Which is better — Kenya or Tanzania for a first safari?

Both are world-class. Tanzania has the Serengeti and Ngorongoro — arguably the most famous names in safari. Kenya's Masai Mara is easier to combine with other destinations and offers more price flexibility. Many first-timers choose to combine both countries.

Can I see the Great Migration in Tanzania?

Yes — the Migration is in Tanzania for around 10 months of the year. The calving season (Jan–March) takes place in the southern Serengeti; the herds are in the northern Serengeti for the spectacular Mara River crossings from July to October.

How many days do I need in the Serengeti?

Three nights is the minimum for a good game-viewing experience; four to five nights allows you to explore different zones and increases your chances of witnessing key wildlife events.

Is Ngorongoro worth visiting?

Absolutely. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most reliable Big Five destinations in Africa — and many visitors consider a single day on the crater floor to be the highlight of their entire trip.

What is the best time to visit Tanzania?

The long dry season (June–October) is generally best for wildlife viewing across all parks. January–March is excellent for the calving season and fewer crowds. Avoid the long rains (April–May) for driving safaris.

Can I combine Tanzania with Kenya?

Yes — a classic East Africa circuit combines Amboseli or the Masai Mara (Kenya) with the Serengeti and Ngorongoro (Tanzania). Most visitors fly between the two countries on short domestic flights.

Wildebeest grazing across the vast Serengeti plains, Tanzania

Tanzania's wildlife
parks & reserves.

Parks & reserves

Big 5

Year-round viewing

1.5M

Migrating wildebeest

Safari vehicle in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Why Tanzania is unmissable

The Serengeti.
The Crater.
The Migration.

Tanzania holds some of the most famous names in all of wildlife — and delivers on every one. The country's northern circuit alone is enough for a lifetime of safaris.

iThe Great Migration Present in Tanzania for 10 of 12 months — the calving, the crossing and everything in between.
iiNgorongoro Crater The world's most reliable Big Five destination — all five in a single day.
iii16 national parks and reserves From the far north to the remote south — a park for every type of traveller.
ivWild dog stronghold Ruaha and Selous hold some of the world's last viable wild dog populations.
vZanzibar extension Safari and beach in one country — Zanzibar's white sands are 45 minutes by flight.

Tanzania's headline parks

What makes
each one special.

Tanzania's parks span two distinct circuits — the busy, spectacular north and the remote, wild south. This guide covers both so you can decide what fits your trip.

01 · Serengeti

Migration · Big cats

Serengeti National Park

Africa's most iconic savannah — the Serengeti is the world's greatest wildlife spectacle. Over 1.5 million wildebeest, 250,000 zebra and 470,000 gazelle move across its plains in a continuous, year-round cycle.

The Great Migration — present 10 months of the year
Largest lion population in Africa
Year-round cheetah and leopard sightings
Wildebeest calving in the south (January–March)
River crossings in the north (July–October)

Best forThe Migration & big cats

02 · Ngorongoro

Big Five · Crater

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The world's largest intact, unflooded volcanic caldera — 260 sq km of self-contained ecosystem where you can reliably see all of the Big Five in a single day. The resident black rhino population is one of Africa's best-protected.

All Big Five in a single day — most reliable in Africa
Resident black rhino population
Large lion prides on the crater floor
Thousands of seasonal flamingos on Lake Magadi
Dramatic crater-rim lodge views

Best forBig Five in a day

03 · Tarangire

Elephants · Baobabs

Tarangire National Park

Africa's best dry-season elephant park — thousands of elephants converge on the Tarangire River from July to October, creating scenes of extraordinary density. The baobab-studded landscape is unlike anywhere else in Tanzania.

Largest elephant concentration in northern Tanzania (dry season)
Iconic baobab landscape
Tree-climbing lions
Excellent birdlife — 550+ species
Fewer crowds than the Serengeti

Best forElephants & dry-season drama

04 · Ruaha

Wilderness · Seclusion

Ruaha National Park

Tanzania's largest national park and one of Africa's last true wilderness areas. Ruaha is raw, wild and virtually uncrowded — lion prides here are among the largest in Africa, and wild dog sightings are among the best on the continent.

Tanzania's largest national park — vast and wild
Among Africa's best wild dog sightings
Huge lion prides (groups of 20+)
Large herds of elephant and buffalo
Virtually no vehicle congestion

Best forTrue wilderness & exclusivity

05 · Selous / Nyerere

Boat safari · Wild dogs

Selous / Nyerere National Park

One of Africa's largest protected areas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Rufiji River system creates a unique aquatic safari environment — boat safaris and walking safaris complement the classic game drive in a way found nowhere else in Tanzania.

Boat safaris on the Rufiji River
Walking safaris through true wilderness
Africa's largest wild dog population
Hippo pools, crocodiles & waterbirds
Remote, exclusive fly-in camps

Best forBoat safaris & wild dogs

More of Tanzania

Beyond the
northern circuit.

The northern circuit gets all the attention — but Tanzania's southern parks, mountain forests and island extension offer experiences unlike anything in the north.

Tree lions · Flamingos

Lake Manyara National Park

A compact, diverse park famous for tree-climbing lions, large elephant herds and seasonal flamingos along its alkaline lake shore.

Tree-climbing lions
Large elephant herds
Seasonal flamingo flocks

Best for · Half-day add-on

Trekking · UNESCO

Kilimanjaro National Park

Africa's highest peak and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — five ecological zones from cultivation to arctic summit. Multiple routes, 5–9 day climbs.

Africa's highest point (5,895m)
Five ecological zones
Multiple summit routes

Best for · Trekking & achievement

Chimpanzees · Remote

Mahale Mountains National Park

On the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Mahale is home to over 1,000 wild chimpanzees — the most accessible chimp tracking experience in Tanzania.

Best chimpanzee trekking in Tanzania
Lake Tanganyika beach camps
Fly-in access only

Best for · Chimp trekking & seclusion

Beach · Culture

Zanzibar Archipelago

The spice island — UNESCO Stone Town, pristine white-sand beaches and snorkelling on coral reefs make Zanzibar the perfect safari-and-beach extension.

Stone Town (UNESCO World Heritage)
Pristine beaches & snorkelling
Perfect safari extension

Best for · Post-safari beach stay

How to choose

Tell us what
you're after.

Tanzania's parks serve very different purposes. Start from what you most want — then we combine three to five parks into one seamless journey.

For the Migration

Serengeti (year-round)

For Big Five

Ngorongoro Crater

For elephants

Tarangire (Jun–Oct)

For wilderness

Ruaha or Selous

For wild dogs

Selous / Ruaha

For beach extension

Zanzibar

For chimps

Mahale Mountains

For first-timers

Northern Circuit

Best time to visit

Follow the
Migration.

Tanzania is open year-round — but the experience changes dramatically by season. The right month to come depends entirely on what you want to witness.

Dry season · June – October

Best game viewing.

Driest conditions — best visibility
Wildebeest river crossings in northern Serengeti (Jul–Oct)
Large elephant herds in Tarangire
Peak safari season — book ahead

Green season · November – May

The calving & quieter roads.

Wildebeest calving in the south (Jan–Mar)
Lush green Serengeti — dramatic skies
Lower prices, fewer vehicles
Exceptional birdwatching

Safaris touching these parks

Tanzania safari
packages.

Hand-picked Tanzania itineraries — from a classic 6-day northern circuit to the full migration journey. Every route is customisable for your dates and budget.

Tanzania · Luxury

Ultimate Tanzania Safari

Discover Serengeti National Park on this expertly guided day experience

Serengeti National ParkNorthern Tanzania

From $180

2D · 1N

Tanzania · Luxury

9 Days Kenya & Tanzania Safari

An unforgettable 9-day safari through Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National ParkNorthern Tanzania

From $1,350

9D · 8N

Tanzania · Luxury

Serengeti Plains & Ngorongoro Crater

Tanzania's twin jewels — boundless Serengeti savanna and the world's largest intact volcanic caldera

Serengeti National ParkNorthern Tanzania

From $1,950

8D · 7N

Browse all Tanzania safari packages →

FAQs · Tanzania

Your Tanzania questions.

Call us at +254 722-595-916 — we pick up.

The Serengeti.
The Crater.
The Migration.

Tanzania holds some of the most famous names in all of wildlife — and delivers on every one. The country's northern circuit alone is enough for a lifetime of safaris.

iThe Great Migration Present in Tanzania for 10 of 12 months — the calving, the crossing and everything in between.

iiNgorongoro Crater The world's most reliable Big Five destination — all five in a single day.

iii16 national parks and reserves From the far north to the remote south — a park for every type of traveller.

ivWild dog stronghold Ruaha and Selous hold some of the world's last viable wild dog populations.

vZanzibar extension Safari and beach in one country — Zanzibar's white sands are 45 minutes by flight.

Tanzania's wildlifeparks & reserves.

The Serengeti.The Crater.The Migration.