TravPa

Tanzania

Watch elephants among Tarangire's baobabs, the Big Five in Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti migration, then walk Stone Town's carved-door lanes to Zanzibar's evening food market.

Best timeJun to Sep, Jan to FebMoneyTanzanian shilling (TZS)Plugs[plug types and voltage]Main airportKilimanjaro (JRO)
Approved by TravPa Editors, Nov 7, 2026
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Overview

Most first trips pair a safari on the northern circuit with time on Zanzibar. From Arusha, Arusha National Park is about 45 min away by road, Lake Manyara about 2 to 2.5 hours and Tarangire about 2.5 to 3 hours; the Serengeti is 7 to 8 hours by road or a short flight to Seronera. Daily flights then link Arusha with Zanzibar in about 1.5 hours, for Stone Town and the coast.

The long rains fall from about March to May and the short rains from about November to December, when park tracks can turn to mud and a 4x4 matters. June to September is dry and the busiest safari season. January and February are drier again, when the wildebeest herds calve on the southern plains.

When to go

BestGo with a plan
janMildfebMildmarRainyaprRainymayRainyjunBestjulBestaugBestsepBestoctMildnovRainydecRainy

From the end of December to April the wildebeest migration gathers on the Ndutu plains on the edge of the southern Serengeti, where thousands of calves are born.

Every month in detail: weather and recent fares

Itineraries

[Photo: Stone Town]
Stone Town in 1 dayFreddie Mercury Museum, Christ Church Cathedral, Darajani Market, Hamamni Persian Baths, Old Fort, Old Dispensary, Forodhani GardensPacked pace

Where to stay

ArushaCentral Arusha for museums, flights and early safari pickups; Usa River for Arusha National Park; Karatu for Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater.Best areas to stay in ArushaHotels in Arusha
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Stone TownShangani for the seafront, Forodhani and the Freddie Mercury Museum; Mkunazini for the cathedral and Darajani Market; Malindi for the dhow harbor.Best areas to stay in Stone TownHotels in Stone Town
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Getting around

  • Safari drives: Tarangire is about 2.5 to 3 hours from Arusha by tarmac road and Lake Manyara about 2 to 2.5 hours; only 4x4 vehicles with a licensed guide may enter Ngorongoro Crater.
  • Small planes: Coastal Aviation flies daily from Arusha to Zanzibar in about 1.5 hours and to the Serengeti airstrip at Seronera in a little over an hour.
  • Kilimanjaro Airport: The main airport for the northern parks lies about 40 km east of Arusha; arrange your transfer with your hotel or safari operator.
  • Taxis: Use licensed taxis booked by your hotel or from an official stand, check the driver's ID, and avoid motorcycle taxis and three-wheelers.
  • Ferries: Regular ferries link Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar; book with a reputable company and watch for ticket touts at the ports.

Before you go

Travel insuranceHealth insurance from home often doesn't cover care abroad. Check what your plan includes, then compare travel cover for your dates. Tanzania also requires every visitor to buy its own inbound travel insurance, online or on arrival.What the rule means for your policy
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Phone dataMobile coverage is usually good in the main cities but limited outside them, so load maps, visa papers and safari plans before you head for the parks.How a travel eSIM works
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