subject: Tanzania Safari Holiday - A Guide To Africa's Most Popular Safari Destination [print this page] Located in East Africa, Tanzania is a unique country that houses a number of Africa's most famous sites. These include the continent's highest and lowest points, namely Kilimanjaro and the lake bed of Lake Tanganyika. Tanzania also has its share of the largest lake in Africa - Lake Victoria. The country spans an estimated 954,087 sq km and is home to about 37,187,939 million people.
Though not as explored as it neighbour Kenya, Tanzania has some of the best beaches of Africa as well as diverse flora and fauna. The unspoilt white sandy beaches of Tanzania offer a fine setting of fantasy and a cool breeze of the great Indian Ocean. Magically placed close by the skyscrapers of Dar es Salaam city, the beaches are a must visit destination for anyone interested in exploring the vast east Africa coast.
Zanzibar archipelago boasts numerous beaches that abound in fringed coral reefs. The magnificent beaches are ideal for swimming with dorphins, snorkeling, scuba diving as well as other water sports. Stone Town, the historical capital of Zanzibar, is also a huge attraction of the island.
Mafia Island Marine Park, Tanzania, lies south of Zanzibar. It boasts several fantastic world-class and snorkeling destination with some of the richest reefs in the world. Mafia Island Marine Park is one of the few destinations in the world where sharks congregate yearly. The experience is astounding if you can tolerate being the source of the indiscreet amusement of relaxed but world-weary fishermen as you interrupt their island life.
Tanzania tours usually involve visiting the northern or the southern tourism circuits of the country. The northern safari circuit is more popular with most tourists. The most popular destination along this circuit is the Serengeti National Par, which hosts a wide range of game including cheetahs, leopards, buffalo, elephants and more. The major attraction of this park is the annual wildebeest migration that occurs between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire and Manyara national parks as well Olduvai Gorge are the other major attractions along the circuit. Believed to have been formed by volcanic activity that erupted during the active days of Mt Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater is one of the world's most spectacular settings that never disappoints visitors.
The southern circuit, comprising the Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park are less popular, although they are interesting destinations. Touring those sites can be extremely enjoyable for both the first time visitor or frequent tourists. The destination is ideal for those looking for a safari destination that is not too overcrowded with tourists.
