Tourist Attractions in Tanzania

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Tanzania

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Tanzania

Half of Tanzania’s territory is covered by national parks. More than 100 reserves and sanctuaries work to preserve the natural diversity of this part of Africa. Tourists from all over the world come to Tanzania to take part in exciting photo safaris, sunbathe on the beaches of Zanzibar, visit Bushmen settlements or climb the highest African mountain Kilimanjaro.

Exotic Tanzania constantly occupies the first places in various tourist ratings. The hot tropical climate, the opportunity to observe amazing and rare animals attracts sophisticated and experienced travellers who come here for vivid impressions. The most popular are combined tours, when one trip combines beach holidays and active trips around the country.

Top-20 Tourist Attractions in Tanzania

Mount Kilimanjaro

 4.5/5

3356 reviews

The highest volcano mountain on the African continent. The majestic Kilimanjaro stands on the Maasai Plateau and reaches a height of 5895 metres. In translation from the local Swahili dialect the name means “shining mountain”. Among many tourists, it is popular to climb to the top, “conquer Kilimanjaro” or simply hike organised (or independent) treks through the picturesque surroundings.

Dar es Salaam

 0/5

The largest and richest city in Tanzania, a large and important port. The metropolis is located on the Indian Ocean coast and is home to several million people. Dar es Salaam emerged on the site of the fishing village of Mzizima thanks to Sultan Majid ibn Said in the XIX century. The ruler was so impressed by this place that he decided to build a city and called it “the house of peace” (this is the Arabic translation).

Unguja

 4.5/5

3549 reviews

Zanzibar (the island was formerly called Unguja) can be considered a “state within a state” as it is an autonomous territory within Tanzania. The island is located in the Indian Ocean. Due to the comfortable temperature, a rich excursion program, excellent tourist infrastructure, travellers often choose it as a place of rest. There are a lot of excellent beaches and comfortable hotels, offering guests world-class service.

Christ Church Cathedral

 4.2/5

273 reviews

This temple is nowadays an iconic landmark in Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar. The church was built in 1887 using several architectural styles. It mixes traditional Arabic urban planning techniques with Gothic elements. Inside the church is a wooden crucifix dedicated to Livingstone, a prominent British explorer of Africa and renowned scientist.

Open time

House of Wonders

 3.5/5

270 reviews

The building is a palace built in 1883. It served as the Sultan’s residence until the middle of the 20th century. The name “House of Miracles” is explained simply – it was here that electricity, running water and a lift were installed for the first time in the whole country. These benefits of civilisation were a “miracle” for the locals at first. In several rooms of the palace there is a museum where you can see old British cars.

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Stone Town

The old part of the city of Zanzibar, the capital of the island of the same name. Before European colonisation, it was a centre of trade between the coasts of Africa and Asia. Under the rule of Sayyid ibn Sultan, it was the capital of the so-called Omani Empire from 1840 to 1956. The Stone City is a tangle of narrow streets where even a small car cannot pass, mosques, bazaars and houses with wooden verandas.

Livingstone Museum

 4.3/5

77 reviews

A rather unassuming 3-storey building in Zanzibar, from where explorer David Livingstone set off on his last expedition. The building was erected in 1860 and after the scientist’s death it was used by the local Hindu community. Later the government bought the house and reconstructed it. Now it houses a tourist office that organises various excursions for travellers.

Open time

Mangapwani Coral Cave

 4.3/5

41 reviews

Located in Zanzibar. The larger cave is a natural formation in limestone rock, with a deep lake inside. The smaller cave is a man-cut cramped “stone bag”. Mangapwani secretly held slaves after the official abolition of the slave trade. Slaves were taken from here to India and Arab countries. In the large cave, the “live goods” were taken away, while in the small cave they were kept in horrible conditions.

Open time

Mount Meru

 4.5/5

180 reviews

The second largest volcano in Tanzania (after Kilimanjaro). The last eruption occurred in 1877, after which Meru did not show any more signs of activity. The mountain has two peaks: Big Meru with a height of over 4.5 thousand metres and Small Meru with a height of over 3.8 thousand metres. The volcano is located in the Arusha National Park, where entrance is allowed only with special permits.

Ol Doinyo Lengai

 4.7/5

108 reviews

The name means “Mountain of God” in the language of the local Maasai tribe. The volcano reaches a height of 2,962 metres and is one of the most active on the African continent. When erupting, “cold” lava of an unusual black colour is thrown to the surface, which quickly solidifies and forms bizarre shapes. The volcano is located in the Arusha National Park.

Olduvai Gorge Museum

 4.6/5

556 reviews

An area in northern Tanzania, part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Olduvai is 40 kilometres long, with a total gorge area of 250 km². Many important archaeological discoveries have been made here: the remains of the ancient man Homo habilis, which are more than 2 million years old, the skull of Australopithecus, the remains of primitive tools and hunting. The OlduvaiGodge Museum, dedicated to anthropology and human evolution, is located in the gorge.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Serengeti National Park

 4.8/5

5750 reviews

A large and renowned world reserve covering an area of 14,763 km². The Serengeti occupies the natural area of the Great African Rift. The reserve was established in 1929. Since then, its territory has been continuously expanded. In 1981 it was recognised as a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site and came under the protection of this organisation. The nature and ecosystem of the Serengeti is considered to be one of the oldest on the planet.

Open time

Monday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

 4.7/5

4249 reviews

This crater was formed about 2.5 million years ago by the collapse of a huge volcano. Its edges rise 3 kilometres above sea level and the bottom 2 kilometres. The area is about 20 thousand hectares, the diameter of the crater itself is about 19 kilometres. Now the area is a circular fenced savannah plain, where there are almost 25 thousand species of animals. Most of them are predators.

Open time

RUAHA NATIONAL PARK

 4.9/5

103 reviews

Ruaha is Tanzania’s second largest national park. Due to its isolation, the area has preserved unspoilt nature almost unchanged. Ruaha’s landscapes are unlike other reserves, which is why the reserve has become a tourist attraction. The park was established in 1964. It ranks first in the size of the elephant population – there are about 8,000 thousand individuals of this huge animal.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Jozani

 0/5

A 44 km² natural area where the red-brown colobus, a rare species of monkey, has been preserved. These animals are listed in the Red Book and nowadays live only in Jozani territory. The colobus body size is only 45-70 cm and the tail length is about 90 cm. Monkeys are peaceful, have long been accustomed to tourists and gladly go to contact. There are also dozens of species of endemic animals and birds.

Lake Tanganyika

 4.2/5

755 reviews

The water body is considered to be one of the longest freshwater lakes on the planet (almost 40 km longer than Baikal). The maximum depth is almost 1.5 kilometres and the average width is 72 kilometres. Tanganyika has a large supply of fresh water. Only one shore is on the territory of Tanzania, the rest belong to Burundi, Zambia, Republic of Congo. Due to the peculiarities of water composition, there is almost no life at a depth of more than 200 metres.

Lake Malawi

 4.2/5

437 reviews

It is the third largest in Africa and the ninth largest in the world. It is 560 kilometres long and 80 kilometres wide, with an average depth of about 700 metres. Malawi is characterised by a great variety of fish, according to various studies their number reaches almost 1000 species. Crocodiles and bald eagles also live here. The lake is a popular place for fishing, with local fish supplying all the neighbouring settlements.

Lake Natron

 4.1/5

663 reviews

A rather unusual and picturesque place located in the Great Rift Rift region. The water in the lake has shades from blood red to deep orange due to microorganisms living in it. The chemical vapours deter predators, so many small animals settle on the shores. After death, their bodies turn into mummies due to special chemical processes in the lake area.

Lake Manyara

 4.6/5

89 reviews

A water body that has become home to a huge number of magnificent pink flamingos. The population of these birds is so large that from afar you can see a dense pink blur above the surface of the water. The waters of Manyara are also home to over 400 species of other birds, most of which are not found elsewhere. Rhinoceros bird, marabou, stork, pelican, ibis, crane and cormorant can be found here.

Lake Victoria

 4.3/5

5562 reviews

Victoria is one of the seven Great African Lakes. It covers an area of 68.8 thousand km². More than 30 million people live in the coastal strip of the reservoir and several densely populated cities with millions of inhabitants have been built. The border of the equator passes through the territory of the lake. Industrial shipping and ferry communication between countries are developed here, and water energy is actively used to supply cities and settlements.