Bush & Beach safaris are just the thing you’ll need after a stressful year, a combination of exploring the wilderness of Tanzania before riding off all the adrenaline by relaxing at a beach. Tanzania provides the perfect bush and beach safaris owing to its beautiful national parks and endless stretches of island shore!
Let’s go on to discuss some of the best bush and beach safaris in Tanzania!
The Northern Circuit Bush & Beach
The northern tip of Tanzania is filled with many different parks and reserves to choose from.
You could start at the top with the vast Serengeti National Park, the habitat of all the Big Five and famous for its Great Wildebeest Migration, the largest in the world where 2 million animals like wildebeest, zebras and gazelles head from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara and vice versa. Don’t miss the picturesque views of the rolling plains and different kinds of birds cutting through the baby blue sky. In fact, you can spot about 400 species of birds at Serengeti!
After viewing that majestic spectacle, head down towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for more spectacular game viewing of the Big Five and the famous Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact volcanic crater in the world, among many more, adding to the jaw-dropping beauty of the lush fertile African grazing grounds.
The next stop after these two adrenaline-filled events would be to catch a flight to Zanzibar Island to relax at Nungwi Beach, one of the best on Zanzibar. Snorkel, swim or dive into the depths of the blue waters of the Indian Ocean, then dry off by sunbathing on the white sand underneath the golden sun.
Highlights:
- Spot the Big 5 of Africa
- Spot over 400 species of birds
- Take a hot air balloon ride over the plains of Serengeti
- Observe the Great Migration
- Relax and chill at Zanzibar
- Indulge in watersports activities like scuba diving, snorkeling, kitesurfing and many others
The Southern Bush and Beach Circuit
The northern side is more popular and crowded whereas the southern part of Tanzania feels more natural. It is significantly less crowded, allowing you to experience the true savannah wilderness.
Begin your adventure at Ruaha National Park, which is home to the highest elephant population throughout the entirety of East Africa. With crocodile-infested rivers and beautiful landscape dotted by palm and baobab trees, this location is a must visit! You can also spot rare wildlife here including sable and roan antelopes, greater kudus, and lesser kudus.
Make your way to Saadani National Park later for more exciting game viewing. Saadani is Tanzania’s only national park that touches the Indian Ocean, where its beautiful lush forest gradually turns into white sand leading into the sparkling waters.
Afterward, you can head down to Dar es Salaam, the largest city of Tanzania and its former capital. Spend some time visiting the museums to learn more about Tanzania’s history then and hop aboard a ferry and head over to Zanzibar’s southern beaches.
Kizimkazi beach rests at the southern tip of Zanzibar Island and is calm and peaceful. It’s the best spot to relax and unwind after an amazing adventure. Not only is it right near Jozani Forest where you can catch sight of some Colobus monkeys, but there are often dolphins spotted around here due to the lower number of tourists that visit this spot.
The Western Circuit
While the north and south are more popular, the western side of Tanzania has benefits that definitely make it worthwhile.
The first location would be Gombe Stream National Park, which is one of the last places in Africa where you can spot chimpanzees while walking through the majestic forests.
After an eventful time in the Gombe National Park, head south-east to the Katavi National Park. As the country’s third-biggest park, this reserve contains the biggest herds of buffalo on Earth and is surprisingly visited less frequently by tourists compared to other parks, causing its landscape to be untouched by human waste. It has a variety of habitats ranging from open grasslands and forests to waterways filled with hippos and seasonal lakes.
To top off this adventurous vacation, take a short flight to Zanzibar Island for a chance to relax at one of Tanzania’s best beaches, such as Kendwa Beach with its sparkling blue water rolling in light waves onto the white sand where you can lie back and sunbathe before joining the fun by splashing around in the crystal clear ocean!
So, what are you waiting for? Head over to Tanzania and have an amazing bush & beach safari! Solo traveler?
Don’t worry, Tanzania is a great place for solo travelers. Here’s why!