The jewel in East Africa's crown

Tanzania isn't just a country, it's an experience. This East African gem boasts a dazzling array of natural wonders, from the vast expanse of the Serengeti, backdrop to the Great Wildebeest Migration, to the forests of Mahale Mountains National Park and its families of wild chimpanzees. It's also the home of Mount Kilimanjaro - Africa's highest peak and the world's largest free-standing mountain. 

Tanzania's wildlife tapestry extends far beyond the fame of the Serengeti. Tarangire National Park, nicknamed "The Land of Giants," is a haven for elephant lovers, while the Ngorongoro Crater, a collapsed volcanic caldera, is a microcosm of Africa's wildlife, where everything from lions and black rhinos to zebras and antelope roam freely.

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

The Serengeti National Park needs no introduction. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a globally renowned wildlife destination.

The park explodes with life during the Great Migration, nicknamed the "Greatest Show on Earth" where millions of wildebeest and zebra make a huge circular trek from the south north to the Maasai Mara in neighbouring Kenya and back again on a relentless search for fresh pastures.

The Serengeti boasts the highest concentration of wildlife in Africa. This abundance fuels a constant drama of predator and prey, making for an unforgettable safari experience. While the vast savannah grasslands dominate the landscape, the Serengeti encompasses a variety of ecosystems.

There are woodlands, riverine forests, swamps, and rocky outcrops called kopjes that provide habitat for a spectacular diversity of animals.

TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

A haven for elephant enthusiasts, Tarangire is home to huge herds of these gentle giants, with some of the highest elephant concentrations in Africa.

It's a photographer's paradise, with opportunities to capture iconic images of these magnificent creatures along with a variety of other wildlife species, including lion, leopard and cheetah.

Tarangire is also renowned as one of Africa's top birding destinations with more than 495 species recorded!

Spanning roughly 2,850 square kilometres and named for the Tarangire River that runs through it, the park's iconic landscape is further distinguished by its scattered, yet striking, baobab trees.

These ancient giants, with their bulbous trunks and spindly branches, add a timeless element to the scenery and provide important habitat for birds and other wildlife.

NGORONGORO CRATER

Imagine a massive cauldron, almost 2,000 metres deep, teeming with wildlife. That's the Ngorongoro Crater - a collapsed volcano that's one of Tanzania's leading conservation areas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ngorongoro boasts the title of largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera on Earth. Formed when a giant volcano imploded on itself millions of years ago, the crater's floor is a vast, fertile ecosystem teeming with wildlife including zebra, lion, elephant, and even the endangered black rhino.

Think of it as a Noah's Ark of wildlife, where grasslands, forests, swamps, and even a permanent lake all exist within the crater walls.

It's a biodiversity hotspot that's protected by the Tanzanian government, offering a glimpse into what Africa's wildlife landscape might have looked like before human intervention.

LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

Lake Manyara National Park punches above its weight when it comes to wildlife viewing in Tanzania. This relatively small park boasts a beautiful soda lake, a haven for thousands of pink flamingoes.

The park lies along the dramatic edge of the Great Rift Valley, creating a stunning backdrop for your safari adventure.

One of the most interesting sights here are the tree-climbing lions. These big cats are known for relaxing in the branches of acacia trees, an unusual behaviour because lions are not known for their climbing abilities!

Along with herds of elephants and a dazzling array of birdlife too, with over 400 species recorded in the park, Lake Manyara's compact size offers a superlative, if concentrated dose of Tanzania's wildlife wonders.

KILIMANJARO

Towering over Tanzania at a staggering 5,895m high, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest peak and the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

This dormant volcano is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major draw for trekkers and adventurers, being one of the coveted Seven Summits and offering breathtaking panoramas as well as a profound sense of accomplishment for those who summit it.

Kilimanjaro is actually an enormous massif made up of three volcanic cones: Kibo (the highest), Mawenzi, and Shira. While Kibo is dormant and could erupt again, Mawenzi and Shira are extinct. Interestingly, the mountain's slopes boast a variety of ecological zones, ranging from cultivated lands at the base to snow-capped peaks at the summit.

This dramatic change in altitude creates a unique environment where you can find everything from rainforests to alpine deserts within a single trek.