Ultimate Tanzania itinerary

Tanzania has been on my budget list long enough. But I never thought how much time I need until I already had my flight ticket and was stressing myself whether I have enough time. In the end, it worked out for me pretty well. So this is just an inspirational itinerary for Tanzania. I managed to see most of the things I wanted and that should not be forgotten in Tanzania.

Tanzania itinerary

1. – 2. day Arusha/Moshi

You have been probably traveling for a long time. Feel free to rest and relax for a day in a local town. Both Arusha and Moshi are very close to all the national parks and Kilimanjaro. And both of them have all the necessary things every traveler needs – from luxury hotels to budget hostels, ATM’s, supermarkets and great restaurants.

2. – 4. day Safari

Here would be the place where you choose how long your trip should be. You can spend a week on safari and still stay entertained or just two days. Tanzania has a lot of national parks in the north of the country and they should be on your itinerary. Consider which parks you want to visit, the price will probably depend on it.

5. day Kikuletwa Hotsprings

Especially if you feel like resting after the safari, go for a day trip to Kikuletwa Hotspring. The water is clear blue and it since not that many people know about this place, you can enjoy this little oasis without any disturbance.

6. day Materuni waterfall

Here is another great day trip. Materuni waterfall is great for anyone who likes hiking. The hike isn’t too difficult and you can stop by a local village to get to know about their coffee culture. Like Kikuletwa – this is also off the beaten path, so you can be here almost alone.

7. Move to Zanzibar resort

After a week in Tanzania, you should enjoy yourself and see their beautiful beaches. Best resorts with white sand beaches are on Zanzibar, where also most tourists going. However, there are still some places, that are in general not that common among tourists.

8. Day trip to Stone Town

Stone Town is the capital of Zanzibar and it is a place where Freddie Mercury was born. Spend here the whole day and get to know more about local history, have a trip to Prison Island and try not to get lost in local streets.

9. – 10. day Zanzibar beaches

Spend your last days in Zanzibar by enjoying the beach. Resorts here are great and affordable, besides there is a lot to do! You can always go snorkeling, watch wildlife in Jozani Forest or watch the sunset at one of the beaches. If you feel like trying some sport, try to go to Paje and take a kite surfing lesson.

Tanzania itinerary – Mount Kilimanjaro

You might have noticed that I didn’t mention the tallest mountain of Africa. A lot of people are coming here to hike mount Kilimanjaro. You need to be prepared for it. If you want to hike it as well, make sure you will spend more time in northern Tanzania upon your arrival. You will need approximately 7 days. It is recommended to do it after you arrive. It is because you might get too comfortable with Zanzibar beaches. There is also big difference in temperature, so it is probably better to go through Kilimanjaro first.

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Tanzania itinerary – how to get around?

So you got a ticket and now there is this everlasting question of how to get around. Tanzania is quite a big country, you can go by bus, but it will take a lot of time. If you choose a bus, invest in the tourist once, since they are more comfortable and there is insurance that nobody will take your bag. By bus, you might want to travel up to 15 hours. If you feel like it is not worth it, it is fine, Tanzania has also a lot of convenient airports. You can fly internationally to Arusha, Moshi, Dar es Saalam or Zanzibar. Prices are not so friendly, but if you reserve tickets in good time, there is a chance that you will find something cheap.

When is a good time to visit?

Like a lot of Subsaharan countries, Tanzania doesn’t have spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Tanzania has either dry season or rainy season. For Kilimanjaro climbing and safari it is probably better to come in the dry season when it is easy to get around all of the hiking paths and watch all of the animals as they gather by rest of the water sources. The dry season lasts from June to October. November starts the shoulder season that lasts till January. And lastly in January starts the rainy season. This season is better for bird watching.

Tanzania itinerary – essential things to pack

Here are a couple of things that you shouldn’t forget. First of all, if you want to go for a safari, pack something light or khaki color, otherwise the flies will think you are dinner. Whether you are going for safari or Kilimanjaro, bear in mind that it can be cold and you should probably have some warm clothes with you. Also, don’t forget to take sunscreen and bug repellent.

And while we are at bugs, you must get vaccinated. Malaria is treatable but it is still lethal, so bring the antimalaria pills with you. Also, they won’t let you enter the country unless you prove that you are vaccinated against yellow fever.

Safety tips

Tanzania is a safe country, but there are some places where it is better to be careful. One of them is Dar Es Saalam. Around this area, it is common that tourists are getting kidnap by “taxi drivers”, petty crime and mugging is quite normal. Therefore make sure that you always have a hotel taxi and don’t carry all the cash or cards with you.

In Stone Town in Zanzibar locals sometimes use the fact that tourists are getting lost in streets and will try to sell you their services for money. Some will try to get you even more lost while “showing you interesting spot”. Pickpocketing is not uncommon especially during the night, so make sure you have all of the important documents at the hotel.

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