Tanzania is the largest of the East African nations and is bordered on the south by Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia; on the west by Zaire, Burundi and Rwanda; on the north by Uganda and Kenya; and on the east by the Indian Ocean.
From the largest wildlife spectacle on the planet and vast tracts of untamed wilderness, to colorful Masaai rituals and tranquil rhythms of Swahili towns, and to the wonderful idyllic beaches and islands on the Swahili Coast, Tanzania offers a unique glimpse into Africa as it has remained for centuries.
Northeast Tanzania encompasses a mountainous region that includes Mt. Meru (14,979ft/4,566m) and Mount Kilimanjaro (19,340 ft./5,895m), the latter of which is the highest point in Africa and the tallest free standing mountain in the world.
To the west of these peaks is the legendary Serengeti National Park which harbors the greatest concentration of migratory game animals in the world and for nine months of the year is home over three million herbivores and the predators that follow them. Within the greater Serengeti area is Olduvai Gorge, the site of the famous discoveries by George and Mary Leakey of fossil fragments of the very earliest ancestors of Homo sapiens. The Serengeti ecosystem also contains the marvelous Eden called Ngorongoro Crater, a 20-mile-wide volcanic crater that is home to an extraordinary concentration and diversity of wildlife.
Moving southeast from the Serengeti leads one to Tanzania’s low, lush coastal strip and its largest city, Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam is the gateway to Zanzibar, the fabled emerald isle that lies off the Tanzanian coast.
Our safaris cover both the northern and southern/western circuits in Tanzania. In the north, we take you on magical journeys into the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara. In the south, we explore the wilder Selous and Ruaha game reserves and lastly the unique wilderness areas of Mahale and Katavi in the west.
Tanzania is home to some of the most incredible tribal diversity in Africa. The country includes all of the major ethnic and linguistic groups on the continent - an amazingly varied population to inhabit a single country. Home to approximately 120 tribal groups, Tanzanians place a high value on their country's multicultural heritage. Over the past few years, cultural tourism has become an increasing attraction for visitors from around the world and visits to tribal villages are often a highlight of safari itineraries. The Masaai are perhaps the most well known of Tanzania's tribes and inhabit the northern regions of the country.
The ‘Spice Islands’ of the Zanzibar archipelago, Pemba, Mafia, and the entire Tanzanian coast is home to the Swahili people, a vibrant mix of Arab, Indian and Bantu origins. The Swahili Coast, as the region is called, is a predominantly Islamic region dotted with old mosques and coral palaces.
Tanzania's climate can vary simply because it hosts both the highest and the lowest points on the continent. The narrow lowland coastal region is consistently hot and humid but the central and northern regions of Tanzania are sufficiently elevated so as to offer much cooler temperatures.
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