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The north of the island is a lively fusion of traditional and modern styles and is a destination in itself. The beach again boasts beautiful white sands and idyllic setting, whilst only a few steps back you will find a host of guesthouses, bars and restaurants. Nungwi definitely has the party atmosphere and is considered by some as the only place to be, however others may choose to give it a wide berth in favour of more tranquil parts of the Island.

The Northern half of the East coast, encompassing Matemwe, Kiwenga and Pongwe, is about as close to the quintessential tropical island paradise as you can get. It features long stretches of palm-lined white powder beaches, and the hotels here vary widely in size and style, from an excellent selection of larger 5* Resorts, to small boutique beach Bungalows. The atmosphere here is more peaceful and secluded than in the Southern half of the East Coast.

The Southern half of the East coast, encompassing the Michamvi peninsula, Bwejuu, Paje and Jambiani also features long stretches of palm-lined white powder beaches, and there is an excellent selection of places to stay, ranging from very high quality exclusive small resorts and boutique style beach bungalows, to a whole selection of more modestly priced options. Here also you can find more lively local life than in the northern half of the East Coast, with some local restaurants and bars outside of the resorts.

The south is a wildlife lovers dream! The region offers some fantastic snorkelling and the chance to swim with dolphins in their natural habitat.

Stone Town is an authentic example of an old Swahili trading town with a strong Arab influence.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area was created in 1959 and the Ngorongoro volcanic crater has now been designated a World Heritage Site. Like the other seven volcanoes in the range, Ngorongoro was formed during the same period as the Rift Valley.

The equatorial climate and the lie of the land causes comparatively high rainfall and consequently a unique crater ecosystem that supports high concentrations of vegetation and wildlife. The slopes are covered in dense forest whilst the crater floor is open savannah popular with wildebeest, zebra and gazelles, which naturally attracts predators such as lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas. You will also find elephants and, if you’re lucky as small population of black rhinoceros.

For more info on the different Safari areas within Tanzania please view our Safari Page.

Selous is bisected by the Rufiji River, with the tourist area north of the river. This area of miombo forest with dense areas of hardwood is home to around 50% of Tanzania’s elephant population. The Rufiji River is a sprawling waterway with 5 distinctive ‘lakes’ all joined together with a myriad of channels.This is one of the only Game areas in Tanzania to offer a safari on the river. Boating safaris add a new point of interest to any trip, as seeing the birds nesting in the banks and the crocs and hippos at close to eye level is a truly unforgettable experience.

Selous is also home to large numbers of buffalo and lion, as well as a healthy population of Wild Dogs, where they are found in the highest density of anywhere in Africa. The population peaks in September and October. A normal pack size would be around 20 dogs, but packs of up to 56 dogs have been seen in the past.

For more info on the different Safari areas within Tanzania please view our Safari Page.

Ruaha National Park is named after the river that runs through the southern portion of the park. The word Ruaha is a corruption of ‘luvaha’, which means river, brook or stream in Kihehe, the local tribal language of this area. The real name of the river is Lyambangari, but this is largely forgotten except by the very eldest of tribesmen.

The ecosystem which covers the entire conservation area of combined Game reserves and National Park is centered around the watershed of the only 2 perennial rivers within the Park, the Great Ruaha and the Nzombe Rivers. Both of these rivers no longer flow all year round, although water remains in pools.

The varied topography also results in a correspondingly varied diversity of species so that there are 1600 plant species compared to 600 in the Serengeti and now over 500 bird species which approximates to half that found in the entire country.

For example you find Roan antelope, Sable antelope, Greater Kudu, Lichtenstein hartebeest, all rarely found further north and yet at the same time can find Lesser Kudu and Grant's gazelle not common further south. While you will find the full range of predators such as Lion, Cheetah, Striped & Spotted Hyaena, Leopard, Side Striped Jackal, Black backed jackal, and good populations of Wild Dog in Mikumi, Ruaha and Katavi National Parks.

For more info on the different Safari areas within Tanzania please view our Safari Page.

Saadani National Park is Tanzania’s newest and smallest national park, but it is the only wildlife sanctuary in East Africa to boast an Indian Ocean beachfront. It also contains the Wami river, so features the unique meeting of bush, beach, and river eco systems. Herds of up to 30 elephants are encountered with increasing frequency, and several lion prides are resident, together with leopard, spotted hyena and black-backed jackal. Boat trips on the mangrove-lined Wami River come with a high chance of sighting hippos, crocodiles and a selection of marine and riverine birds, including the mangrove kingfisher and lesser flamingo, while the beaches form one of the last major green turtle breeding sites on mainland Tanzania.

No other safari area combines so well with time in Zanzibar, as Saadani is just a short 30 minute flight away.

For more info on the different Safari areas within Tanzania please view our Safari Page.