Curious about the best places to visit in Tanzania? Tanzania is a country in East Africa. It is a diverse destination with an abundance of spectacular tourist attractions.

Tanzania is rich with culture and history and is home to wildlife-rich national parks, indigenous tribes and some of the oldest ecosystems on the planet.

This and so much more you can experience in Tanzania! And it’s highly likely that you’ll fall in love with it! But where to start? What to do and see in Tanzania? 

Start with our list of some of the best places to visit in Tanzania. Here it is.

7 best places to visit in Tanzania

Zanzibar

Zanzibar, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, is a paradise destination for sun-seekers and beach lovers. It is one of the best places to visit in Tanzania.

With fine powder white sand and turquoise waters, Zanzibar’s beaches are to die for.

But there’s more to Zanzibar than its beaches. There are plenty of other things to do in the archipelago as Zanzibar has something for everyone — culture, history and delicious food.

Exploring Stone Town is one of the best things to do in Zanzibar. It is the old part of Zanzibar City, the capital of the Zanzibar archipelago. As Stone Town of Zanzibar is considered to be a fine example of the Swahili coastal trading towns, it has been inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000.

The vibrant Darajani Market is the main bazaar in Stone Town. It’s a traditional market where you can buy all sorts of goods — street food, meat, seafood, veggies, fruits, grains, spices, clothes, plastic goods and consumer electronics. We believe that markets are a crucial part of the city and they are totally worth exploring.

Did you know that Zanzibar was a major hub for the slave trade? Learn more about the slave trade by visiting Slave Monument and the old Slave Market.

Dar es Salaam

Dar-es-Salaam is the largest city and former capital of Tanzania.

It is the seventh-largest city in Africa. It is an important economic centre and one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.

But Dar es Salaam may not appeal to everyone as it’s chaotic and ugly in some places.

If you are flying into Dar es Salam, why not spend an extra day and find out what the city is made of?

Visit Village Museum, an open-air ethnographic museum, to learn more out about traditional life in various parts of Tanzania.

Dar es Salaam is known for its numerous craft markets where work of Tanzania’s skilled artisans can be found.

Mwenge Woodcarvers Market is a must-visit. It specialises in traditional African sculptures which are created on the spot. There also you’ll find paintings, clothes, bags and other crafts. 

If you want to experience a traditional African market then head to Kariakoo. It’s an extensive market which spans several city blocks. Kariakoo is the busiest and the biggest market in Dar es Salaam.

The Serengeti National Park

Covering 14750 square kilometres, the Serengeti National Park is vast and teeming with wildlife.

Serengeti National Park is one of the best safari destinations in Africa and one of the best wildlife destinations in the world. 

Thanks to the diverse landscapes, such as grassland plains, savanna, riverine forest, and woodlands, the Serengeti National Park boasts a rich and diverse fauna. 

The Serengeti National Park is home to wildebeest, zebra, elephant, giraffe, gazelle, impala, hartebeest, buffalo, hippopotamus, crocodile and other species.

The national park is well known for its annual migration of over 1.5 million white-bearded wildebeest. It is one of the largest movements of wild animals in the world. This migration of colossal herds is a truly spectacular event. It is also one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.

Thanks to all of this, Serengeti National Park is one of the best places to visit in Tanzania.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area & the Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is among the most stunning safari destinations in Tanzania.

This Conservation Area is named after the Ngorongoro Crater — a large volcanic caldera within the area. 

With a depth of 610 metres and the area of 260 square kilometres, the Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest inactive, intact and unfilled volcanic caldera.

This crater was formed when a huge volcano exploded and collapsed on itself. Now the crater provides a lush habitat for wildlife (buffalos, hyenas, rhinos, lions, wildebeest, hippos, zebra, etc).

The crater was voted by Seven Natural Wonders as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is as spectacular as the Serengeti National Park, so it must be on your list. Many guided tours combine a trip to Serengeti with a trip to Ngorongoro Crater. Choose a tour which includes both of these places.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is a currently inactive strato-volcano in the northern part of the country, near the border with Kenya.

At 5895 metres Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

Despite being so close to the Equator, the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro is covered in snow.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the best things to do in Tanzania. The climb usually takes between 5 to 9 days, and to climb Kilimanjaro you have to hire a guide or join a group tour.

But be warned — climbing mount Kilimanjaro is expensive. The average trek price is $2000 – $4000. If you can’t afford that, opt for the base camp day hike.

Along with the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti Migration, Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.

Maasai village

The Maasai are an ethnic group inhabiting northern Tanzania and some parts of Kenya.

The Maasai are known worldwide for their unique culture, semi-nomadic lifestyle and hunting skills.

Maasai tribes welcome visitors to their villages to experience their culture, traditions, and lifestyle.

There are several Maasai villages in Tanzania. One of the most popular is the Maasai Village Olpopongi which is some 3-hour’s drive north of Arusha. You have to go on a guided tour in order to get there.  

The Maasai guide will tell you about their history, culture, way of life, local wildlife and fauna. 

You also will be introduced to hunting techniques and local food.

Choose only reputable companies when booking a Maasai village tour. Carefully read the reviews before booking a tour.

Lake Victoria

With a surface area of approximately 68 800 square kilometres, Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake by area and the world’s third-largest freshwater lake by surface area.

Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes that stretches across 3 countries: Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

Mwanza, a port city on the southern shore of Lake Victoria, is the gateway to the lake.

Do not miss Ukerewe Island. With an area of 530 square kilometres, it is the largest island in Lake Victoria and the largest lake island in Africa.

Experiencing the rural life in Ukerewe Island is one of the most interesting things to do in Tanzania.

Tanzania travel tips

1. Travellers may apply for a visa online in advance or obtain a tourist visa upon arrival at the airport in Tanzania. Visa costs USD 50 or USD 100, depending on the nationality of the traveller.
2. As there may be long queues at international airports, we recommend obtaining an electronic visa before travelling.
3. If you are planning to visit Zanzibar, take into account that Islam is the most prominent religion in Zanzibar. This means you dress modestly outside the beach areas.
4. The Tanzanian dress code is conservative. Both men and women must dress modestly, especially when travelling to villages. You must cover your shoulders and knees and do not wear tight-fitting clothes. 
5. The best chance to spot wildlife in Tanzania is during the dry season which is from June to October, and in January and February. 
6. The best chance of seeing the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti National park is in June and July. 
7. There are several international airports in Tanzania. Figure out which is the best for the beginning of your trip.
8. Tanzania is a vast country. We recommend you to fly to save time. Domestic flights are not expensive. If you book in advance, tickets will set you back around 20-40 EUR.