A country of seven extraordinary places.

From the endless Serengeti plains to the coral atolls of Zanzibar, Tanzania holds more variety in a single country than most continents.

Where you'll go in Tanzania

Five Northern Circuit parks, the Roof of Africa, and the spice islands

Tanzania holds 38% of its land under conservation — more than any other country in Africa. Each destination below is hand-picked by our planners as part of our 40+ itineraries. Open any park for the full guide: wildlife, when to go, where to stay, and how to combine it with the rest of your trip.

7
Major destinations
5
Northern Circuit parks
1.5M
Wildebeest in motion
5,895m
Roof of Africa

Region

Northern Circuit

The classic Tanzania safari loop — four world-class parks within a few hours of each other, all reachable from Arusha.

At a glance

Compare all seven destinations

DestinationRegionBest timeSignature wildlifeIdeal stay
SerengetiNorthern TanzaniaYear-round; migration river crossings July–OctoberLion, Cheetah, Leopard3–5 nights
NgorongoroCrater HighlandsYear-round (cool, often misty)Black rhino, Lion, Hyena1–2 nights
TarangireNorthern CircuitJune–October (dry season)Elephant (huge herds), Lion, Leopard1–2 nights
Lake ManyaraRift ValleyJune–October & January–MarchTree-climbing lion, Elephant, Hippo1–2 nights
Arusha NPMount MeruYear-roundGiraffe, Buffalo, Colobus monkey1–2 nights
KilimanjaroNorthern TanzaniaJanuary–March & June–OctoberColobus monkey, Blue monkey, Eland (rare)6–9 days climb
ZanzibarIndian OceanJune–October & December–FebruaryRed colobus monkey (Jozani), Dolphin, Whale shark (season)4–7 nights

Seasonality

When each destination is at its best

Serengeti

Year-round; migration river crossings July–October

Ngorongoro

Year-round (cool, often misty)

Tarangire

June–October (dry season)

Lake Manyara

June–October & January–March

Arusha NP

Year-round

Kilimanjaro

January–March & June–October

Zanzibar

June–October & December–February

FAQ

Common questions about Tanzania's destinations

Which Tanzania destinations should I combine?+

Most first-time visitors do the Northern Circuit (Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti) over 6–8 days, then add 4–5 nights of beach in Zanzibar. Adding Lake Manyara or Arusha NP works as a half-day soft-landing en route.

When is the best time to visit Tanzania overall?+

June to October is the dry season — easiest game-viewing and the Mara River crossings. January to March offers the wildebeest calving in the southern Serengeti and excellent weather. April–May is the long rains and many camps close.

Do I need internal flights between destinations?+

Optional. Drive transfers are scenic and cheaper; light-aircraft flights save a full day each way to Serengeti or Zanzibar. We mix-and-match based on your time and budget.

How long should a Tanzania trip be?+

A minimum of 7 days does justice to the Northern Circuit. 10 days lets you add Zanzibar; 14+ days unlocks Kilimanjaro plus safari, or a fly-in to a remote camp.

Not sure where to start?

Tell us your dates, group size and what you'd love to see. A senior planner will reply personally within 24 hours with a tailored route through Tanzania.