This is the Central Tanzania chapter from Lonely Planet’s Tanzania guidebook.

Central Tanzania lies well off most tourist itineraries and that’s just the way we like it. Exceptional and enigmatic, the Unesco World Heritage–listed Kondoa Rock-Art Sites are the region’s premier attraction. And then there’s Dodoma, an intriguing relic of nationalist ambition with interesting architecture and the region’s best facilities.

• visit a mysterious Unesco World Heritage–listed attraction and have it all to yourself at the Kondoa Rock-Art Sites
• maps
• get to know the Barabaig, Sandawe and other traditional tribes of Central Tanzania on a cultural tour out of Babati or Kondoa
• transport
• summit (and sleep atop overnight) Tanzania’s seldom-climbed fourth-highest peak, Mt Hanang
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Dodoma, Kondoa Rock-Art Sites, Babati, Mt Hanang, and Singida.

This is the Dar es Salaam chapter from Lonely Planet’s Tanzania guidebook.

Over the last century, Dar es Salaam has grown from a sleepy fishing village into a thriving metropolis. With bustling markets, restaurants and sandy beaches, travellers who linger will encounter the city’s eclectic cultural mix and languid vibe.

• shop for wonderfully wacky, upcycled souvenirs at the Wonder Workshop
• maps
• Join hardworking locals living it up at the city’s main weekend beach hang-out, Coco Beach
• transport
• head out to Mbudya and Bongoyo for snorkelling and picnics on pristine offshore islands
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Sights, Activities, Festivals & Events, Sleeping, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Northern Beaches, Offshore Islands, and Southern Beaches.

This is the Lake Victoria chapter from Lonely Planet’s Tanzania guidebook.

Musoma and Bukoba have a quiet waterside charm while Mwanza is the perfect launching pad for a Serengeti–Lake Natron–Ngorongoro loop. Add the forest of idyllic Rubondo Island National Park and you will have a well-rounded safari experience.

• soak up the sights, sounds and smells as you stroll Temple St and Makoroboi in Mwanza
• maps
• bike through the villages, fields and farms, seeing wildlife and smiles, in Jiwe Kuu
• transport
• ponder the strange forces of nature that balanced the boulders at Jiwe Kuu
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Musoma, Mwanza & Around, Rubondo Island National Park, Biharamulo, and Bukoba.

This is the Northeastern Tanzania chapter from Lonely Planet’s Tanzania guidebook.

Northeastern Tanzania’s highlights are its coastline, its mountains and its cultures. These, combined with the area’s long history, easy access and lack of crowds, make it an appealing focal point for a Tanzania sojourn.

• laze on the long, white beaches around Pangani, while getting a taste of Swahili history and culture
• maps
• hike along winding footpaths and past scenic rolling-hill panoramas in the scenic Usambara Mountains
• transport
• snorkel in crystal-clear waters amid colourful fish and corals in Maziwe Marine Reserve
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Bagamoyo, Saadani National Park, Pangani, Tanga, Amboni Caves, Galanos Sulphur Springs, Muheza, Korogwe, Usambara Mountains, Amani Nature Reserve, Mombo, Soni, Lushoto, Mlalo, Mtae & Mambo, Pare Mountains, Same, Mbaga, Mwanga & Around, Usangi, and Mkomazi National Park.

This is the Northern Tanzania chapter from Lonely Planet’s Tanzania guidebook.

Mt Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti plains are merely starting points to so many journeys of a lifetime. Mt Meru is Kilimanjaro’s rival, while the Crater Highlands rank among Africa’s most haunting landscapes. When it comes to wildlife, Northern Tanzania boasts Tarangire’s elephant kingdom, Lake Manyara’s tree-climbing.

• witness one of the most epic wildlife shows ever in the Serengeti National Park
• maps
• descend into a lost world of wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater
• transport
• experience stunning views of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano at Lake Natron
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Northern Safari Circuit, Arusha, Arusha National Park, Mt Meru, Tarangire National Park, Manyara Ranch Conservancy, Mto wa Mbu, Lake Manyara National Park, Karatu, Lake Eyasi, Ngorongoro Crater, The Crater Highlands, Lake Natron, Oldupai Gorge & Western Ngorongoro, Serengeti National Park, Kilimanjaro Area, Moshi, Machame, Marangu, Mt Kilimanjaro National Park, and West Kilimanjaro.

This chapter contains the Welcome to Tanzania, Tanzania’s Top 11, Need to Know, If You Like…, Month by Month, Itineraries, Safaris, Active Tanzania, Travel with Children, and Regions at a Glance chapters from Lonely Planet’s Tanzania guidebook.

Your journey to Tanzania starts here. You’ll find the tools to plan your adventure: where to go and when, how much to budget, plus in-depth info on the best safari locations.

• tailor-made itineraries, arranged by region, themes and events
• list of highlights and best experiences
• everything you need to know about trekking in Tanzania
• user-friendly country overview ensures you won’t miss a thing

Coverage includes: Welcome to Tanzania, Tanzania’s Top 11, Need to Know, If You Like: Wildlife, Beaches & Islands, Trekking & Hiking, Diving & Snorkelling, Offbeat Travel, Ruins & Rock Art, Travelling on a Budget, Month by Month, Itineraries, Safaris, Active Tanzania, Travel with Children, and Regions at a Glance.

This is the Southeastern Tanzania chapter from Lonely Planet’s Tanzania guidebook.

For safari enthusiasts and divers, and for adventurous travellers seeking to learn about traditional local life, the southeast makes an ideal destination. Among the highlights: Selous Game Reserve, with its top-notch wildlife watching; and white-sand beaches and stunning corals around Mafia island.

• boating down the Rufiji, wildlife watching and birding in Selous Game Reserve
• maps
• dive amid idyllic sandbanks and islets in the Mafia Archipelago
• transport
• explore traces of bygone days at the old Swahili trading town of Mikindani
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Mafia, Selous Game Reserve, Kilwa Masoko, Kilwa Kisiwani, Songo Mnara, Kilwa Kivinje, Songo Songo, Lindi, Mtwara, Mikindani, Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park, and Makonde Plateau & Around.

This is the Southern Highlands chapter from Lonely Planet’s Tanzania guidebook.

The Highlands are wonderfully scenic and a delight to explore, with rolling hills, lively markets, and plenty of wildlife. Hike in the Udzungwa Mountains, watch wildlife in Mikumi or Ruaha National Parks, or head well off the beaten track to Tanzania’s southwesternmost corner.

• spot elephants amid the baobabs in wild and rugged Ruaha National Park
• maps
• track snorting wildebeest, grazing buffaloes and skittish impalas in lovely and easy-to-access Mikumi National Park
• transport
• relax on the tranquil shores of Lake Nyasa, where verdant mountains cascade down to quiet coves
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Morogoro, Mikumi National Park, Mikumi, Udzungwa Mountains National Park, Iringa, Isimila Stone Age Site, Kalenga, Ruaha National Park, Makambako, Njombe, Kitulo National Park, Mbeya & Around, Tukuyu, Lake Nyasa, Songea, and Tunduru.

This chapter contains the Tanzania Today, History, People & Daily Life, Wildlife & Habitat, Environment & National Parks, Tanzanian Cuisine, Directory A–Z, Transport, Health, and Language chapters from Lonely Planet’s Tanzania guidebook.

All the info you need on everything from history, food, culture and wildlife to flights, public transport, climate, money, the internet... you name it. Get hints on the gay and lesbian scene and tips for women travellers and travellers with disabilities, as well as a handy language guide and glossary.

• a rundown on spectacular Tanzanian Wildlife
• info on Tanzania’s history
• full coverage of the region’s impressive environment
• details on local cuisine

Coverage includes: Tanzania Today, History, People & Daily Life, Wildlife & Habitat, Environment & National Parks, Tanzanian Cuisine, Directory A–Z, Transport, Health, and Language.

This is the Western Tanzania chapter from Lonely Planet’s Tanzania guidebook.

Western Tanzania is rough, remote frontier land, with vast trackless expanses and few visitors. Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks are two of the world’s best places for chimpanzee encounters, while Katavi National Park offer an almost primeval safari experience.

• visit Mahale Mountains National Park, the ultimate ‘get-away-from-it-all’ destination
• maps
• venture into the forests to mingle with the chimps made famous by Jane Goodall’s studies at Gombe National Park
• transport
• sail from port to port down Lake Tanganyika aboard the MV Liemba, the historic ferry that inspired the movie The African Queen
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Tabora, Kigoma, Ujiji, Gombe Stream National Park, Mahale Mountains National Park, Kalema, Kipili, Kasanga, Mpanda, Katavi National Park, and Sumbawanga.

This is the Zanzibar Archipelago chapter from Lonely Planet’s Tanzania guidebook.

Step off the boat or plane onto the Zanzibar Archipelago, and you’ll be transported through time and space. With its tropical tableau and unique culture, the archipelago offers a fascinating and highly enjoyable East African Indian Ocean experience.

• marvel at the House of Wonders, the most famous building in Stone Town, Zanzibar Town’s historic quarter
• maps
• bargain for spice, colourful cloth or live chickens at traditional Darajani Market in Zanzibar Town
• transport
• launch from Fumba and view the ocean from the deck of a traditional boat in the Menai Bay
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Zanzibar, Stone Town & Ng’ambo (Zanzibar Town), Offshore Islands, Bububu (Fuji Beach), Mangapwani, Nungwi, Kendwa, Matemwe, Kiwengwa, Pongwe, Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, Michamvi Peninsula, Bwejuu, Paje, Jambiani, Makunduchi, Kizimkazi, Menai Bay, Pemba, Chake Chake & Around, Wambaa, Mkoani, Kiweni Island, Wete, Tumbe, Ngezi Forest Reserve, and Kigomasha Peninsula.