Discovering Tanzania

Wilderness Areas | Recommendations | It's not all bush | Seasons

Tanzania is a kaleidoscope of landscapes, a country of great beauty and diversity. It encompasses some of Africa's most wonderful sights: the Serengeti where millions of wildebeest congregate each year and the Ngorongoro Crater conservation area, where a huge concentration of game coexists with the Maasai tribe. Then there are the snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro, the Zanzibar Spice Islands, Lake Tanganyika with its chimps, Katavi, Ruaha and the Selous.

Wilderness Areas 

Tanzania's prolific wilderness areas have placed it among the premier safari destinations in Africa. More than a quarter of the country is covered by national parks, game reserves and conservation areas that support a diverse variety of wildlife from sitatunga and chimpanzee to all the big-5. But naturally, the wildebeest migration plays its part in being the number one attraction. This is a phenomenal experience for several months of the year, however, Tanzania is far more than this

Our Recommendations 

With tourism infrastructure gradually improving throughout the country, the famous great parks of the north are now even easier to access all year round. Because of this and the vast ranges of accommodation available, peak seasons are extremely busy so trips need planning and booking well in advance. Two must-see attractions here are the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, but then we recommend flying westwards to Rubondo Island, Mahale or Katavi or southwards, to Ruaha and the great Selous - an experience that will certainly take you back in time. Here, charter flights, trains, boats and good bush tracks are the way to travel. Visitors are much scarcer in the south and with rustic comfortable bush camps, knowledgeable guides, untouched wilderness areas and exceptional wildlife, the west and south are very rewarding. Here there are no mini bus queues, no crowded game sightings and no large bush hotels. Vehicles are open 4x4, there's boating on one of Africa's greatest rivers, the Rufiji and the walking or mobile camping safaris make for lasting memories.

It's not all bush 

Away from the bush, you'll find Zanzibar and over 800kms of tropical coastline, palm-fringed beaches dotted with fishing villages and historical sites, underwater coral gardens to dive around and exotic islands to laze away the days. This completes the picture of a country that's in many ways still waiting to be discovery.

Seasons 

Tanzania lies south of the equator and basically has a long dry season from June till October, followed by a summer rainy season that's divided into short rains (from November to December) and the long rains (from March to May). The months in between are relatively dry, however, always be prepared for a good downpour. The country's spectacular during the rains and still well worth visiting. The coast is hot and humid for most of the year whilst there are several regional variations inland depending on where you are and altitude. Virtually all of the northern camps are open year-round. In the south and west, most camps close between mid-March and May, however, check with us as dates always change.