Tanzania is surely one of the most breathtaking countries in East Africa. Home to the historic state of Zanzibar, the towering Mount Kilimanjaro and so many more beautiful sites and experiences, Tanzania is not to be missed on any trip to the continent.
Tanzania, with one of the largest populations of wildlife in the world, is an animal paradise, and an ideal place to get introduced to the vast array of African animals, and explore some of the best national parks that Tanzania is famous for. Throw in the beautiful island of Zanzibar, it is easy to see why Tanzania is one of the most popular African destinations.
Tanzania is justifiably famous as one of Africa’s best game viewing locations, and thus one of the best countries in Africa in which to take a safari. As well as the world famous parks like the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti there are some less visited gems in the south of Tanzania, such as the Selous and Ruaha.
The sheer quality of unspoilt, wildlife-rich game reserves and National Parks in Tanzania is staggering. This is the land of massive, unfenced parks, where even just the ‘Northern Circuit’ combination of parks and reserves makes up a large percentage of the country.
View my top tips for backpacking or travelling independently in Tanzania.
Weather & Best Time to Visit
Tanzania is an all year round destinations, although if you travel between December and March you will get a chance to see the incredible wildebeest migration!
The majority of Tanzania, apart from the highland areas of high elevation, experiences a warm tropical climate. Coastal areas are warm and humid year round, while further inland areas are usually quite warm during the day but cool off in the evening. The high altitude areas around Arusha can be comfortable during the day and get quite cool at night.
Dar Es Salaam averages in the upper 80’s – 90’s F with lows in the 70’s F, while Arusha averages with highs in the 70’s – 80’s F with lows in the 50’s F.
There are two major rainy seasons: March to May is the long rainy season and November to December is the short rainy season. During the long rainy season, it often rains steadily every single day like clockwork, but in the short rainy season the pattern is more sporadic.
Visa & Border Crossings
Visa prices and application requirements vary for different nationalities. American citizens are required to purchase a 3 month multiple-entry visa that costs a steep US$100 and can be purchased upon entry. Citizens of most other Western countries pay US$50.
Crossing into Kenya
Namanga – The major border crossing between Tanzania and Kenya, always the most reliable option.
Horohoro – On the coast, good if you are going from Dar Es Salaam to Mombasa, pass through Lunga Lunga in Kenya)
Holili – Closest border to Moshi and takes you into Kenya via Taveta.
Sirari – Border crossing near Lake Victoria.
Crossing into Uganda
Mutukula – Main border between Tanzania and Uganda). There are also possibilities to take a bus from Tanzania through Kenya and onwards to Uganda on the Dar to Kampala route.
Crossing into Rwanda
Benako – Must walk across the bridge over Rusumo Falls.
Crossing into Burundi
Ngara – Over the Kobero Bridge.
Kigoma – A ferry that runs sporadically goes between Kigoma and Bujumbura, Burundi.
Tunduma to Nakonde – Most popular road crossing into Zambia.
There is also the TAZARA train that crosses the border from Tanzania to Zambia.
Crossing into Malawi
Songwe/Kyela – A common border crossing and I’ve heard it is quite a hassle free process.
Crossing into Mozambique
Land border crossings into Mozambique can be challenging and involve long walks and a few days to accomplish.
Kilambo/Mtwara – Most common border crossing on the Eastern Coast of Tanzania to the town of Moçimboa da Praia, in Mozmbique.
Tourism & Accommodation
Generally, the tourism infrastucture for travellers is good, with neat internal flight options; itineraries can ‘mix and match’ to suit individual interests, and the quality of operators these days is such that you may enjoy fantastic semi-permanent camping, and small, excellently run camps and lodges in all of the best wildlife areas.
There are affordable hostels located throughout the main towns and cities. If it’s luxury you are after, staying in Tanzania completely satisfies this need. Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, quietly tucked away by a beautiful lake and mahogany forest is the perfect base to enjoy the Tanzania Royal Safari. Expect seven days of seeing all kinds of game and the stunning plains of Kilimanjaro. There are plenty of luxury safari packages out there to suit every budget and taste.
Top Things to Do in Tanzania
Experience Paradise in Zanzibar
Zanzibar; the name alone echoes with the charisma and historic charm of this archipelago of spice islands in the Indian Ocean. This is one of the most exotic destinations in Africa, and a must visit destination for any Tanzania itinerary.
Trek Mount Kilimanjaro
What better adventures are there than trekking Mount Kilimanjaro? The climb is not an easy one. High winds and altitude sickness can put many people off. But the views are simply stunning and well worth the trek. The Rongai and Marangu path tours are the best camping routes for beginners.
Check my tips for Climbing Kilimanjaro if you are planning to go. Or if you would rather gaze at the impressive mountain from a safe distance, the plains of Moshi town are ideal. Expect to see some giraffes casually wondering about too.
Explore the Serengeti
The Serengeti is among (if not the best) places to go on safari in Tanzania and to see the Big Five in Africa. Its huge plains are inhabited only by Maasai tribes, wildebeest, lions, cheetahs, and many other animals. Stay at one of the areas fantastic lodges and you’ll be taken on guided safaris with experts who seem to know exactly where the baby elephants are playing and lazy leopards are chilling out!
Take a hot air balloon ride
There are few ways to really appreciate the vast elegance of the Tanzanian landscape, but sailing silently above it in a hot air balloon is one memorable way to do it. Flights over the Serengeti are the most popular, probably because of the wildlife-spotting opportunities from a completely different viewpoint.
Hike to the Ngorongoro Crater
This famous crater formed when a giant volcano exploded and collapsed on itself two to three million years ago. It’s is 610 metres deep its basin covers 260 km2. As a result, Ngorongoro is a kind of natural enclosure for a variety of wildlife such as lions and wildebeest. As you descend, keep your eyes peeled for more wildlife. Rhino are a popular spot here as this part of Tanzania is one of the best areas to see these critically endangered beasts.
Pemba
Much less visited than it’s neighboring Zanzibar island of Unguja, Pemba is a beautiful green and very fertile island. Besides the gorgeous scenery, Pemba is becoming more and more famous for it’s incredible dive sites.
Venture into Manyara National Park
This scenic reserve is popular for seeing herds of elephants and hippos in the wild. Set along the edge of the Rift Valley, where modern man is said to have evolved, you’ll have a sense of feeling very small. Birds fill the area and over 400 species have been recorded here. Although relatively small, Manyara is a fantastic place for seeing a variety of habitats – from jungle to grasslands, lakes, hot springs and woodland – with wildlife to match.
Gombe Stream National Park
Though it’s one of Tanzania’s smallest national parks, Gombe Stream is the place to go in order to see Chimpanzee’s in their natural habitat. The park is located near the town of Kigoma in Western Tanzania on the edge of Lake Tanganyika.
Mount Meru
Overshadowed by the popularity of Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru is an active volcano that presents a challenging climb. The summit is reached by navigating narrow trails and traversing gnarly ridges.
Chill out at Lake Tanganyika
This lake is the perfect chill-out spot after exploration. You can swim to your heart’s content in the waters of the lake, fish for your dinner, admire the distant Mahale Mountains, and sit by its shores at night watching out for shooting stars.
Go boutique in the Selous Game Reserve
This little reserve doesn’t have the high-octane draw of the Serengeti but its gorgeous luxury lodges offer a more intimate experience. Take a boat trip on the lakes in search of hippos, walk through the bush with a guide and camp out under the stars.
Towns & Cities
Arusha
Set amidst some of Tanzania’s most famous landmarks and a backdrop of Mount Meru, Arusha is one of the most well known cities to visit in the country. Arusha provides access to the Northern circuit and a jump off town to beautiful destinations in the region.
Moshi
Beautifully set on the slopes of the rising Mount Kilimanjaro, Moshi is a small town with a charming atmosphere, fresh air, and all around great place to spend a few relaxing days.
Dar Es Salaam
The largest city in Tanzania is a place that most travellers pass through for convenience, attempting to be there for as little time as possible. Though Dar Es Salaam lacks the list of normal tourist attractions, the city has a share of interesting sites, local neighbourhoods, art exhibitions, shopping locations, and fantastic restaurants. Dar Es Salaam is an exotic mixture of ethnic tribes coming together into a single city, a place where traditional Maasai warriors can be seen walking the streets next to men in business suits.
Kigoma
Located on the edge of Lake Tanganyika, Kigoma is a pleasant place and the entry town for travellers that wish to visit Gombe Stream National Park or the Mahale Mountains.
Money & Costs
Tanzania uses the Tanzania Shilling / Shillingi (TZS), roughly 1,500 TZS to 1 USD.
Traveling in Tanzania on a whole is not a real low budget destination. By laying low and hanging out in a single place for a long period of time it’s possible to get away with spending $15 to $30 per day, but doing any sort of adventure activity really raises the cost of traveling in Tanzania. Consistently taking safaris, visiting national parks, and spending time on Zanzibar can elevate travel costs to $50 or much more per day.
ATM’s that accept Visa and Mastercard are available at banks within the main cities of Tanzania like Dar Es Salaam and Arusha. Prestigious hotels and many safari tour organizations also accept credit cards at the expense of commission.
If you would like to exchange money, it’s best to bring US Dollars that are printed from the year 2000 or after. To get the best exchange rate try to use crisp $100 bill notes with as few creases and bends as possible. Not everyone is picky, but some exchangers like the nice new bills.
Accommodation
There is an assortment of accommodation options available ranging from luxurious to very cheap. The very cheap accommodation usually comes at the cost of being very unclean and not overly secure, though rooms can be found for $1-2 per night (sometimes frightening). On the opposite side, there are many luxury resorts in Zanzibar and around Kilimanjaro.
If you are looking to avoid the very cheap as well as the high end resorts, there are also plenty of guest houses and hostels in the major tourist areas of Arusha, Dar Es Salaam, and Zanzibar. Private rooms can run anywhere from $15 – $30, while decent single dorm beds can usually be found from $7 – $15 per night.
Food & Drink
A lot of the food and meals you will encounter in Tanzania are similar to those of East African countries. This includes a lot of starches such as beans, cornmeal, millet (small seeded grass), sorghum (a type of grass), and pilaf (rice). Sides can include fish or vegetables and is often placed in a large bowl that is shared by everyone.
Meat is usually reserved for special occasions and thus not too common on a day to day basis for locals. Spices were introduced by the Arabs and are added to dishes, especially pilaf which consists of rice, cinnamon, cumin, hot peppers, and cloves.
Coastal Tanzanian food is usually a little different from the interior. In addition to ugali, rice is very common. Some of the dishes are a combination of Arab or Indian original tastes with an African twist. Zanzibar style biryani rice (spiced rice) is one of my favourite dishes to eat on the coast. Dishes that use coconut milk and curry sauce are also popular.
The tropical climate also makes Tanzania a haven of fresh fruit! Don’t miss the glorious pineapples, mangoes, avocados, jackfruit, and bananas.
Many Tanzanians enjoy a few social pints of beer if it can be afforded. The great selection of local beers include Kilimanjaro, Ndovu, Serengeti, and Safari Lager. Konyagi is Tanzania’s very own and very popular spirit liquor.
Markets and Shopping
Wherever you go in Tanzania you will come across markets filled with local crafts, clothes, jewelry, and food. Take the time to look around and purchase something if you wish as they make wonderful gifts for friends and family back home as well as souvenirs for yourself. Be prepared to bargain as prices which vary widely are usually negotiable.
Some booths sell textiles as they are, but others sell them already crafted as clothes ready to wear. You can also purchase beautiful beaded jewellery that parents will sell so that their children can attend school. At the Maasai market, you can purchase handcrafted items made of local redwood.
Language & Culture
In Tanzania people often greet each other with a ‘Habari gani,’ or ‘Habari yako.’ This phrase doesn’t exactly mean hello, but translates to ‘what’s the news?’ This common Kiswahili greeting is a great way to start a conversation and relate to a person instead of just saying a brief walk-by ‘hello.’ Local Tanzanians are extremely friendly, willing to help you, and grateful to see you in their home country.
People
Locals
From the moment you step into Tanzania, you will be enthusiastically greeted and welcomed into the country with warm receptive smiles. Tanzania comprises of over 100 different ethnic groups, each with different cultural traditions and practices.
Tanzanians love to visit and spend time chatting with each other. It’s common to spend hours drinking chai or beer and hanging out with the company of others. Tanzanians will throw greetings your way, willing to help out and go the extra mile to ensure you are satisfied and confirm that your stay in Tanzania is among the best trips of your lifetime!
Expats
Tanzania is not as popular of a destination for foreign investment and expat communities that often choose to base out of neighbouring Nairobi, Kenya. However, lately there have begun to be more expats and foreigners permanently living in Dar Es Salaam and places like Moshi and Arusha. In Dar, the main diplomatic foreigner area is on the Msasani Peninsula and Oyster Bay.
Travellers
There are a number of different categories that can describe the varying range of foreigners that visit Tanzania. First and foremost, there are the safari enthusiasts, out to tour the Northern circuit and see as much wildlife as they can in just a few days.
Next are the mountaineers and adventurers that mainly come to trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Lastly, there are a host of beach seekers that hang out and spend their time relaxing on the beaches of Zanzibar.
Some tourists do a combination or all of these activities on their Tanzania trip. Overland tour groups are also popular throughout the country, traveling as an all-inclusive group through the major sites of Tanzania.
Communication
Language
The official language throughout Tanzania is Kiswahili. Though each tribe has their own dialect, Kiswahili is the common language spoken in the cities and used within the government. In the very popular tourist destinations (around Arusha and on Zanzibar), there are more locals that can speak English. However, unlike Kenya where nearly everyone knows some English, Tanzanians on a whole feel more comfortable with Kiswahili.
Phones
There has been a boom in the rise of mobile telecommunication and competition of providers. The main companies are Vodacom, Zantel, Zain, and Tigo. Previously, it was simple and cheap to purchase a SIM card off the street and load it into an unlocked mobile phone. However, recently Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority decided to change the policy and make it mandatory to register the SIM card before it can be validated. It’s easiest to go to a mobile provider store in order to take care of the registration.
Internet
Internet is available in the larger cities and there are cafes around touristy areas of Tanzania. Nicer hotels and some guest houses offer wifi, but it takes some searching to find cafes with wifi. Vodacom, Zantel, Zain, and Tigo all offer USB modem Internet connections. The lower plans can run quite slow, but higher costing plans are usually sufficient for handling most Internet tasks. Zain offers an unlocked 3G modem that provides high speed access.
Safety
Crime is not as common as it is in Kenya, but Tanzania is not exempt from theft and criminal activity. As usual, the crime rate is much higher in the main cities, especially in Dar Es Salaam. Most of the crime that takes place is in the form of muggings, pick-pockets, and occasional vehicle theft.
In the end, if you are a foreigner, there’s no real way to fully blend in and you must accept the fact that you will stand out and be a potential target. For this reason, try to avoid displaying flashy jewelry, electronics, or fancy clothes. Normal precautionary measures like walking around with a small group and paying attention to suspicious situations should always be a priority. Be especially careful when walking around crowded areas or taking public transportation, places where foreigners are easily targeted.
Throughout many visits to Tanzania, I’ve never been in a situation where I really felt in danger; I do focus on looking after my possessions closely and being mindful with the way I dress and act. For single women, there’s not a need to worry, but it is not advised to walk around solo or go out at night by yourself. A group of 2 to 3 is always a smarter way to proceed.
Music & Dance
Music is widely popular with locals in Tanzania and the industry consists of a variety of musical styles from traditional folk songs to reggae beach music. Tanzanians are passionate about their music and enjoy singing and dancing to the beats.
The modern hip hop dance music movement, mostly produced in Dar Es Salaam, is known as Bongo Flava. The unique blend of Tanzanian hip hop and R&B is characterized by beats that are reminiscent to an East African dance-hall scene. There’s nothing like attending a Tanzanian party while pulsating to the thumps of the latest Bongo Flava tracks!
A popular form of music on the coast of Tanzania and especially on the island of Zanzibar is known as Taarab. The genre is an interesting mix of Arabic and Kiswahili lyrics paired with African percussion instruments to create an island jazz like sound.
Tanzanians (like many Africans) have a passion for dance and born with great dancing skills. All forms of dancing, from traditional to club inspired can be found in abundance around Tanzania.
Art
Tanzania is known around the world for it’s famous works of art. Many antique connoisseurs are especially fond of ancient tribal pieces of artwork from Tanzania. Tinga Tinga is a well known modern style of abstract painting that developed in Tanzania and is recognized by it’s bright colours and cartoon modified figures.
Volunteering & Good Causes
Arranging to volunteer in Tanzania while avoiding the high fee based organized programs is easiest to accomplish by just showing up in Tanzania and doing some networking. Ask your hotel or guest house if anyone knows of a place you can spend some time helping out. From there, you might be able to find a more long term opportunity or commitment.
Read & Watch
The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior: An Autobiography
An excellent first hand account of growing up into the Maasai culture and going through the stages of life.
Tanzania: Culture Smart!
Provides great cultural insights into the multifaceted Tanzanian culture.
Guidebooks
Lonely Planet, Rough Guides and Frommers each have a substantial guide to Tanzania. There are even guidebooks by these companies specifically pertaining to only safaris or the island of Zanzibar.
Plan a Trip to Tanzania
To be truthful, Tanzania completely exceeded my expectations. When people think of a great safari, perhaps Kenya or South Africa spring to mind. Or if people want a bustling, cosmopolitan city, maybe Cape Town would be top of their list? The truth is, Tanzania offers both of these things and so much more. Whether you are trekking Kilimanjaro, sightseeing in Zanzibar City or just looking at some spectacular game, it’s hard to know where to start.