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Top Tourist Attractions in Tanzania

Top 7 Tourist Attractions in Tanzania

1. Serengeti
The Serengeti Wildlife Migration is one of the most spectacular displays of nature in Africa, maintaining the delicate ecological balance of the Serengeti plains. Nowhere else in the world can you bear witness to such a massive migration of thousands of African animals all at once with the sole intention of mating, territorial conquest and the pursuit of grazing land…well, maybe with the exception of the annual salmon run in the northern hemisphere.
 

This migration, dominated by wildebeest, is a fight and test of the fittest putting paid to the term “survival of the fittest” as they make the 1000km pilgrimage across the African savannah. This is called rutting season and is a three week frenzied spectacle of hooves, tails and bellowing. This event is action packed with predators stalking prey in ample supply. From the lakes and the plains, the weak, the old and the young do not stand a chance.
 

Journeys2Africa Travel Tip: Be sure to bring along your video camera to capture this truly amazing natural phenomenon.
 

2. Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is home to the WaChagga tribe. It is Africa’s highest mountain and has inspired many to flock to its foot, vowing to conquer the imposing mountain. Mount Kilimanjaro is situated near the town of Moshi and is protected by strict environmental laws that ensure the survival of its diverse eco-systems. Kilimanjaro’s snowy peaked charm entices travellers both amateurs and seasoned climbers to test their endurance and stamina with the promise of a bird’s eye view of Africa’s rugged panorama.
 

Journeys2Africa Travel Tip: Pack adequate hiking gear and prepare your fitness levels well in advance. Thermal clothing is important due to the cold and snowy conditions while tackling Mount Kilimanjaro.
 

3. Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater is another of Tanzania’s natural wonders, formerly a volcano, a caldera now exists that is twenty kilometres wide at its base and 500 metres high. This wilderness area, thanks to its rich volcanic soil, is teeming with Tanzania wildlife such as wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, elephant, rhino and lions. With lush vegetation sustaining its wildlife residents, even more mesmerising are the acid pink sea of flamingos descending on the lake in a burst of brilliant colour. The crater includes the Olduavi Gorge. It is here where one of the first remains of mankind were found, dating back millions of years. The earliest signs of humans were hominid footprints preserved in volcanic rock.
 

Journeys2Africa Travel Tip: Experience one of Africa's natural wonders at Ngorongoro Crater, and take with you a treasured memory of having been inside an ancient volcano!
 

4. Olduavi Gorge
This historical canyon spans 50 km and 100 metres deep and is in the Ngorongoro Crater area. It has been the site for discovery of three different species of hominid fossils, with the oldest dating back 3 million years. This gorge was formed by a river that carved away the rock previously in the area, exposing layers of volcanic soil where Dr. Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the hominid fossils. There is a museum where visitors can view some of the ancient findings, including the remains of a giant giraffe.

5. Selous National Game Reserve
This Tanzania wildlife park is named after big game hunter, explorer and naturalist Frederick Courtney Selous who wrote the famous book A Hunter’s Wanderings in Africa, making him a legend in Britain and the United States. This is Africa’s largest game reserve with four main types of habitats and is well drained by the numerous springs in the area. With rich habitats and an abundance of water, animals do not have to migrate in the dry season, thus the game reserve maintains a constant presence of Tanzanian wildlife, flowers and birdlife. It is here that you are mostly likely to find a concentration of animals not normally spotted while on safari, such as the rare wild dog and the large elephant tuskers.

6. Lake Tanganyika
This is the world’s longest and second deepest fresh-water lake. It is the gateway to the Gombe stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks, and is central to the building of traditional dhow fishing boats.
 

7. Zanzibar
Zanzibar is one of the tropical islands in the Indian Ocean, officially a part of the United Republic of Tanzania. Known for its striking beaches and laid back island culture, Zanzibar literally beckons travellers with its palm trees gently swaying in the breeze and traditional dhow boats promising to show you an island paradise unimaginable. This Indian Ocean Island is built on its fishing and spice trade, has a strong Arabic influence not only reflected in its people but in the island architecture particularly in historically significant Stone Town.
 

Stone Town is one of Zanzibar’s main attractions with its lively bazaars, mosques and old Arabian architecture that give the island its infectious charm. This spice island enjoys its UNESCO World Heritage Site status, and Zanzibar plays annual host to the world famous Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), which is also known as the Dhow Festival. This fascinating festival is a celebration of Middle Eastern and East African cultures and traditions. The festival features music, drink, food, film and dancing.
 

While visiting Zanzibar one cannot claim to have experienced the island unless having visited the Spice Plantations, the foundation of the Zanzibar's existence. Spices are what made Zanzibar the major trading port that it was in the early 20th century leading to subsequent colonisation by India, and the Arabic countries using it as a spice and slave trading port.
 

Today, the island’s charm, charisma and marine life attract honeymooners, scuba safaris and modern day explorers.
 

Journeys2Africa Travel Tip: Take a dhow trip from Tanzania to Zanzibar.
Be sure not to miss the spice plantation tours and take home authentic Tanzania souvenirs.