Tanzania Mainland: parks, peaks and living cultures
Mainland Tanzania is where the famous names live: the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, and a string of national parks that protect some of the largest wildlife populations on Earth.
It is also a country of people. More than a hundred ethnic groups live here, from the Maasai and Hadzabe of the northern Rift Valley to the Chagga of Kilimanjaro and the Swahili of the coast. Swahili, a language born from centuries of Indian Ocean trade, connects them all.
Highest point
Kilimanjaro, 5,895 m
Capital
Dodoma (largest city: Dar es Salaam)
Languages
Swahili and English
Currency
Tanzanian shilling (US dollars widely accepted)
Time zone
East Africa Time, UTC+3
World Heritage
Seven UNESCO sites, from the Serengeti to Kilwa
The areas of Tanzania Mainland
The Northern Circuit
The classic safari loop from Arusha: Tarangire's elephants and baobabs, Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater and the endless Serengeti, home of the Great Migration.
Best: June to October, plus January and February for calving
Arusha
Cities
Tarangire National Park
National Parks
Lake Manyara National Park
National Parks
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Conservation Areas
Serengeti National Park
National Parks
Arusha National Park
National Parks · Mountains
Lake Eyasi
Conservation Areas
Lake Natron
Conservation Areas
Mto wa Mbu
Cities · Nature Escapes
Lake Duluti
Nature Escapes
Kilimanjaro and the Highlands
Africa's highest mountain, its Chagga villages and waterfalls, and the cool, green Usambara Mountains for slower walking.
Best: January to March and June to October
The Southern Circuit
Quiet, wild parks with walking safaris, river boats and huge elephant herds: Nyerere, Ruaha, Mikumi and the forests of Udzungwa.
Best: June to November
The Western Lakes
Remote forests on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, where chimpanzees are tracked on foot, and Katavi's wild plains.
Best: May to October
Cities and the Coast
Dar es Salaam's markets and museums, the historic ports of Bagamoyo and Kilwa, and Saadani, the park where the savannah meets the sea.
Best: June to March
Arriving and moving around
Fly in
Kilimanjaro International (JRO) serves Arusha and Moshi, and Julius Nyerere International (DAR) serves Dar es Salaam. Regional flights and light aircraft link most parks.
By road
Roads between Arusha and the northern parks are good; southern and western routes are longer and rougher. We drive you in 4x4s with pop-up roofs.
By ferry or boat
Boats connect Dar es Salaam with Zanzibar, and lake boats reach Gombe and Mahale from Kigoma.
Good to know
- Most nationalities need a visa. Check the current rules and apply online before you travel.
- Ask your doctor about vaccinations and malaria prevention well before departure.
- Bring layers: dawn game drives are cold, and Kilimanjaro is colder still.
- Tip guides, drivers and camp staff. We explain the usual amounts before you go.
What lives in Tanzania Mainland
Big cats
African Lion
Panthera leo
The largest social cat, living in prides and ruling the Serengeti plains.
Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area +7 more
Big cats
Leopard
Panthera pardus
A solitary, powerful climber that hides its kills in trees.
Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area +7 more
Elephants
African Elephant
Loxodonta africana
The largest land animal on Earth, living in family herds led by a matriarch.
Tarangire, Nyerere +7 more
Bovids
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
A heavy, dangerous grazer that lives in herds of hundreds.
Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area +7 more
Rhinos
Black Rhinoceros
Diceros bicornis
A rare, shy browser and the most endangered of the Big Five.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti +1 more
Big cats
Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
The fastest land animal, hunting by day on open plains.
Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area +2 more
Ungulates
Masai Giraffe
Giraffa tippelskirchi
The tallest animal on Earth, and Tanzania's national animal.
Serengeti, Tarangire +7 more
Antelopes
Blue Wildebeest
Connochaetes taurinus
The star of the Great Migration, with more than a million animals on the move.
Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area +2 more
Ways to explore the mainland
Easy days out
Questions we often hear
What is the best time to visit mainland Tanzania?
The dry season from June to October is the easiest for wildlife and climbing. The green season from November to May has fewer visitors and lower prices, and it is excellent for birds and landscapes.
How many days do I need?
Five to seven days covers the main northern parks. Add three or four days for Kilimanjaro or a southern park, and a few more for Zanzibar.
Is Tanzania safe for tourists?
Tanzania is a popular and welcoming destination. As anywhere, take normal precautions in cities and follow your guide's advice in the parks. Check your government's travel advice before you go.
Let us build your Mainland trip
Tell us your dates and interests and we will send a personal itinerary within 24 hours.
Prefer to talk? Call +255 754 123 456