Tanzania holidays

1. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro will earn you some serious kudos. You don’t need technical mountaineering experience to reach the highest point of Africa, but you do need to be prepared. Arrange a licensed guide and pack your sturdiest walking boots. Take it slowly, ‘pole pole’, as you climb through the rainforest, heathlands and otherworldly landscapes that poke above the clouds. The trek to the summit usually takes five to nine days, but the photo of you hugging the ‘congratulations’ sign and the memory of that final ascent will last forever.
2. Visit national parks on Tanzania safari holidays. The seemingly endless Serengeti is where lions swagger, cheetahs sprint, leopards lurk and millions of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles move in great columns as they take on the annual Great Migration. Tarangire National Park is another stunner, with elephants seeking shade under hulking baobabs and big cats stalking across plains. Ngorongoro Crater’s walls, meanwhile, create an amphitheatre where wildlife holds court. You can see the Big Five – lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos and leopards – if you’re lucky.
3. Go from the dry plains of Tanzania’s northern national parks to the soft sand beaches of Zanzibar’s coast, where dhow-dotted ocean scenes will make you want to pull up a seat and do nothing for a while. Popular white-sand beaches include Nungwi and Kendwa on the northern end of the main island. Both are great options if you like to swim, boasting water that stays deeper at low tide than many Zanzibar beaches. Matemwe, meanwhile, is often quieter and close to the reefs around Mnemba atoll.
4. Tanzania’s wildlife tends to get all the attention, and while the plains and peaks are spectacular, the cities will draw you in with spice-scented markets and bold buildings in mixed styles from African, Arab, Asian and European cultures. Stone Town is a highlight of Zanzibar City with its jumble of lanes and heavy wooden doors carved with Swahili designs. Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s commercial capital and a great place to taste local cuisine, whether you’re stopping at street food stalls or sitting in a waterfront restaurant.

• Zanzibar is where you can live the island life. Think coconut palms, vanilla-white sands and waters where dolphins sometimes break the surface. The archipelago, with the main island Unguja often called Zanzibar Island, is also known for its sweet-smelling spice farms and UNESCO-listed old quarter Stone Town. Book your Zanzibar holiday.
• Kilimanjaro is where you’ll find Africa’s highest peak. Mount Kilimanjaro calls to climbers who want to stand above the clouds and grin next to the summit sign. When you’re not on the mountain, you’re within driving distance of Tanzania’s northern safari circuit. Book your Kilimanjaro holiday.

June to October is the country’s longest dry period. If you’re hoping to see wildlife, you’ll often find animals gathering around water sources during these months. It’s also a great time to see the Great Migration, which takes place year-round across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro? The weather is dry and warm in January to February, making for a slightly less cold climb, while June to October also brings clear skies and dry conditions.