Tanzania > Tanzania Introduction

Tanzania

  • Hi Mary & Bill, just a note to say thank you very much for organising my Tanzania safari. The safari was fantastic and both Beho Beho and Mwagusi were great. The transport all worked perfectly and everywhere (except Dar Airport!) I encountered politeness, charm and helpful people. I loved the adventure coupled with comfort! I fell in love with Beho Beho – such a beautiful place with a real houseparty feel, superb managers, amazing food and great guiding – I can’t fault it. I loved the walking safaris, did 3 there and went on to do another at Ruaha. I also liked the fact you hardly see any other vehicles at Beho Beho. At Mwagusi we had really great game viewing and saw cheetah and leopard cubs, lots of lion (including six suckling cubs) and plenty of elephant (my favourite as they are so interesting). There were a few more vehicles but not many – I am so glad I did not go to the North! Thanks for recommending Mwagusi – I was a bit unsure when I first saw it but it has a lovely peaceful ambience and the guiding was top class. It is nice to see local people trained so well there but also using their own instinctive knowledge and clearly well looked after. The country is very different in Selous and Ruaha so they make a good combination and the flights were also fun – I was able to sit in the ‘co-pilot’s’ seat a couple of times so had great views of the country. Overall a fantastic holiday.

    Shirley travelled to southern Tanzania

Tanzania

Introduction

Introduction to the beautiful and diverse country of Tanzania

Tanzania is a diverse and beautiful country blessed with a host of wonderful natural attractions, from the famous Serengeti plains to idyllic Zanzibar.

The north is dominated by vast open plains and weathered volcanic mountains, including Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest. Scenic splendours such as the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti appeal to a wide range of travellers and never fail to impress, with prolific game-viewing all year round. In particular, the Serengeti plays host to the famous zebra and wildebeest migration, one of East Africa’s great wildlife attractions.

These iconic ‘northern’ regions tend to be busy (with both tourists and locals), however it is possible to get ‘off the beaten track’ and enjoy an exclusive experience, if you know where to go. It is also quite usual to travel overland with a private guide and safari vehicle, which offers superb flexibility and privacy when game-viewing.

Far fewer visitors (and locals) are generally encountered in the more remote southern part of the country, where the Selous and Ruaha regions offer a wonderful bush experience. They are more in character with southern Africa landscapes of vast wilderness areas intersected by mighty rivers. In particular the Selous offers lovely boat cruises on the Rufiji River system which cannot be repeated anywhere else in East Africa. The west of the country is home to three very remote and amazing parks, Katavi, Gombe Stream and Mahale. The latter two, found on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, are known for being the best places in Africa to see chimps in the wild. The southern and western regions of the country are accessed almost entirely by air.

Walking safaris and mountain trekking will appeal to the more adventurous, and cultural interaction with the charismatic local people is highly likely on many safaris, especially in the north of the country. For those looking for relaxation, the glistening white sands of Zanzibar and the Indian Ocean coastline beckon.

Whilst Tanzania safaris can be expensive, there are some excellent value for money options to consider as well, especially where shorter safaris are combined with beach holidays. This ability to easily combine incredible game-viewing with beautiful beaches has always made Tanzania a wonderful family holiday or honeymoon destination.

So whether you’re looking for a specialist wildlife experience, a ‘bush & beach’ special celebration holiday, a Kilimanjaro expedition or perhaps simply a wonderful African adventure as a family, Tanzania is the perfect destination to consider.

For further information on Tanzania safari options please call us on 01787 888590 or contact us to speak to one of our safari specialists.

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