Tanzania

Like its northern neighbour Kenya, Tanzania is a country blessed with the epic landscapes, ancient cultures, abundant flora and iconic wildlife that usually spring to mind when one thinks of Africa.

It's largely untamed and unspoiled and contains an enormous variety of stunning landscapes ranging from deserts and grassy savannas to tropical beaches, fertile valleys and the rugged peaks of the Great Rift Valley.

The country is dotted with national parks known for their spectacular scenery and significant wildlife populations. It's here that you'll have the chance to see Africa's iconic 'Big 5' game animals up close and in their natural environments, and to experience the fascinating culture and traditions of the Masai people.

Head to the Serengeti National Park to witness the awe-inspiring sight of the great annual migration, as millions of wildebeest and other animals make their yearly northward journey into Kenya's Masai Mara; or descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest caldera, to find a treasure trove of exotic wildlife including lions, elephants, pink flamingoes and the endangered black rhino.

Challenge yourself with an exhilarating summit of Africa's highest peak, the snowcapped Mt Kilimanjaro; and then escape to the unforgettable island of Zanzibar, where you can unwind on breathtaking beaches and wander the labyrinthine streets of Stone Town, soaking up Swahili culture and trawling busy markets for spices, baskets and textiles.

Check out our range of unique itineraries and start planning your Tanzania adventure!

Breathtaking wildebeest migration though the Serengeti | Kyle Super

About Tanzania

Enock Bwambale

Born in the foothills of the Rwenzoris, Enock is an experienced chief guide with over 170 trips to high summit peaks. Starting as a porter and pathfinder, cutting new routes such as the Kilembe Trail, he has undertaken numerous rope, glacier, rescue and evacuation courses to supplement his innate knowledge of the mountains.

Suddy Mungia

Suddy has worked as a driver guide in Tanzania for the last 16 years. He is a nature lover, with Tarangire National Park his preferred of all the parks. What he enjoys most about his job is the ability to share his passion for Tanzania and to introduce travellers to its many treasures such as the Martial Eagle, his favourite animal.

Anjela Tumaini

Anjela is one of our female guides on Kilimanjaro, breaking stereotypes in this male dominated field. She first worked as a porter in 2012 and in the same year made her first summit ascent and obtained her guides license. Anjela has completed the National Parks and First Aid courses. She enjoys meeting clients from all around the world and encouraging them to reach the summit.

Ian Williams

Ian lives and breathes the bush and is known as the "Africa Guru". It would be a hard task to determine where Ian has not travelled in Africa over the past 40 years! He is a keen photographer and is passionate about all things African. His in-depth knowledge is integral to the itineraries he organises for our Africa private and school groups.

Gesine (Gus) Cheung

From Cairo to the Cape and beyond, Gus' travels have taken her to the roof of Africa (Kilimanjaro), the 'Big 5' in South Africa, Tanzania's annual migration, Botswana's Okavango Delta, Rwanda's Mountain Gorillas, Namibia, Zanzibar's beaches, majestic Victoria Falls, Morocco, Turkey, Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Oman and Jordan. Gus' usual mode of transport is her own two feet, so don't be surprised if you see her out on an African trail sometime.

Dr Ross Anderson

Dr Anderson lives with his wife in a small town near the Lakes District in the north of England. He is a family doctor and spends much of his spare time travelling as an expedition doctor. He has more than 10 years of altitude and travel medicine experience. Previous treks and expeditions have focused on the Himalayas, with others in the Scandinavian Arctic and mountainous areas of Africa. He also enjoys trail running, cycling and open-water swimming.

FAQs

See stunning scenery and wildlife in Tanzania’s many National Parks & Reserves

Summit the snow-capped Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak (or Mt Meru for younger students)

Experience Maasai culture & witness the annual wildebeest migration in the Serengeti

Explore the labyrinthine streets of Zanzibar Stone Town, the sparkling jewel of Swahili culture

The Ngorongoro Crater, which has been called the eighth wonder of the natural world, is designated a World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve, often referred to as the ‘Garden of Eden’.

Sail, snorkel and dive the beaches and coral reefs around Pemba

Lake Manyara National Park, noted for its elephant, giraffe, tree-climbing lions, baboons and warthog populations.

Tarangire National Park, known for its herds of elephants

Setup at the Karanga Campsite - <i>Photo: Kyle Super</i>

Tanzania's climate varies from fertile west to arid interior to tropical coastline, but as a general rule, the country is usually warm by day and cool by night.

Tanzania has three climatic seasons: the 'short rains' (October - November), the 'long rains' (March - May) and the dry season outside of these months. Downpours generally occur in the late afternoons, with the earlier part of the day usually being warm and sunny.

Mainland Tanzania is divided into four climatic and physiographic regions: the highlands of the northeast and southwest; the high inland mountiand and lake region near Mt Kilimanjaro; the hot arid central plateau; and the humid lowlands of the coast.

Half of the mainland receives insufficient precipitation to support crop cultivation, with the coast and offshore islands receiving high annual rainfalls.

Temperatures plummet near the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro, where it is possible to experience temperatures as low as -20°C (-4°F), with rain, cold, snow and high-altitude conditions all commonplace as you ascend.

Zanzibar and Pemba have high temperatures and humidity year-round, with rainfalls highest in April - May and lowest in November - December.

Landscapes of the Tanzanian national park, Africa - <i>Photo: Gesine Cheung</i>

Tanzania is +3 hours ahead of UTC/GMT

Swahili is the official and primary language of Tanzania and Zanzibar, and is also the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa. English is also an official language and common in commerce, administration and tertiary education. Arabic is spoken in Zanzibar and along the Muslim coast, with many local languages also spoken throughout the country. Attempting a few Swahili greetings and phrases will earn you lots of smiles!

Tanzanian Shilling (divided into cents)

US dollars cash are by far the easiest foreign currency to exchange in Tanzania. It can either be changed to T-shillings, or used directly (but often at a lower rate). We recommend you only take US$ notes from 2006 or newer, and with the new large-head design. Older or torn notes are not accepted in Tanzania.

Euro can also be changed in many places. However the rate is not always as good.

In Tanzania credit cards are becoming more useful and the quite a few hotels now take payment by credit cards. Please be aware identity theft is common so please be careful when using them for payment, and never allow your credit card to be out of your sight at all times.

There are only a few ATM machines in major cities that are connected internationally and reliability is not guaranteed.

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Electricity in Tanzania is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin types are D (3 pin round) and G (UK – 3 prong).

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.