Things to do in Tanzania

Watch over a million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles thunder across endless plains in one of the planet's most dramatic wildlife spectacles, often pursued by predators.

Descend into the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, a UNESCO World Heritage teeming with some 25,000 large animals, including black rhinos and lion prides.

Trek through five climate zones to Uhuru Peak on Africa's highest freestanding mountain, a non-technical but demanding climb rewarded by sunrise over the African savanna.

Swim in translucent turquoise water and unwind on one of Zanzibar's most beautiful northern beaches, lined with dhow boats and beachfront cafes.

Wander through a UNESCO-listed Swahili trading port of coral-stone houses, carved wooden doors, spice markets and Arabesque architecture layered with centuries of history.

Explore pristine coral gardens, swim with whale sharks (Oct–Mar) and encounter turtles in Tanzania's first marine national park, a laid-back alternative to Zanzibar.

Enjoy exceptional elephant sightings and iconic baobab-studded landscapes, especially during the dry season when the Tarangire River draws vast herds of game.

Hike into the forested hills made famous by Jane Goodall and observe habituated chimpanzee troops up close on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika.

Visit the steep-sided ravine where Mary and Louis Leakey unearthed 1.8-million-year-old hominin fossils, reshaping our understanding of human origins.

Marvel at hundreds of painted shelters spread across the Maasai steppe, showing red ochre figures and hunting scenes dating back thousands of years.

Inhale the scent of cloves, vanilla and cinnamon while walking through a lush plantation, learning why Zanzibar became known as the Spice Islands.

Watch fishermen haul in the daily catch and sample grilled fish, prawns and octopus right by the Indian Ocean in the city's most famous open-air market.

Visit this bronze statue commemorating African soldiers who fought in World War I, standing at the spot of the old German administrative center on Samora Avenue.

Board a traditional wooden sailing vessel and cruise into the fiery Indian Ocean sunset with a glass of tamarind juice and Swahili melodies in the background.

Walk through lush Chagga homeland to a refreshing cascade on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, then taste organic coffee roasted by local villagers.

Uncover the faded grandeur of a 19th-century sultan’s palace surrounded by gardens, where Princess Salme once lived before eloping to Germany.

Search for the unusual sight of lions draped over acacia branches above ground, set against the backdrop of a soda lake shimmering with flamingos.

Weave through stalls piled high with tropical fruits, dried beans and fragrant cinnamon sticks in the chaotic, colorful heart of Tanzania's safari capital.

Visit a traditional Maasai homestead to hear singing, watch adumu (jumping dance) and learn about the pastoralist way of life that coexists with wildlife.

Every evening the seafront park turns into a sizzling food bazaar with skewers of grilled octopus, Zanzibari pizza, urojo soup and sugar-cane juice.

Plunge into clear, current-washed waters surrounding a private island where colorful reef fish, turtles and occasional dolphins make this a top Indian Ocean dive site.

Climb the sacred Mountain of God, an active stratovolcano that emits rare carbonatite lava, offering a moon-like landscape above the Rift Valley and views to distant Kilimanjaro.

Glide past yawning hippos, crocodiles and elephant herds coming to drink on the banks of this immense, meandering river in Africa’s largest protected wilderness.

Walk through a dramatic natural corridor of eroded gypsum pillars and see one of East Africa’s richest collection of Acheulean handaxes and fossil beds.

Trek panoramic trails between tiny villages, native rainforest and tea plantations in the cool, green northeastern highlands known as the Galapagos of plants.