Classic Tanzania: safari & beach

Nyerere National Park is bisected by the Rufiji River, Tanzania’s largest, and its many tributaries, channels and lakes create the varied landscapes that define the reserve. These waterways are lined by towering Borassus palms and forests of doum palms are a good place to see unusually large groups of Masai giraffe and other ungulates such as buffalo, waterbuck, impala and zebra. Hungry lion lurk nearby, and there’s a chance of seeing hyena and leopard as well. Despite many years of poaching, elephant populations are growing and can now be seen in the reserve. On your first full day of safari in Nyerere National Park, whether you’ve chosen a bush walk, game drive, boat safari or a combination of a few, you’ll be in for some close wildlife encounters.

Nyerere National Park is an important sanctuary for the endangered African wild dog and is home to healthy populations, making for some spectacular sightings. Wild dog are extremely elusive animals that move around constantly, meaning they are almost impossible to track. Anyone who has a sighting of wild dog should consider themselves very lucky, and Nyerere National Park is one of the only reserves on the continent that you are likely to see them.

Not only is Nyerere National Park varied in landscape and wildlife, there are several ways you can experience safari as well. All of the camps offer game drives, boat safaris and walking safaris, and each experience will give you a completely different perspective of nature and the animals that survive in it. On game drives, you’ll cover the most ground and see a whole range of wildlife. Boat safaris get you up close to hippo and crocodiles, give you the best bird sightings (Nyerere National Park is excellent for birding) and show you the hauntingly beautiful surfaces of the waterways, dotted with smooth dead trees sticking out like inverted lightning strikes against the backdrop of a blazing sunset. Being on foot allows you to appreciate the smaller creatures and plants, and your proximity to big game will leave you with many stories to take home.

Enjoy your final game drive on the way to the airstrip this morning, where you’ll catch your light aircraft flight to Unguja, the largest island of the tropical Zanzibar Archipelago, most commonly referred to as Zanzibar. You’ll fly over the impossibly turquoise blue waters of the Indian Ocean before landing on the island, a smiling and sunny place with palm-fringed white sand beaches and a blend of culture. Most of the best beaches are on the east coast, and you’ll pass vibrant villages and spice plantations on the way to wherever you’re staying on the beach. After four days of early wake-ups, we recommend spending the rest of today relaxing.

There’s plenty to do and see while you’re staying in Zanzibar, but you shouldn’t miss spending some time lazing on the beach while you watch the fishermen head out to sea on their wooden dhows, reading a book under the shade of a palm tree and swimming in the warm Indian Ocean (when it’s high tide). If you’re feeling more active, it’s easy to arrange diving or snorkeling as well as other water equipment like kayaks and paddleboards, or bicycles to explore the local fishing villages.

Zanzibar’s history was greatly shaped by its geography, the prevailing winds of the region placing it directly on the Indian Ocean trade routes. Trade of one kind or another is an intrinsic part of the island’s culture and has shaped its history for thousands of years. The abundance of valuable spices including cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, nutmeg and vanilla made Zanzibar the hub of the spice trade for centuries, and today you can visit the spice plantations on the island. You will take a guided tour through rural villages as your guide picks leaves, fruits and twigs for you to smell or taste before guessing what spices they are.

Arabs had the deepest influence on Zanzibar, evident in the architecture of Stone Town, an old trade center now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. No visit to Zanzibar would be complete without walking around the maze-like collection of forts, mosques and markets. A local guide will show you around and tell you about the town’s history. There are also dozens of restaurants and food stalls lining the streets, making this the best place on the island to try the local cuisine, which combines Arab, Portuguese, Bantu, Indian and British influences, as well as using the spices grown on the island.

Spend the rest of your time in Zanzibar as you please. You could visit the enchanting Jozani Forest in the south of the island, a tropical forest home to the endemic Kirk’s red colobus monkeys. There are walking trails through the forest where you can watch the Kirk’s monkeys as well as other species leap around the trees, and listen and look for the variety of birdlife. You could head out on a boat cruise in a traditional wooden dhow, or have a meal at The Rock, a restaurant known for its extraordinary location perched on a rock in the ocean.

Say goodbye to Zanzibar today. You’ll be picked up and taken to the airport for your onward flights.