Places to discover

Best places to visit in Tanzania

Tanzania is a vast country best known for its safaris, which are among the most spectacular in the world, thanks to its remarkable landscapes and its rich wild fauna. However, let's not forget its Maasai tribes with their many traditions and above all, Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa. Tanzania is also known for Zanzibar, which justifies its reputation as a tourist paradise.

The capital, Dar es Salaam, is a brief stop for newly arrived travellers. Bustling and unpleasant, it is of no particular interest. On the other hand, the north of the country is the most touristic, in particular the Arusha region. The country's second largest city is located at the foot of Mount Meru and most notably of Kilimanjaro and therefore serves as a base for climbers for whom it will take anywhere from 7 to 10 days to reach the summit. Green coffee plantations are spread out at the foot of the mountain.

Not far from Arusha, is the famous Serengeti National Park (straddling Tanzania and Kenya) known for its plains where you can watch the migration of thousands of wildebeests and plenty of lions. Within this park is the famous Ngorongoro crater, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as spectacular for its animal safaris as for its scenery. Still in this same region, you can visit the national parks of Tangire and of Lake Manyara.

Offering sunbathers a state of serenity, beautiful Zanzibar is a top destination to enjoy lovely deserted beaches.

Continental Tanzania is more difficult to visit, nevertheless you can go on an adventure to discover the huge national parks of Selous and Ruaha, located in the country's centre.

Experienced travellers will venture off the beaten path to the shores of the lakes which mark the country's boundaries: these are the three largest lakes of the continent! Let's start with Lake Victoria, Africa's largest, then we continue the length of Tanganyika, to finally end in the south with Lake Malawi, which marks the boundary with the country of the same name.

Pemba is an island that is part of the Zanzibar archipelago, but is not very touristic. It is not overrun with hotels like its neighbour and has remained very authentic.
Mafia Island is magnificent and wild, with an earthly charm and beautiful underseas.
Karatu is a village situated between the national parks of Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater , in the northern part of Tanzania, near Arusha .
Matemwe is a village north-east of the island of Zanzibar known for its luxurious hotels. It is located opposite the Mnemba island.
At 90km from Arusha, Machame is the departure point for hikers beginning their ascent of Kilimanjaro, along the trail that bears its name, the Machame route.
At 6km from the Machame camp, the Shira Plateau, at 3,840m high, is where the Machame and Shira trails meet. So it's a busy place.
Located 10 km from Moshi and 90 km from Arusha, Mweka is the finishing point for trekkers who've hiked the Machame, Umbwe or Shira routes. These days it is prohibited to begin the ascension from here.
A medium sized town on the former East Africa slave route, between Dar Es Salaam and Dodoma, Morogoro is a great stopover near the entrance to the Mikumi National Park.
Lake Victoria is Africa's largest lake, the heart of the "African Great Lakes". In Kenya, its region is one of the country's least touristic: the lake is mostly dedicated to fishing and its industry. However, it is bordered by beautiful green hills.
Located 650 km from Dar es Salaam, which is one hour by plane or 10 hours by bus, is Arusha, where most tourists set out from when heading off to ascend Kilimanjaro or visit the national parks.
By the Indian Ocean, 480km from the capital, Dodoma, Dar Es-Salaam is the biggest town in Tanzania.. Really quite ugly and not very interesting, there's no reason to stay there.
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