Top 5 reasons to visit Tanzania

Tanzania is home to some of Africa’s most famous national parks and offers an outstanding safari experience. Witness the Serengeti’s Great Migration, a thrilling spectacle of stampeding wildebeest and zebra. 

In the Ngorongoro Crater, discover early human history and more lions per capita than anywhere else on earth. After an action-packed safari, unwind on the sun-soaked beaches of Zanzibar. Inspired? Take a look at our five reasons to visit Tanzania.

Why you should visit Tanzania

1. Road trip along the Northern Circuit 

Tanzania’s north is like the greatest hits album for safari lovers. Arriving in Kilimanjaro, you can begin an epic expedition across a selection of outstanding national parks. See Northern Tanzania’s largest population of elephants in Tarangire and watch flocks of flamingos on Lake Manyara. 

Visit the Serengeti National Park, home of the Great Wildebeest Migration and step inside the Ngorongoro Crater. The world’s largest intact caldera is one of Africa’s most densely populated conservation areas. All of the ‘Big 5’ are here, including black rhino and more lions per capita than anywhere on earth. You’ll also find hominid footprints dating back 3.6 million years.

2. Relax on Zanzibar’s beaches 

After an action-packed safari, nothing beats a few days of relaxation on a beautiful beach. Zanzibar offers warm white sands, crystal clear water and a laid-back island vibe. Just a short flight from the mainland, you could be watching elephants in the Serengeti at breakfast and sipping a pina colada on the beach at dinner. It’s the perfect way to conclude your holiday.

Zanzibar is not just about the beaches. On top of diving, snorkelling and water sports, you can continue your safari adventures by spotting endemic red colobus monkeys in Jozani Forest. Why not add some cultural experiences to your trip, like visiting a spice farm or strolling through the UNESCO-listed capital, Stone Town?

3. Witness the Great Wildebeest Migration 

If there’s one safari experience you have to do in your lifetime, it’s the Great Wildebeest Migration. In what is described as the ‘Greatest Show on Earth,’ almost 2 million wildebeest and zebras cross the Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara in search of greener pastures. 

The drama-filled spectacle is incredible to watch due to the high predator-prey interactions. The vast numbers of wildebeest attract lions, leopards and other predators. Once they reach the riverbanks, it’s a heart-pounding experience to watch them swim through crocodile-infested waters. 

4. Venture into the Wild West 

If you want to get off the beaten track, head to Tanzania’s remote and untouched western parts. In Ruaha National Park or the lesser-known Katavi National Park, you will have some of the richest game-viewing experiences in the country all to yourself. 

Fewer tourists venture here, but if you do, you’re rewarded with complete privacy, stunning scenery and plenty of wildlife. Katavi alone is home to epic buffalo herds, hippos, lion prides and leopards. 

Swap savannahs for the Mahali Mountains, where wild chimpanzees inhabit the jungle-covered shores of Lake Tanganyika. The best way to see them is on a chimp-trekking experience, and Greystoke Mahale Camp is a fantastic base, as it’s right on the lake’s sandy beach.

5. See more lions than anywhere else in Africa 

Tanzania is home to more lions than anywhere else in Africa, with numbers estimated to be over 15,000. So, whether it’s the tree-climbing lions in Manyara or the big prides lounging on the Serengeti, be prepared for some incredible big cat action. 

The Nogorongo Crater has a dense population of about 65 lions in a small area, while Ruaha National Park has an estimated 1000. One of the most popular national parks, the Serengeti has lion prides of up to 40 strong. 

Get front-row seats to the action by staying at Mwiba Lodge by Legendary Expeditions. Set in a private reserve adjacent to the Serengeti, it offers helicopter tours and private game drives. At night, you might just be lucky enough to hear lions roaring outside your window.