Where to go on a first visit

The choices might seem daunting: with its wealth of national parks, game reserves, and conservation areas, where should one start on a first visit to Tanzania?

Firstly, we highly recommend including the iconic Serengeti National Park. Throughout the year, the vast plains of the Serengeti provide a backdrop for a spectacular array of wildlife; whether it’s watching cheetahs in pursuit of gazelles, large herds of wildebeests, or lions lounging in the sun. Here, you are deeply aware of being a transient visitor in a landscape that belongs to the wild. Yes, the Serengeti National Park can become crowded, particularly during the peak of the wildebeest migration and holiday seasons. Yet, the surrounding areas, including the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and private concessions, offer more secluded experiences away from the main tourist throngs.

Another area we often recommend to contrast with the Serengeti is the Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania. This vast wilderness, one of the largest faunal reserves of the world, is a mosaic of riverine forests, plains, and wetlands that host an incredible diversity of wildlife including elephants, wild dogs, and numerous bird species.

If your trip includes some beach time, then Tanzania’s coast along the Indian Ocean is a spectacular choice, with the beautiful islands of Zanzibar and Mafia offering pristine white sand beaches framed by coral reefs. Here, you also have the opportunity to explore rich historical sites in Stone Town and the charming ruins scattered around the islands.

Local Flight Transfers

The primary aircraft for local aviation in Tanzania is the Cessna Caravan. This turboprop plane generally seats 9-12 passengers along with the pilot and co-pilot. If you're not accustomed to flying in unpressurised light aircraft, the experience can be thrilling or a bit surprising initially. Expect the aircraft to be slightly shaken by wind and thermals and to land at several bush airstrips throughout your journey. Our affiliated airlines aim for reliability, but the exact route and schedule for any given flight are typically confirmed only the day before, when camps receive notifications about arrival and departure times.

Tanzanian Food and Drink

Most Tanzanians start the day with national staples such as sweet, milky tea paired with chapati or mandazi. Ugali (a stiff, polenta-like corn mash) is commonly consumed as the main meal of the day, accompanied by a protein source like fish or meat, and often served with greens or a vegetable relish to enhance the flavor. Traditionally, celebratory meals largely feature meat, with grilled meat (nyama choma) and ugali considered near-national dishes. However, the coastal areas, particularly Zanzibar, are renowned for their distinctive cuisine that incorporates a blend of spices and flavors from the Indian Ocean, Middle East, and India.

In hotels and upscale safari lodges, the dishes served are often internationally familiar. Expect menus featuring soups, bread rolls, assorted salads, and fruit bowls—often sourced from the lodge's organic garden. Main courses typically include roast and stewed beef, pork, lamb, and chicken, along with well-known vegetables and occasionally fish. Desserts might feature favorites from a British-European selection like lemon meringue pie and profiteroles. Many establishments also host themed nights such as curry or Swahili nights, offering an array of aromatic dishes from the coastal regions, and they usually rotate menus every five days to keep dining experiences fresh and varied.

As for beverages, local lager-style beer and popular soft drinks are readily available, along with imported wine, often from South Africa.

Tanzania’s History

Tanzania holds some of the most significant early human fossils, prominently featured at sites like Olduvai Gorge. The narrative of human evolution in Tanzania is enriched by these archaeological treasures. Early inhabitants, utilizing stone tools, laid the groundwork for subsequent cultural and technological advancements.

From around 500 AD, Bantu-speaking peoples migrated into the region, significantly influencing the local hunter-gatherer communities. These groups introduced iron-smelting technology and agriculture, leading to the development of complex societies. By the first millennium AD, coastal areas began to interact with Persian and Arab traders, leading to the flourishing of the Swahili culture along the Indian Ocean coast, characterized by its distinctive architecture, language, and trade networks.

The arrival of Portuguese explorers in the 16th century introduced new crops from the Americas, such as maize, cassava, and peanuts, which became staples in the Tanzanian diet. The Portuguese influence was soon supplanted by Omani Arabs, who established the Sultanate of Zanzibar, profoundly impacting the political and cultural landscape.

In the late 19th century, Germany and later Britain colonized the mainland, known then as Tanganyika. This period was marked by resistance from local communities, notably the Maji Maji Rebellion against German rule. Post-World War I, the League of Nations mandated the territory to Britain, under whose administration significant infrastructural and educational developments occurred.

Tanzania gained independence in 1961 under Julius Nyerere, who later initiated the ujamaa policy, promoting village-based socialism and self-reliance. Though well-intentioned, ujamaa led to mixed economic results and was eventually phased out in favor of more capitalist reforms in the 1980s. The union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964 formed the modern state of Tanzania, a nation proud of its peaceful political climate and ongoing efforts towards economic stability and growth.

Today, Tanzania is celebrated for its wildlife conservation areas and national parks, alongside a burgeoning tourism industry. Balancing economic development with the needs of its diverse population remains a central challenge for the country moving forward.