Tanzania is home to two of the most iconic safari destinations in Africa – the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. The vast plains of the Serengeti are home to the Great Migration, an annual event that sees massive herds of ungulate follow the rains to greener and tastier pastures. The Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest inactive and unfilled volcanic caldera, is home to a huge variety of wildlife. Whatever kind of safari you’re after, you’ll find it here. While most safari-goers flock to Tanzania’s northern parks, don’t forget the country’s south. It’s home to one of the largest reserves in the world ­– Selous Game Reserve, nearly four times the size of Serengeti National Park –and it’s even wilder. Then there’s newly-minted Wami-Mbiki Wildlife Management Area – a great place to get close to elephants, giraffes, hartebeest and zebra. In Tanzania, you’re spoilt for choice.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that Mount Kilimanjaro is an easy climb. And compared to Everest, it is. But the climb up Kibo – the snow-topped crater that is the highest point of Kilimanjaro – is steep and bitterly cold. It’s worth it. The view from the top is spectacular and the sense of achievement you’ll feel is unparalleled. But make not mistake, you are testing yourself against all that nature can throw at you.

They call it ‘great’ for a reason: some two million ungulates – over a million wildebeest, plus zebra, gazelles and eland – rumble across the sweeping savannah of Tanzania’s Serengeti. It’s one of nature’s greatest spectacles and a highlight of any visit to Tanzania. There isn’t just one Great Migration experience; depending on where you are at any given time, you might see massed herds in the south, the action-packed river crossings, or the rumbling exodus to the north. Head to southern parts to see the huge herds gathering from April to May, to the Grumeti River from May to July for the crossing, or to the northern zones July-September to see the herds spread across the plains or over into Kenya.

Languishing just off mainland Tanzania in the turquoise-blue Indian Ocean, the island of Zanzibar conjures images of perfect, palm-swayed beaches, white sand, billowing sailing boats and smiling locals. Even the narrow streets of Stone Town, twisting and turning through ancient Arabic buildings, look like an exotic film set. Whether you want to laze on a sugar white beach or becoming actively involved in island life, Zanzibar has something for everyone. Divers will love Zanzibar too. The Swahili Coast has some exceptional dive sites, and both scuba novices and hard-core enthusiasts will find plenty of entertainment. Visibility is usually good (ten to 30-plus metres) year round, and water temperatures of 25-30ºC ensure longer dives are perfectly comfortable.

While Tanzania is famous for its wildlife, art and music, its cuisine has gone largely unnoticed. It’s true that in most places you’ll be offered grilled meat, maybe with a curry sauce. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find fabulous dishes that reveal a considerable Indian influence but zinging with the freshness of local mangoes and coconuts.