Best Things to Do on a Tanzania Holiday

As the largest country in East Africa, Tanzania is a diverse and exciting destination that is perfect for any kind of holiday. Whether you are seeking a romantic honeymoon, a family break or a luxury getaway, Tanzania offers the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation, especially if you include a visit to the paradisal island of Zanzibar.

With its extraordinary array of wildlife and its wonderfully pristine landscapes, a Tanzania safari is often considered as one of the best in Africa, and it should come as no surprise that it is a favourite of ours. From the thundering Great Migration across the Serengeti to tracking the Big Five in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania is bursting with unforgettable game experiences.

Amidst the countless adventures that Tanzania has on offer, our Africa travel specialists have created a guide highlighting the top things to do on your safari holiday, along with their favourite places to stay and the best times to visit.

The wondrous phenomenon of calving season is a must for those looking to travel to Tanzania in the shoulder season. Between January and March, over half a million of wildebeest and zebra calves are born and taking their first steps across the sweeping savannah of Ndutu. This incredible occasion also draws predators to the area and is particularly excellent for big cat sightings.

Best time to travel to Tanzania for the calving season: January to March
One of the best places to stay for the calving season in Ndutu Conservation Area: Serian’s Serengeti South

Renowned as one of the world’s most epic and largest wildlife migrations, many believe that a trip to Tanzania is not complete without seeing the Great Migration in the Serengeti. Our advice if you wish to experience this momentous occasion is to plan your luxury safari during the months of January to March or even October, and to stay in a traditional mobile safari camp that moves its position to gain the most advantageous points.

Best time to travel to Tanzania for the Great Migration: January to March and July to October
One of the best places to stay for the Great Migration in Serengeti National Park: Serengeti Safari Camp

The Mahale Mountains National Park is not only one of the most beautiful parks in Tanzania, but it also sits on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, the longest freshwater lake in the world. Amidst the fairy-tale forests and along the sandy banks of the lake lie around 1,000 curious and playful resident chimpanzees, who you can watch forage, groom and play with one another. Although it is worth noting that even though the chimpanzee trekking is the park’s claim to fame, there are a variety of other creatures that inhabit the park such as red-tailed, vervet and red colobus monkeys as well as sable, warthog and over 350 bird species.

Best time to travel to Tanzania for a chimpanzee safari: June to February
One of the best places to stay for the chimpanzees in Mahale Mountains National Park: Greystoke Mahale

The southern parks of Tanzania, Nyerere National Park and Ruaha National Park, promise a more exclusive safari experience. With over 50,000 square kilometres of vast wilderness, the Nyerere National Park is the largest protected game reserve in Africa, and home to thousands of buffalo, hippos, zebras and more. The Ruaha National Park, on the other hand, is considered a best kept secret amongst safari goers with its dramatic landscapes, the largest concentration of elephants in east Africa and 10% of the global lion population.

Best time to travel to southern Tanzania: June to October
One of the best places to stay in southern Tanzania: Sand Rivers (Nyerere National Park) and Ikuka Safari Camp (Ruaha National Park)

Home to Tanzania’s most remarkable geological feature, the Ngorongoro Crater, and a natural sanctuary with some of the densest populations of mammals in Africa, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area should be on your bucket list. Predators such as lions, cheetahs and spotted hyenas roam the Crater floor, while in the open grasslands, you see large herds of buffalo, wildebeest and Tanzania’s healthiest population of black rhino. The wildlife in Ngorongoro are completely unfazed by the presence of safari vehicles, which is perfect for up-close encounters and photographs.

Best time to travel to Ngorongoro Conservation Area: June to October
One of the best places to stay for Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Entamanu

In the cool and swampy areas of Tarangire National Park lies one of the largest elephant populations in Africa. Between the dry months of June to October, you will see herds of up to 300 elephants congregating around one of the few remaining water sources, the Tarangire River. As one of the lesser-known game reserves in Tanzania, Tarangire National Park promises a less crowded safari experience in the peak months.

Best time to travel to Tanzania for Tarangire National Park: June to October
One of the best places to stay for Tarangire National Park: Chem Chem Safari

In the far west of Tanzania lies the lesser known national park of Katavi. As an untouched wilderness paradise, Katavi is home to an array of habitats from open grasslands to dense waterways, all of which are surrounded by a towering mountain landscape. However, one of the best things about making the journey to Katavi National Park is that it is far off the main tourist circuit and usually, there will be more wildlife than other people on your game drive.

Best time to travel to Tanzania for Katavi National Park: June to mid-November
One of the best places to stay for Katavi National Park: Chada Camp

After your safari adventure in Tanzania, visit the idyllic white-sand beaches of Zanzibar for some post safari R&R. Imagine snorkelling in crystal-clear waters, lazing on velvety beaches and dining on delicious seafood dishes. In our opinion, there is no better way to end a luxury holiday to Tanzania or romantic honeymoon getaway.

Best time to plan a Tanzania and Zanzibar holiday: January to March
One of the best hotels in Zanzibar: Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas
A sample travel itinerary for Tanzania and Zanzibar: Northern Tanzania and Zanzibar

Although Lake Manyara National Park does not have as much wildlife as the other parks on our list, it does have some of the most unique experiences. The centrepiece of the park, the Lake Manyara, is a soda ash lake that covers almost two thirds of the park’s total area, and during June to October, attracts around two million pink flamingos to its shores. Aside from the abundance of elegant pink flamingos, the lions of the area are renowned for their tree-climbing habits, but it is worth noting that they are not easily seen.

Best time to travel to Tanzania for Lake Manyara: June and October
One of the best places to stay for Lake Manyara National Park: &Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge

Our experts have crafted a list of the 11 things you must pack for your safari and what not to pack.

Start planning your luxury Tanzania safari holiday, honeymoon or family getaway. Speak to our experts on +44 (0) 2039 933538 or make an online enquiry.