Travel to Tanzania, top 30 best activities in 2023part2
What else to do while traveling in Tanzania? The best activities
Visit the Serengeti National Park
When planning your Tanzania vacation, consider visiting the Serengeti National Park. One of the best-known events of wild life in Serengeti National Park. The “big five” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and Cape buffalo), as well as cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, hippos and other animals, are found in the area. The Serengeti National Park is renowned for its scenic beauty, including grassy meadows, riverine forests and rocky outcrops called kopjes, in addition to its abundance of wildlife.
Take a look from the hot air balloon
When traveling to Tanzania, you should always consider jumping in a hot air balloon. This is again one of the top things to do in Tanzania. A view from the top of the hot air balloon can be soothing to your eyes. You can easily capture a panorama from the top. The times for these trips are usually at dawn.
Admire the Big 5
The Big 5 is a ticking exercise that lets you see Africa's most iconic animals. Going on a Big 5 safari means looking for the African lion, African elephant, African leopard, rhino and Cape buffalo.
Although these creatures are large, they can be extremely difficult to spot in the wild. The objective becomes even more difficult due to illegal poachers reducing the population numbers. However, by hiring a tour guide, you can discover the best places to find these amazing animals.
Witness the Great Migration
The Great Migration is one of the largest animal migration patterns and one of the most popular and sought-after experiences while traveling in Tanzania. It is one of the few animal migrations that is not interrupted by human contact. The Great Migration covers a huge area with millions of animals. Visitors should therefore plan their safari according to the migration movement.
Serengeti National Park offers the most spectacular scene for a classic African safari during the Great Migration, an annual 2,000 km (1,200 mi) circular odyssey of 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra, all chasing the rains and fresh grasslands in a race for life, while being bought by many predators. This spectacular phenomenon takes place in a unique scenic setting of treeless expanses of spectacularly flat short grasslands, dotted with rocky outcrops (kopjes) and interspersed with rivers and forests.
The Serengeti is also home to one of the largest and most diverse predator-prey interactions in the world, providing a particularly impressive aesthetic experience, provided you visit the area in the right season. The best time to witness migration in the Serengeti is probably February and March, when wildebeest and zebra congregate and calve in the Serengeti at the start of the rainy season. Not only can you have the pleasure of seeing baby animals, but the predators are also at their highest. In June and July, the great migration passes through Masai Mara, Kenya,
Never miss the game drives
When you are in Tanzania, you should never miss the jungle safaris. You can choose from a number of options in the case of a jungle safari. This is another element that answers your question: what to do in Tanzania on a limited budget. If you have time, opt for the main jungle safari routes.
You can capture the true flavor of an African jungle and if you are an adventure seeker, this is food for your soul!
In the Serengeti game drives you will find huge herds of ungulates. The jungles are the refuge of these animals that perform the great migration.
There are three national parks with different safari routes. These are Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park and Arusha National Park. You can consider the Serengeti as the first option as it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Climb Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is a well-known attraction for being the highest peak in Africa and one of the Seven Summits – the tallest mountains on each of the seven continents. Many travelers go to Tanzania every year to undertake the ascent of this mountain.
Hikers can choose from many routes of varying length and difficulty to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. Lemosho, Rongai, Marangu, and Machame are the busiest roads. It is essential to remember that climbing Kilimanjaro is a difficult undertaking which should only be attempted by people in excellent physical condition and with the appropriate equipment.
Visitors to Kilimanjaro can also take shorter treks into the nearby foothills to learn about surrounding communities and cultures. The months of June to October and December to February are the best months for climbing Kilimanjaro. To allow for acclimatization to the altitude, it is advisable to book the ascent with a reputable tour operator and allow at least 6-8 days for the trek.
Hike the Udzungwa and Usambara mountains
Ancient rainforests, rare plant and animal species, primate encounters: hiking in the Usambara and Udzungwa mountains is one of the best things to do while traveling in Tanzania.
The Udzungwa Mountains National Park is a wilderness covered in pristine forests whose 1,900 square kilometers are among the most biodiverse on the planet. And, good news for visitors keen to get back to nature, there is an extensive network of established trails.
While finds of rare insects and plants are rather rare here, Udzungwa is no stranger to the discovery of new mammals. Among them, the largest shrew in the world and a new kind of monkey.
The steep and often mist-shrouded Usambaras are also home to some of Tanzania's most spectacular hiking terrain, as well as plenty of chameleons.
The Eastern Usambara, separated from the Western Range by the Lwengera Valley, is renowned for the monsoon-fed rainforests of the Amani Nature Reserve.
Choose from eight hiking trails to observe incredible bird life. More than 335 species have been spotted in the reserve, including the Amani sunbird, the long-billed apalis and the green banded sunbird, all three of which are threatened with extinction.
Climb Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano
Ol Doinyo Lengai is an active volcano located on a continental rift zone in the Arusha region of Tanzania. Over the past century, there have been 16 eruptions, with the last recorded in 2021. Geologists remain fascinated by this volcano as it emits the coldest black lava on the planet (510°C/950°F), which forms a white rock when cooled.
Several avid climbers have climbed this mountain, and a few have not completed it due to the incredibly steep ascent, which takes around six hours. The view from the crater rim, however, is breathtaking: on a clear day you can see Kilimanjaro, Meru and the Serengeti.
Explore Arusha National Park
It is one of the least visited national parks in Tanzania. For what ? Due to the popularity of nearby parks like Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Despite this, Arusha National Park has its own share of wildlife and has the advantage of being close to Arusha town. Most tourists visit the park for a day or two before or after visiting the larger national parks. The main attractions of the park are climbing Mount Meru, exploring the Ngurdoto crater and the Seven Momela Lakes. Expect to encounter colobus monkeys, buffaloes, warthogs and zebras among many other creatures. The Momela Lakes are particularly attractive with over 200 species of resident and migratory birds.
Explore the cultural heritage center of Arusha
Arusha's cultural heritage center is filled with African art from across the continent. Here you will find masks, furniture, statues and handicrafts, displayed with the history of tribes active or long gone.
Tanzanite is a special gem that you will discover. Named after its only known source, Tanzania, this gemstone can only be found in the Mirerani Hills.
The desire to find such a rare and beautiful gem has created wars in countries all over the world. You can experience the impact this gemstone has had on Tanzania and surrounding countries.
Admire a lake
Tanzania has more than 14 large lakes spread across the country. The smallest is Lake Chala, which borders Tanzania and Kenya. It measures 4.2 square kilometers.
The largest area is that of Lake Victoria, which measures 68,800 square kilometers. For comparison, the United Kingdom has an area of 243,610 square kilometers and Scotland 77,910 square kilometers. This means that the lake named after Queen Victoria is the same size as one of her countries.
Lake Victoria
Although this lake is only the second largest lake in the world. It is the largest tropical lake for miles around.
The lake itself is so large that it touches three countries – Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
It was named after Queen Victoria in 1858 and contains fish you won't find anywhere else on earth.
Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara is best known for its birds. You can find more than a million flamingos, thousands of pelicans, hundreds of storks, and even rare creatures like the chestnut-banded plover.
The fish are mainly carp, so we recommend this lake for bird lovers rather than fish lovers.
To reach this lake, you will take a jeep that crosses the wild forest and shrublands to reach the swamp. The journey and the scenery are breathtaking.
You are allowed to fish in this lake while watching the flamingos fly.
Lake Natron
Natron is an alkaline lake with a pH of 12 or higher. Scientists believe that this high level of alkalinity comes from lava that sits underwater and produces large amounts of carbonate.
Due to the unusual alkaline disposition, salt-loving plants and animals live in these waters. Instead of using green pigments for photosynthesis, these flowers are almost all red. This creates the illusion of a lake of blood.
Flamingos eat goldfish, animals, and plants, which helps them create a red and pink tone in their feathers.
Reaching this area can be very difficult due to the lack of roads, a professional guide has the knowledge of the best way to reach this place. But Lake Natron is not accessible during the rainy season.
The Duluth lake
This lake is less of an animal reserve and more of a sporting experience. You can hike to the area, canoe the waters, and cycle around the waterways. Swimming is prohibited, but the area allows for gentle water sports while admiring the beautiful scenery.
Momella Lake
Lake Momella is actually made up of 7 lakes. Grand Momela, Petit Momelaa, Tulusia, Lekandrio, El Kekhotoito, Rishateni and Kusare.
These are all shallow alkaline lakes which are great for viewing flamingos. You can also expect to see pelicans, guineafowl, African fish eagles, Egyptian geese, and African jacanas in these lakes.
Most mammals do not drink from these lakes due to their high alkaline water content, but you may spot zebras, waterbucks and giraffes in the vicinity.
To really get the experience, you should take a canoe trip around the lakes.
Admire the Ngorongoro Crater
A visit to Tanzania would not be complete without a stop in the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater. The massive volcanic caldera that makes up this UNESCO World Heritage Site is over 2.5 million years old, and at its base is a thriving ecosystem of wildlife. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the best places in Tanzania to observe the “big five” wild animals: elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes and rhinos. Additionally, it is home to over 400 different species of birds, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. Visitors can join a safari guide to explore the crater and enjoy the stunning natural beauty of this special ecosystem.
Discover the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The famous Ngorongoro Volcanic Crater is in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is one of the most popular places in Tanzania for game viewing.
It is located halfway between the Serengeti and Lake Manyara.
Many creatures are drawn to this massive volcanic crater because it still contains water, meaning they don't need to migrate.
The main reasons people visit this place are to see big animals and watch birds.
Thousands of species, including lions, elephants, rhinos, Thomson's gazelles and buffaloes, can be seen at the bottom of the crater, but more than half of the animals that live in Ngorongoro Crater are wildebeest and zebras.
The best places for birdwatching are near Lake Magadi, where flocks of flamingos congregate in the shallows.
Hippos are happy to spend the day submerged and the evening grazing on the adjacent grass.
The Ngorongoro Crater, which is around three million years old, is the largest preserved ancient caldera in the world.
Before its eruption and fall, the Ngorongoro Volcano was among the tallest mountains in the world.
Visit Olduvai Gorge
The Olduvai Gorge is another interesting feature of the conservation area.
Ancient skulls and bone fragments discovered at this important archaeological site have provided valuable information about early human populations.
The Olduvai Gorge, located on several fault lines, has uncovered human remains and ancient fossils through millennia of erosion.
In 1911, a German professor was looking for butterflies when he came across fossilized bones in Olduvai Gorge.
On a later expedition, the Leakeys collected bones estimated to be around 2 million years old, a skull and parts of it.
Also found in Olduvai Gorge are tools and hunting gear dating from between one and five million years ago.
Another exciting find were the iconic footprints of a man, woman and baby at Laetoli, near Olduvai.
These and other finds provide further evidence that at least three species of hominids lived in this region more than two million years ago.
Explore Selous Game Reserve
Selous is Africa's largest game reserve. Created in 1922, it covers 5% of the total area of Tanzania. The southern area is an off-limits area, undeveloped, heavily forested and containing a series of steep cliffs. Travelers are restricted to the area north of the Rufiji River. This area of the Selous Game Reserve includes vast open grasslands, forests, rivers, hills and plains. The best time to visit is from July to October.
The Rufiji River bisects the Selous Game Reserve and has the largest catchment area of any river in East Africa. The river is an important element of the reserve and allows you to observe aquatic fauna. A wide range of wildlife can be found here, including elephants, hippos and rhinos, as well as buffaloes, antelopes, giraffes, warthogs, wildebeests, lions, leopards and cheetahs. The birdlife diversity in the Selous includes over 350 recorded species.
Visit Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park, founded in 1970, is an excellent place for game viewing.
The best time to go is during the dry season, which runs from July to September, when the animals congregate near the river.
Large numbers of migrating animals congregate in the lagoons of Tarangire National Park during the dry season, including wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland.
The park is also renowned for several other things, including the abundance of elephants and the baobab trees that dot the verdant landscape.
With over 300 species of birds recorded in Tarangire, the park is ideal for birdwatching. Buzzards, vultures, herons, storks, kites, falcons and eagles are some of these species.
Track chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park
Gombe Stream, designated as a game reserve in 1943 and upgraded to a national park in 1968, is located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania. Although Gombe Stream is off the beaten track and the smallest national park in Tanzania, the park is world famous as it was here that Jane Goodall conducted her first behavioral research on the park's chimpanzee populations. , which is considered the longest study of primates in the world. The main attraction of Gombe is obviously the hundred chimpanzees who live protected within the limits of the park and who are well habituated. Although hiking in the Gombe Stream rainforest can be challenging and involves traversing steep hills and valleys, sightings are almost guaranteed if you get there early in the morning. Apart from the sighting of chimpanzees, many other species of primates live in the rainforests of Gombe Stream, such as vervet and colobus monkeys, and baboons. Visitors to the park can not only hike through the forest to observe primates, but also swim and snorkel in Lake Tanganyika, which has nearly 100 kinds of colorful cichlid fish.
Relax on the island of Zanzibar
Located off the coast of Tanzania, the island of Zanzibaris a beautiful tropical paradise. It is known for its stunning white sand beaches and clear waters, which make it the perfect place for swimming, snorkeling and other water sports. The Zanzibar Archipelago is not only stunning in the natural world, but it is also full of history and culture. Historic Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers visitors the opportunity to explore its winding lanes, bustling markets and stunning architecture, which blends Swahili, Arab and European cultures. Additionally, the island is renowned for its delectable cuisine, which offers a wide variety of dishes that honor its multicultural history. The island of Zanzibar will not disappoint, whether you are looking for thrills, recreation or a bit of both.
Read also: What to do in Zanzibar, top 50 must-do activities 2023
Visit Stone Town
Zanzibar's cultural center, Stone Town, has not undergone major transformations in the last 200 years.
The distinct beauty of the city comes from the old and grand Arab mansions that line the winding lanes and winding streets.
When Zanzibar was one of the most important Swahili trading towns in the Indian Ocean in the 19th century, the majority of houses in Stone Town were built.
Many of these houses have intricately carved wooden doors that are visible to visitors.
Many famous sites in Stone Town have been restored to their former glory, as the world's oldest continuously inhabited Swahili town.
Several of the old structures are now museums or tourist destinations. A few intriguing ancient churches with historical significance are found in the city.
Darajani Market, Beit el-Amani, City Hall and the Anglican Cathedral are all located in the old area of Stone Town, which can be reached by taking a stroll down Creek Road.
The Forodhani Gardens, the old dispensary with its carved wooden balconies, the former residence of the sultans known as Beit el-Sahel or People's Palace, the Hamamni Persian baths, erected in 1888, and the old fort, the most old building in Stone Town, are some of the other major attractions.
Swim with sharks and snorkel at Mafia Island
Mafia Island has so much to offer its visitors. One of the most recommended and popular things to do on Mafia Island is swimming with whale sharks. These gentle giants are regular visitors to Mafia Island and people can swim with them. Besides whale sharks, humpback whales, sperm whales and dolphins can be observed during the migratory season. The best time to swim with whale sharks is from October to April, while the humpback whale migration season is from July to August.
Much of the island is a protected reserve as its unique shallow waters are home to hundreds of different species of fish, sponges, seaweed and more. Mafia Island Marine Park is perfect for snorkeling and is one of the best diving spots in Tanzania. From the island's beaches, visitors can watch turtles hatch as they head out to sea. Turtle nesting season runs from June to August.
Continue reading part three
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