Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Tanzania
Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Tanzania From the snowy peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro and Meru to the palm-fringed Indian Ocean islands of Zanzibar and Pemba to its lush plains and grasslands, Tanzania has it all.
Tanzania has many tourist destinations that attract families and adventurers alike from all over the world.
It offers an enjoyable experience, in most seasons of the year due to the variety of options it offers.
Tourist places in Tanzania
Here are the top 10 tourist attractions in Tanzania:
Serengeti National Park
It is one of the most popular protected areas in all of Africa.
Covering 14,763 square kilometres, this area makes up 50% of the wider Serengeti-Mara ecosystem and is a popular wildlife area.
The dramatic landscape dominated by vast savannah grasslands, interspersed with distinctive flat-topped acacia trees and bananas, makes this one of the most picturesque landscapes in all of Africa.
The park and surrounding protected area offer a variety of safari accommodation, to suit most budgets.
Ngorongoro Crater
The vast Ngorongoro Conservation Area lies southeast of Serengeti National Park.
Towering volcanic walls surround the unique Ngorongoro Crater, which is blessed with abundant wildlife and good living.
You can explore it as if you were driving through a zoo - just the scenery of the surrounding crater is amazingly impressive.
Most visitors only see the crater, but the more adventurous leave the safari hordes behind, to explore the multi-use wildlife reserve, home to the Maasai (a semi-nomadic Nilotic group based in Kenya and northern Tanzania).
Within this protected area, the vast Oldupai Gorge (originally called Olduvai) is an archaeological site made famous by the Leakey family and is home to some of the most important human fossils on the African continent.
If you visit outside the peak safari season (June-September), you will fall in love with Ngorongoro's wildlife and stunning scenery.
Kilimanjaro summit
The name Kilimanjaro is a mystery, as it is believed to mean "Mountain of Light" or "Mountain of Greatness".
No one is quite sure, but what is indisputable is that this mountain, at 5,895 metres/19,341 feet, is the highest peak on the African continent, and the highest free-standing mountain on Earth.
It is undoubtedly one of the continent's most spectacular sights, rising in splendid isolation from the plains below.
It would be a mistake to come to Tanzania and not take the time to appreciate this great ancient mountain, the roof of Africa.
You can climb its legendary slopes, hoping to stand atop Uhuru Peak, the highest point on the African continent.
Nyerere (Selous) Park
The crocodile-rich Rufiji River runs through Nyerere (Selous) National Park, home to the famous Stiegler's Gorge, popular with tourists on East African safaris.
Despite the challenges of overfishing and ongoing water development, it remains a long-standing tourist attraction in southern Tanzania.
Also, although poaching has decimated the huge elephant herds over the years, Nyerere still supports about 16,000 giant African elephants, as well as several species of wild dogs and cats.
Raw Park
Covering 20,226 square kilometres, Ruaha National Park is one of the largest national parks in East Africa, and is virtually unknown outside Tanzania.
However, with an estimated 10% of the wild lion population left in Africa, they are definitely worthy of being a highlight of any trip exploring the country's wild south.
The beautiful landscape filled with giant baobab trees, elephants, and abundant plains wildlife are other good reasons to make sure Rua is on every intrepid safari enthusiast's itinerary.
Katavi Park
Wild and remote, Katavi National Park is one of the most pristine jungle settings in the country, with stunning scenery and rich wildlife.
The 4,471 square kilometre park is difficult to access and can therefore be relatively expensive to visit.
As a result, few people make the effort to come here.
While the famous Serengeti may receive 125,000 visitors a year, remote Katavi sees no more than a few hundred intrepid adventurers.
It is a model of wild Africa at its best and provided you have the time and budget, it is a park well worth exploring.
Mountains of Mahal
The enchanting Mahal Mountains National Park lies on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, with its mountains rising above the lakeshore, offering stunning views and close encounters with common chimpanzees.
The mist-shrouded peak of Mount Nkungwe stands in the background, and the clear waters of Lake Tanganyika lap at the white sandy beaches.
Many safari goers consider the 1,613 square kilometre Mahal Mountains to be Tanzania's most remote park, but it is also one of the most exciting.
Zanzibar Island
Once a hotbed of the slave trade, Zanzibar is now a major global tourist destination in Tanzania.
5-star resorts are scattered all over and opposite its picturesque sandy beaches.
The island has significant history and heritage, with the old town and fishing ports being the main attractions.
It is an island rich in biodiversity and nature, where diving, fishing and water sports of all kinds flourish.
It is suitable for short vacations aimed at rest and relaxation.
Pemba Island
Pemba Island has remained a thriving fishing community, surprisingly free of tourist development.
The Underwater Honeymoon Suite at Manta Resort might just be the most unique place you can choose to spend a night.
But the simple Emerald Bay resort in the south of the island is the traveler's choice.
Delicious seafood meals served on the open-air rooftop “terrace” and daily boat trips to perfect sandy beaches, in the middle of the ocean make for an unparalleled combination.
It's easy to spend a week or two relaxing and rejuvenating in this affordable island paradise.
mafia island
To the south lies the idyllic Mafia Island.
The beaches are fantastic, the mangrove forests and marine parks ensure that marine life is abundant, and the underwater safari experience is much better than in Zanzibar or Pemba.
The island is out of the way and a bit difficult to access, making it a place for adventurous travelers and diving experts.
The star attraction underwater are the whale sharks, docile and completely harmless, which appear in the island's waters between October and March each year.
Tourist program
Here is a 4-day tour program if you choose to experience tourism in Tanzania:
Day 1: Arrive at the airport and transfer to the hotel, before setting off in the evening for a free tour around the hotel.
Day 2: Go in the morning to visit Jozani Forest, enjoy watching the dense tropical trees with a wonderful view, rare animals and enjoy nature.
Day 3: Free city tour, shopping activities, souvenir shopping.
On the fourth day, include a tour of the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, and visit its tourist attractions.
Tourism prices
It is recommended that you plan to spend around $86 per day on your Tanzania vacation, which is the average daily price based on other visitors' expenses.
Previous travelers spent, on average, Tsh49,183 (about US$21) on meals for a day and Tsh30,666 (US$13) on local transportation.
The average hotel price in Tanzania for a couple is around 201,371 Tanzanian shillings ($87).
Therefore, the average cost of a one-week trip to Tanzania is 2,790,178 Tanzanian shillings ($1,200).
These expenses do not include airfare.