, dry and breezy. December – February is hotter and very good for diving.

Explore Zanzibar 4 itineraries

Pemba Island

Zanzibar's quieter sister — world-class wall diving, clove plantations and empty beaches.

Best timeJune – October, the cool dry season. Avoid March – May, the long rains.

Explore Pemba Island 1 itinerary

Not sure which to choose?

Tell us the month you can travel, how long you have and who is coming, and we will suggest the places that suit it. Or browse the itineraries that already combine them.

Plan your safari Browse all itineraries