Tanzania
Africa · Dodoma · TZ
Tanzania is the East African giant of the safaris, the country of the great plains of the Serengeti, of the earth's largest unbroken wildlife migration, and of the snows of the Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain of the world and the rooftop of Africa. The crater of the Ngorongoro holds the densest concentration of the big game of the continent, and the southern parks of the country, the Ruaha and the great river reserves, hold the wilder, quieter safaris of the deep bush. Off the coast, the islands of the Zanzibar, with the stone town and the spice farms of their history, blend the Swahili culture with the beaches of the Indian Ocean. The country is relaxed, welcoming and easier than its size, and the Swahili language of its coast, the lingua franca of a whole region, is spoken from the mountains to the sea.
Overview
Tanzania is a country in Africa. Its capital is Dodoma and the international dialling code is +255. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Swahili and English. Local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). We also list 1 city in Tanzania: Dodoma.
The Kilimanjaro and the Rooftop of the African Continent
The Kilimanjaro, the vast, snow-capped volcanic mass that rises from the plains of the north of the country, is the highest mountain of Africa and one of the great objectives of the world's trekkers, its snowy summit a goal that draws thousands every year. The climb of the mountain, along the classic routes that circle the peak through the rainforest, the moorland and the arctic summit cone, is one of the great shared experiences of the walking world, and the views from the crater rim over the plain and the clouds give the climber the highest point of an entire continent. The lodges of the mountain towns and the national park of the slopes hold the climbers and the visitors, and the fitness and the acclimatisation are the keys to the summit. The mountain is the symbol of the country and the centrepiece of its northern land.
The Serengeti and the Great Migration of the Plains
The Serengeti, the enormous national park of the north, is the greatest wildlife arena of the earth, a rolling, acacia-studded plain the size of a small country that carries the greatest concentrations of the large mammals of the planet. The great migration, the annual cycle of the wildebeest, the zebra and the gazelle that follows the rains across the whole ecosystem, is the spectacle that fills the plains and the rivers of the park, and the river crossings of the Grumeti and the Mara are the famous highlight of the year. The predators of the plain, the lions, the cheetahs and the leopards, follow the herds, and the hot-air balloons of the dawn float the visitors over the whole theatre. The Serengeti is the safari of a lifetime, and it lives up to every image of the Africa of the imagination.
The Ngorongoro and the Densest Game of the World
The crater of the Ngorongoro, the enormous collapsed caldera of an ancient volcano on the highlands of the north, forms a natural, self-contained enclosure of the wildlife, and on its floor live the highest densities of the big game found anywhere on earth. The great concentration of the animals inside the crater, from the elephants and the rhinos to the lions, the hyenas and the thousands of the plains game, makes the descent onto the floor a wildlife ride like no other, and the views from the rim, with the whole green bowl of the crater and the soda lake in its centre, are among the most iconic of the continent. The Maasai of the surrounding highlands, the herders who live alongside the crater, keep the traditions of the region and welcome the visitors to their homesteads. It is the most reliable wildlife experience of the whole country.
The Southern Parks and the Rivers of the Wild
The south of the country, the great national parks of the Ruaha and the reserves of the great rivers, hold the wilder, quieter and more exclusive safaris of Tanzania, the vast bush of the watercourses where the game gathers in numbers that rival the famous north. The Ruaha, the largest of the parks of the country, spreads its dry savannah and its riverine forests along the great river of its name, and its elephants, its lions, its wild dogs and its enormous bird life fill the remote, uncrowded terrain. The great reserve of the southern river holds the greatest concentration of the crocodiles and the hippos of the continent, and its boat safaris of the channels reach the game of the banks in a way the plains parks cannot. The south is the safari for those who want the wilderness without the crowds.
The Zanzibar and the Islands of the Spice Coast
Off the coast of the mainland, the islands of the Zanzibar and its neighbours spice the Indian Ocean with their history and their beaches, and the stone town of the Zanzibar, the old Swahili trading capital with its carved doors, its palaces and its crowded lanes, is a world heritage of the oceanic trade. The spice farms of the island, the cloves, the nutmeg and the cinnamon of the plantations, carry the tours of their long history, and the beaches of the east coast, the pale sand of the low tide and the turquoise of the lagoon, are the classic finish of a safari holiday. The sandbanks and the reef of the islands hold the snorkelling and the swimming, and the private islands of the region run the most exclusive stays of the coast. The Zanzibar is the perfect end of the Tanzanian journey.
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- Capital
- Dodoma
- Currency
- Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
- Languages
- Swahili, English
- Calling code
- +255
- Internet TLD
- tz
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Tanzania.
Which nationalities can enter Tanzania?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Tanzania?
For the origins we track, Tanzania requires a visa for tourism (Australia: e-visa, Canada: e-visa, France: e-visa, Germany: e-visa and India: e-visa). Entry rules depend on your passport, so confirm the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Tanzania?
Dodoma is the capital of Tanzania, and the country sits in Africa.
What currency is used in Tanzania?
You pay with Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) in Tanzania. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Tanzania?
The languages we list for Tanzania are Swahili and English. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Tanzania?
The dialling code for Tanzania is +255 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which cities in Tanzania do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Tanzania: Dodoma (capital).