Complete Guide To Planning Your Trip To Tanzania
Travel guide to Tanzania
A journey through Tanzania, Africa’s visual masterpiece, is one of the best trips one can make in a lifetime. It’s a country of astonishing natural splendor, incredible wildlife spotting, powder white beaches, charming ancient towns, and archaeological UNESCO world heritage sites.
One of the most dramatic stages for a classic African safari is Tanzania’s Great Migration, where mighty herds of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebras thunder across the Serengeti plains while chasing the rains in a race for life as they are purchased by a large number of predators. But the country offers much more than a Big Five safari experience. Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, rises 5,895 m (19,341 ft) above sea level from its surrounding lush, grassy plains. Its snow-capped peak is a sight to behold and towers over the land. Climbing Kilimanjaro is surprisingly easy and standing on the roof of Africa is a life-changing experience.
Most visitors to Tanzania will end their unforgettable safari and mountain adventure with a serene and relaxing holiday on the sugar white, palm-fringed sands of Zanzibar, the intoxicatingly beautiful and exotic Spice Island. Tanzania also harbors some of the world’s finest and most luxurious hotels & lodges, matching the country’s breathtaking scenery.
The Best Time To Visit Tanzania Depends On Your Interests:
The best time to witness the Great Migration in the Serengeti is probably February and March (the start of the long rains) when the wildebeest and zebra congregate and calve on the vast treeless plains. Not only can you enjoy seeing baby animals, but the predators are at the highest number too. In June and July, the great migration hops over to Kenya’s Masai Mara and this is the time that you can witness spectacular Grumeti River crossings with crocodiles killing their prey (although it is hard to predict the exact time of this event).
The best time for a beach holiday in Zanzibar is the long dry season (June to October), or the short dry season (January and February). During the short rains, it doesn’t rain every day, but days can be overcast and cloudy. Zanzibar is best avoided during the long rains.
The best time to climb Kilimanjaro tends to be the warmest and driest months (July & August, and January & February). The primary issue is safety, as the risks associated with climbing increase significantly when the weather is foul. The effects of rain, mud, snow, ice, and cold can be very strenuous on the body.
How to get there
Tanzania receives numerous international and domestic daily flights via its three main airports:
- Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) is the international airport of Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania. It is located about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) southwest of the city centre. The airport has flights to destinations in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. It is named after Julius Nyerere, the nation’s first president. Click here for a list of airlines that offer direct flights to Dar Es Salaam.
- Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) is the main airport in the Zanzibar Archipelago located on Unguja Island. It is about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Zanzibar City, the capital of Zanzibar. It was previously known as Kisauni Airport and Zanzibar International Airport, but was renamed in 2010 in honour of Abeid Amani Karume, the island’s first president. Click here for a list of airlines that offer direct flights to Zanzibar.
- Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is the international airport in northern Tanzania that serves the cities of Arusha and Moshi. This is the preferred airport for a safari on the Northern Circuit. Click here for a list of airlines that offer direct flights to Kilimanjaro.
Some visitors prefer to fly to Kenia’s Nairobi International Airport (NBO), and then take a private or shared shuttle bus service which operates between Nairobi and Arusha, the closest town to the parks on the Northern Safari Circuit.
If you want to travel the entire country, it’s best to either arrive in Kilimanjaro and depart from Zanzibar, or the other way around. Some airliners offer multi-city tickets at often the same price for a round-trip ticket. KLM, Qatar Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines currently have the best connections to the country since they serve at least two airports within Tanzania.
Travel requirements
Requirements for entry into Tanzania differ from country to country, and are subject to change. Prior to departure, always check with your government and your nearest Tanzanian embassy or consulate what documents you need for travel to Tanzania.
- You need an international passport with at least six months validity to enter Tanzania.
- Most nationalities need a tourist or business visa to enter Tanzania. You should get one from your nearest Tanzanian embassy or consulate before you travel.
- You need a yellow fever certificate. Although Tanzania is not listed as a Yellow Fever endemic country, immigration officials may ask to see Yellow Fever vaccination certificates or exemption certificates upon arrival.
