An accumulation of Africa landmarks, wildlife, and adventures are all there in Tanzania. Officially known as the United Republic of Tanzania, the country offers welcoming package of unforgettable destinations. Tanzania has diverse ethnic groups, religious groups, languages, as well as geographical conditions.

General Information

  • Total area: 365,765 square miles with 6.5% of it is water
  • Capital: Dodoma
  • Largest city: Dar es Salaam
  • Government: unitary presidential socialist republic
  • Climate: tropical but with regional variations due to topography

Physical Features

Tanzania has varied geographical features including national parks, salt lakes, large area of freshwater at considerable depth, and high points as well. Along the coast of the country you will most likely find plains; the center is filled with plateau; both south and north are highlands. From all 30 regions in the country, 25 of which are on the mainland. Three regions are on Zanzibar Island, and the other two are on Pemba Island.

People and Cultures

Modern people of Tanzania are known for their welcoming mood and politeness. The same can be said to the indigenous ethnic groups, but their cultures are much more colorful. Take the Maasai people for example; they are semi-nomadic people who inhabit some of the most precious national parks in the country. They have been in co-existence with wildlife without disturbing the balance of the ecosystem. Barabaig people are also semi-nomadic, and they live near Mount Hanang. The experience in Tanzania is not only with the wildlife and scenic views of natural wonders, but also interaction with ethnic groups featuring their dances, local meals, lifestyles, and perspectives towards their world. National language of Tanzania is Swahili, but many people can speak English quite well.

Safety Tips

In general, Tanzania is considered safe country for travelers from all around the world. That being said, you still need to take precautions and always keep up with government/international travel advisories. Political demonstrations are quite common in the country; as long as you stay away from rallies or public gatherings, you should be fine. Since you will also spend times in public areas, do not attract unnecessary attentions as those can potentially invite unwanted circumstances.

There are no particular issues when travelling in Tanzania, whether you are male or female. At certain times for examples going out at night or trekking, it is always best to join a group of visitors. It is safer and more affordable at the same time. Avoid isolated situations including walking alone in the beach.

Wildlife Conservancies

A lot of countries in Africa claim that they are the best in terms of wildlife conservancies; they are indeed excellent by any means, but Tanzania seems to be one step ahead of others. Serengeti comes to mind, but actually throughout the country, you have an unparalleled opportunity to witness natural wonders inhabited by wildebeest, hippos, elephants, and even chimpanzees in the treetops. In the Selous Game Reserve, take a boat safari and have the thrilling experience passing the crocodiles; in the Ruaha National Park, capture a scenic views of giraffes standing next to some ancient baobab trees; take your binoculars to Rubondo Island to see hundreds of bird species; and in the Ngorongoro Crater, embrace a majestic scenes of wildlife like no other place on Earth.

Bird Life

Tanzania has more than 1000 species of birds; some of them are endemic species. Bird species count in the country in the third-highest all across Africa and it represents more than 10% of global avifauna. Savannahs and game reserves give the most rewarding experience for birdwatchers. Most popular birds include ostriches, ground hornbills, francolins, flamingos, pelicans, ibises, waterfowls, African skimmers, and more.

Remote Beaches

Coastline of Tanzania is beaches of Indian Ocean. Swahili cultures remain strong in the coastlines. It is a bit surprising and mesmerizing at the same time considering that East Africa was once a melting pot when it functioned as a center of international trading network. Tanzanian coastline is not as busy as it used to be, but it gives visitors the real chance to enjoy the sense of tranquility at its best. Palms, baobab, sunrise, wooden dhow, and coastal waves are combined into one enjoyable visit.

Popular Destinations

You will need many weeks to fully explore Tanzania and visit its best places. It may take even more time to absorb the experience and realize how lucky you are to encounter such beautiful country in your lifetime. Some of the best places to visit in Tanzania are as follows:

  • Serengeti national park: of course, it is. There is no visit to Tanzania until you wander around one of the world’s best national parks. The vast plain of Serengeti is a stage where every animal displays power, beauty, compassion, relationship with the nature, and grace. A few parks and game reserves in Africa offers a glimpse of the Great Migration, and Serengeti takes the crown for that, too. Up to 1.5 million of wildebeest are on the move to search for fresh grasslands; they are accompanied by zebras, elephants, buffalos, giraffes, and a lot of other species too. Along the way, they must deal with predators such as lions, cheetahs, crocodiles, leopards, hyenas, jackals, and more. Every encounter between prey and predators displays true scene of wildlife you will not forget. For birdwatchers, Serengeti is home to more than 500 species.

  • Ngorongoro Crater: an un-flooded volcanic caldera, the Ngorongoro Crater is an open grassland and home to more than 25,000 large animals. There are predators such as lions, hyenas, and jackals sustained by more herbivores including zebras, buffalos, and wildebeest. The crater is also part of the route for the Great Migration; at the right time, you will witness almost the same attraction of animal herds just like in Serengeti, but in different place. In the crater floor and if you are lucky, you can find the rare endangered black rhinoceros too. In additions to those, Ngorongoro Crater provides ideal habitat for hippos, elephants, and flamingos.

  • Zanzibar Town: part of the Zanzibar Archipelago, this town is one of the most common first stops for travelers. There are two parts of the town: Stone Town and Other Side. The former is the main destination for visitors, while the other is typical modern town with crowded neighborhoods and apartment blocks. The architecture styles, alleyways, and latticework balconies make the town as if it is stuck in history.

  • Mount Kilimanjaro: Serengeti is out of this world, but the most visited national park in Tanzania actually is the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. The lower rainforest is home to leopards, elephants, monkeys, elands, and buffalos. The mountain has three summits including Shira, Kibo, and Mawenzi. Journey to the summit will involve scenic views of the farmlands, lush forests, and some wildlife. Mount Kilimanjaro is not specifically designed as conservancy, but some animals do thrive here.

Tanzania for Tourism

Images and scenes from National Geographic come to mind when you think of Tanzania. The accumulation of Africa’s attractions with the wildlife and Great Migration, challenging adventure in Kilimanjaro, historic town filled with remnants of generation gone by, and remote places inhabited with indigenous cultures is wrapped around very well in Tanzania.

Travel Operators


Other Stakeholders