New Year in Tanzania can be as fiery as the hot springs and as wild as the animals. Though the people of Tanzania are quite religious when it comes to Christmas and New Year, cities such as Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam are upbeat and effervescent regarding the celebrations. Welcome this New Year by partying hard or spending some quiet time with the nature in Tanzania.

The warm temperatures are sure to lure one and all to visit this amazing country. Here are 10 places you should visit to ring in New Year in Tanzania:

1. Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is one of those few places that offer a balloon safari. What can be more romantic than toasting for a New Year floating in the air over such a picturesque land? For a pure indulgence of nature, riding a hot air balloon is a must do activity when in Tanzania.

2. Zanzibar

Zanzibar Islands are located a few kilometers north to Dar es Salaam. There are frequent flights that are available to reach this fun island. The mineral blue waters and the white sand beaches beckon people from all over the world.

3. Stone Town

If one is not a beach bum, the capital of the mainland; Stone Town is a better option. The historical city has been a capital to this major port island in the Indian Ocean since the time of the Arab and British rule. One can walk around the cobblestone streets and reach the House of Wonders and the Sultan’s Palace.

4. Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam, is the former capital of Tanzania, which has revolutionized the retail, hospitality and the economic sector of East Africa. It is a hotspot for the major International Fashion Shows organized for the promotion of pan-African fabrics.

5. Mafia Island

The Mafia Island situated in the south of Dar es Salaam is a less frequented tourist hotspot. Whale watching and dolphin tours are the ideal activities around this small island. One can find many coral reefs as well in this part of the Indian Ocean. There is a museum here that exhibits the history and making of the traditional dhow boats.

6. Arusha

A foundation based in the region of Arusha’s coffee plantations is the best place to spend a day in community service and welcome the New Year serenely. The Shanga Shanga Foundation was established by Elewana to offer shelter and employment to the disabled. The foundation currently houses around 55 deaf and mute people and help them in their income generation.

7. Ngorongoro Highlands

Maasai culture tours are conducted by many tour operators across Tanzania and is a beautiful way to learn about the history and culture of this tribe. The tribe is located near the periphery of the Ngorongoro Highlands. The cultural tour includes a day with the people in their boma village.

8. Mount Kilimanjaro

The land of volcanic mountains beckons the mountain climbers from all over the world. Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru and the craters of Ngorongoro highlands are worth trekking. The weather in Tanzania during the New Year is pretty pleased with a bit of rain. The afternoons should not be a problem for those who are planning to trek up the mountain as it is always warm and sunny. For an adventurous New Year celebrations in Tanzania hike up to the mountains to view the world from the top of the summit.

9. Pemba Island

For a reticent holiday with the loved one, cozy up in this underwater room in the Manta Resort tucked in the small Islet of Pemba. The wooden villas are built on the seabed in the pristine waters of the Indian Ocean. Manta Resort is a paradise with marine life cruising about the villa and so can the visitors. One can sunbathe, kayak, snorkel, enjoy some delectable seafood and watch the milky way in the night in solitude.

10. Mafia Island – a beach paradise with superb diving

Further south lies the idyllic island of Mafia. A touch more sophisticated and exclusive than Zanzibar, but without the Mnemba price tag, this is an exciting coconut-covered island to visit. The beaches are superb and its mangroves and marine park ensure that the marine life is bountiful and the underwater safari experience far superior to Zanzibar or Pemba. More out of the way and a little harder to reach, Mafia is the place for adventurous travelers and diving connoisseurs. The star underwater attraction is the docile and completely harmless whale sharks that frequent the island waters between October and March each year.