Tanzania

Standing on the snow-covered summit of Kilimanjaro, nearly 20,000ft above the dusty plains of Tanzania, is a dream of mountain lovers the world over. And witnessing an African sunrise from here is a truly extraordinary experience.

The Lemosho route to the top, offers the best acclimatisation – critical for making a successful summit bid. It’s also one of the most scenic routes gradually ascending over the course of seven days, from lush forest, through moorland to an increasingly stark rock-strewn landscape, until finally crossing a glacier field to reach the snow-capped summit at first light. We follow this route on our Kilimanjaro Summit, Lemosho Route trek

Alternatively, our Summits of Meru & Kilimanjaro trekking holiday gives a pre-ascent of nearby Mount Meru. Not only does this provide an excellent acclimatisation trek but it is also an interesting contrast to Kili. Situated in the Arusha National Park, Meru is home to leopards, giraffe, zebra and buffalo to name but a few of the animals that may be encountered on the trek up Meru’s lower slopes

Read an account of reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro in our blog article - An interview with Harry - Mountain Kingdoms' Operations Manager.

And at the end of an exciting Kilimanjaro trek, a safari in the Ngorongoro Crater or a relaxing beach break on the sumptuous white sands of Zanzibar offer great extension options for your holiday in Tanzania.

• Capital city: Dodoma
• Population: 43,601,796 (2012)
• Size of country: 947,300 sq km
• Currency: Tanzanian shilling
• Power supply: 220-240 Volts
• Sockets: British-style or Indian-style three-pin plugs
• Language: Kiswahili or Swahili
• Time difference: GMT +3 hours
• Visas: British nationals require a visa and this must be obtained in advance.
• Religion: mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim
• Popular dishes: Ugali, a polenta style dish made from corn flour, which is eaten with meat.
• Popular drinks: Konyagi is a gin-like beverage, sold only in Tanzania.
• Did you know: Tanzania is famous for its Mpingo tree, also known as the African blackwood tree (dalbergia melanoxylon) is the most expensive hardwood tree in the world
• FCDO advice: FCDO travel advice

When is the best time to travel to Tanzania?

Our climate charts will give you an idea of the weather conditions in Tanzania.
Located near to the equator, the temperatures are fairly stable all year around. Of course the temperature will drop the higher you climb, with temperatures below freezing at the summit of Kilimanjaro.

January to March and June to September are the driest months to visit Tanzania. This is the best time to go on a wildlife safari as the animals will be concentrated around the remaining rivers and waterholes. Drier weather also means fewer mosquitoes. April and May are the wettest months and are considered to be the quiet season. October and November are also wet. We have chosen not to organise group departures during these months, as travel arrangements can be affected by the rain.

The weather in Zanzibar closely follows that of mainland Tanzania although tends to feel a touch more humid and can occasionally experience rain even in the dry season.

If you can't make the dates of our group departures, then take a private departure on dates to suit you, or we can create a Tailor Made holiday to Tanzania, especially for you and your family or friends.