Published by Ejas Africa Adventures | Arusha-Based Tanzania Safari Specialists
Tanzania is one of the greatest travel destinations on Earth. A country of staggering natural diversity, it is home to the world’s most iconic safari parks, Africa’s highest mountain, a stunning tropical archipelago, and some of the continent’s most ancient archaeological sites. Whether you are planning your first Africa safari or returning to explore new corners of this extraordinary country, Tanzania will exceed every expectation.
Based in Arusha — the gateway to Tanzania’s famous Northern Circuit — the Ejas Africa Adventures team has put together this definitive guide to the top 10 places to visit in Tanzania to help you plan the trip of a lifetime.
Highlight: Home of the Great Migration and Africa’s greatest wildlife spectacle
Best For: Wildlife lovers, photographers, first-time safari visitors
The Serengeti is Tanzania’s crown jewel and arguably the greatest wildlife destination on the planet. Spanning over 14,750 square kilometres of open savannah, the park is home to the legendary Great Migration — a year-round spectacle in which more than 1.5 million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of zebras, and vast herds of gazelles rotate in a perpetual search for water and fresh grass.
Beyond the migration, the Serengeti supports exceptional populations of lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, and over 500 bird species. Hot air balloon safaris at sunrise offer an unforgettable aerial perspective over the plains.
Highlight: World’s largest intact volcanic caldera — the Big Five in one bowl
Best For: Big Five seekers, day-trippers from Arusha, honeymoon couples
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of Africa’s most extraordinary natural wonders. At its heart lies the Ngorongoro Crater — the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera — a 260 square kilometre bowl that shelters an estimated 25,000 large animals within its walls. Nowhere else in Africa can you reliably see all of the Big Five within a single day.
The crater supports a permanent population of black rhino (one of the last viable wild populations in East Africa), lion, leopard, buffalo, and elephant, along with hippos, flamingos, hyenas, jackals, and over 500 bird species. The rim of the crater, at 2,300 metres, offers spectacular panoramic views.
Highlight: Africa’s highest peak — a once-in-a-lifetime trekking challenge
Best For: Adventurers, trekkers, bucket-list travellers
Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest mountain and one of the world’s most famous trekking destinations. Rising to 5,895 metres above sea level at Uhuru Peak, Kilimanjaro stands apart as the only major summit in the world that non-technical climbers can attempt — no ropes, crampons, or prior mountaineering experience required. The mountain passes through five distinct ecological zones, from lush rainforest to alpine desert to arctic glaciers.
There are seven established routes to the summit. The Lemosho Route (7–8 days) is widely regarded as the most scenic, while the Marangu Route is the most accessible for beginners. Success rates are highest on longer routes with better acclimatisation profiles.
Highlight: Pristine Indian Ocean beaches, spice farms, and historic Stone Town
Best For: Beach lovers, honeymooners, cultural explorers
Zanzibar is Tanzania’s enchanting offshore archipelago — a world apart from the mainland. Its principal island, Unguja, is famous for its blindingly white beaches, turquoise Indian Ocean waters, and the UNESCO-listed Stone Town, a labyrinth of narrow streets, carved wooden doors, and crumbling Arab-era architecture infused with the scent of cloves and ocean salt.
Beyond the beaches of Nungwi, Kendwa, and Paje, Zanzibar offers spice farm tours, swimming with dolphins at Kizimkazi, snorkelling over coral gardens, and visits to Jozani Forest to see the endemic red colobus monkey.
Highlight: Largest elephant herds in Tanzania and ancient baobab landscapes
Best For: Elephant enthusiasts, birders, off-the-beaten-path seekers
Often described as Tanzania’s hidden safari gem, Tarangire National Park is famous for its extraordinary elephant herds — during the dry season, hundreds of elephants converge on the Tarangire River, the park’s only permanent water source. Ancient baobab trees, some over 1,000 years old, punctuate the landscape and create a prehistoric, otherworldly atmosphere.
With over 550 recorded bird species, Tarangire is also Tanzania’s premier bird watching destination. The park sees far fewer visitors than the Serengeti or Ngorongoro, making game drives feel exclusive and unhurried.
Highlight: Famous tree-climbing lions and stunning Great Rift Valley views
Best For: Birders, day-trippers, those combining with Ngorongoro
Compact but captivating, Lake Manyara National Park packs an enormous variety of wildlife and scenery into just 330 square kilometres. The park is most famous for its tree-climbing lions — a behaviour unique to Manyara and one that never fails to astonish visitors. The shallow soda lake itself turns pink with flamingos during peak season and supports huge populations of hippos, pelicans, and wading birds.
Manyara is typically visited as a day trip or overnight stop en route between Arusha and Ngorongoro, making it an efficient and rewarding addition to any northern circuit safari.
Highlight: Remote southern Tanzania wilderness with lions, wild dogs and elephants
Best For: Seasoned safari-goers wanting solitude and exclusivity
Tanzania’s largest national park, Ruaha is the country’s great wilderness secret. Located in the remote southern highlands, Ruaha covers over 20,000 square kilometres of dramatic landscape — rocky escarpments, seasonal rivers, and vast miombo woodland that supports one of Africa’s highest concentrations of lions, leopards, and wild dogs. The park also has a healthy elephant population of over 10,000 individuals.
Because of its remoteness and lack of mass-market tourism, Ruaha delivers profoundly exclusive safari experiences. The few camps that operate here — including Jongomero and Kwihala — are among Tanzania’s finest.
Highlight: Africa’s largest protected area — boat safaris along the Rufiji River
Best For: Walking safari fans, boat safari enthusiasts, adventure travellers
The Selous Game Reserve — now officially renamed Nyerere National Park — is one of Africa’s largest protected wilderness areas, covering over 50,000 square kilometres. Unlike most Tanzanian parks, Selous allows boat safaris along the Rufiji River, walking safaris, and fly-camping — making it a uniquely immersive and multi-dimensional safari destination.
The Rufiji River is a wildlife highway: hippos, Nile crocodiles, elephants, and buffalo crowd its banks, while the surrounding woodland shelters wild dogs, lions, and leopards. Selous holds Africa’s largest concentration of wild dogs.
Highlight: Chimpanzee trekking on the shores of Lake Tanganyika
Best For: Primate lovers, remote adventure seekers
Mahale Mountains National Park is one of Tanzania’s most remote and breathtaking destinations. Set on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika — the world’s second-deepest freshwater lake — the park protects a population of wild chimpanzees that have been habituated over decades of research. Watching a family of chimpanzees move through the forest canopy above the lake is an experience unlike anything else in Africa.
Mahale is accessible only by light aircraft and boat, ensuring that visitor numbers remain tiny and the experience completely exclusive. Swimming and snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tanganyika is an added delight.
Highlight: Gateway to the northern circuit — Mount Meru and Momella Lakes
Best For: City stopovers, acclimatisation trekkers, cultural visitors
Arusha is not just a transit city — it is a destination in its own right and the beating heart of Tanzania’s safari industry. As the headquarters of Ejas Africa Adventures, we know Arusha intimately. The city sits at the foot of Mount Meru and within easy reach of all Northern Circuit parks, making it the ideal base for any Tanzania safari.
Arusha National Park, just 25km from the city centre, is a compact and underrated gem. The park surrounds Mount Meru (4,566m — Africa’s fifth-highest peak), the serene Momella Lakes, and Ngurdoto Crater. Giraffes, buffaloes, flamingos, and colobus monkeys roam freely, and the park offers excellent walking safaris.
Tanzania is a country that rewards every type of traveller — from first-time safari-goers to seasoned Africa veterans. At Ejas Africa Adventures, we are based right here in Arusha and have unrivalled local knowledge of every destination on this list.
Whether you want a classic 6-day Northern Circuit safari, a Kilimanjaro climb, a luxury beach escape in Zanzibar, or a bespoke multi-week East Africa expedition, we will design your perfect Tanzania journey.
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Standing at 5,895 meters, the summit of Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa
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