Located on the rift of Western Tanzania, with less than 1,000 visitors per year, leaves this park truly untouched, due to the remote location and accessibility. However, this park has a large concentration of wildlife. The Katavi, Katuma and Chada Rivers become pools in the dry season, acting as a magnet for the resident game. Huge herds of elephant and buffalo gather with other herbivores, like zebra, waterbucks and duikers around the remaining water source. Predators from lions and leopards to wild dog and hyenas, look on with eagerness. This is a great spot for watching lion and buffalo interaction. There are wild dogs in this park, but far out in the escarpment. Hartebeest, Giraffe, Impala and topi are common. Hippo pods are known to grow up to 600 strong. Crocodiles can be found in large numbers. The wet season sees the rivers flood again and water birds making their emergence.

This is a wonderfully scenic park, located on the road from Arusha to Ngorongoro. Sitting between the Great Rift Valley and the sodiforous lake, this park is used as a stop on the way to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park. The park is known for its famous tree-climbing lions, bird life including the pink flamingoes and large elephant populations. A large proportion of the park is occupied by the lake.

With an altitude of 19,340 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain in the world, the highest peak in East Africa and one of the largest volcanoes. The mountain looms majestic with bright snow-capped peaks. A minimum of 5 days is required, to reach the summit. There are six trekking routes.

The Machame route is one of the most scenic routes on Kilimanjaro. Machame quickly became the most popular Kilimanjaro route, due to the low costs involved.

Rongai route is the easiest route up Kilimanjaro. It has a reputation as a remote wilderness trail. Rongai is the only route to approach Kilimanjaro from the north.

For many years Marangu used to be the most popular Kilimanjaro route. It has now been delegated to number two by the Machame route. Marangu was dubbed the Coca-Cola route because the local wardens and rangers stationed at the campsites, along the way, would supplement their income by selling bottles of Coke to thirsty trekkers.

The route over the Shira Plateau has several possible variations. To climb away from the crowds, this route also known as the ‘Grand Traverse’, is the most diverse.

The Umbwe route the steepest Kilimanjaro route. Steep with a big capital S. This route is not used much. The Umbwe route is only suitable for people with mountain climbing experience and who are already well adapted to the altitude.

Lemosho Route is remote and beautiful, but long and expensive, this route also approaches Kilimanjaro across the Shira plateau

Mweka - This is not a climb route, it is only used for descent. You will follow it if climbing Kilimanjaro on the Machame, Shira, Lemosho or Umbwe route.

Accommodation throughout your stay is in tents, bandas, with sanitary toilets, and you are always with highly trained guides and porters. The most important first step is to make sure you allow time to acclimatize and take it seriously. Best months and warmest are from December to February. Between July and September is dry, yet colder.

Set at the foothills of Mount Meru, with views of Mount Kilimanjaro on the outskirts. This is a quiet town, vibrant with fruit markets, coffee plantations and flower farms. Founded by German colonialists in 1900, Arusha is now the hub for safari operations in northern Tanzania, with an international airport and flights accessing the game parks, this is where most safaris commence. Clients landing at Kilimanjaro Airport will either stay in Arusha Town or proceed on Safari from here. Arusha has its own little National Park, which has serene backdrops with little wildlife. The main animals here are leopard, hyena, few elephants, buffalos and giraffes.

Dar-es-salaam means “Harbour of peace”, this is the largest city in Tanzania. Created in the 1860's as a holiday home and small port by the sultan of Zanzibar. Dar-es-salaam fell into decline after Majid's death in 1870, but was revived in 1887 when the German East Africa Company established a station there. The town's growth was facilitated by its role as the administrative and commercial center of German East Africa. An industrial expansion resulted from the construction of the Central Railway Line in the early 1900s. Beautiful architecture from British and German colonial presence can still be seen, mixed in with Arabic and Indian styles. It remains the political and economic capital of the country, with a natural port on the east coast of Tanzania. Sailing dhows and cargo ships dotting the Indian Ocean. Dar as its better known has many beautiful beach resorts. There are daily ferry’s from Dar to Zanzibar Island which only take 2 hours.

Did you know Tanzania is one the best places in the world to see chimpanzees? For those seeking to learn more about primates and seeing them in the some of the most natural and unchanged places in Africa, a visit to any of these parks will guarantee a truly thrilling, tracking experience.

Gombe Stream National Park being the smallest park in Tanzania measuring just 35km squared. In 1965, Dr. Jane Goodall founded the Gombe Stream Research Centre (to study the chimpanzee's behavior) and in these efforts, Gombe was gazette as a national park by 1968. Only about 150 chimpanzees reside here. Her work continues here until today, with the most ground-breaking primate research ever. The park has a varied landscape, from sandy beaches to forests and river valleys.

Rubondo Island National Park is located in the southwest corner of Lake Victoria in a truly wild area, untouched by man. The whole island is given over to conservation. Lake Victoria is the second largest lake in the world and the source of the White Nile. There is only one lodging, on this fertile island with an unspoilt ecosystem. Rubondo is a refuge for threatened chimpanzees. The surrounding waters of Lake Victoria are a crucial breeding ground for tilapia and the enormous Nile perch. Perfect for catch-and-release fishing. With over 300 bird species, the island is an ornithological paradise. Other animals that can be seen are families of elephant and the sitatunga antelope. Easily accessible by boat from *Mwanza or by light aircraft from Serengeti.

Mahale Mountain National Park bordered by Lake Tanganyika, the world's longest freshwater lake, and overshadowed by the Mahale Mountain Range, this is another one of Tanzanian Park that is remote and untamed. This park has the highest density of primates, compared to any park in Africa. Home to around 1000 chimpanzees. The park is only accessible by boat and there are no road links in the park. All activities are carried out on foot. There are various lodges you can stay in the park.

*Mwanza is set on Lake Victoria’s shore, surrounded by hills strewn with enormous boulders. It is notable for its strong Indian influences, as well as for being a major industrial center and a busy port. Yet despite rapidly rising, Mwanza manages to retain a laidback feel with a very lively night life. In addition to being a stop on the way to Rubondo Island National Park, Mwanza is a great starting or finishing point for safaris through Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.

Often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest, intact volcanic caldera. Created almost 2.5 million years ago when a large active volcano collapsed, inward after a major eruption, leaving the present vast, unbroken caldera. A sanctuary for wildlife - elephants, leopard, rhino and lion all roam the depths of the crater. The best location for the “Big Five”, viewing is easy year round and excellent. This is any photographers dream destination, with its abundant wildlife.

For any one visiting the crater, and proceeding to Serengeti, there will be a stop to the Olduvai Gorge. Olduvai Gorge was designated part of a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. Olduvai Gorge has often been called the “Cradle of Mankind,” Located in northern Tanzania, the gorge, is located in between the Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. It is a deep ravine more than 48 kilometers in length. Internationally recognized for Louis and Mary Leakey’s famous discoveries of early humans and magnificent antiquities documenting the evolutionary history of our stone tool-using ancestors over the last two million years. Research at Olduvai began almost a century ago, producing an unparalleled wealth of archaeological and paleontological data for the study of some key phases of early human evolution.

The largest national park in Tanzania. In the 23,000km square area of land there you will find the largest species counts of large mammal. There are over 10,000 elephants residing here, and you will also have great opportunities to spot the African wild dog. It is also home to 10% of the world’s lion population. A fantastic safari experience in another one of Tanzania’s remote and vast, unexplored parks. Hardly visited by the normal tourist circuit, you are guaranteed a secluded stay any time of the year. Baobabs, Semi-arid bush and a huge variety of landscapes, plants and animals bordered by the Ruaha River which is the park’s lifeblood. Recently there have been increasingly long periods of dry seasons, where the river has dried up completely. But during the rainy season, the river floods with heavy gushes of water. The river shores, make a great hunting ground for the big predators.

Off the beaten track and one of Tanzania’s three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Selous enjoys a varied landscape of rocky outcrops, savannah woodlands and open grasslands. Selous is four times the size of Serengeti giving you an unbeatable, unique game viewing experience. The Rufiji River transforms into a network of lakes and streams, attracting large amounts of game to drink from its waters. Masses of elephants migrate through the park each year. Perfect for spotting wild dog and more than 400 species of birds. What makes Selous stand out is not only the size, but the variety of land and water-based activities that are available during your stay. The park is easily accessible by light aircraft from either Zanzibar or Dar-es-salaam.

Serengeti means endless plains and here imagery comes to life in front of your eyes. With thundering hooves, hungry predators, masses of wildlife, tranquil sunsets with backdrops of savannah and rounded hills this is where your adventure begins. Home to the biggest spectacle on earth, The Great Migration, the largest land based, in the world, with more than two million wildebeest, half a million Thomson’s gazelle and a quarter of a million zebra. Between May and July you might be lucky to witness the fascinating spectacle of thousands of Wildebeest and Zebras crossing the crocodile infested Grumeti River together with their new born. From August to October, they move to the remote Northern Serengeti crossing the Mara River, which is equally populated with giant Nile crocodiles and predators concealed in the vegetation. Survival is a constant battle between the predator and the prey. From here, they graze on the fine grasses of the Mara until around October when they must face crossing back across the river to Tanzania, many heavily pregnant, to begin the whole process again. December to February sees the birth of new zebra and wildebeest so you may have the opportunity to see these young take their first few steps! The birthing sees anything from 400,000 calves born, almost at the same time!

The park is easily accessible from Arusha with just a 2 hour drive or shorter still from Lake Manyara. The only place in Tanzania to spot the gerenuk, (also known as the giraffe gazelle, is a long-necked antelope). With its huge baobab trees, often known as the upside down tree, or the tree of life, this park evokes mystical dreamland with dusty orange sunsets. It is the primary source of fresh water, during the annual dry season. Located just outside the park, is the Kolo Rocks site, displaying ancient rock art left behind by ancient hunters and gatherers, as well as the remains of prehistoric rock shelters. The park is well known for its large numbers of elephants as well as the big cats, herds of buffalo, Thomson’s gazelle, wildebeest, zebra, gerenuk, hartebeest, kudu and Oryx. With over 500 species of birds recorded, this is any bird lover’s paradise.

(Image credit thezanzibarcollectionagents.com)

“The Spice Island” is the perfect place to relax after your safari, with award winning tantalizing beaches, some of the best beach resorts, the best dive sites and an array of marine life. Visit the butterfly Centre. Go on a private spice tour, which is easily arranged from anywhere you are staying on the island, or simply immerse yourself in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean.

Stone Town named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, it is known for its rich cultural heritage of Arab, Persian, Indian, and European history. This town is home to the Fordhani Market, after sunset, the gardens come to life with food vendors selling grilled seafood and other Zanzibari recipes, illuminated by oil lamps. However do consult a local on the best place to eat, to avoid food poisoning. For a truly magical culinary experience, book a table at the Rooftop Tea House, Emerson on Hurumzi Hotel. This is the highest rooftop restaurant in Stone Town. Another must is a light breakfast or lunch at the Zanzibar Coffee House. The coffee served, is locally grown by the hotel owners at the foot of the Mbeya range in Southern Tanzania on the Utengule Coffee Estate.

The Zanzibar archipelago was a main slave-trading port in East Africa. Although heartbreaking, for a deeper understanding, visit the location of the world’s last open slave market, a deeply important site where the Anglican Cathedral now stands as a symbolic success, over inhumanity. Do wander through the alleyways and winding roads and behold the beautiful architecture and elaborately carved doors, decorated with brass studs and handles. No-where in the world will you find this giant huge work of art, used as markers, to identify the home-owners place of origin, profession and wealth. Another classic example is the Old Fort. Built by the Omani Arabs, following the expulsion of the Portuguese in the late 17th century, it is now in ruins. Make sure you take a guide who can explain to you its strategic importance and the key role it played in the history of Zanzibar. The amphitheater nearby is home to the Zanzibar Film Festival an event must for any Cinephilia. It showcases films and cultural performances from East Africa and beyond, and attracts thousands of foreign visitors annually.

Jozani Forest is home to over 1,000 Kirks Red colobus monkeys. Other species of monkey, bush babies and hyraxes await, alongside an abundance of butterflies and birds.

Chumbe Island Coral Park



Changuu Island (Prison Island) has a varied history, with former uses including serving as a holding center for the slave trade, a quarantine center and also as a prison island for Zanzibar’s criminal population. About 30 minutes away from Stone Town by boat, the island is home to the remains of the prison and giant tortoises. They arrived as a gift from the governor of the Seychelles in 1919. These magnificent creatures are noted for their longevity and have taken up permanent residence here. One is even believed to be around 190 years old.

Visit a Spice Farm in Zanzibar and you’ll see how everyday ingredients actually grow in their natural setting. Take a tour of cinnamon, vanilla, black pepper, cardamom and, of course, cloves. The guide will also advise you on how to use them in your own cooking. They are also available to buy, so you can bring the memory back to your own kitchen.

Welcome to Mnemba, an island probably as far away from civilization you might ever find yourselves. Here lies your private island getaway with total barefoot luxury. The island is surrounded by an oval reef which have been declared a Marine Conservation area. Mnemba Island is a popular scuba diving site and underwater enthusiasts can take advantage of the island’s PADI dive school, which offers incredible snorkelling and various scuba diving excursions with an opportunity to see approximately 600 species of coral reef fish. Calm conditions are most frequent in November and March, with maximum visibility. The island itself is privately owned and can be visited only as a guest. Mnemba Island is a 90-minute drive from Stone Town across the main Zanzibar Island, before a twenty-minute boat crossing. This is a nesting place of threatened green turtles, which are monitored and protected, since 1996. All you have to do here is enjoy your activities from swimming, snorkeling, diving, dhow cruises, fishing, water sports, walking, witness seasonal turtle hatchlings (February and September), see 3 species of dolphins, see the magnificent Humpback whales from July to September, sight Whale sharks (the world's largest fish) and doing absolutely nothing.

Archipelago has breathtaking marine parks and exclusive hideaway for travellers in the know and heaven for divers. It’s widely acknowledged as one of the best dive spots in the Tanzania islands. Here is a place of adventure and as well as diving, days can be spent exploring tiny, jungle-clad islands, swimming in hidden bays and seclusion and beauty of the surroundings. The marine park offers everything from challenging dive walls to sheltered bays that novices can float around in. If you get your timings right there is some serious bucket-list worthy marine experiences to go for. There is popular dive spot for the whale shark migration between November and January and from June to September, you might spot turtle hatching on the beach. The lodgings on the island are truly excellent and will provide everything you could possibly need from diving equipment to spa treatments to barefoot dinners under the stars.

Covered in clove trees and shores lined with gorgeous mangrove trees, this part of the archipelago is far developed and unexplored. The diving around Pemba Island is nothing else but breathtaking. This is quiet an easy-going sort of place, so far removed from modern-day anxieties and masses of people, that you’ll forget either ever existed. The untouched coral reefs surrounding the entire island make Pemba one of the top dive sites in the world. Pemba is the perfect place to start your dive exploration with one of the healthiest coral reefs in the Indian Ocean, a water temperature averaging at 26ºC and the best visibility of East Africa of 30-40 meters almost every day!

Manta rays, hawksbill, barracudas and green turtles all add to the vast marine life you are likely to see and there’s a good chance of bumping flippers with both bottlenose and spinner dolphins. There are historic fishing villages dotted around the banana and coconut plantations, miles of undeveloped and beautiful coastline to explore and only a handful of lodges to share it all with. The deep Pemba channel rises dramatically towards the island’s west coast and the sea mountains rise up creating incredible dive walls, blue water drop-offs and rich coral gardens with schools of fish, with hard and soft coral gardens supporting a proliferation of reef and pelagic fish and other marine life.

If beach-lounging was more what you had in mind, you’ll find a few good sandy crescents along Pemba’s pristine coastline and lukewarm waters to paddle in. The lodges are simple and rustic with amazing service from some of the friendliest people on the planet, ocean-to-plate seafood, and simple chilled-out moments. Tourism is still in its beginning and the infrastructure is underdeveloped compared to the other Tanzania islands, but a couple of bumpy roads and a slightly longer flight time shouldn’t put you off. Or you can discover the incredible Ras Mkumbuu Ruins which date back to the 11th century.