Pemba
Ras Mkumbuu is the headland at the end of the thin strip of land jutting into the sea northwest of Chake Chake. It's also the name given to the ruins of…
Must-see attractions in Tanzania
Zanzibar Town
Overlooking the coast, away from the heat and hustle of Zanzibar Town, Mtoni Palace was built for Sultan Seyyid Said in 1828. It was home to the sultan’s…
Lake Victoria
This small but worthwhile museum mixes a collection of local tribal items with photographs of wildlife from the Kagera region; drums, handbags and other…
Western Tanzania
Jakobsen's is actually two tiny, beautiful sandy coves below a wooded hillside. The overall setting is idyllic, especially if you visit during the week…
Dar es Salaam
Head down to the Kivukoni fish market in the early morning to see fishers flog their catch to restauranteurs and homemakers with all the zeal of Wall St…
Northern Tanzania
Though lacking the drama of Ngorongoro and Empakaai, Olmoti Crater, 13km north of the Lemala ascent-descent road, is worth visiting on your way north into…
Zanzibar Town
Maruhubi Palace was built outside Zanzibar Town in 1882 for Sultan Barghash to house his impressively large harem. A few years later it was destroyed by…
Southern Highlands
This large rock northeast of town is where Chief Mkwawa meditated and where he learned that the Germans were after him. Its name, gangilonga, means …
Southeastern Tanzania
The large and heavily vegetated island of Juani, southeast of Mafia, has overgrown but evocative ruins at Kua. This includes the remains of several…
Dar es Salaam
This spired, Gothic-style, Roman Catholic cathedral was built at the turn of the 19th century by German missionaries. In addition to the striking stained…
Enduimet Wildlife Management Area
Northern Tanzania
You may never even be aware of its existence (there are no signs or entry fees), but Enduimet WMA is a quiet success story in protecting the wildlife…
Zanzibar Island
Protecting numerous butterfly species indigenous to Zanzibar, this centre is a huge tropical garden with net walls and roof. You can see the various life…
Bagamoyo
About 2km northwest of town and reached via a long, mango-tree-shaded avenue is the Catholic mission and museum, one of Bagamoyo’s highlights, with well…
Pemba
Stepping onto Vumawimbi, you may need to rub your eyes to check you haven’t gone to heaven, so idyllic is the view. Stretching along the east side of the…
Central Tanzania
The most visited, though not the best, Kolo sites (B1, B2 and B3) are 9km east of Kolo village and a 4WD is required. You’ll need to climb a steep hill at…
Mwanza
Mwaloni Market, under the roof with the giant Balimi ad, is quite a spectacle. The city’s main fish market, it also has lots of fruits and vegetables,…
Central Tanzania
Katesh is known for its large mnada (market) held on the 9th, 10th and 28th of each month. Maasai, Barabaig, Iraqw and other peoples from a wide…
Northeastern Tanzania
About 70km north of Bagamoyo along a lovely stretch of coastline, and directly opposite Zanzibar Island, is tiny Saadani, a 1000-sq-km patch of coastal…
Mwanza
Sitting atop Robert Koch Hill, the old German mansion is a Mwanza landmark with great views of the city and lake. Abandoned, it is a fun 'adventure';…
Tarangire National Park
Southwest of Tarangire Hill, a couple of hundred metres west of the main north–south track through the park, Poacher's Hide is a marvellous old baobab…
Lake Victoria
This landmark cathedral in the centre of town certainly draws attention to itself with its huge see-through, glass steeple. It looks like something from a…
Southeastern Tanzania
A good place to start exploring in the Mafia archipelago, especially around the crumbling but atmospheric ruins, dating from the 19th century. Also on…
Southeastern Tanzania
This tiny museum features masks, spears, tools and other cultural items from the Makonde, Makua and Yao tribes. All displays are labelled in English and…
Arusha
This museum inside the old German boma (fortified compound), completed in 1900, has three parts. The best is the wing dedicated to human evolution, since…
Zanzibar Town
Freddie Mercury, the former lead singer of Queen, was born in Zanzibar in 1946 where his name was Farrokh Bulsara. His father worked for the British…
Pemba
Located on the headland (ras) at the far northern tip of the Kigomasha Peninsula, this lighthouse was built by the British in 1900 and is still actively…
Pemba Channel Conservation Area
Pemba
The waters and islets along the entire west coast of Pemba are officially protected as the Pemba Channel Conservation Area (PECCA). The aim is to benefit…
Zanzibar Island
This dark cell cut into the coral rock was used as a holding pen to hide slaves after the legal trade was abolished in the late 19th century. From here it…
Mwanza
Smack in the city centre is Robert Koch Hill, with an attractively decrepit German-built mansion at the top. To get here, push through the bustling market…
Mwanza
One of the more interesting rock formations around Mwanza is Jiwe Kuu (Big Rock), which some people call the Dancing Rocks. Many round boulders sit atop…
Southeastern Tanzania
Downhill from the boma is the old slave market building, which now houses several craft shops. Unfortunately, it was much less accurately restored than…
Pemba
Filling an 18th-century Omani fort, which was probably built on the remains of a 16th-century Portuguese garrison, this small museum has well-organised …
Western Tanzania
This large and colourful fishing village is quite a spectacle when the 200-plus wooden boats pull in with their catch. During the darkest half of the moon…
Western Tanzania
Many people find Ujiji’s beach and small dhow port a charming step back into centuries past. They don't use power tools to build the boats, so the…
Western Tanzania
There are many fishermen at Kibirizi, 2km north of town by the oil depots. The early-afternoon loading of the lake taxis is impressive in a noisy,…
Central Tanzania
East of the Kolo Rock-Art Sites, on the back side of the same mountain east of Kolo, are the simpler, mostly white (ie relatively modern) Pahi sites…
Zanzibar Town
In the Kiponda area of Stone Town, this mosque is one of the largest in Zanzibar, catering to the Ismaili community since 1905. The beautifully detailed…
Central Tanzania
This expansive reed-fringed lake south of town is home to hippos; you can explore by dugout with Kahembe's Culture & Wildlife Safaris or the folk at the…
Central Tanzania
The home of Tanzania’s parliament is an African-influenced round building. It’s only open to visitors during sessions (bring your passport), but is well…
Selous Game Reserve
Stiegler’s Gorge, which averages 100m in depth, is named after a Swiss explorer who was killed here by an elephant in 1907. It has more recently gained…
