Tanzania
There is nowhere better to discover the hierarchy of the wild than in Tanzania. Three times the size of France, Tanzania is blessed with a remarkable concentration and diversity of wildlife and ecosystems and on the vast stage of the Serengeti's short grass plains, the greatest migration on earth plays out each year. The Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire are the other great wildlife areas in the north, not forgetting Mount Kilimanaro, the highest freestanding mountain and one of the worlds great hikings challenges.
To the south, you can explore the lesser known gems of the Selous, Africa's largest game reserve, and plains of Ruaha, with its vast elephant populations. Moving west, you're going you're into virgin undiscovered Tanzania, where chimpanzees wander the Mahale mountains, the crystal clear waters Lake Tanganyika glisten in their magnitude, and the largest herds of buffalo on the continent roam Katavi's wide plains.
On top of this, Tanzania has miles of pristine Indian Ocean coastline and idyllic islands such as those of the Zanzibar archipelago, home to ancient ruins, white sandy beaches and some of the worlds finest dive sites. With all this on offer, Tanzania has naturally attracted fantastic lodges with everything from outdoorsy bush camps to plunge pools overlooking watering holes and binoculars in every room. Rugged, scenic and wild, if you’re looking to experience the brutal world of hunter vs hunted in safety, Tanzania is hard to beat.
Wild Frontiers offers unique Tailor Made Safari Holidays and Private Journeys to Tanzania.
How to book a trip
Group Tours
We currently have no group tours scheduled to Tanzania
What to do in Tanzania
Bird Watching on Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara National Park
The alkaline soda of Lake Manyara is home to an incredible array of bird life that thrives on its waters. Pink flamingo stoop and graze by the thousands, colourful specks against the grey minerals of the lake shore. More than 400 species have been recorded, and you can observe 100 of these in one day. Highlights include thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large waterbirds such as pelicans, cormorants and storks. Even reluctant bird-watchers will find something to watch and marvel at within the national park. A safari in Lake Manyara provides the perfect introduction to Tanzania's birdlife.
Dodge Hippos in Katavi
Katavi National Park
An estimated 4,000 elephants and herds of up to 1000 plus bufalo converge in Tanzania's wildest park, yet Katavi's most singular wildlife spectacle is provided by its hippos. Towards the end of the dry season, up to 200 individuals might flop together in any riverine pool of sufficient depth. And as more hippos gather in one place, so does male rivalry heat up - bloody territorial fights are an everyday occurrence. During game-drives, you can spend hours enjoying this fabulous spectacle in splendid isolation in the quest of that perfect snap.
Follow the Great Migration
Serengeti National Park
The extraordinary annual Great Migration of wildebeest and other grazing herbivores across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is one of the greatest spectacles in the natural world. Over two million herbivores partake in this journey, with about 200 000 zebra and 500 000 Thomson's gazelle behind the main players over one-and-a-half million wildebeest! It's hard to explain the excitement of being caught up in the journey, when a sea of brown as far as the eye can see surrounds your game vehicle or you witness the excitement of a river crossing with crocodiles behind. The precise timing of this journey is dependant upon rainfalls patterns each year however with our expertise we will get you in the best possible position to witness the awe of this spectacle firsthand.
Mountain bike Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara National Park
The rugged topography of Tanzania sets it up well for challenging and rewarding riding. Most mountain biking trips are run in the north of Tanzania, in the area around the Kilimanjaro National Park and the Rift Valley Escarpment. All but one of Tanzania's national parks do not permit mountain bikers for safety reasons - fast moving bikes and startled large animals don't mix well! The one exception to this is Lake Manyara National Park in the north. Check out the tree-climbing lions, incredible bird-life and beautiful scenery from the comfort of your saddle, in this compact game-viewing park.
Snorkel in Lake Tanganyika
Mahale Mountains National park
Lake Tanganyika, the largest of the Great African Rift valley lakes, forms the extreme western border of Tanzania. This is the world's biggest fresh water aquarium with crystal clear literally alive with fish. Ninety eight percent of the lake's beautiful coloured cichlid fish are unique to Lake Tanganyika and whilst they resemble the brightly coloured fish found on coral reefs, they totally unrelated. Don your mask and fins and spend a relaxing afternoon snorkelling around any of the rocky points along the shore at the foot of the Mahale Mountains. With visibility under the water reaching more than twenty metres (over sixty feet), it's like bathing in Evian.
Soar over the Serengeti
Serengeti National Park
A trip over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon gives you a supreme perspective on the action below, and allows you to fully appreciate the enormity of the plains and the sheer number of animals that migrate across them. Typically beginning at about 6am, the balloon flights lasts approximately an hour as you gracefully and silently fly over the Serengeti teeming with herds of wildife in the early morning. The traditionally stylish ending to a balloon safari is a champagne breakfast in the bush, a fitting end to you memorable flight in the wild.
Track chimps in Mahale
Mahale Mountains National park
Tracking the chimps in mystical Mahale National Park is a magical experience. Accompanied by your experienced ranger, with a maximum for 6 people per group, you will set out in the misty morning on foot in search of these rare primates. Your guide's eyes pick out last night's nests - shadowy clumps high in a gallery of trees crowding the sky. Scraps of half-eaten fruit and fresh dung become valuable clues, leading deeper into the forest. Butterflies flit in the dappled sunlight. Then suddenly you are in their midst: preening each other's glossy coats in concentrated huddles, squabbling noisily, or bounding into the trees to swing effortlessly between the vines. The local tribes believe that chimpanzees were once people who retreated into the forest and just for a few hours with these amazing apes shows why.
Trek the Highlands with Massai
Ngorongoro Crater
Leave your 4x4 vehicle far behind, and trek through the lush forests of the Ngorongoro highlands on foot. Whilst day walk are available from the lodges in Karatu, for a real adventure embark on a longer 3 night expedition, escorted by english speaking Massai guides and donkeys as pack animals to carry the load. Whilst it's not as tough as Kili, it's still not for the faint hearted and you'll hug the the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, through open woodland and acacia forests, moving towards the Laiania River at the foot of Olmoti Crater. Passing through Massai villages en route, the scenery is spectacular with views into the crater and towards the Serengeti plains. Nights are spend in functional igloo tents with good padding, and you'll have a back up vehicle, and cook to take care of refueling you. Sometimes you've just got to get away from it all into the furthest hills, and to do this in Africa is the epitome of adventure.
Wild Bush Camp In The Selous
Selous Game Reserve
Separated from nature by nothing more than a mosquito net, fly-camping is as close as you can get to the wilderness while being spared the bug bites. This romantic adventure requires a little bravery, but is loads of fun. A hot bush shower under a tree and short-drop toilet are set up for you, and delicious dinner is cooked for you over a campfire before you spend the night under the African stars soaking up the true wilderness setting and listening to the sounds of the bush at close range. You'll be woken by fresh coffee and muffins the following morning before returning to your lodge exhilarated by your wilderness adventure and eager to share your stories. Most camps in the Selous offer Fly Camping and for most it's a real highlight of their safari in the Selous. Flycamping is also popular in the nearby Ruaha.
How to book a trip
Group Tours
We currently have no group tours scheduled to Tanzania
Where to stay in Tanzania
Zanzibar Serena Inn
Zanzibar and Islands
Constructed in the traditional Swahili way, where the length of the mangrove poles that make up the ceiling dictate the...
Shooting Star Lodge
Zanzibar and Islands
This relaxed family-run beach lodge is situated on the very northern tip of beautiful Kiwengwa beach on the East Coast...
Chole Mjini Lodge
Zanzibar and Islands
This unique and highly original lodge is found on the small island of Chole, just twenty minutes by boat from Mafia...
Dunia Camp
Serengeti National Park
Tucked between the prime wildlife areas of central and southern Serengeti, Dunia Camp is a small, semi-permanent camp...
Fundu Lagoon
Zanzibar and Islands
This barefoot luxury lodge is found on the unspoilt island of Pemba, part of the Zanzibar archipelago and famed for its...
Greystoke Mahale
Mahale Mountains National park
On a far-flung beach along the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika, below a huge story-book tropical forest, lies the...
Kirumuru Tented Camp
Serengeti National Park
Kirurumu Serengeti Camp is a comfortable and affordable mobile camp, moved seasonally to take best advantage of the...
Mdonya Old River Camp
Ruaha National Park
Reminiscent of the hunting camps of yesteryear, Mdonya Old River Camp promises authentic simplicity and a no-frills...
Nduaro Loliondo
Serengeti National Park
Nuarro Loliondo is designed to celebrate nomadic cultures around the world; the Mongolian Gers or Yurts, and local...
Plantation Lodge
Ngorongoro Crater
Conveniently located midway between the famed Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park, Plantation Lodge is an...
Ras Kutani
Mainland Coast
Ras Kutani is a rustic beach lodge set on a deserted stretch of coast to the south of Dar es Salaam. Overlooking a...
Sand Rivers
Selous Game Reserve
Set on a sweeping curve of the imense Rufiji River, Sand Rivers been loved by safari buffs for years and provides a...
Selous Impala Camp
Selous Game Reserve
This traditional tented safari camp has a wonderful setting on the Northern banks the mighty Rufiiji River. It lies...
Serengeti Safari Camp
Serengeti National Park
Serengeti Safari Camp offers a unique opportunity to view the Serengeti wildebeest migration and the substantial herds...
The Tides
Mainland Coast
This small affordable beach lodge is set on a remote palm fringed bay on Tanzania's mainland coast voted 'One of the...
Kungwe Beach Lodge
Mahale Mountains National park
Situated on a stretch of golden sandy beach and overlooking the crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika the recently...
Kirurumu Manyara Lodge
Lake Manyara National Park
Kirurumu Tented Lodge, a joint venture with the local community, is set on the edge of the western escarpment of the...
Olivers Camp
Tarangire National Park
Oliver's Camp is situated in the remote south-eastern part of the national park, in the middle of Tarangire's unspoilt...
Lake Mwanze Camp
Selous Game Reserve
This rustic affordable tented camp is based in one of the richest wildlife areas in the Selous Game Reserve. Shaded by...
236 Hurumzi
Zanzibar and Islands
Formerly called 'Emerson and Green', 236 Hurumzi is a impressively restored merchant's house with a renowned rooftop...
Jongamero Camp
Ruaha National Park
Jongomero is a classic luxury tented camp set in the Southernmost expanse of the Ruaha National Park. Located on the...
Lemala Ngorongoro Camp
Ngorongoro Crater
Lemala Ngorongoro Camp is a high specification mobile tented camp set in an ancient acacia forest on the rim of the...
Matemwe Bungalows
Zanzibar and Islands
This boutique upmarket beach lodge sits on a coral cliff overlooking a a fine powder beach on Zanzibar's quieter North...
Expedition Camping
Ngorongoro Crater
Sometimes you’ve just got to get away from it all into the furthest hills, as much alone with the wilderness as...
Expedition Camping
Serengeti National Park
Sometimes you’ve just got to get away from it all into the furthest hills, as much alone with the wilderness as...
Moivaro Lodge
Arusha
Moivaro Lodge is set on a coffee plantation a short distance from Arusha town, the gateway to Tanzania's northern...
Kirumuru Tarangire Lodge
Tarangire National Park
This newly opened tented lodge is elevated high on private land on the northern tip of the Tarangire National Park with...
Ngorongoro Forest Tented Lodge
Ngorongoro Crater
Set with a coffee plantation overlooking the wilds of the Ngorongoro Highlands, this small eco-friendly lodge it is an...
How to book a trip
Group Tours
We currently have no group tours scheduled to Tanzania
Suggested Itineraries
How to book a trip
Group Tours
We currently have no group tours scheduled to Tanzania
Tanzania Travel Guide
Stone Town
Stone town meaning "ancient town" in Swahili, is an eclectic mix of African, Middle Eastern and European architecture and design. With narrow, windy streets, historic buildings and ornately carved wooden doors, visitors will find interesting sites around every corner. It is not hard to imagine the port when it was the main centre of trade between East Africa and Asia. The whole site has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site.
Arusha
Sitting in the shadow of Mount Meru and surrounded by some of Africa’s most famous national parks, Arusha is a city of nearly one and a half million people set on the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley. Founded by German colonists in 1900, Arusha today is a major international hub and a multicultural city populated by large communities of Arab, Indian and European minorities. Located amongst the northern highlands, the city is Tanzania’s safari capital and one of its richest towns, playing host to a number of diplomatic missions, conferences and international festivals.
Katavi National Park
Isolated, untrammelled and seldom visited, Katavi is a true wilderness, providing the few intrepid souls who make it there with a thrilling taste of Africa as it must have been a century ago. Lying in remote south western Tanzania, the country’s third largest park covers nearly 4500 square kilometres at the heart of one of the richest wildlife areas in Tanzania. Much of the park sits within the Rukwa Rift Basin (part of the Central African Rift System) and is fed by the vital waters of the Katuma River. The river feeds the lakes of Katavi and Chada and the vast Katisunga flood-plain, providing a rich haven for vast herds of buffalo, elephants and zebra, thousand strong hippo pods as well as lion, spotted hyena and crocodiles.
Lake Manyara National Park
Once described by Ernest Hemingway as the loveliest lake in Africa, Manyara is a shallow lake lying on the edge of the Tanzanian Rift Valley. Covering over 230 square kilometres, the lake’s alkaline waters provide a home to a rich diversity of landscapes and wildlife. Its giant fig trees and acacia woodlands provide shelter for baboons and leopard, whilst the lake itself attracts huge numbers of birds, including grey-headed kingfishers, grey-headed eagles and thousands of pink flamingos. Dry season (July-October) is best for viewing the larger animals including the famed tree climbing lions, whilst the wet season (November-June) provides the best chances for bird-watching.
Mainland Coast
Largely overlooked in the past for the more popular island delights of Zanzibar, Tanzania’s mainland coast offers some wonderful surprises for the discerning traveller. With miles of unspoiled beaches and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, the country’s eastern coastline offers an enviable mix of tropical splendour and colonial history. The coast is sprinkled with settlements like Pangani and Bagamoyo and the historic island of Kilwa Kisiwani, whilst natural reserves such as Saadani and the Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park offer ideal spots for wildlife spotting, both in and out of the water.
Mahale Mountains National park
Set deep in the heart of Western Tanzania, inaccessible by road, is the Mahale Mountains National Park. Just 100km south of where Stanley uttered that immortal greeting “Doctor Livingstone, I presume,” is a scene reminiscent of an Indian Ocean island beach idyll where silky white beaches hem in the azure waters of Lake Tanganyika. A chain of wild, jungle-draped peaks towers almost 2km above the shore: the remote and mysterious Mahale Mountains. This remote National Park is reputed to be the best place in Africa to see wild chimpanzees These clear mountain landscapes are believed to hold around 600 individuals, in three separate communities, and chimpanzee trekking safaris are one of the park’s most popular attractions. The forests around the park also provide a rich habitat for nearly 240 species of birds, leopard, wild pig and eight other species of primates.
Ngorongoro Crater
A UNESCO World Heritage Site located some 180 kilometres to the west of Arusha, the Ngorongoro Crater is home to some of Africa’s richest concentrations of wildlife. Originally part of the Serengeti National Park, the crater can boast vast herds of large ungulates, along with reputedly the largest density of predators on the continent. Formed from the explosion of a giant crater some 3 million years ago, the caldera today supports herds of zebras, wildebeest and gazelle that number in the tens of thousands. It also plays host to practically every species of wildlife in Africa, with animal numbers put at an estimated 25,000 within the crater.
Ruaha National Park
Boasting the largest population of elephants anywhere in East Africa (10,000 at the last count), Ruaha National Park covers nearly 22,000 square kilometres and is Tanzania’s largest national park. Taking its name from the Great Ruaha River that flows through it, the park mainly occupies the top of a 900 metre plateau in the central part of the country and is renowned for its herds of sable and roan. Remote and largely unexplored, it is also home to over 400 species of birds and offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience a little something of the true wilderness of the African bush.
Serengeti National Park
Famed for its annual migrations of wildebeest and zebras, The Serengeti is one of the finest wildlife reserves on the African continent. Home to incredible numbers of predators and prey, each year over one and a half million animals make the mass migration across its vast plains to new feeding grounds. Covering nearly 15,000 square miles of savannah, riverine forest and woodland, the Serengeti is believed to support the largest population of lions in Africa, as well as elephant, black rhino, African wild dogs and some 500 species of birds.
Selous Game Reserve
Situated in the remote south-east of the country, the Selous Game reserve is Africa’s largest protected wildlife area. Covering more than 5% of Tanzania’s total land mass, it is home to roaming herds of elephants, wild dogs and some of the last remaining populations of black rhino left in the country. Accessible only by light aircraft and fed by the waters of the Rufigi River Delta, it also boasts one of the largest water catchment areas in the region, providing a rich haven for an incredible diversity of bird and water life.
Tarangire National Park
Covering approximately 2,800 square kilometres and famed for it high concentration of elephants, Tarangire National Park lies to the south of the vast open grasslands of southern Maasailand. Its wide savannah, acacia woodland and large Baobab trees are home to herds of elephants that number up to 600 in the dry month of June to September. At this time it is also a haven for large herds of zebra and wildebeest, oryx and eland, who migrate from the dry Maasai steppes towards the life giving waters of the Tarangire River during the dry season. The saline waters of Lake Ndutu attract hordes of flamingos too.
How to book a trip
Group Tours
We currently have no group tours scheduled to Tanzania
Tanzania Travel Information
Visa Information
UK Passport holders require a visa to visit Tanzania. Typically, this can be gained on arrival at official border crossing or international airport.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip, and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. Please ensure the passport details we hold for you are correct.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your trip. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
If you would prefer to obtain your visa before arrival - this can be arranged through:
Travcour (UK)
Tempo House
15 Falcon Road Battersea
London
SW11 2PJ
Tel: 020 7223 5295
Fax: 020 7738 2617
Email: info@travcour.com
Website: www.travcour.com
If you are travelling on a non-UK passport, please contact your nearest consulate/embassy for up to date visa information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Service Limited. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Company plc, details of which can be found at the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk.
To contact them please visit their website at
We also recommend:
• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• You inform us of any pre-existing medical conditions or medication.
To be on the safe side you can also check on [http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk">www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
How to book a trip
Group Tours
We currently have no group tours scheduled to Tanzania
