What to do in Tanzania

In one of nature’s true wonders, sea turtles arrive every year to nest at Ras Kutani in Tanzania, and guests can witness baby turtles hatch and make their first beach journey towards the ocean. This activity is organised in conjunction with Sea Sense, a Non Government Organisation (NGO) that works closely with coastal communities in Tanzania to conserve and protect endangered marine species. Seeing these turtles hatch and make their way to the ocean is one of those unique experiences that remains with you long after you leave this paradise.

Traverse the wide-open plains of Tarangire in the most classic sense - a game drive! Head out with the larks or after an afternoon siesta in a 4x4 to cruise around with binoculars firmly affixed to your eyes. Catch sight of huge herds of elephant strolling amongst the sturdy baobabs. Your guide knows all the best places to look! While the park has some pretty spectacular wildlife all year long, the Tarangire River really hits its peak during the dry season. From June to October, it becomes a beacon for creatures from miles around when vast herds of buffalo gather at its banks to drink accompanied by the ever-hungry big cats.

The Selous is the largest game reserve in Africa and indeed the world. The reserve is named after the famous hunter and military scout who was killed here by a German sniper’s bullet during WW I. Kenyan conservationist Richard Bonham made walking safaris here the gold standard, exploring the place in the 1980s with the most intrepid of clients. Walking in the Selous has always been about a state of mind and not body or the distance covered; it is an opportunity to exercise the senses, to unload the burden of modern contraptions and the yoke of occupational stress.

With all the crowds hanging around the Masai Mara and Serengeti, it might be an idea to look for somewhere that's a little less known on the safari circuit, but also has an incredible wildlife on offer. Look no further than Ruaha in Tanzania in October, when the dry season ends and the wildlife in concentrated around the rivers, making excellent sightings practically to yourself. It can be hot and dry, so prepare yourself.

Arabica and Robusta coffee are Tanzania’s largest export, so of course they have refined the art of coffee making to near on perfection. Grown in Tanzania’s rich volcanic soil, coffee is the primary source of income for many Tanzanians and a tour around one of the many outstanding plantations is well worth the trip. Learn more about the process, taste different brews and see for yourself what all the hype is about.

Pemba island was quickly made famous when The Manta Resort installed a unique floating room with an underwater bedroom. And you can believe all the hype because floating out above the coral reef on your own “private island” is exciting enough, but sleeping four metres under water surrounded by colourful marine life really brings this ocean holiday to a new level. Share your morning coffee with vibrant and energetic reef fish, breakfast on the top deck followed by a dip in the warm Indian ocean. What a way to start the day!

Feel the crunch of the soil beneath your boots and learn to hear the tell-tale rustle of wildlife on a bush walk. Straight after breakfast set out to uncover the secrets of the Serengeti. While the specifics depend on where you are, you'll have the chance to take a microscope to the landscape. Joined by your knowledgable guide, follow a flutter of wings to see lovebirds snacking on figs, peer into an earthy warthog burrow and inspect every track you can find. You could just be following a pride of lion (who should be napping in the distance) or thirsty elephant on the way to a waterhole! Whether it's scanning acacia bark for tiny critters or staring skyward to see an eagle soaring overhead, the essence of the Serengeti is yours to experience.

With your expert guide at the helm, set out from camp as the sun just begins to spill over Tanzania and venture into the jewel-green forests and plains of the Ngorongoro Crater. Where bubbling lava once spewed over, there now lives a barely believable variety of wildlife. Don't put your binoculars down for a second as you scan the landscape for the Big Five, including the protected black rhino, majestic black-maned lion and roaming herds of elephant. The plains are awash with vast numbers of antelope and zebra, who erupt into movement when a cheetah speeds across the scene. Finish the day off with a sundowner as the Crater cools around you.

Across East Africa, lions can be found lazing in the sun and draped over rocks but the big cats at Lake Manyara do things a bit differently. Garnering wonder from many safari-goers, generations of lion have been sizing up a sturdy tree, clawing their way to a comfortable branch and spending the day snoozing under the leaves. Whether it was to escape charging buffalo or the pesky midday flies, the habit has stuck! It's a real treat to spot the famous tree-climbing lions on a game drive in the park.

The Rufiji river is the life force of the Selous and it winds its way through valleys and across the floodplains, giving life to the otherwise dry but beautiful Selous wilderness. A boat cruise along the river allows you a ground level perspective of wallowing hippos, cruising crocodiles and a myriad of birds and wildlife as they wander down to the river bank to drink. On your afternoon cruise, make sure to pack a coolbox and then park off on a sand bank to watch the sun set. Perfect!

Ruaha in southern Tanzania is “a big place where big things happen”. As such it attracts some of Africa’s best guides. Only recently Ruaha has become known as the place where lions routinely take down elephants as prey (although you'd rather not witness). One of the least known of Africa’s big game parks, Ruaha retains a sense of the road less travelled and the difference which it makes. In fact, most of the park has no roads so it is the trail less taken. The landscape and vegetation are diverse and through it all runs the Great Ruaha River.

The acacia-speckled plains and waving golden grass of the Serengeti may be one of the most iconic safari scenes and what better way to see it all than with a game drive? Leave as dawn breaks or in the dusky afternoon, plaster your binocs to your face and get wildlife-spotting...There's a spectacular variety to see! The Serengeti is home to every member of the Big Five so expect to see soulful elephant wandering between the trees, lions snoozing amongst the vast herds of grazing buffalo. And your guide will be there to give you all the insider info. Every piece of the Serengeti offers something unique but whether it's spying on wild dog in the south, watching rhino amble through the brush in Moru Kopjes or losing your breath at the sight of big cats in Grumeti - it promises to be epic.

Ruaha’s dramatic landscape is dominated by hills thick with towering baobab trees, some of them hundreds of years old. The call it the “upside tree” as it wiry top reaches for the sky looking much like its roots. Baobab’s produce a delicious fruit who’s spongy seeds are rich with vitamins that boast an array of health benefits. The powder extracted from these seeds is expensive over the counter, but free in Ruaha. It’s also excellent for munching on during long bush walks if you need an energy boost!

With the dew barely dry, rise with the sun as you float over the Serengeti in a hot air balloon. Besides puffs of heat to move you skywards, there is nothing but blissful silence as you soak up every inch of the landscape. Let the wind be your guide, revealing the untamed spaces of Tanzania where very little can hide from this vantage point. Ascend to heights of 1000 feet for the ultimate panoramic view or drop low enough to practically brush the acacias, as tiny moving specks become monochrome zebra, elephant bathing in the waterhole and scampering African painted dog. If you fancy seeing the rowdy herds of antelope and wildebeest begin to cross the mighty Mara River, August and September - are the prize months to go. This is a shared activity with other guests.

The 'greatest show on earth' is no superlative when it comes to the wildebeest migration, a year-long trek where millions cross the endless plains and rushing rivers to reach sweet grasses. Embark on a game drive that is sure to enchant, excite and overload your senses as you join the viewing party for this epic spectacle. Depending on the time of year, you may watch new life begin on the southern grasslands in February or follow the rambunctious herds on their march northwards before they return to the Serengeti in November. The circuit has no end and neither does the once-in-a-lifetime chance to see this awe-inspiring event.

In one of Tanzania's wildest spaces, take your safari to new heights as you explore the lush, tree-laden rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. Where vehicles cannot go, you'll join an expert guide on an early-morning foray into the forest as rare birds show off their colourful plumage and waterfalls cascade toward the Crater below. Discover Ngorongoro's unique wonders like the 'Elephant Caves', which are deep hollows dug into the earth as the elephant forage for rich soil with their tusks. Ascend the crater wall for the ultimate panorama, watching as the Big Five roam, hippos guffaw and flamingos sit like a pink cloud over the lake.

Set sail along the coast of Zanzibar the best way we know how...on a bona fide dhow. Used by fishermen and travellers for centuries, it feels like a slice out of a different era. The breeze billowing in pearly-white sails, recline in the cushioned wooden hull, with nothing but ocean views before you - keep your eyes peeled for pods of dolphins! The real world will feel a million miles away as you watch the sun dip lower over the horizon and with a G&T in hand, a toast to your island adventure is in order.

Serengeti means 'endless plains' in Swahili and we can think of no better way to experience it in all its wild glory than with a safari on horseback. Cantering across the savannah, forget any mention of the 'beaten path' and camera-toting crowds. Keep your eyes wide open for migrating herds of zebra and wildebeest. With elephant, loping giraffe and swaggering big cats - if luck is on your side, a cheetah may speed into the scene. The riding pace is varied, often affected by the terrain and wildlife sightings, and you'll have a choice of thoroughbred or local breeds. Return to your lodge for the night or enjoy a multi-day ride, stopping to camp each night. Horse riding experience is a necessity so this is not really an activity for beginners.

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.

Arusha may not be known as one of Tanzania's safari powerhouses, but this small, beautiful park has a lot to offer. The closest national park to the airport, you can easily make a day trip to Arusha, which sits in the scenic foothills of Mount Meru. On a game drive through the park, look out for black-and-white colobus, leopard, giraffe and a plethora of plains game. Plus, pods of hippo wallowing in the quiet, pretty lakes. On the clearest of days, you can even see the shimmering, snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro.

As the birds start to sing, set off to explore the Lake Manyara National Park on foot. Armed with a lifetime of knowledge, your guide will take you on a journey through grassy floodplains and lush forests where you'll spy the 'Little Five', named after their larger and more famous counterparts and track big cats, who are often found snoozing in a shady spot. Stop for a picnic of your own under the shade of an acacia before trekking on in pursuit of wildlife. Marvel at your guide's ability to sniff out a herd of elephant, learn the survival tricks of smaller creatures and stroll beside the lake, where flamingos gather in their thousands and thirsty zebra stop for a drink.

From July, millions of wildebeest crest over the plains of the Serengeti on their ever-moving circuit where the thought of fresh grasses is enough to make them plunge across the flowing Grumeti and Mara Rivers. Drive across the savannah, led by your guide with a good nose for finding the action, and watch enthralled as life and death plays out before your eyes. The wildebeest gather like a storm on the southern banks before making a mad dash across the river, Nile crocodile snapping at their heels and big cats waiting to meet them on the other side. This display of pure nerve is one of the most epic events on the African safari calendar and you can easily spend an entire day out!

After you've hit the safari highlights on a game drive, take things a little slower with a bush walk. Your guide will use their expertise to show you the finer details of Lake Manyara. As you explore the floodplains and forests (listen out for the chatter of monkeys), spot the tiny dung beetle as it rolls its cargo, find the skeleton of a hyena's prey and learn the names and uses of the plentiful flora. Let your gaze wander to the lake, treetops and sky to catch the flash of wings as hornbills, eagles and flamingos (plus many more) take flight.

After the rains turn the southern Serengeti every shade of green, wildebeest calves are born in their thousands, sometimes even up to 8000 births in one day! This miracle all happens over three weeks in February. Take a drive to witness young wildebeest take their first tottering steps and build up their strength to join the great migration to the north. Watch in wonder as newborns snack on fresh sprouts and frolic in the plains, watched over by the protective matriarchs. The beginning of the year also marks the well-timed birthing season of the Serengeti's major predators, when lion and cheetah cubs learn the art of the hunt. Be prepared to see the beauty of new life while the reality of nature follows in quick succession.

A community-led and heartfelt project, Shanga (the Swahili word for bead) has grown from humble beginnings to a thriving Arusha gem. It was created to provide skilled job opportunities to differently-abled people from Tanzania, offering training in everything from needlework and jewellery-making to metal work and glass blowing. At Shanga, pick up one (or many) of these unique, hand-crafted items and learn a new skill like Maasai beading or Swahili sign language. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at the Arusha Coffee Lodge.

Get to know this often-overlooked and underrated city set in the magnificent shadow of Mount Meru. Join a local guide as they share the history of Arusha and its people. You'll visit the fascinating Museum of Natural History and Cultural Heritage Centre, where you'll gain great insight into Tanzania's 120-plus tribes through carvings and artifacts, and its thriving art scene. Peruse the exhibits at the Tanzanite Museum and learn the lore behind the discovery of this ocean-blue stone, which is only found in a small area below Mount Kilimanjaro. Then, stop off for lunch at a local haunt.

Arusha National Park is one of the few destinations in Tanzania where canoeing is possible. Take your pick between Momella Lake and Lake Duluti, which was left behind by erupted volcanoes. Birdlife is bright and plentiful, including elegant flamingoes and fish eagles, uproarious great kingfishers and hoards of cattle egrets who roost on islands at sunset. While canoeing on Momella Lake, keep your eyes peeled for buffalo, giraffe and snorting hippo.

Take in the sights of Arusha's countryside on a bicycle ride led by a well-experienced guide. You'll venture through the forests in Mount Meru's foothills, through savannah and past little local villages. Take in the endless, China-blue sky, superlative landscapes and wildlife on this diesel-free safari. For the avid mountain biker, there is the option to do a multi-day cycling expedition.

Leave Arusha at around 5 am and, after a hearty sunrise breakfast, you'll begin the 1,000-metre hike, moving up the western facade of Mount Kilimanjaro. Along the way, you'll spot colobus monkeys, verdant birdlife and even hear elephant tramping through the trees. Your destination is the vast 500,000-year-old Shira Plateau, where you can stop for lunch or forge on to see Lion Gorge and the Shira Pinnacles. From here, the iconic, snow-capped peaks and glaciers are visible. It's best to avoid the rainy season and the optimal conditions occur between January - early March and June - October.