The best adventure sports in Tanzania

Tanzania is an unforgettable country whose landscape is characterized by rich savannahs, thick forests, snow-capped mountains and awe-inspiring coastal attractions. If you’re interested in going on safari, the options in Tanzania are certain to delight. Not only is there big game, but the country is also home to one of the greatest migrations in the world – the annual wildebeest and zebra migration in the Serengeti.

Tanzania is a country to be visited by everyone and you can enjoy your tour with some adventure sports. Adventure sports in Tanzania include activities such as biking, hiking, boating, canoeing, tracking, walking safaris, diving, snorkeling and swimming. Adventure sports holidays in Tanzania are customized to allow travelers to participate in their favorite sports while on safari.

Here is a look at what adventure lovers can expect when indulging in Adventure Sports at popular attractions in Tanzania.

Mount Kilimanjaro 

Thanks to the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro, mountain climbing is one of the key adventure sports in Tanzania. Africa’s highest peak, Kilimanjaro offers plenty to do in terms of adventure including walking safaris, bird watching, 4x4 game drives, volcano tours, wildlife viewing tours, photographic safaris, mountain biking, paragliding, helicopter sightseeing, rock climbing, hiking and nature trekking.

Lake Manyara

Visitors to Lake Manyara can enjoy hiking in the Great Rift Valley or biking around various surrounding areas including Magadini Chini village where you will cycle around vast banana plantations before heading out to Mto wa Mbu River past acacia woodlands. Thereafter, you will arrive at the Jangwani wildlife corridor which offers splendid sights of yellow backed acacia. At the acacia bush land zone you will enjoy close wildlife viewing. You may spot Wildebeests, Hippo, Zebra, Buffalos, Flamingoes, and many more animals within the Rift Valley Escarpment.

Biking tours typically last between 2-4 hours and may be followed by afternoon game drives. Tourists can also have a meal and stay overnight at a nearby camp. Lake Manyara also offers morning game drives and canoeing trips after lunch. In the evening, visitors can participate in nature tracking and walking safaris, before having a meal and an overnight stay at a camp or lodge.

Ngorongoro Crater

Tourists may visit the Ngorongoro Crater where they can enjoy a walking safari, hiking to the craters, trekking and nature tracking. This activity is typically followed by game drives or wildlife viewing tours. Visitors should be on the lookout for a pack of lions with males, females and cubs wandering around Ngorongoro. Thereafter, you may enjoy meals and an overnight stay at a lodge or campsite.

Serengeti

The Serengeti National Park is the site of game drives and full days of wildlife watching until the evening hours. Thereafter, visitors will typically have a meal and overnight stay at a campsite or lodge nearby.

Lake Victoria

At Lake Victoria in Tanzania, visitors can enjoy some sightseeing, snorkeling, diving and leisure activities. Visit Saa Nane Island and watch the fishermen at work. You can also enjoy some wind surfing and swimming in the lake.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire offers great opportunities for viewing wildlife on boating and canoe safaris or on walking safaris escorted by an armed guide. This activity is normally followed by game drives that continue until lunch time. If you’re lucky, you may see a lion sleeping on a tree. Thereafter you may drive to Arusha, have your meals and an overnight stay at a lodge.

Most tourists visiting Tanzania think only of climbing Kilimanjaro or going on wildlife safari tours in the wildlife reserves and game parks. However, choosing a combination of adventure sporting activities can add that extra touch to your Tanzania vacation.