Handpicked Travel Destinations

Iconic Destinations in Tanzania & East Africa

From the white-sand beaches and coral reefs of Zanzibar and Pemba to the legendary wildlife plains of the Serengeti. Discover our handpicked destinations and plan your unforgettable safari and beach holiday.

19 Destinations

Islands & Wildlife Parks

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Beach & Safari Holidays

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1h 40m Flight

Stone Town to Serengeti

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Showing 16 destinations in Tanzania

Tanzania(16)

Zanzibar

Zanzibar is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of mainland Tanzania. The main island, Unguja, is usually just called Zanzibar, and it is where we work. Pemba, the second island, is a quieter add-on. Zanzibar suits couples, families and groups who want warm sea, white sand and some history in the same week, and it works as the beach end of a safari trip. A normal day starts with breakfast near the sea, then a morning outing: a boat trip to see dolphins or snorkel, a walk through the old streets of Stone Town, or a visit to a spice farm. The afternoon is for the beach. Evenings are for grilled seafood, sunset cruises and music. The coast you choose changes the holiday. The north (Nungwi and Kendwa) has water you can swim in at any tide. The east (Paje, Jambiani, Matemwe, Michamvi) has tides that pull the sea far out at low water, which is good for kite surfing and walking the flats but not for a swim at every hour. The long rains fall from March to May, and some months bring seaweed to parts of the east coast. We run airport transfers, day tours and beach trips from Zanzibar airport, and we combine the island with Tanzania safaris. Pick your beach area below, then check the transfer and the tours that start there.

Explore Zanzibar

Jozani Forest (Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park)

National Park0 Tours

Tanzania

Jozani Forest (Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park)

Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park is Zanzibar's forest park and the best place on the island to see wildlife. It is home to the endangered Zanzibar red colobus monkey. It suits families, nature lovers and anyone who wants a half day away from the beach. A guided walk takes about an hour and goes through forest and along a mangrove boardwalk. Guides take you to where the red colobus feed, often close to the path. Go early for the best chance to see them. The park is open daily from 7:30am to 5pm, with last entry around 4:30pm, and entry costs about 12 US dollars. The trade-off is that wildlife is never guaranteed and the forest is humid and can be muddy after rain. Wear closed shoes and bring insect repellent. Jozani is on the road between Stone Town and the east coast, so it fits easily into a transfer or a tour day with Paje or Jambiani.

Best Season:Morning gives the best monkey sightings. All year, but drier months are easier underfoot.

Highlight:Zanzibar red colobus monkeys

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Beach & Islands0 Tours

Tanzania

Kendwa

Kendwa is the beach just south of Nungwi, known for soft white sand, clear water and strong sunsets. It suits couples, groups and anyone who wants a lively beach with more to do than most of the island. Kendwa Rocks, the beach hotel, has a DJ playing music from daytime until evening. Then a band takes over and plays rock, with a projector next to the stage showing photos of wildlife and people's journeys. More water sports run here than on most other beaches. In the evening you will see Maasai dancers jumping and entertaining on the sand, and you can get your hair plaited in the Maasai small plait style if you want. The sunset dhow cruises leave from the beach. There are private and shared cruises of one to two hours. As the dhow goes out, a crew plays coastal Swahili songs on drums and percussion (tabla, dumbek, daff, shakers, zeze and bongo). A tray of fruit, nuts, cassava chips and chevda is served. The boat has a lower deck and an upper deck for photos and video. On the way back, close to shore, guests can jump from the dhow, swim, and climb back on before docking. You see other dhows and speed boats pass, and the water is clear enough to see the bottom. The trade-off is noise and crowds in the evening, so choose a hotel away from the beach bars if you want quiet. We run the transfer from the airport, the sunset cruises and trips to Mnemba from Kendwa.

Best Season:June to October is dry. December to February is hot. Sunset cruises run all year, weather permitting. Expect rain in March to May.

Highlight:Kendwa beach: soft white sand and clear water

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Beach & Islands0 Tours

Tanzania

Matemwe

Matemwe is a quiet beach on the north-east coast and a good base for boat trips to Mnemba. It suits couples and divers who want a peaceful stay with the reef close by. Boats leave early for the reef. Most guests snorkel or dive, return for lunch, and spend the afternoon on the beach. Evenings are calm. The trade-off is that there is little nightlife and the tide goes out at low water. Come for quiet, not for a lively beach. Matemwe is a short boat ride from Mnemba. We run the airport transfer and the Mnemba trips from here.

Best Season:Dry months give the clearest water. Go out early for Mnemba trips.

Highlight:Boat trips to Mnemba for snorkelling and diving

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Mnemba Atoll

Marine Park0 Tours

Tanzania

Mnemba Atoll

Mnemba Atoll is the best-known snorkelling and diving area in Zanzibar and a popular place for dolphin trips. It suits snorkellers, divers and families. Mnemba Island itself is private, and you reach the surrounding reef by boat. Trips usually leave from Matemwe or Nungwi. Time matters. From 8am to 10am many boats crowd around looking for dolphins. You still see them, but it is less fun. We aim to be there by 10am, as the others are coming out of the water. Dolphins can be seen until about noon. In our guides' experience, dolphin sightings at Mnemba are far more reliable than at Kizimkazi. No wild animal is guaranteed. We book the boat, the guide and the snorkel gear, and we plan the transfer to the departure beach.

Best Season:Go out so you arrive by about 10am, when the early boats are leaving. Dolphin sightings run until about noon. Dry months have the clearest water.

Highlight:Snorkelling on the coral reef

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Nakupenda Sandbank

Beach & Islands0 Tours

Tanzania

Nakupenda Sandbank

Nakupenda is a sandbank near Stone Town, reached by boat. It suits families and couples who want a half day for swimming, sunbathing and a boat ride. A boat takes you from Stone Town to the sandbank, 30 to 60 minutes depending on the tide. Spend time swimming and sunbathing, and many trips add a seafood lunch. The trade-off is the tide. The sandbank is best from about 8am to 2pm when the tide is almost covering it, but this depends on the tide season. Check the tide table before you book. Combine it with Prison Island and Stone Town: do Prison Island first, the sandbank second and Stone Town in the afternoon.

Best Season:8am to 2pm on most days, but this depends on the tide season.

Highlight:Swimming and sunbathing on the sandbank

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Beach & Islands0 Tours

Tanzania

Nungwi

Nungwi is at the northern tip of Zanzibar and is one of the island's most popular beaches. It suits couples and groups who want swimming at any tide, resorts, restaurants and sunset cruises in one place. Days are simple. Swim in the morning, take a dhow or boat trip, eat lunch by the sea and walk to the village or the point for sunset. Dhow building is still done on the beach. The trade-off is that it is busy. The village is lively, there are many hotels and you will meet other visitors. For something quieter, look at Matemwe or Jambiani. The sea is calm, which is why Nungwi is good for swimming rather than for kite surfing. Nungwi is far from the airport at the other end of the island (about 1 hour 15 minutes by road). We run the transfer, boat trips and sunset cruises from here. Kendwa is a short drive south.

Best Season:June to October is dry and breezy. December to February is hot with warm water. Expect rain in March to May. The sea is swimmable at all tides at any time of year.

Highlight:Nungwi Beach: swimming at all tides

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Beach & Islands0 Tours

Tanzania

Paje

Paje is on the south-east coast and is Zanzibar's kite surfing beach. It suits kite surfers, backpackers and travellers who want a relaxed beach town with cafes and a good mix of visitors. The day follows the tide and the wind. At low water the sea goes far out and you can walk the flats. At high water the lagoon fills and the kite surfers go out. The village has beach cafes, small shops and places to eat, and the pace is slow. The trade-off is that swimming depends on the tide, and seaweed can wash up in some months. If you want to swim at any hour, the north coast is easier. Paje is on the road to Jambiani and to Jozani Forest, so it is a good base for trips there. We run the airport transfer and the tours that start in Paje.

Best Season:Wind is best in the dry months (June to October and December to March). Check tide times each day for swimming.

Highlight:Kite surfing and kite schools

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Beach & Islands0 Tours

Tanzania

Pemba Island

Pemba is Zanzibar's second main island, north of Unguja. It suits divers and travellers who want a quieter island with green hills and clove plantations. Days here are about the land and the sea: walk through clove plantations, dive on quiet reefs, visit small villages and relax on beaches with few visitors. The trade-off is that it is less developed than Unguja, with fewer hotels and fewer tours. It takes more planning. Unguja is our main base. We sell Pemba as a second-island add-on (a flight of about 30 minutes or a ferry of about 2 hours).

Best Season:Dry months for diving and travel. Check ferry and flight schedules in the wet season.

Highlight:Clove plantations

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Prison Island (Changuu)

Beach & Islands0 Tours

Tanzania

Prison Island (Changuu)

Prison Island, also called Changuu Island, is a small island a short boat ride from Stone Town. It suits families and anyone who wants a half day trip with tortoises, history and clear water. Boats leave from the Stone Town waterfront and the ride takes roughly 30 minutes. On the island you can see giant tortoises, walk through historical ruins and swim or snorkel in clear water. The trade-off is that it gets busy mid-morning and boat trips depend on the sea. Combine Prison Island with the Nakupenda sandbank and a Stone Town tour: do Prison Island first, the sandbank second and Stone Town in the afternoon.

Best Season:All year, in the morning. Pair with the sandbank and Stone Town.

Highlight:Giant tortoises

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Stone Town

Culture & Heritage0 Tours

Tanzania

Stone Town

Stone Town is the old part of Zanzibar City and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the best place on the island for history and culture: narrow lanes, carved wooden doors, Swahili houses, old markets and the waterfront. Freddie Mercury was born here in 1946. Go in the afternoon. From about 3pm the heat drops and the streets get busy, and it is a good way to end a tour day. But plan your must-see stops before 5pm, because they close: the old slave market site, the main market (Darajani), Jaws Corner, Memories of Zanzibar (the souvenir emporium), the Catholic museum and the Anglican Church of Tanzania, the two Christian sites on the route. The trade-off is that the lanes are a maze, shops will invite you in, and the middle of the day is hot. A local guide saves time and explains what you are looking at. Cars cannot enter many streets, so we park at the edge and walk. Stone Town is 15 to 20 minutes from the airport and is the usual first or last stop on a trip. It joins well with Prison Island and the sandbank on one day: do Prison Island first, the sandbank second and Stone Town third.

Best Season:Visit all year. The best time of day is 3pm until evening. Do the main sights before 5pm.

Highlight:Old slave market site: a sober place that explains the island's history

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More destinations in Tanzania

Kilimanjaro National Park

Mountain Trekking0 Tours

Tanzania

Kilimanjaro National Park

Kilimanjaro National Park protects Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 metres, and its summit is Uhuru Peak. It suits fit walkers who want a big challenge without technical climbing, and it is one of the world's most popular treks. A climb takes about 6 to 9 days depending on the route, with a licensed guide, cooks and porters carrying the gear. You walk through rain forest, moorland, alpine desert and finally the snow and rock of the top. Summit day starts at night and is long and cold. The honest trade-off is altitude. Many climbers get headaches or altitude sickness, and a longer route gives your body more time to adjust, so it improves your chance of reaching the top. The summit success rate is not a promise. You also need a licensed guide, a park permit, good boots and warm layers. Many guests climb Kilimanjaro and then fly to Zanzibar to rest their legs on the beach (direct flights take about 1 hour 10 minutes). We plan the route, the dates and the beach days together.

Best Season:January to March and June to October are the driest and clearest climbing months. April and May are the wettest. November is often wet too. Pick your route by how many days you can allow for acclimatization.

Highlight:Uhuru Peak, 5,895 metres: the highest point in Africa

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National Park0 Tours

Tanzania

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is a small park below the Rift Valley wall, with forest, a shallow lake and wide views. It suits short trips, first-time guests and anyone who wants variety in a short drive, and it is known for tree-climbing lions. A drive takes you from groundwater forest, where baboons and blue monkeys are common, to open grassland and the lake shore. Hippos, elephants and giraffes are often close to the road. Flamingos and other water birds gather on the lake in some seasons. The trade-off is that it is small, so most guests stay half a day or one night. The lake shrinks and grows with the rains, and lions in trees are possible but not guaranteed. The park suits a short visit more than a long stay. Lake Manyara is on the main road from Arusha to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, so it fits most northern circuit trips and can be the first night before a flight home to the beach in Zanzibar (direct flights take about 1 hour 10 minutes).

Best Season:June to October for easy driving and clear views. Water birds are best in the wetter months. April and May are the wettest.

Highlight:Tree-climbing lions in some areas

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Wildlife Reserve0 Tours

Tanzania

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a protected area, not a national park, and its crater is one of the best places in Africa to see wildlife in one day. It suits first-time safari guests, short trips and anyone who wants a high chance of seeing lions, hippos and black rhino. The day starts with a steep drive down the crater wall in the early morning. On the crater floor you drive across grassland, a soda lake and forest, with elephants, buffalo and zebra in view, and you picnic by a hippo pool. You drive back up before the afternoon traffic. The trade-off is crowds. The crater is small compared with the Serengeti and many vehicles go down at the same time, so an early start helps. Time on the crater floor is limited to about six hours. Maasai herders also live in the conservation area and share the land with wildlife. Ngorongoro sits between Lake Manyara and the Serengeti, so it fits most northern circuit trips. Many guests finish the safari with a flight to Zanzibar (direct flights take about 1 hour 10 minutes). Olduvai Gorge, a famous early human site, is also in the area.

Best Season:Wildlife is on the crater floor all year, and the dry months from June to October are easiest. Go early to avoid the traffic. Rain makes the crater road slippery from March to May.

Highlight:Ngorongoro Crater: a huge volcanic caldera with wildlife on its floor

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National Park0 Tours

Tanzania

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania is the best known safari park in Africa and the home of the wildebeest migration. It suits first-time safari guests, families and photographers who want big cats and open plains, and it is the usual base for a classic Tanzania safari. A game drive day starts at sunrise, when lions and leopards are still active. Midday is for rest at camp or a picnic under a tree. The late afternoon drive is for cheetahs, hyenas and the herds. Some guests add a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the plains [ADD: balloon operator and price]. The honest trade-off is size. The park is huge and the herds move, so in the same week one area can be full of wildebeest and another nearly empty. Distances are long, roads are rough, and in the busiest months the river crossing sites in the north can get crowded with vehicles. Choosing the right area for your month matters more than the name of the camp. Most guests fly into an airstrip such as Seronera from Arusha, or drive from Arusha through Ngorongoro. Many of our safari trips end with a flight to Zanzibar for a week on the beach (about 2 hours by light aircraft, depending on the route).

Best Season:June to October for dry season game viewing, and about July to October for the northern river crossings. January to March for calving in the south. April and May are the wettest months with fewer visitors. The guide for your month lives on the migration guide page.

Highlight:The Great Migration: wildebeest and zebra following the rains all year

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National Park0 Tours

Tanzania

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is famous for its elephants and its baobab trees, and it is one of the best parks for a short safari from Arusha. It suits families, photographers and guests who want a quieter park before the Serengeti. Game drives follow the Tarangire River, which draws animals in the dry months. You see large elephant herds, giraffes, zebra and wildebeest, and lions resting in the shade. Birdwatching is good, and sundowners can be arranged near camps. The trade-off is season. In the dry months the park is full of animals near the river, but in the rains they spread out across a huge area and are harder to find. The road to the park is short, but the park can be dusty in the dry season. Tarangire is a natural first stop on a northern circuit before Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, and it is also a good two day add-on to a Zanzibar holiday (direct flights take about 1 hour 10 minutes).

Best Season:June to October for the best game viewing near the river. January and February are green and good for birds. April and May are the wettest months.

Highlight:Large elephant herds along the Tarangire River

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Easy Connections Across East Africa

Flights & Fast Ferry Connections

Move smoothly between the islands and the wildlife savannah. Scheduled flights and fast ferries connect Stone Town directly with Arusha, the Serengeti, and Pemba Island with zero hassle.

Flight RouteScheduled Flight

Stone Town Serengeti

1h 40m direct bush flight

Fly directly from Zanzibar airport and land right near the wildlife herds in time for afternoon game drives.

Fast FerryModern Catamaran

Stone Town Pemba Island

1h 15m scenic crossing

Glide across the ocean channel with air-conditioned seating and open decks offering great dolphin spotting.

Boat TransferPrivate Boat

Zanzibar Coast Mnemba Atoll

20m boat ride

Short, scenic ride over crystal shallow waters directly to world-class coral reef snorkeling and diving sites.

Luggage tip: Soft bags under 15kg are recommended for regional safari flights.

Plan Custom Route

Locally Owned & Community Supported

Responsible Travel, Real Local Impact

A portion of every booking directly supports local marine conservation around Zanzibar and community projects in rural Tanzania. Clear pricing, authentic experiences, and zero hidden fees.

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