Description

Holidays to Tanzania are all about safari days and starry nights while Zanzibar’s Indian Ocean coastline beckons for post-safari relaxation

In the midst of ancient baobab and acacia trees in the scorched savannah, big cats, elephants and giraffe roam free. From the spine-tingling Great Wildebeest Migration that thunders through the Serengeti plains, to the hot soft sands of Zanzibar or remote Pemba Island, holidays to Tanzania combine luxury safari adventure with chic island life. Picnic with impala and zebra on the Ngorongoro Crater floor; take a thrilling dusk safari through the remote Selous; head to the Serengeti for year-round big cat spotting in Tanzania’s oldest national park; and experience world-class comfort in luxury tented camps. Choose an overland or fly-in safari for your Tanzania holiday – either way, as sure as flamingos fly over soda lakes, it’s going to be a spectacular and enchanting adventure.

Our Personal Travel Experts know Tanzania really well. If you would like one our Tanzania experts to tailor-make an unforgettable Tanzania safari for you, give us a call or pop in to your local store.

Best time to visit Tanzania
• Tanzania is warm year-round, but it can be cold in early morning and at night on safari
• The short rains are from November-December and the long rains from April-May
• January is hot and dry, June to October is warm and dry with cooler evenings, and the hottest months are October to February
• The annual wildebeest migration can typically be seen in different areas of the Serengeti from November-July
• Zanzibar is hot and humid with an average daytime temperature of 30ºC, and from June to September the sea breeze makes the climate very pleasant.

Tanzania holiday highlights
In Tanzania, you can wake up to the distinctive early morning call of the fish eagle, enjoy the thrill of after-dark game drives when the bush comes alive, climb Africa’s highest peak, and marvel over tree-climbing monkeys and huge herds of elephants.

The world-famous Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater bring opportunities to spot rare black-maned lion, herds of elephant, leopards and cheetahs in their natural habitat. A sunrise hot-air balloon drifts across the savannah with a spectacular perspective on the animals below and 600 meters down the Ngorongoro Crater floor you’re among one of Africa’s richest concentrations of wildlife. And then, of course, there’s the Great Migration. As millions of wildebeest, antelope and zebra stampede across the plains of the Serengeti chasing the freshest grass and water on the continent, you can watch – front row – one of the most extraordinary natural events on Earth.

There are wild and romantic bush breakfasts, family-friendly 4×4 full-day game drives and bespoke fly-in safaris on board a private Cessna. Seasoned safari-goers will love travelling the lesser-visited southern circuit where the remote Selous and Ruaha Reserves sustain a huge number of giraffe, elephant, lion and buffalo. There’s more… fly east to the ‘spice islands’ of Zanzibar and Pemba and let the warm Indian Ocean lap at your feet for the ultimate post-safari relaxation.

Where is Tanzania?
Tanzania is on the eastern coast of Africa land bordered by Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and with a coastline lapped by the Indian Ocean. The islands of Zanzibar and Pemba lie on the Swahili coast, offshore from mainland Tanzania.

Getting around
Our safaris include a range of 4×4 and fly-in options. Fly-in safaris are in light aircraft that land on airstrips right in the heart of the national park and are a fantastic option for shortening your travel time. Overland safaris cover lots more mileage but are an exceptional way to experience all the scenery of this diverse landscape. All our overland safaris take place in 4×4 vehicles; there are no minibuses here. Safari tours can be taken in small groups or on a private basis. It’s around an hour and a half to fly from the mainland to Zanzibar.

Wildlife
The Serengeti is one of our most popular destinations for wildlife spotting. While the Serengeti is famous for its big cats and spectacular wildebeest migration with zebra and gazelle joining the crowd, combine it with the Ngorongoro Crater and you may also be lucky enough to spot the rare black rhino. Tanzania is home to a huge population of elephants, giraffe, hippos and buffalo too. The dry season (June-October) offers fantastic wildlife viewing as animals head out to the watering holes to graze, whereas the wet season brings a lush landscape and fewer crowds. The southern circuit’s Selous Reserve (larger than Switzerland) offers a quieter place for wildlife spotting and here it’s possible to see the highly endangered African wild dog.

Food & drink
Bush kitchen breakfasts, lunch-time game-drive picnics and sundowners by the fire are integral parts of a Tanzania safari. Expect fresh tropical fruits in abundance, freshly baked bread and a variety of game. Traditional dishes include ugali, nyama choma and chapatti bread. Grilled meats are a favourite, often thrown on the fire right in front of you by your safari chef, and seasoned beautifully. You’ll experience plenty of flavoursome open coal cooking and communal dining in luxury mess tents whilst enjoying drinks under a star-strewn African sky. Rooibos and chai tea are popular for those early morning wake up calls!