Tanzania is one of the great travel destinations of Africa. It has the continent's highest mountain, its most famous wildlife migration, its most storied spice island, and a coastline that has drawn traders and explorers for over a thousand years. Most visitors come for the safari parks — and they are extraordinary — but the country rewards those who look further.
The north is where most tourists go: the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro, and the gateway city of Arusha. The south and west have wilder parks — Ruaha, Selous, Mahale — that see far fewer visitors. Zanzibar sits offshore with its own distinct culture, food, and history. Dar es Salaam is the commercial hub, sprawling and chaotic, but worth a day or two.
Tanzania shares borders with Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The Indian Ocean defines its eastern edge.
The country is safe for travel by East African standards, genuinely friendly, and increasingly well set up for visitors. Costs are higher than you might expect — park fees alone can run to $70 or more per person per day — but independent travel is perfectly feasible outside the northern safari circuit.
To the north of Tanzania you find Kenya, Lake Victoria and Uganda, in the west Rwanda, Burundi , Kongo Kinshasha and Zambia . In the south Malawi and Mozambique . The East is occupied by the Indian Ocean.
Highlights of Tanzania are the Kilimanjaro , the many national parks with excellent opportunities for viewing wildlife, Serengeti national park being probably the best known, and the island of Zanzibar with its fascinating blend of Arab and African culture. The capital city Dar es salaam is a very lively city, with good markets and a great place to meet real Africans. It is also the central travel hub from where you can explore all the country's sights.
