Tanzania is a place of remarkable beauty; it has a combination of beautiful sights, wildlife, and culture. Being the one of the most popular destination in the African continent, the country offers everything to everyone, including immaculate beaches and the most famous Serengeti, astonishing mountains and mountain ranges, and the national parks. And you are adventure-lover, love wildlife or you need to enrich your cultural experience, the most popular attractions in Tanzania will be remembered forever. There are numerous attractions across Tanzania, with each being different and potentially worth considering. There are the 10 best places to visit in Tanzania that we discuss in this article.
1. Serengeti National Park: The Faith of the Great Migration.
Undoubtedly, no place of interest is a better place to visit in Tanzania and Serengeti national park is one that a tourist planning to visit the country must see. It is an iconic park and one of the most renowned wildlife sanctuaries in the world and most specifically, the annual migration of animals known as the Great Migration. The zebras, gazelles, and wildebeest, millions and millions of them, roam the plains of the Serengeti in a continuous search of other fresh grazing making it one of the most spectacular sights in nature. By taking the visitors on the wild poaching of lions and cheetahs, visitors can experience exciting predator-prey scenarios in the vast savannahs of the park.
It also has the Big Five (lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffaloes) in Serengeti and hundreds of other species of wildlife and birds. Park also provides many options of safari experiences which include luxury lodges, mobile camps and walking safaris with skilled guides. The Serengeti really is an item on the bucket-list of every lover and adventurer of wildlife.
2. Mount Kilimanjaro: The Highest Mountain in Africa.
Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain as well as one of the most desirable sites to visit in Tanzania, a symbol of adventure and challenge. This is a dormant volcano Christchurch’s highest free standing mountain in the world which is 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level and is visited by trekkers all over the world. Climber mountain climbing Kilimanjaro is an activity of a lifetime, which involves preparation and the reward is worth it.
The mountain has a number of routes to its summit, each with its own experience, some of them being Machame, Lemosho and Marangu routes. The hikers will climb through different ecologies as they include tropical rain forests in its base, alpine deserts and glaciers towards the mountain top. You have to climb to the summit or just wish to enjoy the splendid foothills of the mountain, Kilimanjaro offers memorability to those who want to experience an active adventure in one of the most interesting places to see in Tanzania.
3. Zanzibar: Island of Paradise.
The mesmerising archipelagos that lie along the coast of Tanzania at the Indian Ocean is certainly one of the most desirable places to visit in Tanzania, and undoubtedly a wonderful place to visit in case one desires breathtaking beaches, rich history and relaxing environment. There are some of the most beautiful beaches in Zanzibar, which having powdery white sand, crystalline waters, and waving palm trees. The island provides a perfect location in terms of water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving and kite surfing.
Other than the beaches, Zanzibar is endowed with other cultural experiences. Stone Town is the historic and UNESCO World Heritage Site of labyrinth, crowded bazaar with narrow streets and old buildings of Arab, Persian, Indian, and European influences. Another significant attraction place is the spice plantations of Zanzibar, where people could get to know the history of the island as a spice trade center and taste exotic spices. Zanzibar is also among the best places to see in Tanzania, as it is a given that it is an excellent mixture of relaxation, adventure and culture.
4. Ngorongoro Crater: Nature Wonder.
One of the most outstanding natural wonders in Tanzania is the Ngorongoro Crater which is ranked second to none as the best places to visit in Tanzania. The Ngorongoro crater is also known as the Garden of Eden and is a big volcanic crater which serves as a natural habitat to a large diversity of wildlife. A fantastic concentration of wildlife can be found in the crater where there are lions, elephants, zebras and rhinos.
It is clearly an awe-inspiring experience, having a game drive within the Ngorongoro Crater as the animals will be roaming freely on their habitat, and the scenery is so beautiful as it consists of volcanic mountain ranges. The crater floor is also home to a wide variety of ecosystems such as grass lands, forest and wetlands and with the viewer experiencing possibly the best wildlife viewing on earth. Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO world park as well, and one of the most famous safari places in Tanzania.
5. The Tarangire National Park: The Tanzanian Secret.
Tarangire National Park is among the top sites to see in Tanzania especially to those willing to avoid the crowd and have a more personalized safari experience. With Elephant herds, Tarangire is very much the least rated park in Tanzania yet presents great wildlife viewing. There are more than 300 species of birds in the park and its beautiful landscape is marked by baobab trees, swamps and rivers hence it is a wonderful safari destination.
Tarangire can be visited well during the dry season when animals flock around the tarangire river to drink water. It is also excellent to observe the immense herds of elephants because the park is home to one of the largest numbers of elephants in Africa. Tarangire was a more peaceful and intimate safari experience than either the Serengeti or Ngorongoro due to the smaller number of tourists.
6. Selous Game Reserve: Isolated Wildness.
Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania is the least visited and largest safari game reserve in the country so it is the best place to visit in Tanzania when one wants to go on an off-the-beaten-path game reserve hunt. Selous is a UNESCO World Heritage site and it is also home to one of the greatest wildlife diversities in the world; the African wild dogs, lions, elephants, and crocodiles among others occupy an area of more than 50,000 square kilometers.
Selous also has many types of safari activities such as game drives, walking safari, and boat safari on Rufiji River. The reserve boasts of pure wilderness and its isolated setting means that a visitor can actually have his or her real African safari devoid of the masses. Selous presents a good place to visit in Tanzania should you wish to have an adventure in one of the cleanest wilderness areas in Africa.
7. Lake Manyara National Park: Paradise of Birdwatchers.
Lake Manyara National Park is one of the places in Tanzania that is recommended to be visited by the lovers of birds and nature. The park is also located at the bottom of the Great Rift Valley and it houses a great number of various bird species, with a large number of flamingos that flock around the lakeside of Lake Manyara. The park is also characterized by a variety of wildlife such as tree climbing lions, elephants as well as giraffes.
Lake Manyara is not a big park yet it has a great diversity of the landscape in terms of dense woodland, wetlands, and open savannahs. Ngorongoro crater and Serengeti are extremely close to the park, so it will be an excellent addition to a safari program. Lake Manyara is an essential destination of Tanzania to a birdwatcher or people simply in love with beautiful nature.
8. Mafia Island: A Marine Idyllic.
Mafia Island is a little-known underdog off the coast of Tanzania, which is a more secluded and tranquil option as an alternative to Zanzibar. Mafia Island is also part of the Mafia Archipelago and it boasts of good marine life, coral reefs and provides good scuba-diving and snorkeling. The crystal-clear waters of the island host some of the most vivid coral gardens, sea turtles and whale sharks thus making the place one of the best places to pay a visit in Tanzania in respect to underwater activities.
Mafia Island is also rich in history, along with the ancient ruins and the lovely town of Kilindoni. The laid-back lifestyle and calmness of the island make it a perfect place of the traveler who wants to have some peaceful beach vacation. Mafia Island is a great place to unwind, be it in coral reefs, the beach or just to enjoy the natural beauty of the island.
9. Introduction Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani: An Ancient Unesco site.
The Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani allow people, who are interested in archeology and history, to visit one of the best places in Tanzania. Kilwa Kisiwani is an ancient trading station, a strong city-state on an island, based on the southern coast of the medieval Swahili Coast. It became a UNESCO world heritage site today and the ruins have ancient mosques, palaces and fortifications which date back to the 9th century.
The ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani offer an interesting insight into the history of ancient Tanzania and a possibility to find out the remains of a formerly powerful littoral civilization. Tourists are allowed to have guided tours around the site as well as being informed of the historical importance of the island in terms of commerce and culture along the coast of East Africa.
10. Saadani national park: Bush meets the Sea.
Saadani National Park is among the most recommended sites to visit in Tanzania when looking to have a unique safari and beach experience. Saadani is the only Tanzanian park that the bush and the sea collide with one another, as it is found at the coast of the Indian Ocean. There is a great variety of wildlife in the park, which includes lions, elephants and giraffes and the additional dimension of the experience is the place of the park being located on the seashore.
One can take game drives and boat safaris along the Wami River and have some rest in silent beaches of the park. It is an excellent place to be in when one desires to have both the best of both worlds, safari and beach and have a more off-the-beaten-path adventure.
Conclusion
Tanzania is a diverse country, which has wonderful scenery and amazing wildlife, and spectacular natural wonders available in Africa. Whether it is the Great Migration in Serengeti, to the very high peaks of Kilimanjaro, the white sand beaches of Zanzibar or the isolated wilderness of Selous, the top destinations in Tanzania cannot be forgotten. Both the adventurer and visitor of Tanzania can find something to do based on the kind of traveling experience they desire whether on an exciting safari, hiking the peaks of the tallest mountain in Africa or spending leisurely time in the sun in tropical beaches. A trip to this breathtaking nation will give you a few memories that will remain with you and appreciation of the wildness of East Africa.
