What to do in Tanzania

Lake Manyara may conjure up images of epic birdlife and dreamy views, but it wouldn't be a trip to Tanzania without meeting the Maasai. As the keepers of East Africa, their culture is deeply embedded into the landscape. Drive across the plains to a nearby homestead where huts have been built the same way for thousands of years. You'll be greeted by the formidable figure of a Maasai warrior, dressed in a red shuka and a spear in hand. If you make an early start, you can join a Maasai warrior for a trail run - there's no one better! Watch in amazement as the warriors try to best each other in a leaping dance and share a traditional meal of corn polenta (ugali) and beef - if you're brave, sample the local beer!

Take your safari experience to new heights, specifically the height of a mahogany tree in the lush forests of Lake Manyara. Enjoy a walkabout through the canopies of this ancient forest as you cross a series of suspension bridges, stopping at tree trunk lookout points to spot the flutter of a silvery-cheeked hornbill and scampering blue monkeys. Don't forget to look down either as antelope, buffalo and pint-sized dik dik wander through the trees below, and you'll sometimes be surprised by an elephant ambling passed. This family-friendly excursion is a top-notch way to dip your toes in the water of Lake Manyara National Park.

Enjoy a drive across the wilds of Lake Manyara National Park where you'll stop at the village of Mto wa Mbu. Home to around 120 Maasai tribes with their own unique language and customs, the village is a riot of colour and bustling activity. Stroll through the Maasai Market with vibrant stalls of fruit, handmade shukas and beaded jewellery. Sample traditional dishes washed down with banana beer, learn all about the the art of Makonde carving and be amazed by the leaping Maasai dances. The village has some stunning views of the Great Rift Lake and down by the lake, you'll find a gushing waterfall to swim beneath.

Depart camp at dawn or in the late afternoon sunshine to discover the epic wildlife of Lake Manyara. With your knowledgable guide to lead the way, endless floodplains, acacia woodlands and shimmering lake reveal grazing plains game, herds of trumpeting elephant and lion draped over the branches of a mahogany tree, not to mention the clouds of pink flamingo. Stop on a grassy spot near the lake to enjoy a morning cuppa or ice-cold sundowner as incredible birdlife dips in and out of the water. As one of Tanzania's smallest and most underrated parks, Lake Manyara has one of the country's highest wildlife densities and you'll have few other safari-goers to contend with.

The Great Rift Valley tells the history of Africa in its caverns and canyons, and one of the most mysterious is the Olduvai Gorge. Made famous by the discovery of fossils from early hominids who lived around 2 millions years ago, the gorge is filled with intrigue. Delve into its history at the museum where you'll learn about the stone tools and mammal fossils found over decades and, if you're lucky, watch archaeologists at work on an active dig. If you visit between June and October, there are usually researchers at Olduvai who have some fascinating stories to tell. The Olduvai Gorge makes a lovely and very scenic stop between Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.

The Ngorongoro may conjure up images of epic wildlife and dreamy views, but it wouldn't be a trip to Tanzania without meeting the Maasai. As the keepers of this land, their culture is deeply embedded into the Ngorongoro. Drive across the highlands to a nearby homestead where you'll be greeted by the formidable figure of a Maasai warrior, dressed in a red shuka and spear in hand. Watch in amazement as the warriors try to best each other in a leaping dance and share a traditional meal - if you're brave, sample the local beer!

Leave camp just after dawn or in the soft sun of the afternoon, to explore the Ngorongoro's little brother on foot. The Empakai Crater is an ancient volcano caldera ringed by walls of lush forest where birds of every feather flit between the strangler figs and you may spot blue monkeys swinging from branches and bushbucks in the thicket. At the crater's edge, you can see the endless Tanzania plains, the snow-topped Mount Kilimanjaro and Tanzania's most recently active volcano. In the crater's belly, a glimmering alkaline lake is home to a flurry of flamingo and buffalo who stop for a drink. It's quite a trek so reasonable walking fitness is a 'must'.

Ngorongoro may be where the wild things are but it's also where coffee runs through the veins! Drive out through scenic valleys to a hilltop coffee farm where you'll walk amongst the fragrant, bean-laden bushes protected by a canopy of acacias. Have a nosey and learn how coffee is planted, pruned, harvested and fermented, before being dried and finding its way into your cupboard. Soak up the views with a cup of the good stuff before you return to your lodge.