Tanzania Archives - Africa Geographic

Ruaha

The ancient Ruaha landscape, dominated by huge baobabs & elephants, is home to a wide variety of wildlife for the prefect wilderness safari

Serengeti

The vast Serengeti in northern Tanzania is home to an extraordinary amount of wildlife and plays host to the greatest show on Earth – the Great Migration

6 Swahili food dishes you won’t want to miss!

Swahili cuisine is tasty, filling and plentiful. Here are six Swahili dishes you won’t want to miss on your travels in Tanzania.

Swahili – a brief safari guide to key words and phrases

Language and everyday culture are intertwined, so it’s worth learning some polite phrases in Swahili, as making the effort to speak another’s language is welcome in any country.

The Ngorongoro Crater: Tanzania’s ‘Garden of Eden’

Standing proudly in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of Tanzania is the Ngorongoro Crater. This highly visited African attraction is the largest unflooded and unbroken caldera in the world. Read on to find out more about this fantastic wildlife wonderland!

Malkia the cheetah – Queen of the Ngare Nanyukie

Once again Lemala Nanyukie has proven to be at the heart of big cat action, this time with a cheetah attempting to hunt gazelle right in front of the camp.

Tanzania’s terrific Tarangire

Perhaps one of Tanzania’s lesser-known national parks, Tarangire is an incredible East African safari destination with diverse wildlife and landscapes.

The Greatest Spectacle on Earth – Crossing the Mara

The energy in the air is feverish, filled with anticipation and burgeoning adrenaline. The chorus of thousands of voices echos through the dust as the herds make their way towards the banks of this legendary river, signalling what’s to come. If the conditions are favourable, what follows will be the breathtaking pinnacle of nature’s greatest spectacle, […]

Off the beaten track: Camping at the Maasai village of Monduli Juu

Discovering Monduli Juu in Tanzania – an off-the-beaten-track campsite run by the indigenous Maasai people.

Incredible sighting: The black cat of the Serengeti

A rare sighting indeed at Lemala Nanyukie Tented Lodge in Tanzania, where this melanistic serval has been seen regularly over recent weeks.

Travel: May safari in Africa

Interested in going on an African safari in May? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.

Travel: April safari in Africa

Interested in going on an African safari in April? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.

Luxury lodge closes as loggers move in to make way for dam in Selous Game Reserve

Azura Selous, a luxury game lodge situated along the banks of the Great Ruaha River in the remote Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania, has announced its sudden closure due to the unexpected arrival of loggers in the area.

Travel: March safari in Africa

Interested in going on an African safari in March? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.

Serengeti: Ultimate Walking Safari

“Listen”, says Jean, cupping his ears and staring at the distant horizon. I listened. Nothing, except for that constant muuuuuh muuuuh? muuuuh coming from the wildebeest herds dotted around us, and the constant buzz of birds and insects. Still I listened. Nothing. I looked at him and raised a quizzical eyebrow. “Exactly”, he said. You […]

New Tanzanian reserve declared to protect invaluable forest

A rich forest teeming with unique and endangered wildlife in Tanzania has finally been placed under protection, supported by World Land Trust and other partners.

Travel: February safari in Africa

Interested in going on an African safari in February? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.

Adorable sighting: Bat-eared fox kits

An adorable sighting of bat-eared fox kits adds to the magic of a safari in Ruaha National Park in Tanzania.

Travel: January safari in Africa

Interested in going on an African safari in January? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.

The mystery of the demonic shrieks of Musoma Hill

A story about the mysterious, shrieking creatures of Musoma Hill in Tanzania.

Epic Serengeti

They came thundering from all sides, driven by a primordial instinct and sucked in by the cacophony and energy of those already crossing, plunging into the Mara River seemingly without a care, chancing their luck against the current, the rocks and the crocs. Chaotic, pulsating, exhilarating… The day started like any other on my Serengeti […]

Travel: December safari in Africa

A December safari in Africa means long hot days, the odd thunderstorm, and dense green vegetation – and young animals and birds everywhere!

Extraordinary sighting: One-eyed leopard

Despite a handicap of having only one eye, this leopard is still able to hunt and provides an incredible sighting for safari goers.

Video: A special close encounter with elephants in Tanzania’s Ruaha

Meeting an elephant in Ruaha on foot, ‘eye to eye’ so to speak, is very different from watching them from the safety of a car. One can feel the power within their massive bodies, while they soft-footedly, and without making a sound, move past you.

A journey into Tanzania’s wildlife-rich Selous

A journey into Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve – a wonderful wild place teeming with wildlife.

Our Secret Season Safari in East Africa

As our plane touched down on a small, remote dirt strip in Selous, Tanzania, a game drive vehicle appeared as if out of nowhere – and Imani, our guide, and Mgoma, the driver, waved and beamed their broad, friendly smiles at us. Welcome to Africa! This fantastic safari for David and I, arranged by Africa Geographic, was during the […]

Travel: October safari in Africa

Interested in going on an African safari in October? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.

The fantastic sighting of the ‘meerkat’ leopard

A leopard presents some stunning photographic opportunities with her agility while looking for her cub in the tall grasses of the Serengeti.

Climbing Kili

Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, at 5,895m high, is Africa’s tallest mountain, the world’s highest free-standing peak, and one of the famed ‘Seven Summits’. Climbing Kilimanjaro is classified as an extreme altitude mountain trek, but with proper preparation, climbing ‘Kili’ can be an achievable goal and a life-changing experience. Rising from the plains of Tanzania, Kilimanjaro gives […]

Travel: September safari in Africa

Interested in going on an African safari in September? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.

Travel: August safari in Africa

Interested in going on an African safari in August? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.

The Great Wildebeest Migration

The Serengeti and Maasai Mara ecosystems see huge herds of wildebeest and zebras migrating in a continuous search for the best food and water. Although this journey follows a similar annual route, exact timing varies based on rainfall. When the rains beckon, the wildebeest go. In spite of the big cats in waiting, or the […]

Travel: June safari in Africa

Interested in going on an African safari in June? Then have a look at our recommendations for the best wildlife-viewing destinations for that month.

Vibrant festivities at Sukuma weddings

A photographer is invited to be part of the vibrant festivities of a Sukuma wedding in Tanzania.

Travel: 5 Reasons to visit Ruaha National Park, Tanzania

You would be forgiven if you have never heard of Ruaha National Park, it seems to be one of the best kept secrets in the safari world. But those that know it and have been fortunate enough to visit it, return again and again to this truly unique and diverse wilderness. Here are a few reasons why you might want to investigate this amazing place and put it to the top of your 2018 safari wishlist.

Harmless aardwolf killed: The need for education

An unfortunate incident of mistaken identity where an aardwolf was misidentified as a hyena highlights the need for wildlife education.

Spectacular sighting: White baboon spotted in Arusha

I was driving my three-door RAV4 on the road leading to the part of the national park called ‘small Serengeti’ with Mount Meru standing majestically in front of me while I watched the nearby giraffes, zebras, baboons and buffaloes, when a brilliant flash of white caught my eye!

Video: Maasai coming of age ceremony

For the Maasai, the Emuratare is one of their most important ceremonies, and a life-changing milestone for the boys and girls who celebrate their transition into adulthood.

Travel: November safari in Africa

November is a great time for your African safari, because of several unique migrations at this time of year, lower prices and fewer tourists

Can carbon measuring save Tanzania’s forests?

Up until now I have never been involved in projects that mitigate climate change, however during my last expedition, I had the opportunity to spend some time exploring the greater Mahale ecosystem and Carbon Tanzania’s newest project site.

Maasai warriors and their cattle © Stephanie Fuchs

Video: Protecting Maasai cattle

The importance of the Maasai’s livestock is mirrored in the way their homestead is constructed, with the cattle enclosure positioned in the centre of it.

Opinion: Are Maasai cattle to blame for overgrazing in Tanzania?

Living with the Maasai has taught me that conservation is not only about animals but is just as much about us humans; that to preserve any one place we have to be mindful of the local communities that live within it and try to understand the way they view the world to be able to work alongside them to protect mother nature.

Hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro, past one of the glaciers

Kilimanjaro: Place of myth, legend, and conservation

This wasn’t my first time up Kilimanjaro and it won’t be my last; but it was the first time I had climbed with a team so passionate about a cause: climbing to raise funds for elephant conservation.

Viewing an elephant while on safari in Africa © Mark Smeltz

The advantages of choosing a shorter safari

Explore the advantages of going on a shorter African safari, where fly-in safaris can deliver you right into the thick of the action without wasting time on overland journeys and lengthy internal transfers.

Maasai, cattle, water, culture, Maasai Steppe, Tanzania

Video: Maasai warriors water their cattle – their wealth

For the Maasai, cattle is considered extremely valuable and form an intrinsic part of their daily lives. Their cattle are at the centre of everything, providing food and materials, as well as playing an important role in their rituals and representing their wealth and status

A view of Table Mountain from the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town + bush safari combos

How does one exactly combine Cape Town’s summer splendours with a wild Big 5 bushveld safari? We provide four fantastic summer/autumn combos!

A love story made in Tanzania

I dreamt of him, and of what would await me at his home, his boma, where he lived with his entire family. Nerve-wracking enough to visit your boyfriend’s home for the first time, never mind meeting his parents, grandmother, brothers, sisters, cousins and whoever else lived at the place.

a vibrant marine flatworm in Mafia Island Marine Park, Tanzania

Marine flatworms: The butterflies of the sea

Labelled the butterflies of the sea, we often ask ourselves why are marine flatworms so vibrantly coloured? Is it simply that they can be, therefore they are? Or is there a deeper significance?

The wonderful world of nudibranchs

Nudibranchs (the naked gills) are molluscs, the flamboyant snails of the ocean. Their colours and shapes are stunning, and their multiple forms elegant and striking.

lion viewing from a game drive vehicle, Khwai, Botswana

The best places to see wild lions in Africa

Aptly named the ‘King of Beasts’, lions are an iconic African wildlife species and are often high up on many travellers’ list of things to see when visiting Africa.

Magical Mahale: Meetings with Chimps

The turquoise water teemed with tropical fish, palm trees swayed, and warm waves lapped at our toes on the sandy beach. We could easily have been on a beach in the Indian Ocean. But we were at Greystoke Mahale. This lodge, inside Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania, is on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. It’s […]

On the trail of giants: Giraffe research and conservation in Tanzania

Giraffe numbers have plummeted to the point where they are now vulnerable to extinction with fewer than 100,000 individuals.

Whale sharks: A brief study of abuse

An international code of conduct for whale shark tourism is voluntarily adhered to by a few. It should therefore be no surprise that most whale sharks that we see around Mafia Island, off the coast of Tanzania, bear the scars and wounds of human disregard and exploitation.

Rare sighting: melanistic serval cat in the Serengeti

An extremely rare melanistic serval cat has been sighted in the lowland areas of the Serengeti National Park. This is a majorly significant and rare sighting, mainly because these servals are generally perceived to only habitate the high-lying areas of this area.