Expert Reviews
Bush and beach in one
Combining an Indian Ocean beach retreat with a big game safari – the boast of many an East African visitor package – generally involves an expensive and time-consuming transfer between the two. Saadani is the one park where you can enjoy both experiences in a single location: your chalet...
Everything, Everywhere, All at once
The very first elephant I ever saw in the wild was in Tarangire National Park in North-Eastern Tanzania. I was hoping for just a handful, but what I witnessed was beyond my wildest imagination. Hundreds upon hundreds of these magnificent beasts drifted across the golden-brown landscape like a fleet...
Where the Beach Meets the Bush
The only viable East African wildlife sanctuary to boast an Indian Ocean beachfront, this likeable second-tier national park bills itself as the place where the beach meets the bush. In truth, while wildlife numbers have increased significantly since the former wildlife reserve was expanded and...
Where Wild Dogs Roam
At more than 30,000km²/11,000mi2, Nyerere, Tanzania’s largest national park, is huge. However, the main game-drive area is rather small and can therefore get crowded with vehicles. Especially since several companies are now offering fly-in day trips from Zanzibar. The best way to stay clear of...
The Serengeti and so much more.
Tanzania is “the” classic safari destination and should be top of every Africa lover’s wish list. The starting point for most visitors is the northern safari circuit, comprising the iconic Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater, with Lake Manyara and Tarangire national parks en route. Having dreamt...
Tanzania: The Great Abundance
Tanzania belongs among the elite of African safari destinations, and its northern safari circuit in particular is one of the best places on the planet to see wildlife. The northern parks are rich in everything there is to love about Africa – the massed ranks of migrating herds pursued by...
The capital of safari in word and deed
If I think about everything that I imagined safari to be before I moved to South Africa and began travelling Africa, it turns out that what I imagined was Tanzania. For me, the striking variety of landscapes and the staggering density of big game are in a different league to anything else I have...
Big name parks for big game viewing
With the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro positioned within Tanzania's borders, this is a safari destination par excellence. Big Five encounters are common and vistas are far-reaching, with mountains and gorges adding interest to the flat savannah lands. Don't forget to explore the oceans for animal...
Crowded Favorites and Well-Kept Secrets
Tanzania is home to Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater; and this fact alone makes a solid case for declaring it Africa’s best safari country. But, of course, there’s much more that just these two places. Most visitors stick to the famed Northern Circuit – and why not? Besides the...
The perfect safari destination
With almost a quarter of this vast country dedicated to wildlife reserves and national parks, Tanzania is justifiably regarded as Africa’s premier safari destination. It’s one of my favourite countries, not just for the bush, beaches and big peaks, but also for the genuine warmth and...
Much More than a Migration Destination
For me, Tanzania is a country of two halves. Both hemispheres have been richly endowed with natural beauty and plentiful wildlife, but there are some big differences when it comes to the type of safari experience you’re looking for. The northern safari circuit takes in the world-renowned...
Africa’s Greatest Safari Destination
There is arguably no better safari destination than Tanzania. And, to be honest, I’m not even sure I should be using the word ‘arguably’ here! Tanzania’s superb network of wildlife reserves (including 22 national parks) is the most extensive in Africa, collectively covering a quarter of the...
Endless Space
While Kenya may be the African destination most synonymous with safaris, Tanzania – its larger neighbour – boasts Africa’s single most famous park, and arguably offers even more than Kenya in terms of variety and quantity of wildlife. The scale and wilderness of its magnificent landscapes...
East African Landscapes at Their Best With the Enticing Additions of a Kilimanjaro Climb or Zanzibar Beach
Most itineraries in Tanzania are designed around the world-famous Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, and for good reason. The fabulously impressive African landscapes and sheer concentration of game are the reasons they’re so popular, where I for one have always had incredibly rewarding...
On the prowl
Tanzania is a wildlife photographer’s dream come true – even for wannabe National Geographic photographers like me. With one of the world’s largest and wildest animal populations, the country offers some of the best safari opportunities on the continent. Zebra, lion, elephant, antelope,...
Wilderness unlimited
Tanzania may be one of the world’s poorest countries but its national parks and game reserves are the crown jewels of Africa. First among equals is the Serengeti, probably the most famous wildlife refuge on the planet, a wilderness the size of Holland renowned for its lions and great migration of...
Three Safari Circuits in One Country
Having traveled all over the continent, people often ask me: “What is your favourite country in Africa?” It is a silly question, of course. I usually feel the need to explain what makes each country special and unique, but if I’m honest with myself, the short answer is “Tanzania”. The...