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Safari Sun
Belinda from Safari Sun Ltd talks about why she thinks Tanzania makes the perfect holiday destination...
Tanzania is one of the most complete holiday destinations offering unique landscapes, a rich fauna and flora including the world’s most spectacular wildlife migration which takes place annually when historically over a million large mammals move across the landscape, best experienced in the Serengeti National Park.
Safari Sun Ltd
For more details on a trip to Tanzania or to a Southern, Eastern or Central African country please call specialists Safari Sun on 01732 779377 or email: info@safarisun.co.uk or www.safarisun.co.uk
The country boasts over one hundred and thirty distinct ethnic groups with all major African languages represented in the country. This all adds up to a very diverse cultural society where the common trait is the warmth and friendliness of the people towards visitors.
The Indian Ocean in the East is fringed by coral reefs behind which are fantastic sheltered beaches with pristine white sands. It boasts the highest mountain in Africa – Kilimanjaro - and under a form of protection where almost 20% of the land mass is devoted to conservation. To many people it is typically ‘Out of Africa’ and boasts some of Africa’s very best small, exclusive lodges and camps in areas of outstanding beauty, together with private mobile safaris led by hugely experienced guides.
A great way of combining beach and safari is to incorporate some of the fabulous game parks in the northern part of Tanzania together with Mafia Island or Zanzibar before heading back from Dar Es Salaam.
Getting to this part of the world is relatively simple – either a flight from London through Amsterdam with KLM to Kilimanjaro Airport or with BA, Virgin or Kenyan Airways to Nairobi and on to Kilimanjaro with Precision Air or Kenyan Airways.
A tourist visa is necessary for visiting Tanzania and can be collected at the airport. However, a better option is obtaining one before you travel from the Tanzanian Embassy in Central London. Costs can change so be advised to look on the Tanzania country website.
From Kilimanjaro Airport it is about an hour’s drive through to Arusha for an overnight stay in a town hotel . If you want to stay in the area for longer and perhaps see some of the incredible work done by one of the charities that we support, Ace-Africa, then this would be the time to spend a day visiting their projects. Otherwise a walk in the rural foothills of Mount Meru to get a taste of how local people live or a day trip to the nearby Arusha National park, a small but beautiful and rewarding park to visit for its diversity of wildlife , birds and its unique setting in the shadow of Meru a 15,000 foot volcano.
After visiting your chosen Parks and for a complete change of scenery fly in a light aircraft to the spice island of Zanzibar. Here you can visit vibrant Stone Town with its Islamic ruins, noble Omani houses and vibrant markets. The island is steeped in history from the times of the first seafarers that explored the Indian Ocean such as India and China. Zanzibar became the link between the West and East and later the focal point of the espicable slave and ivory trade . While Arab occupation and settlement lasted centuries, the European colonial period was by comparison very short and was, amongst other milestones, the start of Dr. Livingstone’s explorations into the interior .
Present day Zanzibar is a melting pot of Arab and African cultures. The island has white sandy palm fringed beaches and coves surrounded with colourful reefs. Warm, clear waters are perfect for swimming, sailing and snorkelling with a myriad of sea life on display. You can also try your hand at deep sea fishing, scuba diving or water sports while here.
For something a little more remote and Robinson Crusoe like – try Mafia Island – which has only two lodges on this lush island where in some months you can swim with whale sharks! This is also a scuba diver’s heaven complete a professional diving school.
From Zanzibar or Mafia Island it is a short flight to Dar Es Salaam and a late overnight flight back to London Heathrow via Amsterdam with KLM or via Nairobi with British Airways, Virgin or Kenyan Airways.
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