Destination Guide

Tanzania

The Serengeti's great migration, Ngorongoro's crater walls, snow on the equator at Kilimanjaro, and the spice islands of Zanzibar — Africa's safari heartland.

Best months
May – Oct · Jan – Feb
Climate now
Tropical · Dry & wet seasons
Currency
TZS / USD
Languages
Swahili · EN
Visa (SA)
e-visa
Flight time
Varies depending on airline and route
Time zone
EAT (+1h)

Why visit Tanzania

Why Tanzania remains the African safari benchmark.

The Great Migration

1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra and 350,000 gazelle in continuous motion across the Serengeti. Time the visit right and you see it cross the Mara River.

Ngorongoro Crater

The world’s largest intact volcanic caldera — 260 km² of permanent grassland ecosystem with rhino, lion, elephant and 25,000 large animals.

Mount Kilimanjaro

At 5,895m, Africa’s highest mountain. Snow on the equator. A non-technical climb that 60,000 people attempt each year — many succeed with us.

Tarangire’s baobabs

Massive ancient baobabs scatter across vast elephant country. Quieter than the Serengeti, more atmospheric.

Lake Manyara

Tree-climbing lions, vast flocks of flamingos, and a Rift Valley escarpment backdrop.

Zanzibar after

Combine the safari with a stay on Zanzibar — Stone Town’s spice markets and the white-sand beaches of Nungwi or Paje.

Available tours in Tanzania

Three scheduled departures of our flagship migration safari.

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When to go

The migration moves with the rain — and so should you.

Jan
calving!
Feb
calving
Mar
green · wet
Apr
peak rains
May
lush · green
Jun
dry begins
Jul
Mara crossings
Aug
peak migration
Sep
peak migration
Oct
return south
Nov
short rains
Dec
green
Prime — ideal for all activities
Good — shoulder season, fewer crowds
Do not recommend — weather or seasonal limits
Prime · Jun – Oct

Dry season, peak game viewing. The Mara River crossings run late July to early September. Book 12+ months ahead — the best camps fill out fast.

Good · Shoulder Season

Calving on the southern plains in January and February — thousands of newborns and intense predator action, with far fewer guests. The green months either side of the rains stay lush and quiet.

Do not recommend · Apr

The long rains peak. Heavy daily downpours turn some tracks impassable, and a handful of lower-tier camps close for the month.

What Tanzania is known for

The signature experiences this country is famous for.

M
Serengeti migration

1.5 million wildebeest in continuous motion. The greatest wildlife show on earth.

N
Ngorongoro Crater

Intact caldera, dense wildlife population, UNESCO site.

K
Mount Kilimanjaro

Africa’s highest peak. Multiple routes — Lemosho and Machame are our favourites.

T
Tarangire

Ancient baobabs, huge elephant herds, very few other vehicles.

L
Lake Manyara

Tree-climbing lions, flamingos, Rift Valley views.

Z
Zanzibar

Stone Town’s UNESCO maze, white beaches, spice plantations.

R
Ruaha

Tanzania’s largest national park — wild, remote, predators everywhere.

S
Selous (Nyerere)

Massive southern reserve — boat safaris on the Rufiji, walking, fly camping.

How to travel Tanzania

Three signature ways we travel Tanzania.

Small-Group Tour

Migration Safari

Our 10-day Tanzania Migration Safari times the Serengeti calving season or the Mara crossings — three departures in May, max 12 guests. Available as a bespoke tour.

View the safari →

Trek

Climb Kilimanjaro

7-day Lemosho or Machame routes with experienced mountain teams. Higher success rates with proper acclimatisation.

Plan a climb →

Bespoke

Tailor it

The classic combination — northern circuit safari + Zanzibar beach extension. Or southern circuit (Ruaha, Selous) for the wilder version.

Design my trip →

Did you know?

A few things about Tanzania most visitors don’t expect.

01
The migration is older than the pyramids.

The Serengeti–Mara wildebeest migration follows a circuit they’ve used for tens of thousands of years. Climate-driven, not learned.

02
Kilimanjaro is three volcanoes.

Kibo (the summit with the glacier), Mawenzi (jagged eastern peak), and Shira (the western plateau, long collapsed). All within the same mountain mass.

03
Olduvai Gorge is the cradle of humanity.

In Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Louis and Mary Leakey’s finds here pushed human ancestry back nearly two million years.

Photo gallery

Tanzania through our travellers’ lenses.

Imagining your own Tanzania?

Tanzania is rarely a one-trip destination.

Our scheduled safari is the easiest entry point. After that, we design custom returns — Selous walking, Mahale chimps, Ruaha for the truly wild.

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