​Popular Routes – Tanzania

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Bradt guide to Tanzania.

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Bradt guidebook to Tanzania.

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Tanzania.

Popular Routes in Tanzania

Northern Circuit (1 to 2 weeks)

The Northern safari circuit is the most popular circuit in Tanzania. In most cases, you will fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK) near Arusha, the gateway of the Northern circuit.

Destinations:

  • Arusha National Park (0.5 to 2 days) is a scenic park dominated by Mt Meru with views of Mt Kilimanjaro on clear days
  • Lake Manyara National Park (1 day) protects an abundance of wildlife in a beautiful setting below the Rift Valley escarpment
  • Tarangire National Park (1 to 3 days) is home to massive elephant herds that gather around the Tarangire River in the Dry season
  • Ngorongoro Crater (1 to 2 days) where it’s not unusual to see the Big Five in one day
  • Serengeti National Park (3 to 5 days) offers top wildlife viewing and a chance to witness the spectacular wildebeest migration


Popular add-ons:

  • Zanzibar Island for relaxing on gorgeous beaches
  • Gombe National Park or Mahale Mountains National Park for chimpanzee trekking
  • Kilimanjaro National Park for climbing Africa’s tallest mountain

Southern Circuit (1 to 2 weeks)

The off-the-beaten-track character of the Southern safari circuit makes for a holistic wilderness experience. In most cases, you will fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam and fly or drive on to Ruaha or Nyerere National Park.

Destinations:

  • Mikumi National Park (1 to 2 days) has great animal concentrations (especially buffalo and elephant) in the Dry season
  • Nyerere National Park (3 to 5 days) offers a combination of game drives, boat trips and walking safaris; formerly known as Selous Game Reserve
  • Ruaha National Park (3 to 5 days) is home to an incredible variety of animals including wild dogs


Popular add-ons:

  • Zanzibar Island for relaxing on gorgeous beaches and spice tours

Western Circuit (1 week)

Tanzania’s Western safari circuit is remote and exclusive. It combines an off-the-beaten-track classic safari in Katavi with chimp trekking on the jungle-clad slopes rising up from Lake Tanganyika in Gombe or Mahale.

Destinations:

  • Mahale Mountains National Park or Gombe National Park (2 to 5 days) for the best chimpanzee trekking in Africa
  • Katavi National Park (2 to 5 days) offers excellent wildlife viewing in the Dry season with superb wilderness appeal


Popular add-ons:

  • Zanzibar Island for relaxing on gorgeous beaches and scuba diving

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