4 Incredible Road Trips in Tanzania

Tanzania offers a variety of landscapes, from wild safaris to lush rainforests, woodlands, and expansive savannahs. Exploring by car might be the best way to experience it all.

As you drive through this vast nation, you'll witness not only stunning scenery but also rich cultural diversity. Many ethnic groups, including the Sandawe in the north, the Hehe in the Southern Highlands, the Chagga near Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the Zanaki around Lake Victoria, warmly welcome travelers from afar.

Be prepared for long and sometimes challenging road journeys in Tanzania, with sections of well-paved roads giving way to hours on rugged dirt tracks. However, taking your time allows you to fully appreciate the country's rich history, culture, and breathtaking nature. Here are the top road-trip routes to consider.

1. The Northern Circuit

Ideal route for a quintessential safari From Arusha to Serengeti National Park; distance 306km (190 miles)

Arusha, the gateway to some of Africa’s unforgettable safaris, is where your Tanzanian road adventure begins. This journey leads you to Serengeti National Park, necessitating a 4WD vehicle capable of handling off-road paths; reliable rentals are readily available in town. The drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park features smooth asphalt, but expect bumpy, dusty unpaved roads once you enter the park.

As you head towards Lake Manyara National Park, Mto wa Mbu is one of the initial stops. This vibrant tropical town is perfect for mingling with locals and other travelers, shopping for souvenirs, and enjoying snacks. It's known for its friendly atmosphere and is celebrated as the only place in Tanzania where all 120 ethnic groups coexist harmoniously.

One of the last remaining hunter-gatherer communities in the world, the Hadza or Hadzabe reside in the Lake Eyasi area. As dawn breaks in this region, Hadzabe men venture into dense bush to collect honey or hunt wildlife—an activity that visitors can join by inquiring locally. Plan to spend a few days at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on your route to Serengeti National Park. Covering 264 sq km (102 sq miles), the renowned Ngorongoro Crater is the largest caldera globally, teeming with an impressive variety of wildlife in its valley.

2. The Untamed Southeast

Ideal road trip for discovering unexpected landscapes From Dar es Salaam to Nyerere National Park; distance 256km (160 miles)

As the largest city in the country, Dar es Salaam provides a vibrant and rapid introduction to Tanzanian culture. The city is filled with car rental agencies offering vehicles for hire, both with and without drivers. Unless you’re feeling particularly adventurous, it’s advisable to hire a local driver who is familiar with the roads and driving customs, and can assist with any mechanical issues that may arise.

Leaving the city, you’ll merge onto the Tanzam Highway, which links Dar es Salaam in the east to Mbeya in the west. This well-maintained road takes you through Mikumi National Park and Iringa, eventually leading to Ruaha National Park. While less famous than the Serengeti or Ngorongoro, this remote park boasts stunning scenery with rugged rock formations, baobabs, mountains, and seasonal rivers. It is home to large populations of elephants and hippos, along with a diverse array of bird species.

From Ruaha, it’s a five-hour journey to the breathtaking Udzungwa Mountains. Rising over 2438m (8000ft), these forested peaks are rich in endemic plant life and host unique species like the Udzungwa red colobus monkey. The mountains offer a fantastic hiking playground and are well worth a few days of exploration.

Your final destination is Nyerere National Park, which was established from the vast Selous Game Reserve. While the roads in Nyerere can be rough, it’s among the top national parks for remarkable wildlife sightings, including antelope, buffalo, and lions, making the challenging drive worthwhile. Expect the return journey to Dar es Salaam to take about five hours.

3. The Southern Highlands and Western Tanzania

Ideal long road trip From Dar es Salaam to Arusha; distance 648km (403 miles)

Taking this incredible journey across the Southern Highlands and Western Tanzania will require a few weeks, or even a full month, to truly appreciate. Starting from Dar es Salaam, you’ll travel to Morogoro, a quaint town at the foot of the Uluguru Mountains, where you can enjoy an afternoon of hiking. For a cultural experience, spend a day with the Luguru people.

Your next leg takes you through the Udzungwa Mountains towards Iringa, the homeland of the Wahehe people. This proud community is renowned for their victory over the Germans in 1891, and their name is derived from a war cry said to echo as, “hee twahumite, hee twahumite, he he he heeeeee” (“hey, we have come out”).

The drive from Iringa to Ruaha National Park is moderate, continuing along the Tanzam Highway to Mbeya. The journey from Mbeya presents many opportunities for adventure—such as canoeing on Lake Nyasa or hiking in the hills of Tukuyu—before you reach Kitulo National Park, famous for its stunning sunflowers and breathtaking vistas.

For a deeper exploration of this region, you might consider bypassing Kitulo and heading from Mbeya to Katavi National Park, one of Tanzania’s most secluded wilderness areas. The effort to reach this park is well rewarded; the expansive Katisunga Plain and the striking roan and sable antelope, rare in many parts of Africa, will captivate your attention.

As you make your way to Arusha, be sure to stop at Gombe National Park, home to habituated chimpanzees famously studied by anthropologist Jane Goodall. Within the verdant forest, you’ll be greeted by the chimps’ lively shrieks and whoops as they communicate in their affectionate pant-hoots.

4. Northeastern Tanzania

Best road trip for diversity Kilimanjaro Airport to Dar es Salaam; 598km (372 miles)

A journey through Northeastern Tanzania offers options for both budget-conscious and luxury travelers, featuring a range of accommodations, cuisine, culture, history, and thrilling activities to suit every preference.

Starting from Kilimanjaro Airport, your first stop will be Moshi, a vibrant trading hub known for its bustling markets. Consider touring a coffee plantation to see how these essential beans are cultivated and harvested. If you're interested, ask your guide to arrange a visit to a local Chagga family, who sustain themselves by growing bananas, yams, maize, and beans.

Next, you'll encounter the dramatic Usambara Mountains, soaring from the plains to great heights. This area is a haven for hikers, botanists, and bird enthusiasts, with lush valleys and rainforests where overlapping trees form rich canopies. Spending a few extra days here allows for deeper exploration into the Pare Mountains—an adventurous detour best navigated with an experienced guide, as this region is still emerging as a tourist destination.

As you near the coast (and think about heading to Zanzibar), you'll stumble upon the quaint town of Pangani. This town was once a crucial port in the trade of enslaved individuals, attracting Asian, Arab, German, and British merchants, whose legacies are evident in the town's weathered architecture. Meanwhile, the age-old, melodic calls of fishermen echo as they venture out at dusk, casting their nets into the sea.