Highlights of Tanzania
Tanzania: The United Republic of Tanzania is a visual feast with:
- pre-historic looking volcanic highlands.
- soda lakes in the Great Rift Valley.
- exotic tropical coastlines, and
- vast, game-rich plains of the Serengeti National Park.
Wildlife more than anything else will draw you to visit Tanzania. You cannot miss the natural wonder that is the annual migration. Imagine more than one million wildebeests from the Serengeti in the south trekking into the Masai Mara in Kenya. They tag along a host of other plains game. They assemble a mighty herd. In addition to fine reserves, Tanzania has some of the finest animal views. There are hundreds of: lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, gazelle, buffalo, hippo, rhino.
Getting There
There are many affordable, cheap and reliable flights between Dar es Salaam and Nairobi. And between Zanzibar and Mombasa. Several land connections exist between Tanzania and Kenya:
- Mombasa to Dar es Salaam
- Nairobi to Dar es Salaam
- Nairobi to Arusha, and
- Voi to Moshi.
There are weekly train connections between Voi and Moshi. Buses will take you between Rwanda and Uganda. But they are not very reliable. Infrequent dhows sail between Mombasa, Pemba and Zanzibar. The lake services between Port Bell (Kampala) and Mwanza (Tanzania) are more regular.
Getting Around
Several private airlines operate light aircraft on the main routes, minor routes and to the national parks and game reserves of:
- Serengeti National Park
- Selous National Park
- Ruaha National Park
- Rubondo Island
There is a domestic airport departure tax. Except Arusha, Tanzania’s major population centres are connected by railway.
Driving in Tanzania is a trade-off between speed and potholes. Traffic density is low outside main towns. Your road hog is the pot-holed roads.
Car rental is an expensive option. Do not expect much from the buses. For long-haul routes go luxury or ordinary. These are very relative terms here.
For short hauls choose between ordinary buses and dalla dalla. This is the Tanzanian equivalent of a Kenyan matatu.
A Trip to Tanzania
This is a one of a kind trip where travelers with an interest in photography will get a chance to see two hidden Tanzania safari parks and the spice island of Zanzibar with white sandy beaches through the lens of a camera.
This trip is for photo enthusiasts who want to experience African wildlife and culture. You will receive photographic tutorials, wildlife commentaries, animal behavior interpretations and cultural experiences.
During the safari, each day is designed to be different and to offer unrivaled exposure to the area. You’ll be taken on a daily adventure including a walking, boating and driving safari. You’ll be weaving past hippopotamus and crocodile, driving on the trail of a lion or a rarely seen wild dog and watching a mother elephant with its young.
For the accommodations, we’ve chosen intimate safari lodges equipped with the comforts of home. The lodges are situated in the heart of the park on the banks of the river where there is a constant flow of animals coming to drink providing us a private showing.
This adventure concludes on the Spice Island of Zanzibar relaxing in a beach resort with white sandy beaches overlooking the pristine blue waters of the Indian Ocean.
During this time you’ll have opportunities to simply enjoy the beach, snorkel, scuba dive or take day excursions around the island such as swimming with dolphins.
The final day in Zanzibar we will be staying in the historic district of Stone Town where we can explore the picture perfect labyrinth of winding streets lined with exotic bazaars, colonial mansions, mosques and famous hand-carved doors.