Tanzania

Discover the beauty of Tanzania with our comprehensive travel guide. Learn about the country's weather patterns and find out the best time to plan your visit. Get tips on transportation options to help you explore this stunning African nation. Explore top cities and must-see destinations while also sampling delicious local dishes. Uncover hidden gems that most tourists miss for an unforgettable Tanzanian adventure.

Weather and Best Time to Visit

Northern Circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro): June to October is best for dry season wildlife viewing and witnessing the wildebeest migration. December to March offers green landscapes and the opportunity to see newborn wildlife.

Southern Circuit (Ruaha, Selous): June to November provides the best game viewing as wildlife concentrates around water sources.

Western Tanzania (Mahale, Katavi): July to October, when conditions are ideal for chimpanzee tracking and parks are most accessible.

Zanzibar & Coastal Areas: June to October brings sunny, dry conditions perfect for beach activities. January to February offers a shorter dry period with fewer tourists.

Mt. Kilimanjaro: January to March and June to October provide clearer views and safer climbing conditions.

Lake Victoria Region: June to September features comfortable temperatures and less rainfall.

How to Get to Tanzania

Tanzania has several key airports serving as entry points to the country. Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam is the primary international gateway, handling most overseas arrivals and operating around the clock.

In the northern region, Kilimanjaro International Airport serves visitors heading to Arusha and the northern safari circuit. The airport is positioned between Arusha and Moshi, offering views of Mount Kilimanjaro on clear days.

Zanzibar International Airport connects Stone Town and the island to international destinations, providing access to Zanzibar's beaches and historic sites.

Regional airports serve other parts of Tanzania, including:

• Mwanza near Lake Victoria
• Mbeya in the southern highlands
• The capital city, Dodoma

These primarily handle domestic flights and some regional connections. Each airport serves as a starting point for different Tanzanian experiences, whether you're planning to climb mountains, go on safari, or enjoy coastal attractions.

How to Get Around

Tanzania connects travelers through a patchwork of transportation that tells its own story of the country. Buses wind between cities like Dar es Salaam and Arusha, filled with locals and budget travelers sharing the journey. Daladalas, packed minivans with conductors hanging from open doors, zip through town centers, their routes called out in singsong voices as they stop for passengers.

When time matters more than money, domestic flights leap over vast distances, turning day-long journeys into hour-long hops above baobab-dotted plains. Trains chug along older routes at their own pace, windows open to the countryside, and vendors appear at station stops with snacks and drinks.

The sea becomes a highway near the coast, where ferries carry people and goods to islands like Zanzibar. The larger van-ferries even transport cars across the water, letting travelers continue their journeys on the other side. Zan Fast Ferries and Azam Marine carry passengers daily across these blue stretches.

Renting a car opens up safari territory at your own speed, though some roads demand respect and patience after rain. In cities, the three-wheeled bajajis weave through traffic jams where even the motorcycle taxis (boda-bodas) sometimes get stuck.

Each mode of transport in Tanzania doesn't just get you there—it becomes part of what you'll remember and talk about later. The conversations with seatmates, the unexpected stops, the views from windows, they're all worth experiencing rather than just passing through.

Local Food Scene

Must-Try Local Dishes

• Ugali sits on plates beside nyama choma at Nyama Choma Grill in Dar es Salaam, where the thick cornmeal porridge scoops up juicy grilled meat that falls off the bone.
• 
  
• Chipsi mayai sizzles in pans across Arusha, where street cooks fold golden fries into eggs that bubble and brown into a comfort food locals eat any time of day.
• 
  
• Zanzibar pizza isn't pizza at all. Watch night market cooks at Forodhani Gardens fold minced meat, cheese, or banana into thin dough pockets that crisp on hot griddles.

Markets & Street Food

• At Kariakoo Market in Dar es Salaam, spice vendors call out as pyramids of turmeric, cardamom and cloves create a tapestry of colors and scents that tell Tanzania's trade history.
• 
  
• Fishermen bring their morning catch straight to Darajani Market, where cooks turn them into Swahili snacks you can eat while wandering Stone Town's narrow streets.
• 
  
• As sunset colors the sky, Forodhani Gardens transforms. Food stalls light up, smoke rises from grills, and for a few dollars, you can taste Zanzibar on a plate

Regional Specialties

• In Zanzibar, every bite of seafood and pilau tells stories of ancient spice routes and centuries of ocean trade.
• 
  
• Around Lake Victoria, cooks serve tilapia so fresh it was swimming hours before it reached your table.
• 
  
• In Arusha, grilled meats carry flavors from Maasai traditions, where cooking techniques are passed through generations.

Fine Dining

• The Rock Restaurant (Zanzibar) stands alone on an offshore rock where waves crash below as you eat seafood caught that morning.
• 
  
• At Levelmann Restaurant in Dar es Salaam, traditional ingredients transform into contemporary dishes that honor Tanzanian cooking
• 
  
• The Terrace Restaurant in Arusha serves meals where local and international techniques meet on plates overlooking mountain views.
• 
  

Hidden Gems to Visit

1. Kondoa Irangi Rock Paintings

On granite outcrops scattered across Kondoa's landscape, ochre figures tell stories from 2,000 years ago. Hunters chase animals across the stone canvas while human figures dance in scenes that have witnessed centuries pass by. 

The dry months between May and October reveal these ancient galleries best, when paths are clear and the artwork stands out against the rock. 

To find these painted chronicles, travelers need a 4WD for the journey from Arusha (about three hours on dusty roads) and a local guide's knowledge to navigate to the best-preserved panels. These guides don't just lead the way. They help decode what Tanzania's prehistoric artists were sharing with future generations.

2. Kikuletwa Hot Springs.

Water bubbles up from deep underground near Mount Kilimanjaro, creating pools so clear that swimmers can count pebbles several meters below the surface. 

The turquoise water stays at 28°C (82°F) regardless of season, making it perfect for a dip any time of year. Morning light dances on the surface during weekdays when few people break the water's stillness. Travelers can reach this natural swimming spot in about 30 minutes from Moshi, either on a local dala-dala bus to Rundugai or through transport arranged at guesthouses in Moshi.

3. Pugu Hills Forest Reserve

Just 25 km (15 miles) from car horns and city life in Dar es Salaam, trees create a cool sanctuary where monkeys swing and rare butterflies float between branches. Birdwatchers might spot some of the 65 different species that call these hills home. Rain brings the forest to life, making March-May or November the best times to walk these paths. 

Getting there takes only a 40-minute taxi ride from downtown, or adventurous travelers can join locals on public buses headed to Kisarawe and then walk the final stretch into the trees.

Scenic Routes

Tanzania tells its stories through the land itself. As travelers move across the country, each route unfolds a different chapter of nature's narrative:

• Arusha to Serengeti: The road begins near volcanic peaks where coffee grows, then stretches into plains that seem to have no end. Between June and October, millions of wildebeest and zebras move across these grasslands. From a safari vehicle, you might see lions lounging in the shade while giraffes stretch their necks to reach acacia leaves just a few yards away.

• 
  

• 
  

• Moshi to Kilimanjaro: Walking this path takes you through five distinct worlds. Start in warm farmlands, pass through misty forests where monkeys call overhead, cross heathlands dotted with unusual plants, continue through a moonscape of rock, and finally reach the snow that caps Africa's highest mountain. The clearest views come between January and March, when hikers often find themselves above the clouds.

• 
  

• 
  

• Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar: The ferry crosses water so clear you can see fish swimming below. After a few hours, Zanzibar appears on the horizon. The air changes — you'll notice the scent of cloves and cinnamon as you approach. From June to October, the water stays calm, making the journey smooth. Sit on the upper deck and watch flying fish leap alongside the boat.

• 
  

• 
  

• Arusha to Ngorongoro: This journey climbs upward past fields where local farmers wave as you pass. At the crater's edge, the land suddenly drops away to reveal a perfect bowl filled with wildlife. Between December and March, rains turn everything green, and animals gather around pools of water. From the rim, you can see elephants that look like toys from so far above.

• 
  

• 
  

• Mbeya to Dar es Salaam: The train passes through hills where tea grows in neat rows, then enters plains where baobab trees stand like sentinels with their massive trunks. The track then follows river valleys to the Indian Ocean. During the dry months (June-September), the windows frame mountain silhouettes and rural villages where children race the train.

• 
  

Events, Festivals and Local Markets

At the Goat Races in Dar es Salaam, locals and visitors gather to watch goats dash along tracks while their owners cheer them on. Children laugh as the animals sometimes stop mid-race to nibble on something interesting. The event raises money for community projects, and everyone enjoys local food from stalls set up around the race area.

When evening falls at the Sauti za Busara Music Festival in Zanzibar, the old stone walls of historic buildings glow with colored lights. Musicians from Kenya, Uganda, and across Africa play traditional instruments alongside modern ones. People dance in the streets, and the music continues until late at night.

Runners at the Kilimanjaro Marathon in Moshi pass through small villages where children high-five them along the route. The snow-capped mountain stands in the distance as participants run through coffee plantations and local neighborhoods. Even those who don't finish talk about the experience for years afterward.

Under large canvas tents at the Karibu Travel and Tourism Fair in Arusha, visitors can speak directly with safari guides and hotel owners. People try samples of local foods and watch traditional dance performances in between learning about different ways to explore the country's national parks and beaches.

Best Places to Visit

1. Dar es Salaam

In Dar es Salaam, fishermen cast their nets at dawn while office workers stream into gleaming high-rises hours later. Tanzania's largest city never quite shakes off its coastal roots. Between the government buildings and financial centers, you'll find colonial German architecture standing shoulder to shoulder with modern developments. The beaches are not postcard perfect. They're real places where locals gather on weekends, where children play soccer on the sand as the Indian Ocean laps nearby.

The city breathes easiest between June and October. The air dries out, the temperatures settle, and afternoon downpours become rare. These months let you wander through the chaos of Kariakoo Market without sudden tropical showers sending everyone running for cover.

Every Saturday, the Slipway area transforms as artisans arrange their tables with wood carvings, beadwork, and textiles. During winter months, the harbor fills with sailboats, some racing competitively, others simply catching the afternoon breeze.

How to get to Dar es Salaam

• -Daily international flights arrive at Julius Nyerere International Airport
• -Regular ferry services connect from Zanzibar
• -Tanzania Railways provides connections from central and western Tanzania

2. Zanzibar

The scent hits you first in Zanzibar, cloves drying in the sun, salt from the ocean, woodsmoke from cooking fires. In Stone Town, centuries-old wooden doors open into courtyards hidden from the narrow streets. The islands sit surrounded by water so clear that boats seem to float on air rather than sea.

Between June and October, the skies stay mostly cloudless, and the humidity drops enough for comfortable exploration. December through February brings warmer days, perfect for sinking into the white sand beaches fringing the islands.

As sunset approaches, wooden dhows with triangular sails gather in the harbor for races that have barely changed in hundreds of years. When darkness falls, Forodhani Gardens fills with cooks tending grilling seafood, octopus, prawns, and lobster, while people gather to eat, talk, and watch the day end.

• 
  
• How to get to Zanzibar
• -Direct international flights to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport
• -Regular ferry services from Dar es Salaam (2-hour journey)
• -Domestic flights from multiple Tanzanian cities

3. Arusha

Morning fog lifts from Arusha's streets to reveal Mount Meru standing guard over the city. Coffee trees grow on the surrounding slopes, producing beans that end up in cups around the world. This city sits at the crossroads of safari routes, where Land Cruisers stock up on supplies before heading out to find elephants and lions.

The land dries between June and October, drawing animals to water sources and making them easier to spot. A second dry window opens from December to February, when the green landscape still offers good visibility for wildlife viewing.

During coffee harvest, the sweet smell of processing beans fills certain neighborhoods, and auctions draw buyers from across the globe. At the Cultural Heritage Centre, dancers move to traditional rhythms, keeping ancient steps alive through regular performances that change with Tanzania's many cultural traditions.

How to get to Arusha

• -International flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport (45 minutes from the city)
• -Daily domestic flights from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar
• -Shuttle buses from Nairobi, Kenya (approximately 5-hour journey)
• 
  

Tips for Traveling to Tanzania

VISAS & ENTRY 

Most visitors need eVisa

• Cost: $50-100, depending on visa type
• Processing time: 3-10 business days
• Passport validity: 6+ months

CULTURAL ETIQUETTE

Dress modestly, especially at religious sites

• Ask permission before taking photos of people
• Greet others with "Jambo" (hello)
• Use your right hand for eating, giving, or receiving items

MONEY MATTERS

Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)

• ATMs are available in cities
• Credit cards are accepted at hotels and resorts
• Keep small USD bills (post-2009) for parks and emergencies

HEALTH & SAFETY

Emergency number: 112

• Required vaccine: Yellow Fever
• Recommended vaccines: Hepatitis A/B, Typhoid, Malaria prevention medication
• Get comprehensive travel insurance before your trip

TRANSPORTATION

Use domestic flights to travel between major destinations

• Dala-dalas (minibuses) serve local routes
• Arrange safari transportation in advance
•