Things To Do in Tanzania
By the Foot Slopes Tours and Safaris team
Written by our Arusha-based guides and safari planners from first-hand experience in Tanzania.
Game drives are the heart of a Tanzania safari, but the country offers far more: hot air balloon flights, walking safaris, mountain climbs, cultural visits and island adventures. Here are the experiences our guests love most, all of which we can build into a private tailor-made itinerary.
Wildlife Experiences
1. Follow the Great Migration
Huge herds of wildebeest and zebra circle the Serengeti ecosystem all year. Calving on the southern plains around January and February and river crossings in the north from about July to October are the highlights. See our Serengeti guide.
2. Descend into Ngorongoro Crater
A day on the crater floor gives a real chance of seeing lion, elephant, buffalo and the rare black rhino in one morning. Read more about Ngorongoro Crater.
3. Float over the Serengeti by balloon
A sunrise hot air balloon flight over the plains, usually followed by a bush breakfast, is one of Africa’s most memorable experiences.
4. Walk with an armed ranger
Walking safaris in Arusha National Park, Nyerere and Ruaha reveal tracks, plants and small creatures you miss from a vehicle.
5. Take a boat safari
In Nyerere National Park you can glide past hippos, crocodiles and riverside birds on the Rufiji River.
Adventure & Culture
6. Climb Mount Kilimanjaro
Africa’s highest peak can be climbed without technical skills on routes of six to nine days. Explore our Kilimanjaro trekking packages.
7. Meet the Maasai and the Hadzabe
Respectful cultural visits near Ngorongoro and Lake Eyasi offer an insight into traditional ways of life, from Maasai bomas to Hadzabe hunting walks.
8. Track chimpanzees
In Mahale Mountains and Gombe Stream you can trek through forest to spend time with wild chimpanzees.
9. Explore Zanzibar
Wander the alleys of Stone Town, tour a spice farm and relax on white-sand beaches. See our Zanzibar beach holidays.
10. See flamingos at Lake Natron
The remote soda lake at Lake Natron is a major flamingo breeding site, beneath the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai.
How To Combine Activities
- Safari and beach: northern parks plus Zanzibar
- Climb and safari: Kilimanjaro, then a short safari to relax
- Culture and wildlife: Lake Eyasi with Ngorongoro
- Wild south: boat and walking safaris in Nyerere and Ruaha
Things To Do FAQs
What is the number one thing to do in Tanzania?
For most visitors it is a safari in the Serengeti, ideally timed with the Great Migration. Many combine it with Ngorongoro Crater for the best chance of seeing the Big Five on a single trip.
Can I combine a Kilimanjaro climb with a safari?
Yes. Many guests climb Kilimanjaro first and then enjoy a short safari in Tarangire, Ngorongoro or the Serengeti to relax. Arusha and Moshi are both close to the main northern parks.
Is a hot air balloon safari worth it?
Most guests rate it as a highlight. You drift over the Serengeti at sunrise, watch wildlife from above, and land for a bush breakfast. Places are limited, so it is best booked in advance.
What can I do in Tanzania besides safari?
You can climb Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru, track chimpanzees in the west, visit Maasai and Hadzabe communities, explore Stone Town and spice farms in Zanzibar, dive or snorkel coral reefs, or simply relax on the beach.
Build Your Tanzania Experience
Choose the activities you love and our Arusha team will combine them into one private tailor-made itinerary.
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