6 Events In Tanzania That Are Worth Traveling For

Visiting Tanzania is an absolute must do for travelers looking to vacation in Africa. However, we advise you to plan your trip to coincide at the same time as some of the country’s most popular festivals, holidays and events. Get ready to immerse yourself in local culture and celebrate alongside them, here are the top events in Tanzania that are worth traveling for.

Sauti Za Busara

Dance along to the beat at Tanzania’s most popular music festival, Sauti Za Busara. The event is held in Zanzibar every February, where a line up of musicians hailing from all over the continent including Rwanda, South Africa, Morocco, Kenya and of course, Tanzania plays over the course of a few days. Music lovers, this will allow you to get the taste of authentic African music with modern and traditional influences. Approximately 45 performances are expected to make their appearances each year.

KiliFair

In Moshi, hundreds of exhibitors in the tourism industry from across the nation come to this special event to network and showcase their business at KiliFair. Vendors include hotels, safari tours, camping lodges, website designers, food services, spas, and many more. The festival also goes by Karibu Travel & Tourism Fair and is not just for business attendees, but for anyone who loves traveling. Expect live music, dance shows, delicious food, arts and craft tents, and acrobat performances throughout this three day event in June.

Kilimanjaro Marathon

Put your running skills to the test while enjoying the breathtaking view of the Africa’s tallest mountain.Kilimanjaro Marathon is held every February for three days. Each day, a race is hosted where runners face a challenging course where a good portion of the route is an uphill climb on Mount Kilimanjaro. Even the most trained runners will face difficulty on this run, but for those who aren’t planning to run, it’s a perfect opportunity to enjoy the stunning view and cheer on the runners who are racing for a good cause. Most proceeds go to local charities including Uhuru Women’s Club, The Kilimanjaro Project and Carbon Tanzania.

Zanzibar International Film Festival

Every year in July, Zanzibar turns in a hotbed of film buffs, musicians and artists for a week. The Zanzibar International Film Festival is a prestigious event where attendants can watch several short films along with live music and poetry slam. In addition to the entertainment, a half marathon is hosted during the event where 300 runners participate to promote gender mainstreaming. The week-long event is held at Hotel Verde, a luxury resort overlooking the ocean and mangrove forest. Book a stay at the resort to make attending the festival much more convenient.

Jahazi Literary & Jazz Festival

You can’t leave Tanzania without getting some jazz influence in you. That’s why the Jahazi Literary & Jazz Festival (held in the fall) is the perfect time to visit Zanzibar. Guests will get to mingle and meet like-minded artists who share their love of music and literature. The weekend-long event will host a series of poetry and short story readings, along with live performances by jazz musicians and bands. Well known writers come to the festival to talk to the audience about their success and the passion of African literature. Each night will have fabulous parties with delicious food, drinks and music to keep the night young. The event is held at Old Fort and Livingstone Beach Restaurant.

Serengeti Wildebeest Migration

Yes, animals have their own event, too. Wildlife enthusiasts, you’ll want to jump in on this. From December to March, millions of wildebeest start migrating in masses, making it a spectacular sight to see in the open plains. One of the best place to view them is around Lake Ndutu in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Imagine looking at the open space for miles and seeing nothing but wildebeests. The antelopes remain there until early summer when they travel further north. By fall, they return to start calving, contributing to their incredibly strong population.

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