At the moment, our experience lies in offering our clients safaris in the Northern and Southern circuits of Tanzania, as well as beach holidays in a variety of resorts in East Africa, including Zanzibar. However, we can also advise you on a variety of travel options in Eastern and Southern Africa and our aim is to expand our itineraries to be able to offer safaris to the whole of this beautiful and exciting region of Africa.
- Serengeti National Park (hosting the annual animal migration)
- Ngorongoro Crater (breathtaking views in a volcanic bowl)
- Mount Kilimanjaro (highest mountain in Africa)
- Tarangire National Park (huge herds of elephant, teeming with wildlife in the dry season)
- Lake Manyara (great for bird watching)
Tanzania has a wealth of natural resources ranging from the snows of Kilimanjaro to the coral sands of Zanzibar, the open spaces of the savannah to the rugged Rift valley - it is absolutely splendid. Not only is it home to the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro (5896 m/19340 ft), the deepest lake, Tanganyika (358 m/1174 ft), also flows through it. Despite the fact that some of the world's most famous game parks are situated here and that it is the scene of an annual migration which involves more than two million animals, it remains one of the world's poorest countries.
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The country's climate is dictated by two seasonal Indian Ocean trade
winds. The northeast trade (kasikazi) blow from late December to the
beginning of March, bringing the short rains (vuli). By mid-March to
mid-May, it is followed by the long rains (mwaka). The southeast trades
(generally blowing from May to September) bring cooler, less humid air
across the coast and far inland. Its arrival marks the start of the
dry season that lasts for 5 or 6 months.
Visitors to the Northern circuit of Tanzania can expect generally dry
weather between June and the end of October, as well as from early January
to mid-March. The peak tourism season runs from July to September and
from December to February.
In the high-lying areas of the country, the noon temperature seldom
exceeds 30°C and at night it cools down substantially. In the coastal
areas the climate is tropical with warm, humid days experienced all
year round. But even at the hottest of times, cooling breezes or rain
showers could bring some much wanted relief.
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Tanzania's friendly people (a ready Karibuni! - Welcome! - is always on their lips), range from Maasai pastoralists armed with spears, to cosmopolitan city dwellers. Their history stems from man's first footsteps and extends to the present, through Swahili civilization, the slave trade, the Zanzibar sultanate and an age of exploration when people like Livingstone and Stanley explored the land.
The Tanzanian way of life is focused on the here and now and not on the future.
Age-old myths and rites are carried over by word of mouth from generation to generation, and tribal distinction is still visible in a variety of artistic hairstyles and different types of jewellery worn by contemporary Tanzanians.
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Tanzanians grow up with several languages. As children, they will learn tribal languages and Swahili, while all schools teach English. English and Swahili are the country's official languages.
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The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling. Tourists can easily convert their money (especially the US dollar) in the country. The US dollar is also accepted as payment currency in the bigger hotels and restaurants, with larger bills normally receiving a better exchange rate. We suggest that you take cash to pay for personal expenses as credit cards are only accepted at larger hotels, shops and restaurants.
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The northern safari circuit, also known as the home of Kilimanjaro, stretches from Mount Meru, towering above Arusha National Park, across the Rift Valley, passing Ngorongoro and its famous crater, to the Serengeti plains. South of the two great mountains stretches the Maasai Steppe with Tarangire National Park in its northwest corner, while on the way to Ngorongoro travellers pass through Maasailand past Lake Manyara and its adjoining national park, up the western wall of the rift and across the fertile Mbulu plateau. Parts of the Rift Valley, especially the area surrounding Ol Doinyo Lengai ("Mountain of God" to the Maasai) have a hard beauty with sparse vegetation and stark landscapes. Ol Doinyo Lengai is an active volcano, rising in a steep cone of 2751 m/9026 ft outside the eastern corner of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The Rift Valley is Maasai country. Visitors travelling in the area will see men wearing red blankets draped over their shoulders, taking their God-given cattle to and from watering holes.
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The road from Dar es Salaam to Zambia passes through some of the most beautiful scenery in Tanzania. On the way, visitors will pass the Uluguru, the Udzungwa and the Rubeho Mountains and some beautiful game parks including the huge Selous Game Reserve, Mikumi National Park and the scenic Udzungwa National Park.
Few tourists travel down this highway and the road is mostly used by travellers to and from Malawi and Zambia. Much of the country through which the road passes, or to the south and north of the road, has some of the world's finest wildlife sanctuaries and some of its loveliest landscapes.
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Zanzibar (or the island of Unguja as it's known locally) lies 40 km/25 miles east of the Tanzanian coast. The island is only 85 km/53 miles long and 20 km/12 miles wide, but has some of the most beautiful and unspoilt beaches visitors are ever likely to encounter, offering the perfect location for well-deserved laziness. For the more energetic tourist, the island offers great diving and snorkelling sites.
While on the island a visit to Stonetown, Zanzibar's old quarter, is highly recommended. Visitors are encouraged to lose themselves in the narrow streets of the town while visiting some of the many markets, shops and restaurants on offer. From Stonetown interesting Spice Tours or visits to one of Zanzibar's offshore islets, like Prison Island or Grave Island, or visits to nearby Pemba or Mafia Islands can be arranged.
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