Tanzania holiday
Travel tips, best time to visit & highlights for your Tanzania holiday in Africa
Tanzania combines the ultimate African experiences: the Serengeti migration, Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the spice island of Zanzibar. Safari and beach in one trip.
Capital
Dodoma
Language
Swahili, English
Currency
Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
Time zone
UTC+3
Flight time from DE
approx. 9–10 hours
Entry requirements
Passport, visa on arrival
Top hotels & accommodations in Tanzania
Selected hotels and holiday accommodations in Tanzania — with images, reviews, and direct booking links with our partners.
Zuri Zanzibar Hotel & Resort
Kendwa, Tansania
Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar
Kendwa, Tansania
Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa
Kiwengwa Beach, Tansania
Baraza Resort & Spa
Bwejuu, Tansania
Karafuu Beach Resort & Spa
Pingwe, Tansania
Hotel Essque Zalu Zanzibar
Nungwi, Tansania
Sea Cliff Resort & Spa
Mangapwani, Tansania
TUI Blue Bahari Zanzibar
Pwani Mchangani, Tansania
Top 5 highlights in Tanzania
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Serengeti
The Great Migration: 2 million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles traverse the land.
Kilimanjaro
Africa's highest mountain (5,895m): ascent possible in 5-9 days.
Ngorongoro Crater
The largest volcanic crater in the world – a natural amphitheater full of wildlife.
Zanzibar
Spice Island: Stone Town, white beaches, turquoise waters, and dhow boats.
Tarangire
Baobab trees, large elephant herds, and fewer tourists than in the Serengeti.
Hotels in Tanzania
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reise-SIM für Tanzania
Prepaid-SIM mit Datenvolumen für Tanzania. Einfach einlegen und sofort lossurfen – keine Roaming-Gebühren.
* Weiterleitung zu travSIM.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reiseversicherung abschließen
Rundum-Schutz ab 9,90 € auf TravelSecure.de
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to visit Tanzania
Recommended travel time
June–October (Safari), December–March (Beach)
Summer
25–30°C
Winter
20–28°C
How much does a holiday in Tanzania cost?
Average cost per person per day (excluding flight)
Budget
80–120€ (including safari)
Hostel, street food, public transport
Mid-range
150–300€
Hotel, restaurant, excursions
Luxury
300–800€
Boutique hotel, fine dining
5 travel tips for Tanzania
Insider knowledge to make your holiday better.
Best time for safari in the Serengeti is June-July for the Great Migration
Zanzibar is ideal as a beach extension after safari
Malaria prophylaxis is mandatory – consult a doctor
Kilimanjaro: Lemosho route has the highest success rate
Exchange money in Dar es Salaam, not at the airport
Food & drink in Tanzania
These dishes you must try!
Discover Tanzania
10 regions, cities and highlights in Tanzania
Cities
Arusha
Arusha is the gateway to Tanzania's legendary national parks and is dramatically located at the foot of Mount Meru with views of Kilimanjaro. The bustling city serves as a starting point for safaris to the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park. The pleasant highland climate at 1,400 meters and the vibrant cultural scene make Arusha more than just a transit point.
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city and economic heart, is located on the Indian Ocean and serves as the gateway to some of Africa's greatest natural wonders: Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater, and the Spice Island of Zanzibar. The former capital (the government seat has been moved to Dodoma) pulses with East African energy: the Kariakoo Market is an overwhelming hustle and bustle of spices, fabrics, and tropical fruits. The Slipway and Oysterbay beaches offer waterfront restaurants with fresh seafood. The architecture tells of the German and British colonial era — the Askari Memorial and the Lutheran Church date back to the German East Africa period. The National Museum houses the oldest hominid finds in Africa. Dar es Salaam means "Harbor of Peace" in Arabic and combines African, Arab, and Indian influences into a unique urban culture.
Dodoma
Dodoma is the official capital of Tanzania — although most people consider Dar es Salaam to be the capital. Located at an altitude of 1,100 meters in the semi-arid central region, the city has a completely different atmosphere than tropical Dar es Salaam. The Kondoa Irangi Rock Paintings (UNESCO World Heritage Site), located 150 km to the north, showcase 2,000-year-old rock paintings by the Sandawe and Hadza — one of the most significant sites of African rock art. Dodoma itself is tranquil: The wine region around Dodoma — yes, Tanzania has wine — has been producing wines from local grapes since the Italian colonial period. The Isimila Stone Age Site (20 km south) preserves 300,000-year-old hand axes and spectacular natural sandstone columns. The city is a gateway to the wilderness: Ruaha National Park (Tanzania's largest park with the most elephants) is located 4 hours to the southwest, and the Hadzabe bushmen at Lake Eyasi still live as hunters and gatherers 3 hours to the north.
Stone Town
Stone Town is the vibrant heart of Zanzibar — a labyrinth of narrow streets, carved wooden doors, Arabic arch houses, and oriental bazaars that, as a UNESCO World Heritage site, showcases the cultural fusion of Africa, Arabia, India, and Europe in a compact space. The old town of the spice island is a sensory overload of scents, colors, and stories. The over 500 intricately carved wooden doors are Stone Town's most famous symbol: Indian doors with brass fittings, Arabic ones with pointed arches, Omani ones with massive wooden beams — each door tells the origin and wealth of its former owner. Some are over 200 years old and are now protected as historical monuments. The Darajani Market is the pulsating center: spices — cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, nutmeg — are stacked in colorful pyramids, while fishermen display their morning catch and women haggle in colorful kangas. Zanzibar was the center of the spice trade for centuries, and the scent still permeates every alley. Freddie Mercury's birthplace on Kenyatta Road serves as a reminder that the Queen singer was born in Stone Town in 1946 as Farrokh Bulsara. The former house bears a plaque, and fans from around the world pilgrimage here. The Forodhani Gardens by the shore transform every evening into the most famous street food market in East Africa: Zanzibar pizza, grilled octopus, sugarcane juice, and fresh seafood are served at stalls under fairy lights as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean.
National parks
Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, at 5,895 meters, is Africa's highest mountain and the highest free-standing mountain in the world, a dream for every mountaineer — and one of the few "Seven Summits" that can be climbed without technical climbing experience. The mountain traverses five climate zones: from tropical rainforest to heath and moorland, up to the arctic summit zone with glaciers. Uhuru Peak, the highest point, offers one of the most emotional moments a person can experience at sunrise — the view over the cloud cover across Africa. There are several routes: The Marangu Route ("Coca-Cola Route") is the classic, the Machame Route ("Whiskey Route") is the most popular, and the Lemosho Route offers the best acclimatization opportunities. The national park surrounding the mountain is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to elephants, buffalo, and colobus monkeys in the lower forest areas.
Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania is the largest unfilled caldera in the world and one of Africa's most spectacular natural wonders. The 19-kilometer-wide crater forms a natural amphitheater, home to an incredible density of wildlife — from the majestic lion to the rare black rhinoceros. Around 25,000 large mammals permanently inhabit the crater floor, including the highest density of predators in Africa. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals hunt wildebeests, zebras, buffaloes, and gazelles here. The few remaining black rhinoceroses in Tanzania find one of their last refuges in the protected crater. A safari in Ngorongoro offers the best chance in East Africa to see all the 'Big Five' in a single day. The crater walls rise 600 meters above the ground and are covered with lush mountain forest. In the morning, when the fog drifts through the treetops and the first rays of sunlight reach the crater floor, a spectacle of such beauty unfolds that it takes your breath away. The nearby Empakaai Crater, with its emerald green lake full of flamingos, is another insider tip. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is not only a wildlife paradise but also home to the Maasai, who have lived here with their cattle herds for centuries. The coexistence of wildlife and pastoralists is unique worldwide and makes the reserve a UNESCO World Heritage Site in two categories: nature and culture. A visit to a Maasai village (Boma) provides insights into a fascinating way of life that has hardly changed over millennia. Ngorongoro is strategically located between the Serengeti National Park to the west and Lake Manyara to the east — ideal as part of a multi-day safari route. The Olduvai Gorge at the edge of the crater is the 'Cradle of Mankind,' where some of the oldest hominid fossils in the world have been found.
Serengeti
The Serengeti in Tanzania is the epitome of the African safari and one of the last great ecosystems where the drama of the wilderness unfolds in all its intensity. Over 30,000 square kilometers of endless grasslands, interspersed with acacia forests and riverbeds, host the largest concentration of large mammals on Earth. The Great Migration is the most spectacular wildlife spectacle on the planet: Over 1.5 million wildebeests, 200,000 zebras, and hundreds of thousands of gazelles move in an eternal cycle through the Serengeti in search of fresh grass and water. The dramatic river crossings of the Mara River between July and October, where crocodiles lurk and the herds bravely plunge into the water, are among the most intense nature experiences imaginable. In addition to the migration, the Serengeti is home to the largest lion population in Africa, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, and over 500 species of birds. Luxury safari camps and mobile tented camps follow the herds through the seasons, offering wildlife observation at the highest level. Hot air balloon rides at sunrise over the endless plains are a unique experience. The Serengeti can be ideally combined with the Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Islands
Mafia Island
Mafia Island is Tanzania's best-kept secret — a tropical island 160 km south of Zanzibar that hardly any tourist has on their radar, but is among the best diving spots in East Africa. The Mafia Island Marine Park, which encompasses the entire southern coast, protects a vast coral reef ecosystem with over 400 species of fish. Between October and March, whale sharks visit the waters off Mafia — gentle giants up to 12 meters long, with whom you can snorkel in shallow water. It is one of the most reliable whale shark habitats in the world and significantly less crowded than other hotspots. The island itself is a mosaic of coconut palms, mangrove forests, cashew plantations, and tiny fishing villages, where life seems to have changed little for centuries. Kilindoni, the main town, consists of a handful of dusty streets, a market, and the ferry terminal. Chole Bay in the southeast offers sheltered, crystal-clear waters for snorkeling. The offshore Chole Island is home to the atmospheric ruins of a medieval Swahili trading town, overgrown with giant baobabs. Mafia is not for luxury vacationers — it is a place for adventurers, divers, and travelers seeking the real, unvarnished East Africa.
Pemba
Pemba is the northern and lesser-known sister island of Zanzibar — and that is exactly what makes it appealing. While Zanzibar attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, Pemba remains a hidden gem for divers, nature lovers, and travelers seeking authentic East African island life. The underwater world off Pemba is among the best diving spots in East Africa: the Pemba Channel reaches depths of over 800 meters and creates currents that attract large fish, manta rays, whale sharks, and even hammerhead sharks. The Misali Island Marine Conservation Area offers pristine coral reefs with over 300 species of fish — snorkeling and diving at world-class level. Pemba carries the nickname "The Green Island": lush clove plantations, rice fields, mangrove forests, and tropical rainforests cover the hilly terrain. The island produces the majority of the world's clove harvest, and the scent permeates the entire atmosphere. Chake Chake, the capital, is a sleepy town with Arab architecture, colorful markets, and a ruin from the Portuguese colonial era. The Ngezi Forest Reserve in the north is home to the last original rainforest of the island with the rare Pemba Flying Fox — an endemic fruit bat.
Zanzibar
Zanzibar, the spice island off the coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean, enchants with turquoise blue water, powdery white beaches, and a fascinating cultural mix of African, Arab, Indian, and European influences. Stone Town, the historic old town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a labyrinth of narrow streets, carved wooden doors, and former sultan palaces. The beaches on the east coast around Nungwi and Kendwa are among the most beautiful in the Indian Ocean: crystal clear water, coconut palms, and spectacular sunsets create the perfect tropical paradise. At low tide, locals wade through ankle-deep water to offshore sandbanks, while women harvest seaweed for cosmetic production — a unique sight. Zanzibar's nickname, Spice Island, comes from the cultivation of cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and black pepper. Spice tours take you through fragrant plantations where you can taste exotic fruits straight from the tree. The Forodhani Gardens Night Food Market in Stone Town is an evening street food festival featuring fresh fish, Zanzibar pizza, and sugarcane juice. Dolphin tours off Kizimkazi and snorkeling at Mnemba Atoll complement the offerings. December to March and June to October are the best travel months.
Complete guide for Tanzania
Regions, attractions, food, routes, costs & practical tips — all in one digital guide.
Open guideReady for Tanzania?
Plan your Tanzania holiday now with our free tools.
Plan a holiday in Tanzania
Tanzania is one of the most popular travel destinations in Africa, offering Safari, Nature, Adventure and much more. The best time to visit Tanzania is June–October (Safari), December–March (Beach), when the weather is ideal for exploration and relaxation. With a daily budget starting from 80–120€ (including safari) (Budget) to 300–800€ (Luxury), Tanzania is suitable for various travel budgets.
From the capital Dodoma, Tanzania can be excellently explored. The official language is Swahili, English, and the currency is Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). From Germany, you can reach Tanzania in approx. 9–10 hours. Whether you want to try culinary highlights like Ugali, Nyama Choma, Pilau, visit top attractions, or simply enjoy the atmosphere: Tanzania has something for every type of traveller.
Use our free travel tools to prepare your Tanzania holiday perfectly. With the holiday finder, you can discover if Tanzania is the right destination for you. The budget calculator helps you plan costs realistically, and with the packing list, you won't forget anything.
Suitable holiday types for Tanzania:
More travel destinations in Africa:
All countries in Africa