Where to Go for a Tanzania Safari

The Northern Circuit of Tanzania

The northern circuit is the most visited part of Tanzania on safari, drawing travelers throughout the year. It’s home to the country’s most sought-after destinations, including Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, Tarangire National Park, Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and a number of cultural sites besides. It’s in the northern circuit, particularly in Serengeti National Park and the Ndutu area of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, that the Great Wildebeest Migration takes place, a phenomenon that draws thousands of travelers every single year. On a Tanzania safari through the northern circuit, you can witness the migration itself, including the iconic Mara River crossing, as the herds cross into Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. The Big Five are an easy sight here too, alongside diverse wildlife and birdlife, the chance to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, and a great deal more, including canopy walks at Lake Manyara, night game drives, and hot air balloon safaris.

The Southern Circuit of Tanzania

The southern circuit is a quieter, still genuinely wild part of Tanzania, rewarding travelers with an off-the-beaten-track safari experience. It includes Nyerere National Park, Ruaha National Park, and Mikumi National Park, where extensive game drives and boat safaris can be enjoyed, alongside guided walking safaris.

The Western Circuit of Tanzania

The western circuit is the least visited part of the country, home to Mahale Mountains National Park and Gombe Stream National Park, both excellent destinations for chimpanzee tracking in Tanzania. Lake Tanganyika, a beautiful lake with an extensive shoreline, is also found in the western circuit.

The Coastal Region of Tanzania

The coastal region, anchored by Zanzibar Island, is a wonderful beach holiday destination year-round. Voted one of the best beach destinations in the world in 2025, and drawing considerably smaller crowds than the Maldives and similar destinations, Zanzibar is a genuine beauty to behold. With beaches such as Nungwi, Kendwa, Nakupenda, and Paje, your beach holiday here can hardly go wrong. Mafia Island, for the more exclusive and adventurous traveler, is also well worth considering. Simply reach out to Scosam Adventure to help plan your ultimate Tanzania beach holiday.

Tanzania is a vast country, so vast that even its parks are grouped by region. Tanzania is richly gifted by nature, with so many attractions that you could easily spend up to thirty days exploring its different national parks and other sights. When planning your Tanzania safari, it’s worth first deciding which part of the country you’d most like to visit, so you can plan your travel as efficiently as possible. Tanzania is generally divided into the northern circuit, the western circuit, the southern circuit, and the coastal region.

When to Go for a Tanzania Safari

Tanzania safaris can be booked year-round. That said, the best time to visit is generally during the dry season, June to October and mid-December to March. These months also happen to be the peak travel season, drawing many travelers and causing accommodation to sell out quickly, so booking your safari well in advance is essential if you don’t want to miss out on your preferred lodge or camp.

The wet season, Tanzania’s low season, brings rain that can make some roads impassable. On the upside, rates tend to be lower, there are far fewer travelers around, and you get to see the parks bloom and come alive. The Ngorongoro Crater in particular holds its resident wildlife within the crater floor year-round, since the animals rarely leave, making the Big Five a reliable sight there in any season.

Why a Tanzania Safari? What Makes It So Special?

A Tanzania safari is special because it lets you encounter, in real life, the animals you’ve watched on screen for years, lions and antelope alike, right there in front of you. Tanzania safaris also offer a genuine guarantee of Big Five game viewing, since the animals are resident within the parks, especially on a Ngorongoro Crater safari. You can hardly go wrong with a Tanzania safari, whether you’re after snow-capped mountain views, extensive game drives, a night game drive experience, or a flying or balloon safari. All of this, and considerably more, is genuinely achievable on a Tanzania safari. What makes it all the more special is the Great Wildebeest Migration itself, a phenomenon unique to Kenya and Tanzania alone, with the greater part of its annual cycle taking place right here in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.

Embarking on a Tanzania safari at any time of year is one of the most remarkable experiences you’ll carry with you for a lifetime. Here you’ll find a range of Tanzania safari packages to choose from, all of which can be customised to fit your preferences. If none of the tours listed here are quite right for you, simply get in touch with our capable consultants, who will be glad to help tailor-make your dream Tanzania safari.