Hotels in Tanzania

Tanzania: East Africa's Wildlife and Summit Country

Tanzania sits just south of the Equator on Africa's eastern coast, bordered by Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. The country covers 945,087 square kilometres and holds Africa's highest point — Mount Kilimanjaro, at 5,895 metres above sea level. The Zanzibar Archipelago, 35 kilometres off the coast, adds Indian Ocean shoreline and Swahili Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 2000.

Cities Worth Exploring

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's commercial capital, anchors the coast and handles most international flight arrivals. The Kariakoo Market district sells fresh produce, spices, and textiles across several city blocks and gives a direct read on daily urban life. Dodoma, roughly 450 kilometres west of Dar es Salaam, is the official political capital and hosts the National Assembly. Arusha, in the north near the Kenyan border, functions as the gateway city for safari operators heading into the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Tarangire National Park. Mwanza on Lake Victoria's southern shore is the country's second-largest city by population and a regional hub for the lake zone.

Safari Regions and the Zanzibar Coast

The Northern Circuit — Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire — draws the largest share of international visitors. The Serengeti's annual wildebeest migration, involving roughly 1.5 million animals, peaks in the Mara River crossing zone between July and October. Ngorongoro Crater, a collapsed volcanic caldera 19 kilometres wide, holds a permanent concentration of lions, elephants, black rhino, and flamingos within a single enclosed ecosystem.

The Southern Circuit covers Ruaha National Park, Tanzania's largest at over 20,000 square kilometres, and Selous Game Reserve (now partly renamed Nyerere National Park), one of Africa's largest protected areas at approximately 50,000 square kilometres. Southern reserves see far lower visitor density than the north. The Tazara railway — the Tanzania-Zambia rail line completed in 1975 — connects Dar es Salaam to Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia and passes near the southern wildlife corridor.

Zanzibar Island (Unguja) concentrates beach hotels along the northeast coast at Nungwi and Kendwa and the east coast at Paje and Bwejuu. Stone Town, the historic quarter of Zanzibar City, holds Arab fort architecture, spice market lanes, and the former slave market site.

Practical Tips for Visiting Tanzania

• Visas: Most nationalities require a visa; the Tanzania e-Visa portal processes applications before arrival and costs USD 50 for most passports.
• Health: Yellow fever vaccination is required if arriving from an endemic country. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for all regions.
• Currency: The Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) is the official currency; USD is widely accepted at lodges and larger hotels.
• Getting around: Domestic flights connect Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and airstrips near major parks — the fastest option between safari zones. Dala-dala minibuses serve urban routes cheaply.
• Best time: June to October brings dry conditions and peak wildlife viewing across most safari areas. January to February offers good Serengeti calving season viewing with fewer crowds.
• Packing: Pack a light layer for evenings at altitude in Arusha (1,380 m) and on Kilimanjaro approach routes. Modest dress is expected in Stone Town.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which airport serves safaris in northern Tanzania? A: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), 46 kilometres east of Arusha, is the primary entry point for the Northern Circuit. Some visitors fly into Nairobi (Kenya) and transfer overland to Arusha, roughly 270 kilometres south.

Q: How many days does a Serengeti safari typically require? A: Most itineraries allocate three to five nights in the Serengeti itself, combined with one or two nights at Ngorongoro. A week-long Northern Circuit trip covers four parks comfortably.

Q: Is Zanzibar accessible from the mainland easily? A: Scheduled flights from Dar es Salaam take approximately 20 minutes. High-speed ferries cross in around two hours and depart several times daily from the Dar es Salaam ferry terminal.

Q: What is the currency situation for hotels in Tanzania? A: Most safari lodges and Zanzibar beach hotels quote rates in USD and accept international cards. Smaller guesthouses in Dar es Salaam or Arusha typically prefer Tanzanian Shillings or mobile money via M-Pesa.

Q: Can travellers climb Kilimanjaro without prior mountaineering experience? A: Kilimanjaro is a non-technical trek, requiring no ropes or ice axes on the standard routes. The Marangu and Machame routes are the most used; a minimum of six days on the mountain significantly improves acclimatisation and summit success rates.