Tanzania

Overview

Tanzania to a large extent embodies the Africa of dreams, boasting everything from plains teeming with wild animals, rainforest alive with cackling birds and monkeys, snow-capped Kilimanjaro rising dramatically above the surround flat scrubland, colourful Maasai herding their cattle alongside herds of grazing wildebeest, and perfect palm-lined beaches lapped by the clear warm waters of the Indian Ocean stretching as far as the eyes can see. Almost 25% of the country is given to conservation areas which, together, protect an estimated 20% of Africa's large mammal populations.

In essence, Tanzania harbours some of Africa's largest and most renowned wildlife parks and game reserves and provide some of the world's best destinations for viewing wildlife in their natural habitat. It is host to 3 World Heritage Sites - the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Selous Game Reserve. Yet Tanzania has traditionally attracted a mere fraction of the tourism of other well-known safari countries such as Kenya, South Africa or Zimbabwe due to its economic mess In the 1980s. In recent years, after pulling up its socks somewhat, the Northern Safari Circuit - comprising Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar - again features highly on the safari touring map. Numerous tour operators can organise tailor-made safaris, either by vehicle, on foot, on horseback or by balloon. Arusha is the safari capital of Tanzania while Moshi is the base for trekking Kilimanjaro.