All Tanzania

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Tanzania

19 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Tanzania

Updated May 8, 2023

Email

Cities

Unusual Attractions in Tanzania

See All 19 Things To Do in Tanzania

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Tanzania

In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Tanzania

Islands 4
Geology 3
Houses 3
Archaeology 3
Slavery 3
History 3
Ruins 3
Homes 3

Tanzania Leaderboard

Recent Tanzania Activity

Stories About Tanzania

Medieval buildings at Songa Mnara, one of many coastal Swahili ports and settlements that connected East Africa to Arabia, Persia, China, and Southeast Asia.

Ancient DNA Restores the Origin Story of the Swahili People

New research complicates both modern and colonial-era ideas about the medieval East African civilization.
by Chapurukha Kusimba and David Reich

Podcast: Lake Natron

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
African wild dogs are often considered to be well adapted to the savanna, but research suggests the animals fare even better in more wooded ecosystems.

African Wild Dogs Survive by 'Living in the Cracks' of a Landscape

The lanky, wily pack hunters fare better than lions in habitats increasingly fragmented by human activity.
by Scott Creel

Podcast: Kilwa Kisiwani

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
Surf's up—or not—in this microscopic view of a prase opal gemstone.

This Rugged Coastline Is Not What It Seems

An avid microscopist captured an unusual image that has nothing to do with surf and sand.
by Gemma Tarlach

Did Early Humans Invent Hot Pot in Geothermal Pools?

A mystery microbe found at Olduvai Gorge inspired scientists to speculate about the origins of cooking.
by Isaac Schultz

Exploring the Ruins of a Medieval East African Empire

Kilwa Kisiwani ("Isle of the Fish") was once the heart of Swahili culture and commerce.
by Lizzie Philip

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More