East Africa's crown jewel — Serengeti's endless plains, Kilimanjaro's glacial summit, the spice island of Zanzibar, and the Ngorongoro Crater's self-contained wildlife world.
- Capital
- Dodoma
- Population
- 68,153,004
- Area
- 945,087 km²
- Languages
- English, Swahili
- Currency
- Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
- GDP
- $85,977M
Good to know
Driving side
Left
National dish
Ugali, Chips Mayai (Zege), Mtori
Annual visitors
1,527,000 (2019)
Safety
Moderate (3.75/100k)
Avg temp
22.9°C
Religion
Christianity
Coast
Coastal
☎ Police 112 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112
Travel guide
Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa. From the picture-perfect coasts of Zanzibar to the world-renowned wildlife of the Serengeti, from the snowy slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro to the coral houses of Mikindani, Tanzania is the heart and soul of East Africa. Tanzania has several national parks and game reserves, where you can see some of the finest African flora and fauna.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Tanzania
Best time to visit
June–October is the dry season — best for safari and Kilimanjaro climbing. January–February is a short dry season and excellent for wildlife. Zanzibar beaches best June–October and January–February. Rainy seasons: March–May and November.
Visa
Most nationalities including US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia apply for a Visa on Arrival (USD 50) or e-Visa at immigration.go.tz. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda as well.
Highlights
The vast plains of the Serengeti comprise 1.5 million ha of savannah. The annual migration to permanent water holes of vast herds of herbivores (wildebeest, gazelles and zebras), followed by their predators, is one of the most impressive natural events in the world.
Public holidays
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (7)
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Major cities
Zanzibar
An island of white beaches, turquoise water, spice plantations, and the atmospheric Stone Town UNESCO district.
Arusha
Gateway to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Kilimanjaro — Tanzania's safari capital.
Serengeti
The endless plain — one of Africa's greatest national parks, with the largest lion population on earth.
Kilimanjaro
Africa's highest peak at 5,895m — climbed by non-technical hikers through five climate zones to the roof of Africa.