A little more
Tanzania.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Tanzania: what to know before you go

Tanzania has some of Africa's greatest wildlife areas, including the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, as well as Mount Kilimanjaro and the spice islands of the Zanzibar archipelago. It suits safari-goers, climbers and beach lovers, and many trips combine all three: a week on safari in the north followed by a few days on the Indian Ocean coast.

Where to go

• Serengeti National Park. Vast plains crossed each year by the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra, followed by lions, cheetahs and hyenas.
• Ngorongoro Crater. A huge volcanic caldera with steep walls and a floor of grassland, swamp and a soda lake, home to dense populations of animals, including black rhino.
• Mount Kilimanjaro. Africa's highest mountain can be climbed without technical skills on routes such as Machame, Lemosho and Marangu, usually over six to eight days with a licensed guide and porters.
• Stone Town, Zanzibar. A UNESCO-listed old town of narrow alleys, carved wooden doors, Omani-era houses and markets.

Best time to visit

The long dry season, from roughly June to October, is the best time for safaris: animals gather near water and vegetation is thinner. It also coincides with the Serengeti river crossings.

Staying online in Tanzania

Mobile coverage is good in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Moshi, Stone Town and other towns, with 4G widely available. In national parks it varies: some lodges and areas of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro have signal, but large areas have none, and coverage on Kilimanjaro is intermittent, mainly near some camps. Many safari lodges offer Wi-Fi, but it is often slow. Download offline maps and expect to be offline at times. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.