From snow-capped peaks to ‘Big Five’s safaris and paradise-esque islands, the East African country is basking in its new-found status of being a hot travel destination for both luxurious and adventurous travellers. Here are the best and most beautiful places to visit in Tanzania…
Serengeti National Park
Tanzania’s famous national park and well-known beauty spot should be on every traveller’s itinerary. It’s actually the oldest National Park in the country with a world heritage site and 7th worldwide wonder status.
The park is known for its annual wildlife migration where the thunderous clatter of hooves of more than a million wildebeest and several hundred thousand zebra can witnessed first hand.
A variety of accommodation is on offer in the park ranging from camping to luxury safari lodges, see Sanctuary Retreats for more details.
Zanzibar
This is a semi-autonomous archipelago off the coast of Tanzania which consists of the main Zanzibar Island and a cluster of smaller islands.
It’s a beautiful place to visit with gorgeous white sandy beaches and a world heritage listed capital city.
Surrounded by the clear turquoise waters of the Indian ocean, you should make a trip here for its colourful history and the Sultan’s palace, mosques and traditional architecture of the main city and of course the island’s many relaxing beaches.
Nungwi
This is located in Zanzibar but deserves a special mention of its own. Arguably the most beautiful beach in Tanzania can be found in the little laid back village of Nungwi (at the northern tip of Zanzibar).
A simple fishing village turned popular holiday destination, expect all the tropical paradise cliches of swaying palm trees, blanched beaches, boats gentling bobbing in clear blue waves and sunsets to die for.
Kilimanjaro
Africa’s highest mountain should only be tackled by the seriously dedicated as it’s likely to turn into a week long expedition – for more information check out this great Kilimanjaro Climbing Guide.
Kilimanjaro actually a dormant volcano with three volcanic cones (Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira) and at 19,336ft it’s the tallest climbable peak in the world. It’s also an imposingly beautiful place where you’ll travel through many diverse levels of flora and fauna.
Expect agricultural fields at the base then rainforest, fresh meadows, desert and finally snow when you reach the top.
Mnemba Island
You couldn’t get any more beautiful and romantic than this tiny heart-shaped island.
The paradise-esque Mnemba lies just of the East coast of Zanzibar and caters to the luxury loving crowd. Home to beautiful lodge style accommodation (and not much else) this is the perfect place for a romantic getaway for two.
The surrounding waters are also rich with marine life with regular sightings of turtles, dolphins and large schools of fish.
Ruaha National Park
Slap bang in the middle of Tanzania is the largest national park in the country. Few visitors make it to the beautiful attraction due to it being not as accessible as the other national parks, although the scenery and wildlife make the trip worth it.
Expect vast wild landscapes filled with rocky escarpments and baobab-studded hills and animals including lions, elephants, wild dogs, leopards, cheetah, giraffes, jackals, zebras and huge herds of buffalo.
Mafia Island
This is a favourite spot of holidaymakers but yet it still manages to retain an unspoilt feel. This is definitely one of the most beautiful places to visit in Tanzania with perfect white beaches and turquoise waters.
It’s located on the popular Southern circuit of Tanzania and Zanzibar and its attractive lagoons, coral reefs and beaches have earned it a protected marine park status.
Lake Manyara
This is a national park located in the both Arusha Region and Manyara Region of Tanzania. It’s known as an excellent place to spot wildlife, especially flamingos.
If you visit during the wet season you’ll get to see around 300 different species of migratory birds but when the lake waters turn into alkaline mud flats during the dry season you can also spot elephants, hippos and giraffes.
Ngorongoro Crater
The largest intact volcanic caldera in the world can be found in the wildlife haven of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It was created two to three million years ago when a large volcano exploded and collapsed on itself years ago.
In 1978 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also happens to be home of the highest density of large game in Africa. Wildlife highlights include the Big Five including a small population of the rare black rhino.
Mahale Mountains
Nestled on the Lake Tanganyikan shoreline (in western Tanzania) this is one of the best places for up-close encounters with chimpanzees in the world.
It’s also a beautiful place where green forested mountains cascade down to the lakeshore, crystal-clear waters lap against white sand coves and the mist-covered peak of Mount Nkungwe can be seen in the background.
Besides the large chimp populations, the mountains are also home to other primates including yellow baboons the red colobus.
We also have posts on…
- The most beautiful places to visit in Botswana
- The most beautiful places to visit in South Africa
- The most beautiful places to visit in Tunisia
Emma-Clair Ni Clearaigh – writer and photographer
With itchy feet, an inquisitive nature and an ardent wanderlust, Emma Clair has always been a traveller at heart. Hailing from the Emerald Isle she calls a small coastal town near Dublin home, but has lived in a few countries including Saigon, Vietnam where she resided for over a year, now she balances travel and travel writing with teaching and a passion for vintage interior design. She counts supping on Bloody Marys on a rooftop in Manhattan, downing Singapore slings at the Raffles Hotel, daring a paraglide on the Grand Cayman, spending an exotic Christmas in Malaysia and exploring the Angkor Wat, Cambodia as her all time favourite travel moments. Although, she’ll always have a special place in her heart for the city where she makes her annual pilgrimages – Paris, her true city of lights. Find Emma-Clair on Instagram or Facebook.
Hi Emma,
Your post is really interesting , you have explained this is very well Tanzania Ruaha National park, this is actually a wonderful park, thank you for writing so beautifully.
Tanzania is a great place for adventure lovers & the way you have represented every highlighted place, is really amazing. Its a great blog for every traveller, those who wish to know everything about Tanzania. And The Pics are really mindblowing.
Wow awesome post, I just go through your post and found very interesting things the places are really amazing and attraction. Tanzania is a place which attracts tourist attention and here you can find all the things.
Love this place, also love Uganda!
tanzania is a wonderful place
How to go to Tanzania from Manila
Love the pictures of the flamingos! I didn’t know Tanzania was such a beautiful place!
Love the pictures of the flamingos
Wow, never knew Tanzania had so much variety and so much to offer! Love the picture of the giraffes with the flamingos in the background
Its the only country i love visiting in the world.Am from Uganda but i love Tanzania so much and i don’t know as to why i do it
Just came across your African blogs and so impressed. Great photos too. i loved the Selous Serena camps but desperate to experience Serengeti and the Northern Circuit
Would love to go on safari in Tanzania, looks like a very special place to visit!
Love the pictures of the flamingos! I didn’t know Tanzania was such a beautiful place!
Tanzania is one of Africa’s most peaceful countries. Home to a flourishing democracy and prospering economy, the country is well known for its peace and security.
I went to Selous Southern Tanzania and then onto Zanzibar on honeymoon but fell so in love with the country and people that I really must return one day and see more of it – this is a great post as there are a few places on here that I actually didn’t realise were so beautiful – such a vast beautiful country!
Thanks Shikha, we agree it’s very beautiful!
Love the pictures of the flamingos! I didn’t know Tanzania was such a beautiful place!
Would love to go on safari in Tanzania, looks like a very special place to visit!
A safari would be a great choice thanks Scott!
I’ve heard so many great things about Tanzania recently, you’re right it seems to be having a ‘moment.’
Tanzania is a much visited tourist destination in Africa. It is perfect place to spend time with your family or friends also sharing new adventures, see variety of scenery and wildlife. I really like this, all images of beautiful places in Tanzania.
Wow, never knew Tanzania had so much variety and so much to offer! Love the picture of the giraffes with the flamingos in the background 🙂
Places it seems that we can only get to in dreams 🙂
Very high on my bucket list!! I’ll have to combine this with my gorilla trekking experience I think.
Great idea!
I would definitely choose Zanzibar and spend there at least a week. I’ve heard it is a very touristy spot and not budget friendly, but I guess I could survive there on the cheap somehow :).
Dreaming right now… I thought my next big trip would be to South America but after those pictures I want to go back to Africa!
Tanzania is high on my bucket list. My father hiked Kili when he was in the Peace Corp and I’ve always wanted to summit in his footsteps. I don’t think I can swing it this trip but your post (and pics) have inspired me to keep the dream alive!