10 Top-Rated Tourists Attractions in Tanzania
The largest country in East Africa, Tanzania, is home to some of the world’s best national parks, mountains, and lakes. Its coastal city of Dar es Salaam and the Zanzibar archipelago compete to offer visitors great attractions of their own. And although many travellers will find themselves passing through Dar es Salaam and heading out on wildlife viewing trips, many choose to combine a ‘Bush 2 Beach’ experience in Zanzibar and immerse themselves in its tasty cuisine and enjoy water sports, while retreating to nature dominated hideaways such as the Kichanga Lodge. But for the adrenaline-driven visitor who wants to venture out and see the incredibly large country, here are ten top-rated tourists attractions he will not want to miss out:
1. Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro ranks high among the most famous attractions in the country and the reason for this is simple: It happens to be Africa’s highest mountain and the world’s tallest free-standing peak but requires no specific technical skills to climb. Just a good level of fitness, and at least 5 days. A game-rich national park also surrounds it. But for reasons not understood, whenever visitors opt to head to Mount Kilimanjaro they have one thing in mind. To hike the majestic snow-capped peak and ignore the wildlife altogether. You can climb the mountain any time but the best time to climb is between June and October.
2. Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara national park is made up of woodland, grassland and forest cover. The 90 sq mile, alkaline lake covers a vast swathe of the land, and is one of 5 premier breeding grounds in the world to thousands of flamingos that breed here for the better part of the year. The ecosystem is also home to hundreds of elephants, baboons, and tree-climbing lions. The ground water forests are home to giant fig and the valuable mahogany trees.
3. Serengeti
The Serengeti game reserve is an enormous tree-less savannah grassland that is home to hundreds of thousands of animals looking for fresh pastures. As one of the most magnetic tourist attractions in the country, it is naturally a must-visit for thousands of tourists each year. And the best times to visit are from June to December. Its highlight is the wildebeest migration that takes place between July and August.
4. Ngorongoro crater
Situated between Lake Manyara and the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro crater is one of the country’s major conservation areas and a leading wildlife viewing area. The vast volcanic crater is a permanent supply of water which nourishes all kinds of animals and birds that inhabit the area.
5. Lake Victoria
If you enjoy boat trips and expeditions on a large reservoir, then Lake Victoria is a good option. The Tanzania side of Lake Victoria hosts towns such as Mwanza, Bukoba, and Musoma that are scattered with lakeside tourists spots including entrepreneurs who hire out their boats to adventure seekers on the lake.
6. Stone Town Zanzibar
Stone Town is the cultural heartbeat of Zanzibar and the central tourist area. No visit to the island can be complete without passing through Stone Town. Whether you’re after the historic sites, museums, narrow alleys, tiny store-fronts, the fish market or the food courts at Forodhani Gardens, Stone Town is a must-see.
7. Arusha National Park
The Arusha national park comprises of a vast forest cover surrounding Mount Meru, Momela Lake, and Ngurdoto Crater.
8. Pemba Island
Situated to the north of Zanzibar, Pemba island is one of the best scuba diving destinations in Africa. You will also find lush coral gardens, sea fans, and colourful sponges.
9. Mafia Island
Mafia island is a special destination for snorkelers and scuba divers from all over the world. The best time to visit is between March and October for a chance to view the excellent coral gardens, large schools of fish, mantas and whale sharks.
10. Selous Game reserve
The largest game reserve in East Africa, Selous national park is mostly undeveloped, heavily forested and with large tracts of woodlands. It also contains rivers, hills, and plains where game roam freely. The best time to visit is July through October
Get more details about the Tanzania with our article Zanzibar tourism things nedded to carry on a solo trip to zanzibar