Top 9 Must Visit Places for Excursions and Vacations In Tanzania

For newcomers, Tanzania is always a mystery. This country can be studied endlessly.

Are you already planning a vacation and want to spend it in an exotic land? Find out in advance how much a safari or vacation in Tanzania, climbing Kilimanjaro and a boat trip will cost.

If you have already decided to spend your vacation away from blizzards and snowdrifts, Tanzania is a great option.

Tanzania on the geographical map of the world

This African country stuns and amazes tourists at any time of the year. But, in winter its hot sun and bright colors are especially pleasant.

The main thing between collecting swimsuits and tanning products in advance, think about what you will do in Tanzania? You’re not going to spend your vacation walking around the hotel?

There are so many interesting and impressive in this country. It is better to make a list of excursions that you plan to visit.

Types of excursions in Tanzania

Excursions in Tanzania can be divided into:

• One-day sightseeing tours of cities, villages, local attractions.
• Safari tours for one or more days.
• Sea trips, including diving and snorkeling.
• Hot air balloon tours
• Excursions from mainland Tanzania to Zanzibar and vice versa
• Large customized tours that include everything you are interested in.

Prices for tours in Tanzania can not be called prohibitive, they depend on:

• The distance you need to travel.
• Food.
• The presence of a Russian-speaking guide.
• The cost of entrance tickets.
• The level of service.

When buying a tour to Zanzibar or a safari in one of the national parks of Tanzania in Russia the price is likely to be slightly higher than in the local agency or in the market square.

But the quality of service will be appropriate. Because in the case of non-compliance with the promised terms you can write a long indignant review on the Internet. You can do a lot of damage to the reputation of the company.

And the hot black guy who sells tours on the street, believe me, will be, to put it mildly, not too concerned about your claims. And the fact that you can not distinguish it in a crowd of others.

The most interesting tours in Tanzania

There is a huge number of Excursions and tours in Tanzania. Unless you are going to spend six months to a year in this country. You will have to make a difficult choice. What to see first of all?

1. Dar Es Salaam.

The former capital, the largest seaport and the richest city in Tanzania, whose population, according to official data, over 5 million people.

Do you want to experience the cultural life of an African city? – Go to Dar Es Salaam.

Admire its sights, feel the rhythm of local life, see the real African bazaars, the best restaurants, learn the secrets of the local craftsmen – all this can be done during a city tour.

The 5-hour tour includes the most interesting and beautiful places of Dar Es Salaam – St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Hindu temples, botanical gardens and the National Museum, and of course, Indian Street and the local bazaar.

So if you are going from the island of Zanzibar on an excursion to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania or on safari – be sure to take time in the town of Dar Es Salaam.

2. Balloon Safari in the Serengeti

Can be done in the north of Tanzania or in Ruaha in the south of the country, which lasts 1.5-2 hours – and it is not at all the same as a safari in a car.

• An African hot air balloon safari – what could be more romantic?

To float over the vast African savannah of some of the greatest national parks in Africa and to contemplate from above the countless herds of animals.

Taking incredible pictures and enjoying every minute of the journey – isn’t that a dream come true? Unless, of course, you suffer from a fear of heights, in which case you have to limit yourself to a traditional land safari.

3. Chemka Hot Springs

The springs are located in northeastern Tanzania in the Kilimanjaro region. They are ideal for both a day tour and a rest on the way to the volcano.

This is a great excursion for those who do not like the hustle and bustle and too many experiences.

Lie in the tropical bushes in a small oasis, enjoy recreation in the crystal clear warm water, dive, watching the fish – solid health and mental benefit.And complete the experience through the local village.

Have you already climbed Kilimanjaro or do not like to strain yourself with tedious hikes?

4. The shore of Lake Chala

Beautiful views from the crater, the surrounding rainforest and calm deep water, lunch in the most beautiful place and a chance to relax and unwind from the frenetic pace of life – all this is concentrated in the excursion to Lake Chala.

5. Makoa Farm.

Most safari tours involve observing local animals only from the car. But at the Makoa Farm rehabilitation center at the foot of Kilimanjaro, the animals can be touched and stroked – they are accustomed to people and trust them.

This is a private center where animals that, for one reason or another, cannot survive in the wild go to.

Makoa Farm is great for family excursions and provides an unforgettable experience.

6. Maasai Village

The Maasai Village is sure to be one of the highlights of Africa.

Representatives of the ancient African Maasai tribe

After all, representatives of this ethnic group still keep their traditions and live simply and unsophisticatedly, as they did a thousand years ago.

Their villages are one of the last islands of living African culture, here in an hour and a half, while the tour lasts, you can see and understand more about the life of the Masai than all the books and museums.

7. Ndarakwai Camp

Ndarakwai Camp in the Kilimanjaro region is a private reservation.

It is one of the places most affected by local wars, poachers, and rash farming. Only thanks to an enthusiast who bought the land, it has not turned into a desert and is actively being revived.

The tour itself takes 3 hours, but taking into account the transfer and lunch, it is better to plan a full day for it.

8. Sanje Falls

Sanje Falls is located in Udzungwa Mountains National Park in southern Tanzania. It is not far from the Mikumi National Park, so many operators offer a combined Mikumi-Udzungwa tour.

The park is located at a considerable altitude above sea level and there are no roads, even unpaved ones, familiar to our heart – only mountain trails.

It’s not a 7,000-meter climb, of course, but it’s also a challenging hike that requires good physical fitness.

You will be able to admire its foamy jets from the observation deck, and at the base of the waterfall you can take a swim.

9. Kondoa Caves

Kondoa Caves in central Tanzania. Fascinated as a child with adventure novels about the search for traces of extraterrestrial civilizations and Indiana Jones movies? Then you’re sure to love it!

The unusual shape of these drawings offers a great exercise in imagination. The beautiful scenery, the Ntomoko waterfall and the variety of birds complete the tour!

The most popular tours in Tanzania

If you say that you were on vacation in Tanzania and did not go on a safari in one of the local national parks – no one will believe you.

Safari tours amaze even the most experienced tourists with their variety

After all, the national parks and Kilimanjaro volcano are the main attractions of this country.

Despite the fact that Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa, climbing it is quite accessible to beginners.

The main thing – take off stiletto heels, buy a guide, get a little fitness and choose a feasible route to climb (there are six on Kilimanjaro).

Together with the descent (you’re going back down, not to stay on top of the mountain) climbing Kilimanjaro takes from 5 to 8 days, depending on the route you choose and your physical abilities.

So if you take one day to Kilimanjaro, that’s enough just to wander at the foot and take beautiful pictures.

Safari tours are easier and suitable for all categories of tourists. You can choose either a one-day trip or a tour of several national parks for a week or two.

How much such a safari tour in Tanzania will cost depends largely on both the parks and the standards of your chosen accommodation.

The most popular of the parks are:

• Serengeti.
• Ngorongoro Crater.
• Kilimanjaro.
• Tarangire.
• Ruaha.
• Selous Game Reserve.
• Lake Manyara.

You can read more about these excursions in our other articles – because each of them is unique in its own way.

How to get from Zanzibar

If your main vacation spot is Zanzibar, you’re not at all doomed to give up excursions in mainland Tanzania.

Of course, you won’t be able to get where you want to go in a couple of hours – but if you

Plan to leave for a day, two or even more, and include in this trip a lot of interesting places – you will have time to take a vacation of maximum impressions.

Many agencies and tour operators, both Russian and local, offer tours from Zanzibar on safari in Tanzania, in Dar es Salaam and other interesting places.

The main thing to remember is that the prices of tours from Zanzibar to Tanzania will be higher due to transfers and tickets to and from Zanzibar.

And if they do not differ from the usual – check, perhaps the cunning operators did not include the cost of the transfer.

Usually tourists, in order not to lose precious time, get from Zanzibar to Tanzania by plane, choosing flights to Dar Es Salaam or Arusha.

And in Tanzania itself it is easier to travel by small plane than by car – given the vast size of the country and the often limited time to travel.

What have we learned about vacations in Tanzania?

No matter what part of Tanzania or Zanzibar you are in, there is bound to be something to see.

There are villages with locals and their crafts, unique natural attractions and national parks all over the country.

If you set up for some excursions, and they make up the purpose of your trip is better to settle close to the places you want to visit from the beginning, so as not to spend a long trip.

For example, Kilimanjaro National Park offers not only climbing the mountain, but also hot springs, Lake Chala, Makoa Farm Rehabilitation Center, Ndarakwai Camp and other interesting trips.

Settling in the Serengeti or Ruaha, you can not only go on a traditional safari, but also to fly over the park in a hot air balloon, visit a Masai village, etc.

The main thing is to decide what you are most interested in and how much you are willing to spend.