Zanzibar, the legendary spice island bath in an equatorial sun, a repository of a thousand years of African, Indian and Arab influence. Stone town – the ancient capital with its magnificent architecture set on the shores of a vibrant sea. Zanzibar’s coastline offers some of the best beaches in the world, but sand and surf vary depending on what side of the island you’re on. On the east coast, waves break over coral reefs and sand bars offshore, and low tide reveals small pools of starfish, small minnows, and anemones. Up north, ocean swimming is much less susceptible to the tides, and smooth beaches and white sand make for dazzling days in the sun.

The port city of Stone Town dominates the west coast, and although the beaches of Mangapwani, where slave caves are visible at low tide and nearby Bububu are less than half an hour’s drive away, a night or two spent on the east or north cost is well worth the extra hour it takes to drive there. That said, the Chole Island Marine Park just off Stone Town – and nearby Prison, Grave, and Snake Islands make for a refreshing day-trip and a good break from exploring the winding passageways of the old city.

Getting there: Either Ferry or air transfer.

What to do: Beach walk plus relaxation, snorkeling, boat cruise, honeymoon, cultural tourism, Historical site visits, fishing, water sports.

Located between the Uluguru Mountains and the Lumango range, Mikumi is the fourth largest national park in Tanzania and only a few hours’ drive from Tanzania’s largest city, Dar es Salaam. The park has a wide variety of wildlife that can be easily spotted and also well acclimatized to game viewing. Its proximity to Dar es Salaam and the amount of wildlife that live within its borders makes Mikumi National Park a popular option for weekend visitors from the city, or for business visitors who don’t have to spend a long time on an extended safari itinerary.

Most visitors come to Mikumi National Park aiming to spot the ‘Big Five’ (cheetah, lion, elephant, buffalo, and rhino), and they are always not disappointed. Hippo pools provide close access to the mud-loving beasts, and bird-watching along the waterways is particularly rewarding. Mikumi National Park borders the Selous Game Reserve and Udzungwa National Park, and the three locations make a varied and pleasant safari circuit.

Getting there: Mainly road transfer.

What to do: Game drives (day & night), bird watching, walking safari, camping.

Mafia Island Marine Park is a protected marine nature reserve around Mafia Island, in the Indian Ocean southeast of Zanzibar Island. Mafia is renowned as an excellent world-class diving destination with some of the richest reefs in the world, the park covers the Southern part of Mafia Island and includes the inhabited islands of Chole, Juani Jibondo and Bwejuu and several uninhabited islets and the associated waters. This park provides a completely different kind of natural wonder, one most appreciated by the scuba divers and snorkelers who come here from all around the world to experience the coral gardens, colorful fish, and crystal clear waters.

Getting there: Ferry or air transfer.

What to do: Beach Holidays, Boating and Canoeing, Diving and Snorkeling, Fishing.

Ruaha national park is one of the few Tanzania’s famous wilderness area where one can have a rare experience of game viewing spiced up by the fascinating landscape. The park is rich of plants and animals such as Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) which cannot be found in any other national park. The park boasts of her almost untouched and unexplored ecosystem, making visitors’ safari experience very unique.

This park is one of Tanzania birds’ paradise with more than 571species and some of them are known to be migrants from within and outside Africa. Migrating species from Europe, Asia, Australian rim and Madagascar have been recorded in the park. It is also a place where, magnificent mammals like Kudu (both Greater and Lesser), Sable and Roan antelopes can easily be spotted in Miombo woodland. The park is also a habitat for endangered wild dogs. Other animals in the park include lions, leopards, cheetah, giraffes, zebras, elands, impala, bat eared foxes and Jackals.

Getting there: Road transfer or air transfer.

What to do: Game drives, bird watching, camping, photography, walking safaris, boating or canoeing.

Tarangire National Park is found in the Manyara Region of Tanzania. This national park was established in 1970 and it covers an area of 2850 km2. It derives its name from Tarangire River which is the main source of water for the wildlife from within and neighboring parks like Lake Manyara National Park especially during the dry season.

The park is covered in grasslands, swamps, acacia woodlands and baobab trees.

This national park is home to plenty of wildlife and is said to have the highest volumes of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem. Among the residents of this park are the Cape buffalo, Wildebeest, Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes, Elands, Lions, Cheetahs, wild dogs, mongoose, Leopards, Olive baboons, Vervet monkeys, honey badgers, etc. A birding trip to this park would be very rewarding due to its flourishing birdlife with 550 recorded bird species.

The park can be accessed by both road and by private charter from Arusha or Serengeti.

Above the gently rolling hills and plateaux of northern Tanzania rises the snowy peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro, it’s slopes and glaciers shimmering above the rising clouds. Kilimanjaro is located near the town of Moshi and is a protected area, carefully regulated for climbers to enjoy without leaving a trace of their presence. The mountain’s ecosystems are as strikingly beautiful as they are varied and diverse. On the lowland slopes, much of the mountain is farmland, with coffee, banana, cassava, and maize crops grown for subsistence and cash sale. A few larger coffee farms still exist on the lower slopes, but much of the area outside the national park has been subdivided into small plots. Once inside the park, thick lowland forest covers the lower altitudes and breaks into alpine meadows once the air begins to thin. Near the peak, the landscape is harsh and barren, with rocks and ice the predominant features above a breathtaking African view.

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highlight of most visitors’ experiences in Tanzania. Few mountains can claim the grandeur, the breathtaking views of Amboseli National Park in Kenya, the Rift Valley, and the Masai Steppe that belongs to Kilimanjaro. Hiking on the “rooftop of Africa”  – the highest point on the continent at 5896 metres is the adventure of a lifetime, especially because, if paced well, everyone from seasoned trekkers to first-time enthusiasts can scale the snowy peak.

Getting there: Road transfer or air transfer to the area.

What to do: Birdwatching Safaris, Mountain Climbing, Paragliding and Micro flights, Walking Safaris, Camping Safaris.

Named after a famous big game hunter and early conservationist (Frederick Selous), Selous is Africa’s largest and oldest game reserve. The Reserve is remote and visited by only a few who eventually appreciate that Selous is utterly beautiful. The beauty of the park is matched by the quality of a safari here; boating, walking and fly camping compliment standard game driving in thriving wildlife areas. The Selous is a superb safari destination for both family safaris and African honeymoons, all the better for the ease of getting there and the lack of crowds.

The Northern section of Selous is home to a network of channels and lagoons that run off the Rufiji River. This lush landscape provides a water supply for the region’s game and towards the end of the dry season the concentration of animals around these water sources is phenomenal. Selous is in its peak season from July through to the middle of November which is when the dry season is raging and all the game homes in on the few permanent water sources. The sheer volume of game in the Selous is outstanding but it is the Selous’ reputation as the last true stronghold for African wild dog that draws the enthusiasts.

Getting there Either road transfer or domestic flight.

What to do: Balloon Safaris, bird watching, Boating and Canoeing, camping, game drive, Walking Safaris.

Located in the north of Tanzania, Lake Manyara National Park enjoys a strategic location en route to Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National park. It is one of Tanzania’s gems perfectly positioned to introduce you to the African jungle. The park is found in the Manyara region between Lake Manyara and the great rift valley. It is located 126km west of Arusha, the journey by road may take approx 2 hours.

The park covers 330km2 with the soda ash lake taking up most of the park leaving only a strip of land on which the animals dwell. It lies at an altitude between 960mm – 1478mm above sea level.

Lake Manyara National Park is made up of a diverse ecosystem made up of an alkaline soda lake, bush plains, hot springs, ground water forests, baobab strewn cliffs, and the great rift valley.

Among other attractions in this beautiful National Park are the famous tree climbing lions. These are a rare species of lions that adapt to tree climbing and are found only in a few national parks in East Africa. The park is also popular for big troops of Baboons and herds of African Savanna Elephants. This beautiful national park is also home to Lions, Cheetahs, Hippos, Zebras, Giraffes, Impalas, Mongoose, Otters, Sykes monkeys, Hyenas, Short eared Galago,Leopards, Dik diks, Waterbuck, Warthogs, Klipspringer and many others. The lake attracts vast birdlife including the Flamingos and various species of raptors. It has recorded 350 bird species enjoying habitats like the swamps, ground water forest and the lake some of which are endemic and others migratory birds.

Activities in this park include game drives, cultural tours, birding, canoeing when water levels allow,

The park can be accessed by road in a 2 hrs drive or by private charter flight from Arusha.

This is a UNESCO world Heritage site established in 1959. It’s located 160km west of Arusha in Tanzania. The conservation area is 8292 km2 and is mostly popular because of the Ngorongoro crater, a beautiful large extinct volcanic crater found in this area. The Crater is about 20kms wide and 600 meters deep covering an area of 300km2. The crater that was once home to hunters and gatherers, pastoralists, farmland and hunting ground for colonialists is now home to vast wildlife.

Among the residents of the crater are Grant’s Zebras, Waterbucks, African Buffalo, Thomson’s gazelles, Black Rhinos, Hippos, Blue Wildebeest, common Eland, Lions. Rare sights of Leopard, Cheetahs and wild dogs. The Ngorongoro conservation area has recorded over 500 bird species including flamingos.

The park can be accessed by both road and air by private charter.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. Serengeti is Tanzania’s first national park and therefore the oldest of all national parks in this country. The park covers an area of 14750 km2 and lies at an altitude between 920 to 1,850 metres above sea level.

Serengeti National Park is the most popular park in Tanzania because of its wildlife volumes and the annual wildebeest migration. The park enjoys a diverse vegetation cover of savanna, woodland, grasslands and riverine forest.

The diversity of wildlife in this park is unbelievable, the park is home to huge numbers lions, Zebras, Wildebeest, Gazelles, Topis, Waterbucks ,Buffaloes, Giraffes, Impala, Dik dik, Elands, Hippos, Hartebeest, Roan Antelopes, Honey Badgers, Cheetahs, Hyenas, Warthogs, Kudu, Klipspringer, Elephants, Leopards, Rhinos,etc. The list of animals in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park cannot be exhausted.

This national park has recorded more than 500 bird species including the lesser Flamingos, Oxpeckers, Ostriches etc.

The park can be accessed by both road and air transport.