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Top things to do in Tanzania
Safari through northern Tanzania, search for chimpanzees and explore the Cradle of Mankind.
Here are the top things to do on a Tanzania holiday, as chosen by our Africa specialists.
Explore the Cradle of Mankind
Commonly referred to as ‘the Cradle of Mankind’, Olduvai Gorge is a steep sided ravine in the Great Rift Valley and one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world. The time span of the objects recovered from the gorge date from 2,100,000 to 15,000 years ago, making this a region of great historical importance.
Safari through northern Tanzania
Northern Tanzania contains a group of national parks; the Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater, which together form one of the most impressive safari areas in Africa. Drive from one attraction to the next in a 4x4 vehicle with a driver-guide, seeing rural areas along the way.
Go off the beaten track
For sheer drama, the relatively unknown Nyerere National Park (formally The Selous Game Reserve) is hard to beat. Nearly four times the size of the Serengeti, it is the second largest protected wilderness area in the world and a Unesco World Heritage Site. It supports an amazing diversity of birdlife and is home to Africa’s largest populations of buffalo and wild dog. Once there, the best way to explore this unspoilt piece of Tanzanian wilderness is by boat, through river channels and swamps.
Search for chimpanzees
Travel into western Tanzania for a wonderful wilderness encounter in Mahale National Park, home to the world’s largest known population of chimpanzee. Head into the mountains in search of resident chimps, to observe them foraging, grooming, playing and taking care of their young. Sitting in the forest and watching chimpanzees in their own natural environment is an unforgettable experience.
See ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’
Every year, an estimated 2 million wildebeest, zebra and other wildlife move en masse through the Serengeti in search of green pastures. Migration patterns are dependent on the rain, but in general from December to March the animals congregate around Ndutu, in the far south. Then from April to May they move into central Serengeti, and between June and July the migration splits in two groups – one going west and the other going directly to the north. From August to October the herd reforms to graze along the banks of the Mara River before returning south from the beginning of November.
