Tanzania vacations 2024 & 2025

In Tanzania you could track the Big Five or see the Great Migration, summit Mount Kilimanjaro, relax on white-sand beaches, and snorkel on coral reefs teeming with tropical fish.

An incredibly diverse destination, Tanzania’s wildlife is a major draw and for many visitors, the highlight is witnessing the Great Migration of two million wildebeest, zebra, and gazelles across the Serengeti. For others, it’s tracking the Big Five in the Ngorongoro Crater, taking a hot air balloon flight over herds of elephant or giraffe, or tracking chimpanzees. Or you may want to slow down on a boating safari in Nyerere National Park or a walking safari in Ruaha National Park and get closer to smaller species.

Alternatively, you could take on the challenge of hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro on a multi-day trek, see turtles off the coast, visit traditional villages, or simply laze on powder-soft sands and swim in turquoise seas.

In Tanzania you can stay in rustic safari camps, luxurious lodges, on private islands, and in ocean-front resorts with extensive facilities. While on safari, you’ll have the choice of opting for simple tented camps where you’ll wake to the sound of wildlife at a nearby watering hole, or stylishly intimate lodges hidden deep in the forest.

Elsewhere, you could stay at a luxurious coastal resort with lots of activities, choose private villas, simple cottages, or even an underwater room. If it’s local history and character you’re after, you can stay in a former sultan’s palace in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. For some ideas, browse our collection of places to stay in Tanzania.

You could visit Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar on a trip to Tanzania, among many other wildlife areas. Most visitors choose to visit national parks that link together geographically to make the most of their time, and then follow the adventure of a safari with time relaxing on the white sands of Tanzania’s coast or islands.

Tanzania’s safari areas can be divided into the northern, southern, and western circuits. In the north are Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire and Lake Manyara national parks. In the south, you could visit Nyerere National Park and Ruaha National Park, while to the west Katavi and Mahale Mountains national parks combine well. If you’re up for a challenge, you could tag on a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro before unwinding on the palm-fringed beaches in Zanzibar.

A safari in Tanzania is a great way to see the Big Five — lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and the black rhino — but you’ll also see giraffe, zebra, and occasionally cheetah, among many other species. Two million wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle cross the Serengeti during the Great Migration and in their wake a slew of predators such as lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, and crocodiles follow.

A boat safari in Nyerere National Park promises sightings of hippo, sable antelope, and vibrant birdlife, while hiking in Mahale Mountains National Park, brings the prospect of spotting chimpanzees sweeping through the trees.

It takes around 20 hours to fly from the East Coast of the US to Tanzania.

The time zone in Tanzania is UTC+3 hours. Daylight Savings Time is not observed here.

The best way to get around Tanzania is by road or by air. You could travel around Tanzania with a private driver-guide learning about the country and its wildlife as you journey between destinations or combine road travel with some internal flights to see the diversity of Tanzania’s landscapes in a fast, efficient way.

The best time to see the Great Migration is from June to October when the herds are crossing back and forth between the northern Serengeti and the Masai Mara. It’s the best time of year to see dramatic river crossings but is also the busiest time of year. November to March, Tanzania’s ‘green season’ is far quieter, and from January you’ll see the herds grazing with newly born calves. The long rains between April and May make this the only time of year less suited to seeing the huge herds of wildlife on the move.

American citizens of all ages need a visa for travel to Tanzania. You can get a visa on arrival at major airports, or you can apply online in advance on the Electronic Visa Application System.

Your doctor can provide you with vaccine advice for Tanzania, but you should also ensure you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations for your home country. You can also check the suggested vaccinations on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

If you’re coming from or transiting through a country affected by yellow fever, the government of Tanzania may request proof of vaccination against the disease. Check the list of countries at risk of yellow fever and speak to your doctor as vaccination is not advised for everyone.

There’s a high risk of malaria in all areas of Tanzania below 1,800 m (5,906 ft). There’s also a risk of malaria in Zanzibar. See your doctor to discuss which antimalarials will suit you best.

To lower your risk, avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by wearing long, loose clothing, wearing repellent, and using mosquito nets where provided.

Passports must have two blank pages and be valid for six months beyond the date of your return from Tanzania.