The Ultimate Travel Bucket List for Tanzania
We’ve set ourselves a somewhat impossible task of narrowing down everything Tanzania has to offer into a quintessential travel bucket list. We could make this list ten times as longer or make several lists and never have to mention the same place twice. It’s the country’s vast bounty of safari activities and enriching cultural experiences that makes Tanzania so special, and this diversity makes each of the Tanzania Safaris we create for our guests truly unique as there are so many possible components to join together into a personalized experience. If anything in this blog inspires you to finally start making your Tanzania safari dream a reality, please feel free to get in touch to ask for a free sample itinerary from our experts here at Sababu Safaris.
Disclaimer
We can’t possibly cover everything worth seeing and doing in Tanzania - this only is an attempt to offer a small but essential collection of unmissable experiences.
The Serengeti and The Great Migration
Let’s get the big one out of the way at the start! Serengeti National Park is arguably the most sought-after safari destination in Africa, and it is certainly the most popular national park in Tanzania. A while back, we wrote about why the Serengeti National Park is so important — a large part of this is because the Great Migration occurs here. This is one of the most spectacular land migrations on the planet, with approximately two million animals making their way roughly 500 miles each year, most of the journey taking place in the Serengeti. It’s a misconception that there is only a narrow time window in which to see this spectacle. For instance, the calving season is between January and March, the famous river crossings take place between July and October. If you’d like to learn more, check out our 10 facts about the Great Migration.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is utterly unique, boasting scenery unlike anywhere else in Africa. It is the site of three ancient volcanic craters, the largest of which - the Ngorongoro Crater - is a huge caldera rising out of the ground making for some of the most striking views and photographs in the country. Within the NCA sits the Olduvai Gorge, which is considered the cradle of mankind with the earliest remains of homo sapiens discovered here. The animals in the Ngorongoro are also particularly impressive; there are wildebeest, zebra, lion, cheetahs, leopards, spotted hyenas…and very rarely even wild dogs — to name only a few. We feel so strongly that the Ngorongoro should be on your itinerary that we wrote an entire blog titled Why the Ngorongoro Crater Should be on Your Bucket List!
Kilimanjaro National Park
Whether you plan to climb the tallest mountain in Africa, or just to stand beneath it, looking up, Kilimanjaro National Park HAS to be on your bucket list. This mountain would be impressive in any context, but it stands on its own, looming over the otherwise flat plains, and the contrast creates one of the most breathtaking mountainous environments in the entire world. This entire national park stretches out for quite some distance around the mountain, and it includes some of the most diverse terrains in Tanzania, including its lower slopes, montane forest, heath and moorland, alpine desert and summit. The best part is that each biome offers its own collection of flora and fauna! Read more about Mount Kilimanjaro National Park.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is severely underrated, and this is part of its appeal: it has a spectacular array of animal life and epic scenery, but it is nowhere near as well-known as the other parks. This means that it is less busy than other safaris destinations in the country, making Tarangire the perfect spot for safari parties who prefer the road less travelled, with as few distractions as possible. One highlight in Tarangire is the 300-strong herd of elephants that rove the area in search of underground water. Read more about Tarangire National Park.
Authentic Cultural Experiences
As Tanzania offers many of the best safari opportunities in all of Africa, people often get preoccupied only with its top safari destinations. However, there is so much more to Tanzania and the many different peoples who live here (over 120 different tribes, in fact!). Here at Sababu Safaris, we believe in traveling with purpose, and factoring in cultural sensitivity and responsible tourism is a big part of this. As such, we have created a diverse collection of Sababu Experiences. These experiences create a foundation for visitors to learn about Tanzanian culture while also giving back to the local people. Here is a small list of some possible Sababu Experiences you can add to your Tanzania bucket list:
Visit the Maasai tribe and learn about their culture and traditions. You can take a nature walk or a bike tour, and you can even take part in a spear throwing competition or a traditional bead craft workshop.
Meet with a local Iraqw family, learning about Iraqw traditions and culture. Learn their ancient pot-making process and try your hand at pounding grain before tasting the local brew.
In Arusha, visit a home for children that helps them recover after surgery. This place makes a huge impact on the lives of Tanzanian children with disabilities.
Walk with Hadzabe bushmen as they embark on a morning hunt. The Hadzabe are one of the world’s last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes and they have a remarkable set of effective hunting and survival skills that have stood the test of time. Given the nature of this experience, this is an extremely sensitive cultural encounter.
Distribute solar lights to a family living without electricty
There are so many more places that deserve a mention so we may come back later to add to the list. After all, we didn’t even get time to discuss the Selous Game Reserve, Mahale National Park or Zanzibar. If we have inspired you to explore Tanzania with us, making use of Sababu Safaris’ local knowledge and expertise, please feel free to reach out. Your big Tanzania safari holiday begins as soon as you give your imagination permission. Start dreaming of your next adventure and the experience can begin today!