Tanzania, a captivating country located in East Africa, is a land of unparalleled beauty and adventure. From the vast plains of the Serengeti to the snow-capped summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania offers a wealth of incredible tourist sites that will leave you in awe. In this blog post, we will explore the 10 most important places to visit Tanzania, showcasing the country’s diverse landscapes, rich wildlife, and vibrant culture.
The best time to travel to Tanzania and be able to see the greatest number of animals is between May and October, when there is hardly any rainfall and the temperature is bearable
1. Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa and the second-largest freshwater lake in the world.
In addition to being one of the main sources of the mythical Nile River, this lake has more than 200 species of fish and several villages of different ethnic groups that live from fishing and agriculture are located on its shores.
It is worth spending a night in a lodge on the shore to see the sunset over the lake and take a pleasant boat ride in the morning to visit a village. We assure you that it is an unforgettable experience.
2. Serengeti, one of the places to see in Tanzania
Going on a safari across endless plains and spending a night or two camping in the middle of the Serengeti National Park is one of the best things to do in Tanzania.
This extensive protected area of 15,000 square kilometers has become the main tourist attraction in Tanzania thanks to the fact that every year millions of wildebeest and other animals make a long migration to find food in the most fertile lands of the Masai Mara, one of the places that see more beauty in Kenya, at the expense of attacks by big cats such as lions, leopards and the feared crocodiles, when they cross rivers.
In addition to being able to see all kinds of animals in the wild, one of the things that caught our attention about the Serengeti are the incredible landscapes of the African savannah dotted with solitary acacia trees and incomparable sunsets that fill the entire sky with orange.
3. Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, located in one of the largest and most spectacular volcanic calderas in the world, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is our favorite place to see in Tanzania.
In the 20 kilometers in diameter of this ancient crater, surrounded by imposing walls of more than 600 meters high, several ecosystems and numerous wild animals coexist, such as lions, leopards, elephants, cape buffaloes, and black rhinoceros (endangered ). extinction), all of them known collectively as the “Big Five”, in addition to many other species such as elephants, white rhinos, wildebeest, zebras, hyenas and wild dogs.
It is worth dedicating a full day to the Ngorongoro Crater and if you have more time, visit the Olduvai Gorge, located in the Great Rift Valley, where one of the most important sites on human evolution is situated.
Also explore: 10 Best Cities in Morocco: The most beautiful!
4. Lake Manyara National Park
The next stop on the route through the most beautiful places to visit in Tanzania is the small Lake Manyara National Park (see map), declared a Biosphere Reserve and known for concentrating a wide variety of fauna and flora in a very limited space.
Among its landscapes of swampy areas, meadows, acacia and baobab forests, animals such as the famous climbing lions and a great diversity of birds such as marabou, storks and thousands of pink flamingos inhabit, although with a bit of luck you can also find giraffes, elephants, rhinos, baboons, baboons, hippos and water conch.
5. Tarangire National Park
Located a short distance from Lake Manyara (see map), is the Tarangire National Park, the sixth largest in the country and another of the most essential places to see in Tanzania.
This park is characterized by the photogenic baobabs that can reach heights of up to 30 meters and by large herds of elephants, as well as being the place where, during the dry season, thousands of animals, such as big cats, come to drink from the river. Tangarire, which crosses the entire park.
6. Lake Eyasi
If you need a break from national parks and animal watching, you can go to Lake Eyasi where various ethnic groups such as the Datoga or the Hadza live in a very primitive way.
The Hadza who live around the alkaline Lake Eyasi in the Great Rift Valley are one of the world’s last hunter-gatherer tribes, and their way of life has not changed much in the last 10,000 years. During the visit you can see the rudimentary camps of these two tribes, learn about their traditions and way of life and even accompany them in some moments of their day to day.
In addition to getting to know the tribes, you can go to the lake to observe the slender pink flamingos and other birds and enjoy the fantastic sunsets typical of the area.
7. Climb Kilimanjaro, one of the things to do in Tanzania
Climbing 5895 meters of Kilimanjaro (see map), the highest mountain and one of the symbols of Africa, is one of the best things to do in Tanzania.
Formed by three inactive volcanic craters: Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira, this solitary mountain is characterized by the vegetation that surrounds it, the glaciers that are shrinking each year due to climate change and the peak painted white by snow.
If you are in good physical shape and have good acclimatization to the altitude, you can climb to the top in 5 or 7 days following one of its most common and accessible routes such as Machame and Marangu.
Also explore 7 South African Tourist Attractions You Can’t Miss
8. Lake Tanganyika
If you have more days you can get away from the north of the country and go to Lake Tanganyika, the longest in the world and another of the most interesting places to see in Tanzania.
Divided between four countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Burundi and Zambia, this lake is characterized by depths of almost 1,500 meters, making it the second deepest lake in the world. In addition, the abundant fishing of this lake is one of the great sources of income for the entire area since it is exported to many countries in East Africa.
The best way to get to know this lake is by booking a cruise on the legendary MV Liemba ferry, an old colonial ship from 1915 that leaves from Kigoma and goes to the Zambian city of Mpulungu, stopping at different points in Tanzania.
9. Dar es Salaam, one of the cities to see in Tanzania
Although it is not one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it is worth spending a day in Dar es Salaam (see map), the most populous city and former capital of Tanzania.
Starting point and end point of any trip to Tanzania, this city located on the shores of the Indian Ocean hides an interesting British and Germanic colonial architecture as well as Arab and Indian influences.
In addition to enjoying a multicultural atmosphere and a varied gastronomy, among its essentials are the Kivukoni and Kariakoo markets, Coco Beach, and above all, the boat tour to the nearby island of Bongoyo, which has some beautiful white sand beaches and turquoise waters reminiscent of those of Zanzibar.
10. Zanzibar
To finish this list of important places to see in Tanzania, we suggest you arrive by boat or plane to the Zanzibar archipelago, located just 30 kilometers from Dar es Salaam.
Once you arrive at its capital, Stone Town, we recommend you rent a car to spend 4 or 5 days relaxing on its paradisiacal beaches and practicing water sports such as snorkeling or scuba diving in its rich seabed.
Among the main tourist attractions to see in Zanzibar are the historic center of Stone Town, the Jozani Forest, the Mnemba Marine Reserve and the beaches of Jambiani, Kizimkazi, Kendwa and Nungwi.
Also explore Ethiopia’s Top 10 Must-Visit Tourist Sites
