Best places to visit in Tanzania: top cities, regions and sights

Rank places by how much time they need, not by how famous they are. The northern circuit plus Zanzibar fits 7–10 days. Kilimanjaro, the southern parks and the western chimpanzee sites each need their own trip of a week or more.

Land at Kilimanjaro (JRO), sleep one night in Arusha, then drive or fly the circuit: Tarangire for elephants and baobabs, Ngorongoro for a half-day descent into the crater, and the Serengeti for three or four nights. Which Serengeti sector you book depends on the month: the southern plains in January to March, the north around July to October. Finish by flying out of the Serengeti rather than driving back, then take a light aircraft to Zanzibar for Stone Town and a beach.

Arusha is the practical base: operators, markets and the airport road. Moshi, an hour or so east, is the Kilimanjaro climbing town and worth a night only if you are climbing. Stone Town deserves a full day before the beach; Forodhani's food stalls open at sunset.

Kilimanjaro is a 7–9 day trek, usually via Machame or another route from Moshi; climb Mount Meru (3–4 days) first if you want to acclimatise. The southern parks, Ruaha and Nyerere (Selous), are quieter and reached by light aircraft from Dar es Salaam; both are dry-season trips from June to October. Mahale Mountains, on Lake Tanganyika, is a chimpanzee destination with a short season, roughly July to October, and Gombe near Kigoma is the other option.

On the coast, Pemba is the diving island, best October to March, and Mafia Island is the other marine park. Bagamoyo, north of Dar, and the Kilwa Kisiwani ruins on the south coast are history stops rather than beach stays.

Most travellers pass through the cities rather than stay. Arusha and Moshi are safari and climbing bases. Stone Town is the one city that is a destination in its own right. Dar es Salaam is the transport hub for the south and for Zanzibar ferries, Dodoma is the official capital and four hours from Dar by SGR train, and Mwanza on Lake Victoria is the western gateway to the Serengeti. Kigoma is the port for Lake Tanganyika and the chimpanzee sites.

Book the e-visa before you fly, and from 1 October 2026 expect a mandatory inbound insurance fee of about US$44 (check the current amount and whether it is included in your visa application). Carry US dollars for park fees and tips, and expect card payments to be limited outside hotels.

Distances are long and roads slow: allow a full day for Arusha to the Serengeti by road, or pay for a light aircraft. Fly out of the Serengeti instead of driving back, and keep a buffer night before your international flight. The long rains from April to May close many camps and worsen roads, so most first trips run June to October or January to March. Travel insurance that covers trekking, safari activities and medical evacuation is worth arranging before you book the climb.