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Tanzania (Highlands)
The highlands hold the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro and incredibly lush, green slopes. You can hike through cool mountain trails or visit the Ngorongoro Crater to see amazing wild animals. It is a stunning, high-altitude adventure away from the heat.
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Summary
Did you know?
Flamingo Soda Lakes – Lake Natron's bright red, alkaline waters are so harsh they calcify dead birds into spooky stone statues.
Overview
Months
April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Vacation type
Couple, Family, Mountains, Safari
Expenses
<150€, <200€, Over 200€
Temperature
20-25°C
Rainfall
0-50mm
Safety
Medium
Continent
Africa
Currency
Tanzanian shilling
Languages
Swahili, English
Currency Converter
When to visit
The best time to travel through the Tanzanian highlands and inland savannahs—including the Northern Safari Circuit, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Southern Highlands—is during the long dry season from June to October. During these months, vegetation thins out and animals gather around scarce waterholes, providing the best wildlife viewing conditions and ideal trekking weather on Kilimanjaro.
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Plan the whole vacation, including flights, transportation, hotels and tours with Expedia *
Climate Data
Peak Season: June to October (Dry Season)
Average Sunny Hours per Day: 7 to 9 hours.
Rain Frequency: 2 to 5 days per month.
Rainy Hours per Day: 1 hour.
Intensity: Light, rare showers.
Duration: Quick showers that leave behind clear, crisp mountain air. Nights in high-altitude areas like Ngorongoro and Kilimanjaro get bitterly cold.
Off-Peak Season: March to May (Long Rains Season)
Average Sunny Hours per Day: 4 to 6 hours.
Rain Frequency: 16 to 21 days per month.
Rainy Hours per Day: 3 to 5 hours.
Intensity: Heavy, torrential afternoon storms and steady morning rain.
Duration: Sustained rainfall that floods valley tracks and clouds over mountain peaks.
Climate Chart
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Data Source: CRU Time Series v4.07https://catalogue.ceda.ac.uk/uuid/5fda109ab71947b6b7724077bf7eb753
ClimateCharts.net
Weather, Crowds and Costs
Per one person
Tourist Season: June-October / January-February
Budget Vacation ($80-140/day)
Accommodation: $20-40/night (hostels in Arusha or Moshi, basic public park campgrounds).
Food: $10-15/day (local canteens, street food like chipsi mayai, roasted meat).
Activities: $30-50/day (entry fees for town day trips, budget shared safari day passes).
Transportation: $15-25/day (intercity coaches, shared rural minivans).
Other Costs: $5-10/day (bottled water, safari park permits).
Mid-Range Vacation ($250-450/day)
Accommodation: $100-200/night (comfortable town hotels, mid-tier tented safari lodges).
Food: $30-50/day (lodge dining, sit-down town restaurants).
Activities: $80-150/day (shared multi-day safari packages, national park vehicle fees).
Transportation: $30-50/day (shared safari 4WD seats, private town taxis).
Other Costs: $10-20/day (driver and tracker tips, coffee).
Luxury Vacation ($800-2,000+/day)
Accommodation: $500-1,400+/night (exclusive all-inclusive luxury safari lodges, private rim chalets at Ngorongoro).
Food: $100-200/day (gourmet multi-course bush dining, premium open bars).
Activities: $150-400+/day (hot air balloon flights over the Serengeti, private walking safaris).
Transportation: $100-300+/day (private bush flights between airstrips, exclusive private 4WD land cruisers).
Other Costs: $50+/day (private tracker tips, premium safari gear).
Off-Peak Season: March-May (Long Rains Season)
Budget Vacation ($60-100/day)
Accommodation: $15-30/night (discounted town guesthouses).
Food: $10-15/day (neighborhood markets, local eateries).
Activities: $25-40/day (cultural village walks, discounted park visits).
Transportation: $10-20/day (buses).
Other Costs: $5/day (heavy rain gear).
Mid-Range Vacation ($180-320/day)
Accommodation: $70-140/night (discounted safari lodges).
Food: $25-40/day (indoor hotel dining).
Activities: $60-110/day (low-season guided game drives).
Transportation: $25-40/day (shared 4WD rentals).
Other Costs: $10/day (insect repellent, hot drinks).
Luxury Vacation ($500-1,100+/day)
Accommodation: $350-800+/night (luxury lodges offering low-season rates).
Food: $80-150/day (lodge meals).
Activities: $100-250/day (private game drives without crowds).
Transportation: $80-200/day (domestic bush flights).
Other Costs: $30/day (wellness and spa treatments).
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You can find accomendations that fit your trip and budget on Booking.com, Vrbo and Hotels.com
Best Regions to visit
Cities
1. Arusha
- The bustling safari capital of Tanzania, situated at the base of Mount Meru and serving as the starting point for nearly all northern game drives.
2. Moshi
- A peaceful, green mountain town located at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, serving as the primary hub for hikers and coffee plantation tours.
3. Dodoma
- The political capital of Tanzania, located in the central plateau, known for its wide open spaces, parliament buildings, and local wine production.
4. Iringa
- A charming cliffside town in the Southern Highlands, famous for its cool mountain climate, colonial German buildings, and proximity to Ruaha National Park.
5. Mbeya
- A major highland city in the southwest surrounded by tea and coffee plantations, serving as the transit hub toward Lake Nyasa and the Zambian border.
Arusha
Did you know?
Active Volcano Cone – Ol Doinyo Lengai produces unique black carbon-based lava that flows like thin engine oil rather than glowing red rock.
Islands
1. Rubondo Island
- A pristine island in Lake Victoria that functions entirely as a protected national park, home to wild chimpanzees, elephants, and rare sitatunga antelopes.
2. Ukerewe Island
- The largest inland island in Africa, situated in Lake Victoria, known for peaceful dirt roads, banana groves, and relaxed bicycle touring.
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Find the perfect place to stay in any of these top cities and islands with Booking.com, Hotels.com and Vrbo – offering entire homes and apartments for a comfortable and private experience.
Things to see
Natural Attractions
1. Serengeti National Park
- A vast, endless savannah ecosystem globally famous for holding the highest concentration of large predators and the annual Great Migration.
2. Ngorongoro Crater
- The world's largest intact, unflooded volcanic caldera, functioning as a natural amphitheater packed with over 25,000 large animals, including black rhinos.
3. Mount Kilimanjaro
- Africa's highest mountain and the tallest free-standing mountain on Earth, rising 5,895 meters above the surrounding plains with a snow-capped summit.
4. Ruaha National Park
- A massive, rugged, and remote wilderness in southern Tanzania, famous for huge baobab trees, giant lion prides, and dry riverbeds.
Historical and Cultural Sites
1. Olduvai Gorge
- A steep ravine in the Great Rift Valley known as the "Cradle of Humankind," where early hominid fossils and stone tools dating back two million years were discovered.
2. Kondoa Rock-Art Sites
- A collection of ancient overhangs and cliff faces in central Tanzania featuring thousands of historic rock paintings created by hunter-gatherers.
3. Isimila Stone Age Site
- An archaeological gorge near Iringa with towering red sandstone pillars and deposits of Acheulean stone axes dating back thousands of years.
Unique Experiences
1. Witnessing the Mara River Crossing
- Watching thousands of wildebeest and zebras plunge across crocodile-infested waters in the northern Serengeti between July and September.
2. Trekking Mount Kilimanjaro
- Hiking for five to eight days through rainforests, moorlands, and alpine deserts to stand on Uhuru Peak at sunrise.
3. Walking with Hadza Bushmen
- Joining the indigenous Hadzabe hunter-gatherers around Lake Eyasi as they track game with hand-crafted bows and forage for wild honey.
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The best way to explore major cities and must-see attractions is by booking guided tours.* They offer convenience, local insights, and often save time when visiting popular sights.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Unique Accomondations/Foodspots
Accommodations
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Location: Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
A breathtaking, fairy-tale luxury lodge perched dramatically on the rim of the ancient Ngorongoro Crater, featuring opulent stilted suites with beaded chandeliers, grand fireplaces, and sweeping views of the caldera below.
Restaurants / Bars
The Crater View Dining Room
Location: Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Tanzania
An elegant, torch-lit fine-dining venue overlooking the wildlife-rich crater floor, offering hearty gourmet dishes inspired by African traditions paired with fine international wines.
Tours to do
1. The Northern Safari Circuit
- The classic wildlife route departing Arusha, exploring the flamingos of Lake Manyara, descending into the Ngorongoro Crater, and driving across the Serengeti plains.
Best Time: June to October, or January to February.
Average Cost: $1,400 – $2,800 per person
2. The Wild Southern Wilderness Route
- An overland route for remote wilderness lovers, driving from Iringa through the wild baobab landscapes of Ruaha National Park and on toward Katavi.
Best Time: July to October.
Average Cost: $1,200 – $2,200 per person
Lake Manyara
How to get around
1. Custom 4WD Safari Land Cruisers
- The standard and essential vehicle for inland safaris, fitted with pop-up roofs for game viewing and heavy-duty suspension for dirt roads.
2. Bush Flights
- Companies like Coastal Aviation and Auric Air operate small propeller planes connecting airstrips inside the Serengeti and Ruaha directly to Arusha and Moshi.
3. Intercity Express Buses
- Companies like Tahmeed and Kilimanjaro Express operate reliable, air-conditioned long-distance coaches connecting Arusha, Moshi, and Dodoma.
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You can find great car rental deals for your vacation on Expedia *
Did you know?
Coffee Forest Slopes – The volcanic foothills of Mount Meru produce rich organic coffee harvested under heavy jungle shade canopies.
What to eat
1. Ugali
- The staple food of inland Tanzania. A dense, stiff porridge made from white cornmeal and water, traditionally eaten by hand to scoop up savory stews and cooked greens.
2. Nyama Choma
- Charcoal-grilled meat, typically goat or beef. It is lightly salted, cooked slowly over hot coals, and served chopped into bite-sized pieces with raw onion-tomato salad (kachumbari).
3. Chipsi Mayai
- A beloved roadside comfort food. Freshly fried potato chips are blended with beaten eggs and fried in a shallow pan into an omelette, topped with chili and tomato sauce.
4. Ndizi Kaanga
- Green cooking plantains fried or simmered in a light, savory meat or coconut broth, heavily eaten in the highland regions around Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru.
Flights
Flight prices are approximate and vary by departure city, airline, and booking time. Check airlines or travel platforms for the latest details.
* Please note: All prices are rough estimates for orientation purposes only and may vary by region.
Main Airport: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Flight Prices and Seasons:
From Europe:
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $750 to $1,200 (Direct flights into JRO via KLM from Amsterdam, or connect via Doha or Addis Ababa).
- Cheapest Months: March, May, and November.
- Peak Prices: July, August, and late December.
From North America:
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $1,100 to $1,800 (One-stop connections via Amsterdam, Doha, or Addis Ababa into Kilimanjaro).
- Cheapest Months: February, April, and October.
- Peak Prices: June, July, and December.
From Asia:
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $700 to $1,200 (Connect via Dubai, Doha, or Nairobi into JRO).
- Cheapest Months: May and September.
- Peak Prices: July and Lunar New Year.
From Australia (Domestic/Oceania):
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $1,300 to $2,100 (Connect through Doha, Dubai, or Johannesburg).
- Cheapest Months: May and November.
- Peak Prices: December and January.
From Africa:
- Average Round-Trip Cost: $350 to $700 (Short direct flights from Nairobi and Addis Ababa).
- Cheapest Months: February and October.
- Peak Prices: July, August, and December.
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You can find the best flight deals with Skyscanner or plan the whole vacation, including flights, transportation, hotels and tours with Expedia *
Airport Location
Visa
1. Visa Requirement
- Citizens of the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia need a visa to enter Tanzania.
2. Visa Application
- Travelers can apply for a Tanzania visa online via the e-visa system or obtain a visa on arrival (check specific eligibility).
3. Types of Visa
- Common visa types include a Tourist Visa: Valid for tourism, typically allowing stays of up to 90 days.
4. Processing Time
- E-visa applications are generally processed within 2 to 10 business days. On-arrival visas can be obtained upon entry.
5. Duration of Stay
- Tourist visas usually allow for stays of up to 90 days; extensions may be possible.
6. Health Requirements
- A yellow fever vaccination is required if traveling from an endemic area. Malaria prophylaxis is also recommended.
8. Proof of Funds
- Visitors may need to show proof of sufficient funds for their stay.
Important things to know
1. Payments
- The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). Credit cards are accepted in urban areas.
2. Tap Water
- Tap water is generally not safe to drink. Bottled water is recommended.
3. Electricity
- The voltage is 230V, and plug types D and G are used.
4. Tipping in Restaurants
- Tipping is customary, usually around 10%.
5. SIM Cards
- Local SIM cards are available from providers like Vodacom and Tigo.
6. Driving Side
- In Tanzania, people drive on the left side of the road.
Souveniers
1. Tanzanite Jewelry
- Tanzania is the exclusive home of Tanzanite, a rare gemstone. Tanzanite jewelry, including rings, necklaces, and earrings, is a beautiful and unique souvenir for those who appreciate fine gemstones.
2. Masai Beaded Jewelry
- The Maasai people are known for their stunning beaded jewelry, which is often colorful and intricately designed. Necklaces, bracelets, and earrings made from glass beads are perfect souvenirs.
3. Wooden Carvings
- Tanzanian artisans are skilled in creating wooden carvings, especially of animals like elephants, lions, and giraffes, which make for a memorable and culturally significant souvenir.
Masai Beaded Jewelry
Location
Reviews
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