last edited Dec 11, 2019
What to See in Tanzania
Location
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Tanzania has 7 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:
- Kilimanjaro (1987):
- Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara (1981):
- Kondoa (2006):
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area (1979):
- Selous Reserve (1982):
- Serengeti National Park (1981):
- Stone Town (2000):
The Interior
- Arusha :
- Dodoma :
- Kigoma :
- Kondoa :
- Mbeya :
- Moshi :
- Mwanza :
Natural Heritage (Northern Tanzania)
Natural Heritage (Southern Tanzania)
The Coast
- Bagamoyo :
- Lushoto :
- Mtwara :
- Pangani :
- Tanga :
Natural Heritage
The Zanzibar Archipelago
Zanzibar (Unguja)
- Jambiani :
- Nungwi :
- Uroa :
Other Islands
- Mafia :
- Pemba :
Must-see & highly recommended
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
★★★★ A savanna and plateau region bordering the Serengeti, with the Ngorongoro Crater at its center. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site…
Kilimanjaro
★★★★ Africa's highest peak at 5,892 m. Located in the UNESCO-listed national park of the same name, near Arusha. A must for lovers of…
Serengeti National Park
★★★★ This is the second-largest wildlife park in Africa, extending from Kenya's Masai Mara. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park is home…
Recommended
Lake Malawi
★★★ It is shared between Tanzania, Mozambique, and Malawi, with ferries available for crossing. By far, the Malawian side is the most…
Mafia
★★★ This is a stunning island spared from mass tourism below Zanzibar. It offers magnificent beaches and marine life ideal for diving…
Nungwi
★★★ A beach resort at the northern tip of the island. You can dive here and take boat trips on dhows. Other nice beaches nearby include Kendwa…
Tarangire National Park
★★★ Extending from Lake Manyara, this savanna park with its countless baobabs is home to significant wildlife, especially during the dry season.
Lake Manyara National Park
★★★ This small site bordering Tarangire is home to Africa's famous "Big Five" (lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and buffalo), as well as…
Pemba
★★★ North of Zanzibar, not far from Kenya, Pemba is a paradise for diving and its beaches. The island also houses a few 14th-century ruins…
Selous Reserve
★★★ Located in the south of the country, between the coast and Lake Malawi, this is Africa's largest reserve. It is a UNESCO World Heritage…
Stone Town
★★★ This is the old quarter of Zanzibar City. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a magnificent example of the Swahili coastal trading…
Zanzibar City
★★★ The capital of the archipelago features a stunning old quarter called Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site for its architecture, which…
Worth a look / Other
Kalambo Falls
★★ Between Zambia and Tanzania, near Lake Tanganyika, these 230 m falls are among the highest in Africa. Several archaeological sites in the…
Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara
★★ On these two islands in the Kilwa archipelago lie the ruins of what were once two major ports of the Kilwa Sultanate. The site is a UNESCO…
Kondoa
★★ North of Dodoma, this is a significant collection of prehistoric rock art sites nestled in nearly 200 caves. The site is a UNESCO World…
Lake Natron
★★ A salt lake on the Kenyan border. It is home to a very large population of flamingos.
Lake Tanganyika
★★ West of the country, it is the second largest lake in Africa. It serves as a major regional communication route. For tourists, several…
Mount Meru
★★ At 4,565 m, this extinct volcano overlooking the city of Arusha is Africa's fourth-highest peak. A classic high-altitude trek that can be…
Usambara Mountains
★★ A lovely mountain range near the coast in the Tanga region, with very rich flora. You can trek here and see some German colonial landmarks.
Pangani
★★ A small town south of Tanga with architecture blending Arab, English, and German influences. You can also enjoy the beaches around the town.
Arusha National Park
★★ Near the city of the same name, the area is best known for being home to Mount Meru. In terms of wildlife, it is home to elephants…
Katavi National Park
★★ Close to Lake Tanganyika, this is an isolated park (encompassing several reserves) partly made up of marshes where many crocodiles and…
Rubondo Island National Park
★★ A small park on a forested island in Lake Victoria. It’s known for its birds but is also home to monkeys, hippos, elephants, and…
Mikumi National Park
★★ Bordering the Selous, this savannah is home to a substantial wildlife population, including lions, hippos, elephants, buffalo, and more.
Ruaha National Park
★★ Close to the Great Lakes, this vast park—which actually encompasses several reserves—remains relatively little-visited. Yet it…
Saadani National Park
★★ North of Dar es Salaam, facing Zanzibar, but not very easy to access. This is the only wildlife park on the coast. You’ll find…
Mahale Mountains National Park
★★ A beautiful, isolated, and hard-to-reach mountainous area on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Besides the scenery, the park is renowned for…
Udzungwa Mountains National Park
★★ Right next to the Selous Reserve, this stunning forested site is home to numerous monkeys, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, and birds. You can…
Uroa
★★ A small fishing village surrounded by beaches with a few hotels.
Arusha
★ This city near Kenya is primarily the starting point for many tours to the northern reserves or for climbing Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru.
Bagamoyo
★ About sixty kilometres north of Dar es Salaam, the town was once the capital of German East Africa, and many colonial-era landmarks remain…
Dar es Salaam
★ The former capital is also Tanzania's largest city. While it has a certain charm and boasts several museums and nearby beaches, it mainly…
Dodoma
★ Located in the heart of the country, it has been the capital of Tanzania since 1973.
Jambiani
★ Several hotel establishments have developed around this small village on the south-east coast.
Kigoma
★ On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Kigoma is primarily a "hub" city for transport when visiting the region (including Gombe National Park)…
Lake Eyasi
★ It is a large salt lake south of the Serengeti. Various communities with distinct cultures and traditions, including the Hadzabe, live in…
Lake Victoria
★ Straddling Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, it is the largest lake in Africa and a major communication route.
Lushoto
★ In the Usambara Mountains, this place was once highly favored by German colonizers, who turned it into a holiday resort and agricultural…
Mbeya
★ This large southern city is a near-mandatory stopover for travelling to Zambia or Malawi by land. It also offers excellent hiking…
Uluguru Mountains
★ This mountain range near Dar es Salaam is partly within Mikumi Park. It is a destination for hiking.
Moshi
★ The town at the foot of Kilimanjaro is increasingly becoming an alternative to Arusha for organizing treks or climbing Kili.
Mtwara
★ Close to Mozambique, this port nestled in Mikindani Bay is primarily a base for exploring the nearby small town of Mikindani, which…
Mwanza
★ The second-largest city in Tanzania, located on the shores of Lake Victoria.
Gombe National Park
★ Located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, near Kigoma, it is one of the country's smallest parks. It is known for its significant…
Jozani National Park
★ Beautiful forest in central Unguja for hiking. You can also see spice plantations in the surrounding area.
Tanga
★ The last major coastal city before Kenya, Tanga is primarily a transport hub and a potential base for exploring the surrounding areas…