15 Tanzanian Tourist Attractions with the Best Reviews

The beautiful Mount Kilimanjaro is one of Tanzania's most well-known national parks and natural landmarks. Thus, the most popular activity in Tanzania and the main pulls for tourists are safaris and other wildlife-related activities.

giraffe watching while on a Serengeti wildlife expedition 

National Park of Tanzania

Most visitors will go from Dar es Salaam in quest of the jungle and other places. Everyone is drawn to Zanzibar's stunning beaches if they want to unwind in the sun.

The vibrant fish, lush coral reefs, and pristine waters off the Pemba and Mafia islands attract divers and snorkelers from throughout the world.

Using this list of Tanzania's top attractions, you may browse your options and decide which locations would be the greatest to travel to.

1. Kilimanjaro Mountain

Highlights include six-day hikes to the top of a tropical mountain covered in snow.

Tanzania's most well-known landmark is Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa (5,895 m).

Unlike other parks in northern Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro National Park draws visitors primarily for its breath-taking views of the snow-capped peak and, for many, for an attempt to climb it. Although Mount Kilimanjaro may be climbed all year round, the best time to do it is in the dry season from late June to October.

More than a million years ago, volcanic activity in the Rift Valley created Kilimanjaro, a World Heritage Site. Shira, Kibo, and Mawenzi are three volcanic cones that were produced around 750,000 years ago. Uhuru Summit atop Kibo, one of the Seven Summits in the globe, is the highest summit.

The geography of the mountain shifts from a rural area at its base to a rainforest, an alpine meadow, and finally a lunar environment. Elephants, elands, buffaloes, leopards, monkeys, and leopards live on the jungle's slopes. For bird watchers, the alpine region is home to a wide variety of raptors.

Although no work is currently being done, the government approved a plan to construct a cable car atop Mount Kilimanjaro in late 2020. Visitors would be 3,700 meters above sea level if it were built.

2. National Serengeti Park

Among the highlights are seeing the Big Five animal species, the wildebeest migration, and visiting a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Millions of animals live in or pass through the renowned Serengeti National Park, a wide plain devoid of vegetation, in quest of new meadows. Although the yearly wildebeest migration is what makes the Serengeti famous, you may also view the Big Five and nearly 500 other bird species there.

Tens of thousands of people visit Tanzania's second-largest national park, the Serengeti, each year. June through September are the greatest months to watch wildlife in Serengeti National Park. The coldest and wettest months of the year are June through October and March through May, respectively.

In May or early June, more than 1.5 million wildebeest, as well as tens of thousands of zebra and gazelle, start their yearly migration. One of nature's most magnificent exhibitions, the migration is a popular tourist attraction.

How to find a place to stay while visiting Serengeti National Park.

3. beaches in Zanzibar

Highlights include the history of Stone Town, breathtaking white-sand beaches, and a tranquil ocean.

Tanzanian island Zanzibar, often called Unguja, is well-known for its stunning beaches.

This island is a part of the Zanzibar archipelago, which also contains Pemba and Zanzibar. Pemba has some of the nicest beaches in the world. Visitors can enjoy the stunning white sand, shallow sea, and historic boats that line the shore. Depending on whatever side of the island you are on, the surf changes.

The island offers some incredible accommodation alternatives with swimming pools, opulent apartments, and mouthwatering cuisine. The Emerald Zanzibar Resort & Spa, which just opened in Matemwe on Muyuni Beach and boasts 250 suites, four restaurants, its own beach, protected coral, and a magnificent pool area, is one of the best.

In the center of Zanzibar, the historic settlement of Stone Town is renowned for its old Arabian homes, narrow lanes, and bustling waterfront.

4. Area Conservation Ngorongoro

Highlights include the Olduvai Gorge and the enormous variety of animals in the breathtaking natural setting.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which encompasses the well-known volcanic Ngorongoro Crater, is one of Tanzania's most well-liked locations to see wildlife. Many species are drawn to this massive volcanic crater because water is always present and keeps critters from moving.

Most visitors come here to see the big animals and the birds. Thousands of creatures, including lions, elephants, rhinos, Thomson's gazelles, and buffaloes, can be seen on the crater floor, but more than half of the Ngorongoro Crater's residents are wildebeests and zebras.

The best places to go bird watching are close to Lake Migadi, where groups of flamingos gather in the shallows. Hippos like to graze on the adjacent grass in the evenings after spending the day in the water.

The Ngorongoro Crater, the largest complete ancient caldera in the world, is over three million years old.The Ngorongoro volcano was one of the world's tallest mountains before it erupted and collapsed.

Olduvai Gorge

The Olduvai Gorge is another intriguing feature of the protected area. Ancient bone and skull fragments from this significant archeological site have provided crucial information about the earliest human cultures.

An archaeological site called the Olduvai Gorge, which is located on many fault lines, has produced ancient human fossils and remains. This is a result of erosion over many years. In 1911, a German professor was searching the Olduvai Gorge for butterflies when he stumbled across some fossilized bones.

The Leakeys gathered bones, fragments of a cranium, and a skull that was thought to be roughly 2 million years old during a subsequent voyage. At Olduvai Gorge, tools and hunting equipment dating from between one and five million years ago were also found.

The discovery of a man, a mother, and a child's footprints at Laetoli, close to Olduvai, was another spectacular discovery. Additional proof that at least three hominid species lived in this area more than two million years ago can be found in these and other discoveries.

5. National Park of Lake Manyara

A few of the highlights include kayaking, seeing baboons, elephants, giraffes, and a large number of flamingos.

Forests, woodlands, meadows, and marshes make up the stunning Lake Manyara National Park. Numerous species, including hundreds of flamingos at specific times of the year, call Lake Manyara home. The park is submerged in water for two thirds of its area.

The main attractions of Lake Manyara Park include the abundance of elephants, the ability of lions to climb trees, and the ability to watch hippos at much closer ranges than in other parks. Baboons are more numerous in this park than any other place on earth.

The most popular activities in Lake Manyara National Park include bird watching, mountain biking, wildlife drives, and canoeing (when the water is high enough).

6. Inferno Island

The highlights include magnificent reefs, 400 different types of fish, and offshore gamefishing.

Divers and snorkelers come from all over the world to Mafia Island to explore the underwater ecology that the Mafia Island Marine Park maintains. Despite Mafia Island having the best weather from May to October, the best diving conditions are from October to March. It usually rains in March and April.

Coral gardens, a wide variety of species, and a calm diving environment may be found in the magnificent Mafia Island Marine Park. The region is home to hundreds of different bird species and about 400 distinct fish species. Unfortunately, the green turtle, which once nested on Mafia Island, is now gone.

Mafia residents enjoy deep-sea fishing, particularly for large game species like tuna, marlin, sailfish, and others.

The first inhabitants of this gorgeous island arrived in the eighth or ninth century, but it wasn't until the twelfth to the fourteenth century that Mafia started to become more important as a hub for trade in East Africa.

7. Park National Tarangire

Highlights include rivers, large populations of elephants, 300 distinct species of birds, and giant baobab trees.

The 1970-founded Tarangire National Park is a fantastic place to see animals. During the dry season, which lasts from July to September, when animals concentrate close to the river, is the ideal time to visit.

Tarangire National Park hosts one of the biggest populations of migratory species throughout the dry season. The lagoons are now occupied by wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest, and eland. The abundance of elephants that reside there as well as the baobab trees that dot the verdant surrounds are other noteworthy aspects of the park.

With more than 300 distinct bird species identified there, Tarangire is a fantastic location for birding. Buzzards, vultures, herons, storks, kites, falcons, and eagles are a few of these species.

8. Island of Pemba

The features include white sand beaches, mountain riding, fantastic scuba diving, and warm shallow water.

The Zanzibar archipelago's Pemba Island is the island that faces the northest. There are several desert islands close to Pemba, and the visibility for scuba diving in the Indian Ocean is unmatched. The underwater wonderland is populated with colorful sea fans, sponges, and coral gardens. Scuba divers frequently base themselves in Chake Chake, the city that serves as Pemba's main population center.

Pemba is less well-known than Zanzibar, thus it has a more relaxed atmosphere. Mountain bikers are drawn to the rocky landscape and deep valleys with 1,000-meter peaks, and the island has grown in popularity with them. An essential stop is the nearby Misali Island Beach.

Pemba is a significant clove producer on a global scale and is well-known for its juju healing and sorcery practices. People travel there from all over East Africa to learn from traditional and voodoo healers or to look for a cure.

9. Stone City

A UNESCO World Heritage site, winding lanes, beautiful gateways, and old residences and structures from the 19th century are some of the highlights.

The cultural center of Zanzibar, Stone Town, hasn't undergone much alteration in the past 200 years. What gives the city its unique attractiveness are the enormous, old Arabian mansions that line its meandering lanes and streets.

The majority of the residences in Stone Town were constructed in the eighteenth century, when Zanzibar was one of the most significant Swahili trading centers in the Indian Ocean. Many of the houses have bra-studded, ornately carved wooden doors that are visible to visitors.

Many of Stone Town's noteworthy landmarks have been brought back to its former splendor because it is the oldest Swahili city that has been continually inhabited in the world. Several of the old structures are now museums and tourist destinations. A few interesting antique churches with historical significance can be found all across the town.

The Darajani Market, Beit el-Amani, City Hall, and the Anglican Cathedral are located in the old Stone Town district, which can be reached by strolling down Creek Road.

The Forodhani Gardens, the Old Dispensary with its elaborately carved wooden balconies, the former sultan's palace known as Beit el-Sahel or the People's Palace, the Hamamni Persian Baths constructed in 1888, and the Old Fort, Stone Town's oldest building, are a few of the other major attractions.

10. Game Reserve in Selous

Highlights include the Rufiji River, 350 different bird species, and a substantial population of hippos.

Africa's largest game reserve is the Selous Game Reserve. It was founded in 1922 and accounts for about 5% of Tanzania. Due to its underdeveloped nature, extensive forestation, and cliffs, the southern portion is off-limits.

Only the region to the north of the Rufiji River is accessible to tourists. Large open meadows, wooded areas, rivers, hills, and broad plains can all be found in this region of the Selous Game Reserve. The months of July through October are the most ideal for travel.

The river, which is the main feature of the reserve, offers a chance to witness a variety of aquatic creatures.

Along with lions, leopards, and cheetahs, other animals include buffalo, antelope, giraffes, warthogs, wildebeest, elephants, hippos, and rhinoceroses. The Selous has been home to more than 350 different bird species.

11. National Park of Arusha

The opportunity to climb Mount Meru, the diversity of climate zones, and Colobus monkeys are highlights.

Despite being smaller than other national parks in Tanzania, Arusha has a variety of habitats, such as the forest atop Mount Meru, the Ngurdoto Crater in the southeast, and the Momella Lakes, a collection of seven crater lakes.

Buffalo, zebra, and warthog herds can be seen in the marshy crater bottom, while black and white Colobus monkeys are seen in the forest. A wide variety of seasonal residents and migratory waterbirds call Momella Lakes home. Tourists are drawn to the local biodiversity and Mount Meru's ascent.

Mount Meru, Tanzania's second-highest mountain, is one of the continent's most stunning volcanoes. It is possible to see the volcanic cone that is located in the crater at a height of several thousand feet below from the thin slope that descends from the mountain. Along with a challenging elevation, the path traverses parks, a woods, a considerable area of heather, and moorland.

12. National Park of Ruaha

Highlights include the Great Ruaha River, which is remote and pristine, and the large population of elephants.

The largest park in Tanzania, Ruaha National Park, is home to some of the country's most numerous elephants as well as substantial herds of buffalo and gazelle.

Ruaha National Park's main draw is the Great Ruaha River, which offers fantastic opportunities for animal viewing along its banks. Additionally, the river significantly contributes to Tanzania's energy needs via a hydroelectric facility at Kidatu.

Ruaha National Park is the least visited park in Tanzania, hence its surroundings are still fully unexplored. Over 400 bird species that are not seen in northern Tanzania can be enjoyed by birdwatchers, while photographers are especially drawn to the river, jaw-dropping valleys, and towering trees.

13. Stream National Park in Gombe

The best chimpanzee viewing location in Tanzania, trekking, and waterfalls are some of the highlights.

Gombe National Park, also known as Gombe Stream National Park from time to time, mostly draws tourists looking to travel off the main path to see chimpanzees.

One of Tanzania's tiniest national parks, this one became well-known as a result of Jane Goodall's research. The work of this British scientist, who arrived in the region in 1960 to study wild chimpanzees, eventually became the world's longest-running behavioral research project.

On escorted tours into the forest, guests can see chimpanzees living in their natural habitat. In the park, a wide variety of primates and animals can be viewed. Tropical woods are home to more than 200 distinct bird species, including the palm-nut vulture, crowned eagles, kingfishers, sunbirds, starlings, and barbets.

Other popular activities include swimming and hiking; one trail enters a forest and leads to a waterfall in a valley.

14. National Park of Katavi

One of the attractions is the Katuma River, which is home to many hippos, crocodiles, and wading birds.

In the secluded Katavi National Park, one can see undeveloped nature. The huge flood plain, which is divided by the Katuma River and numerous seasonal lakes, is one of Katavi's distinctive features.

Along with large herds of hippos and crocodiles, the lakes are home to more than 400 different bird species. At the end of the dry season, when up to 200 hippos attempt to swarm into a body of water, the hippos become one of Katavi's main draws. Conflicts over territory result from heightened masculine rivalry.

During the dry season, impala, reedbuck, lions, zebras, and giraffe herds can be observed around the last few ponds and streams, bringing Katavi National Park to life. As the floodwaters recede, tens of thousands of elephants and buffalo congregate in the park.

15. Lake Vicksburg

Highlights: Offshore islands conserve their biodiversity.

Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda are located around Lake Victoria, the biggest freshwater lake in Africa.

This lake feeds the White Nile and generates income for millions of people. Despite being one of the least frequented areas of the nation, the cities of Bukoba, Musoma, and Mwanza provide a variety of tourist attractions. Lake Victoria is located in Tanzania.

Some of the Mwanza and Musoma islands nearby have been turned into nature preserves. Boat tours and treks can be planned around Lake Victoria. Popular excursions include bird watching and fishing.

Rubondo Island National Park, which is situated on the southwest shore of Lake Victoria, contains several additional smaller islands.

Question and Answer

What time of year is ideal for a Tanzanian safari?

Depending on the Tanzanian park you're visiting, there is a perfect time to go on a safari. The months of July through October are the ideal times to explore Tarangire National Park and the Selous Game Reserve. If you can, go to Katavi National Park from August to October. The Serengeti National area receives the most visitors from June through September, but due to the abundance of wildlife in the area, any season is an excellent time to come. The bulk of tourists avoid the wet months of March and April, though.

Which beaches in Tanzania are the best?

On the island of Zanzibar, where brilliant white sand and turquoise waters converge, you may find some of Tanzania's best beaches. Nungwi Beach, Kendwa Beach, and Paje Beach—one of the best places for kiteboarding—are some of the island's top beaches. On Pemba Island's Misali Island Beach and Mafia Island's Utende Beach, respectively, there are two further noteworthy runners-up.