Things to Do in Tanzania: Safari and Zanzibar Guide

Quick answer

The best things to do in Tanzania are game drives in the Serengeti, a descent into Ngorongoro Crater for black rhino and lions, Tarangire's elephant herds and, in season, the Great Migration. Add a balloon flight if budget allows. Finish on Zanzibar with a Stone Town walk, a spice farm tour, snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll and the Forodhani night food market.

13 things worth your time in Tanzania

01
Serengeti game drives
Nature
Big cats are the draw: the Seronera valley in the central Serengeti has resident lions, leopards and cheetahs all year, whatever the migration is doing.
2–3 daysPark fee about ₹7,300 (USD 83) per adult per day, usually in the safari price
Full-day drives with a packed lunch see far more than two short drives back to camp.
02
The Great Migration and Mara River crossings
Nature
Wildebeest and zebra plunge into a crocodile-filled river in July to September. Few wildlife sights compare.
2 days in the northIncluded in safari price; northern camps cost more
Crossings can take hours of waiting. Pick a camp near Kogatende and leave at dawn with breakfast packed.
03
Ngorongoro Crater
Nature
A 260 sq km volcanic caldera with dense wildlife and one of the best chances in East Africa of seeing black rhino.
Half to full dayAbout ₹26,000 (USD 295) per vehicle per descent, plus about ₹6,200 (USD 71) per adult conservation fee
Time inside the crater is limited to about six hours. Descend at gate opening to beat the vehicle convoy, and carry a fleece for the cold rim.
04
Tarangire National Park
Nature
Herds of hundreds of elephants gather along the Tarangire River in the dry season, among giant baobab trees.
Full dayPark fee about ₹4,400–5,200 (USD 50–59) per adult
05
Lake Manyara National Park
Nature
A compact park with groundwater forest, baboon troops, flamingos on the lake in season and the famous tree-climbing lions.
Half dayPark fee about ₹4,400–5,200 (USD 50–59) per adult
Tree-climbing lion sightings are rare; treat any sighting as a bonus rather than the reason to go.
06
Hot-air balloon over the Serengeti
Experience
A dawn flight low over the plains, followed by a bush breakfast. Expensive, but many travellers call it the highlight.
4–5 hours including breakfastAbout ₹48,000–57,000 (USD 550–650)
Book when you book the safari, as flights in peak season sell out. Children usually need to be at least seven years old.
07
Olduvai Gorge
Landmark
On the road between Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, this is where the Leakeys found some of the oldest human ancestor fossils. A short museum stop.
1–1.5 hoursSmall entry fee, often included in safari packages
08
Maasai village visit
Experience
A look at a Maasai homestead, with songs, a jumping dance and a visit inside a mud house.
1 hourAbout ₹1,800–4,400 (USD 20–50) per person or vehicle
It is a staged visit with a hard sell for beadwork at the end. Agree the price with your guide beforehand.
09
Stone Town walking tour, Zanzibar
Landmark
A UNESCO-listed maze of carved doors and coral-stone houses with a strong Indian link: the Old Dispensary was built by a Kutchi merchant, and Gujarati and Bohra families still run shops here.
3 hoursGuide about ₹1,800–3,500 (USD 20–40)
10
Zanzibar spice farm tour
Experience
Cloves, cardamom, nutmeg and vanilla growing in the open; Indian travellers enjoy recognising their kitchen spices.
2–3 hoursAbout ₹1,800–3,500 (USD 20–40)
The included lunch is often a Swahili pilau with meat. Ask for a vegetable version when you book.
11
Mnemba Atoll snorkelling
Nature
The clearest water around Zanzibar, with reef fish, turtles and often dolphins on the boat ride out.
Half dayAbout ₹4,400–7,900 (USD 50–90) including marine park fee
Skip swim-with-dolphin trips at Kizimkazi, where boats chase the pods.
12
Nungwi and Kendwa beaches
Nature
The northern tip has the least tidal variation on the island, so you can swim at most hours. On the east coast, at Paje, low tide exposes the reef for hundreds of metres.
1–2 daysFree
13
Forodhani Gardens night market
Food
A seafront evening market for Zanzibar pizza, urojo soup, sugarcane juice and grilled corn.
1–2 hoursAbout ₹500–1,300 (USD 5–15)
Pick stalls cooking to order rather than those with pre-grilled seafood sitting out.

What are the best things to do in Tanzania?

Most first trips follow the northern safari circuit: Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, all by 4x4 with a driver-guide. Many travellers then fly to Zanzibar for three or four nights on the beach. Kilimanjaro International Airport, about an hour from Arusha, is the usual entry point from India via Doha, Dubai, Addis Ababa or Nairobi.

How do safari costs work?

Tanzania's park fees are charged per person per day, plus vehicle and crater fees, and your operator pays them as part of the quote. Before you book, check the quote includes:

park and conservation fees for every day, including the Serengeti's overnight concession fee
the Ngorongoro crater service fee
drinking water, a pop-up roof vehicle and a guaranteed window seat
airport transfers and the domestic flight if you add Zanzibar

Tips are extra. A common guideline is USD 20–30 per vehicle per day for the driver-guide.

Private or shared vehicle?

A private Land Cruiser suits Indian families of four to six, who can then set their own pace and meal times. Shared safaris are cheaper but tie you to strangers' schedules. Ask for a vehicle with no more than six passengers so everyone gets a window.

Pack a fleece. Dawn drives on the Ngorongoro rim, at 2,300 m, can be close to freezing from June to August. Our best time to visit Tanzania page has month-wise conditions.

Plan the money side on the Tanzania trip cost page, check the Tanzania visa rules and buy travel insurance that covers medical evacuation. Our food guide explains how lodges handle vegetarian meals.

Frequently asked questions

How many days of safari are enough in Tanzania?

Four to five days covers Tarangire or Lake Manyara, two nights in the Serengeti and a morning in Ngorongoro Crater. Six or seven days lets you reach the northern Serengeti for the river crossings in July to September, or Ndutu for calving in February. Fewer than four days means more time driving than watching wildlife.

Is Tanzania safe for Indian families?

Yes, the safari circuit and Zanzibar are well-trodden and generally safe for families. Stay in the vehicle except at marked stops, follow your guide's instructions near animals, and use hotel or operator transfers after dark in Arusha and Stone Town. Get yellow fever and routine vaccinations checked with a travel clinic before you go.

Is a Serengeti balloon safari worth the cost?

At USD 550–650 per person it is expensive, but most people who do it rank it among the best mornings of their trip, especially in the dry season when herds are spread across the plains. If you are budgeting carefully, an extra day in the Serengeti gives more wildlife time for a similar amount.

How we checked this page

Last reviewed 28 October 2026

Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.