About Tanzania

Tanzania in East Africa is one of Africa’s Tourism icons. This country is home to the famous Serengeti, Mara and other game reserves and the Annual Migration.

The largest country in East Africa, Tanzania is renowned for its magnificent wildlife, lakes, mountains and scenery. With internationally famous game parks like the Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Manyara, where wildlife roam in teeming numbers, a safari here is an unbelievable experience. The island of Zanzibar and the great lakes – Victoria, Tanganyika and Malawi (Nyasa) – which form the country’s boundaries. A journey through the land of the Serengeti reveals a wealth of breathtaking natural wonders including Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, and Lake Victoria, Africa’s deepest lake and the source of the great Nile River.

The Great Migration in the Serengeti is a phenomenon that is beyond description – this mass exodus of 1.5 million wildebeest together with half a million zebra is one of the greatest spectacles on earth. The Great Migration pattern follows a 500-mile route between Kenya and Tanzania, reaching its climax in the Southern Serengeti from December through to February. From May to July, during the dry season, the herds start drifting to the west towards Lake Victoria and back into Kenya.

Tanzania is also the cradle of mankind: the earliest man lived here 3 and a half million years ago, and evidence is seen at the Olduvai Gorge near Ngorongoro, where fossils and other remains have been found. Designated a World Heritage Site, the Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic crater with one of the largest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Frequent game sightings in the area include the Big Five.

There’s also the island paradise of Zanzibar, separated from the mainland by a channel around 32km wide, an archipelago of over 50 tropical islands nestled in the Indian Ocean. Zanzibar and Pemba are the 2 principal islands, which are known as the “Spice Islands” because of their history as producers of cloves and their position on the ancient spice routes.

How to get there

Tanzania is slowly increasing the number of international airlines, operating flights to either Kilimanjaro International Airport (near Arusha) or Dar es Salaam International Airport.

All our safaris in Northern Tanzania start and finish in Arusha. Kilimanjaro International Airport is about 40 miles from Arusha and receives daily KLM flights from Europe via Amsterdam. Kenya Airways, Air Kenya and Safarilink have daily flights from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Since the KLM flights continue to Dar-es-Salaam, it is possible to arrange an itinerary with arrival at Kilimanjaro and departure from Dar-es-Salaam or visa versa. This is particularly useful for those wishing to include a visit to Zanzibar Island. Arusha is a great deal closer to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, than it is to Dar-es-Salaam. The number of airlines and frequency of flights into Nairobi is much greater than those into Kilimanjaro International, and the prices more competitive.

We arrange shuttle bus transfers or private transportation for clients from Nairobi to Arusha and visa versa. Clients are picked up from the hotels within the city centre or at the airport at NO extra cost. Drop off/pick up point in Arusha is at any hotel within the city centre. The journey takes at least 4 and 1/2 hours, dependant on road conditions and subject to formalities at the border crossing at Namanga.

Climate

Tanzania lies so close to the equator that seasonal variations in temperature are not extreme. The elevation in the north is such that it doesn’t ever get too hot. While the weather is best between June and September, don’t plan on seeing any animals in the Serengeti – they will have migrated to Kenya. September-March is a good time to go, but avoid April and May, when the weather is at its rainiest. As you approach the top of Kilimanjaro, temperatures can be well below freezing year-round, especially at night. Many of the northern wildlife reserves are about 10 degrees F/5 degrees C cooler year-round than elsewhere. Take along a heavy sweater and a windbreaker or jacket.

There are two rain seasons throughout the country: the long season from mid March through May, the short rain seasons falls during November, December, and January. The coolest months are from June to October, and the warmest are December to March.

Sight Seeing & Highlights

Climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Go on safari in the Serengeti.
See the Ngorongoro Crater, the greatest extinct volcano crater on earth.
Visit the Swahili Coast, full of history, traditions and Arab traders for a unique experience.
Enjoy game viewing in Arusha National Park.
Explore the Spice Island – Zanzibar
Visit the picturesque baobab savannah of Tarangire National Park