Tanzania Travel Guide

Scuba dive off Zanzibar

Zanzibar offers an excellent combination of shallow water reefs around the surrounding offshore islands, and high walls, deep channels and shipwrecks for the more experienced. The best and most varied diving can be found along the northeastern coast around Mnemba Island, with beautiful coral gardens and wall dives. Around March the giant but gentle whale sharks stop here on their migration and are the highlight of a dive in this atoll. Stone Town has some interesting nearby wrecks and well-preserved coral reefs. There are dive schools at many hotels and in Stone Town and Matemwe.

Game viewing

Tanzania boasts outstanding opportunities for viewing wildlife in their natural habitat and offers some of the finest game viewing on the continent. A vast amount of the country is protected within a park or reserve and of these the vast open plains of the Serengeti, famous for the annual migration of millions of animals, is the most well known. Africa's Eden, the unique Ngorongoro Crater, is another popular safari destination. The word 'safari' had its origins in Tanzania, a Swahili word meaning 'journey', and there are unlimited safari options that can be tailor-made by any tour operator, with accommodation ranging from luxury lodges to camping. A journey by vehicle, foot, horseback or hot air balloon into prime game-viewing country is an experience not to be missed.

Witness the Migration

The wildebeest migration which takes place between Kenya's Masai Mara and Tanzania's Serengeti National Park is known as the greatest natural show on earth. Twice a year over two million animals including hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra, Thomson's gazelle and buffalo migrate in search of greener pastures. The best time to experience this migration is between June and August when the wildebeest cross the Grumeti and Mara rivers with their hungry crocodiles. The exact dates of the migration change from year to year, and the herds spend a few months in the Masai Mara before gradually heading back to the Serengeti in December and January. Most tourists watch the show from a four-wheel drive vehicle but an exciting option is to ride alongside the wildebeest on a riding safari or hover above in a hot air baloon.

Climb Kilimanjaro

It is one of the highest free standing mountains in the world and climbers regard Kilimanjaro as the highest mountain conquerable by someone with no formal training or experience in climbing. Children as young as 12 have made it to the highest point, Uhuru Peak (5895m), and 65% of the 11,000 hikers attempting the mountain annually make it to the top. Summiting Kilimanjaro, however, is not a venture to take lightly. The journey entails at least five days of near constant walking, weathering wind, ice, heat and a rapid change in altitude. A certain degree of fitness and the go-ahead from a doctor are strongly recommended before attempting this arduous, though ultimately rewarding, task.

The climb in itself is not only a physical experience but an adventurous journey. You will have to brave Kilimanjaro's five ecological zones on your route to the top. First is the cultivated farmland, the slightly populated mountainside grazing area where locals herd their livestock. The second zone is the rich rainforest area, which boasts scenic rapids, assorted exotic greenery and monkeys by the dozen. Leopard, civet cats and several buck might also be spotted if you keep your eyes open. In the third zone, the moors, you will encounter lees wildlife but an abundance of odd low-lying vegetation, some of which are endemic to the mountain. The next zone, the Alpine desert, is nearly pure desert with sub zero temperatures at night and sweltering heat by day. These extreme fluctuations are represented in the presence of both rocky and icy fields within the same plain. Finally comes the summit itself, where the ascent becomes as steep as it gets and the oxygen supply is half what it was at sea level. The views from the top, however, are among the best Africa has to offer.

There are six routes to the top of Kilimanjaro, not all of which end on Uhuru and potential climbers should carefully consider their preferences before deciding on the trip. Several tour operators work in the mountain and they will map your route, guide you and carry your luggage - so compare prices and routes carefully before booking your Kilimanjaro experience.