Tanzania

They say an elephant never forgets. What they don’t tell you is, you never forget an elephant.
Bill Murray

Tanzania is a state in East Africa that boasts numerous national parks and an exceptional concentration of animals.

Safaris in Tanzania offer a unique experience, here you can find all the iconic animals of the African savannah: lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, buffaloes, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeests and numerous other species of mammals, as well as more than 400 bird species.

Near Lake Eyasi there are two interesting populations: the Hadzabe and the Datoga, they are less known tribes than the Masai but very interesting to meet.

Wanting to divide the country into zones, 4 different areas can be identified, each with its own unique characteristics:

• The circuit of parks in Northern Tanzania
• The circuit of parks in Southern Tanzania
• The Western forests of Tanzania
• Mount Kilimanjaro and the other volcanoes of Tanzania
• The islands of Tanzania

 

The circuit of parks in Northern Tanzania

The circuit of parks in Northern Tanzania is the most famous and busiest area, it is a spectacular circuit that winds between four national parks and reserves: the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Tarangire National Park and the Lake Manyara National Park.

These four protected areas offer the quintessence of photographic safaris thanks to a very high concentration of felines, herbivores and birds.

The Serengeti National Park is the home to the Great Migration one of the most incredible spectacles of nature; 2 and a half million zebras and wildebeests that travel 800 km each year in search of new pastures.

The Ngorongoro Crater is a sort of earthly paradise, a perfect caldera enclosing a savannah densely populated by a large number of animal species; this is one of the places in Tanzania where you can spot rhinos.

The Tarangire National Park is known as the park of the giants: elephants and baobabs; but here you can also spot lions, leopards and many other mammals and birds in a spectacular landscape.

The Lake Manyara National Park is small and develops along the shores of Lake Manyara but, despite its small size, it hosts several habitats; it is famous for its tree-climbing lions, but it is also possible to spot elephants, buffaloes, leopards, various antelopes and many birds, both forest and aquatic.

The circuit of parks of Southern Tanzania

The circuit of parks in Southern Tanzania includes two of the largest protected areas in the country and the entire continent: the Nyerere National Park and the Ruaha National Park.

The Ruaha National Park is the second largest park in Tanzania and one of the most remote, it is a park with fantastic landscapes that is home to a large number of animals, particularly elephants, there are about 12,000 specimens.

The Nyerere National Park, recently created and that includes a part of the Selous National Reserve, is a huge protected area, the largest national park on the African continent, that protects a great variety of ecosystems that guarantee a unique wealth of flora and fauna.

At the Nyerere it is possible to go on safaris on foot and by boat, as well as the classic off-road safaris.

The Western forests of Tanzania

The Western forests of Tanzania are home to some primates including chimpanzees, here are the Gombe National Park and the Mahale Mountains National Park.

The Gombe Stream National Park is a small park made famous by Jane Goodall and her commitment to studying and preserving chimpanzees.

The Mahale Mountains National Park is a magical place; it was established on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and offers the possibility of exciting trekking to spot chimpanzees.

In addition to the large national parks, Tanzania is famous for the beautiful islands in the Indian Ocean with white beaches and turquoise sea.

Zanzibar, Mafia and Pemba are the perfect destinations to relax after a safari or to practice many water activities such as diving and snorkeling.

Mount Kilimanjaro and the other volcanoes of Tanzania

Mount Kilimanjaro and the other volcanoes of Tanzania not only offer breathtaking views, but are the perfect places for trekking and hiking.

Trekking on Kilimanjaro is challenging but it is a unique experience, there are 5 paths that can be traveled, each one has specific characteristics.

The other volcanoes, such as Mount Meru and the Lengai, are easier to climb but offer emotions that are difficult to tell.

The itineraries are different and can be designed ad hoc based on the experience of travelers and their wishes.

The islands of Tanzania

The islands of Tanzania are located on the Indian Ocean not far from the mainland coast of the country; the island or rather the best known archipelago is Zanzibar, but the Tanzanian islands are many, some of which are uninhabited, while others host beaches, forests, lush vegetation and marine fauna that are worth a visit.

The Zanzibar archipelago consists of about 40 islands, the largest and most popular with tourism is the island of Unguja, better known as Zanzibar; immense white beaches, an indigenous forest, coral reefs, remote locations and others that offer clubs and entertainment, a city, Stone Town, the capital of the Sultanate of Zanzibar that has an interesting story to tell to visitors.

Opposite Stone Town is Prison Island, or Changuu, that has wonderful beaches and a coral reef, and is also home to many specimens of the giant tortoises of Aldabra, atoll of the Seychelles; There are several theories on how these giant reptiles got here, the fact is that today here is one of the few places in the world where they can be seen.

The island of Pemba, also part of the Zanzibar archipelago, also known as Al Kuh Dra or Green Island; here is a native forest, wonderful beaches and, at Manta Point, you can spot the manta rays swimming gracefully.

The island of Mafia or Chole Samba, that like Zanzibar and Pemba, is referred to as the “spice island”, is the favorite destination for diving and snorkeling lovers; in fact here there are wonderful corals and many species of fish, moreover, in October, it is possible to spot the whale shark.

On Mafia Island there is also the Mafia Island Marine Park that protects the coral reef, but also mangrove forests and an estuary.

When to go in Tanzania

In Tanzania there are two rainy seasons one less intense, called the season of short or small rains, in the months between October and November, the other more intense, called the season of long, or large, rains, in the months from mid-March to May ; the dry season is in the months from June to October; while the green season is in the months from December to February when it does not rain, except for a few showers, but the vegetation is lush.

For photo safaris the best period is that coinciding with the dry season, when the vegetation is less luxuriant and the animals are concentrated near the water sources, while for birdwatching the rainy season can offer exceptional sightings, especially when, with the resident species, there are also migratory birds that, in the months from November to April, settle in these areas.

Tanzania and the Serengeti Ecosystem are home to the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras; every period of the year and every season it is possible to spot the herds along their non-stop circular route of 800 km.

To know the position of the herds month by month you can consult the map of the Great Migration.

Useful info about Tanzania

The time zone of Tanzania is 2 hours ahead than in Italy, when solar time is in effect in Italy, while it is reduced to 1 hour during the summer time period.

Malarial prophylaxis is not mandatory, but is recommended especially during the rainy seasons, vaccination against yellow fever is not mandatory to visit the country, but is required when coming from countries where it is endemic or if you continue your journey to countries that require it.

To enter Tanzania it is necessary to have a passport valid for at least 6 months from the departure date and with at least one blank page. You also need a visa that can be obtained upon arrival at all airports or online.

The currency of Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling but both dollars and euros are widely accepted, even credit cards have a good spread of use and are accepted in almost the whole country.

The official languages are Kiswahili and English.

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