From Bush to Beach

At the foot of Mount Meru lies Arusha – Tanzania’s vibrant safari capital and the starting point for legendary adventures in East Africa. This vibrant city is the gateway to the northern safari circuit and opens the way to iconic destinations such as the vast Serengeti, the impressive Ngorongoro Crater and majestic Kilimanjaro. Arusha offers more than just a starting point: enjoy vibrant markets, cultural experiences and all the amenities for the ultimate wildlife journey.

Tanzania’s Lake Natron area, located in the East African Rift Valley, is a region of rugged, otherworldly beauty dominated by a shallow, highly alkaline soda lake. This unique and caustic environment – often coloured red or pink by salt-loving micro-organisms – is inhospitable to most life forms, but is the world’s all-important breeding ground for millions of lesser flamingos. Dominated by the impressive, active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai (the “Mountain of God” in Maasai), this region offers dramatic landscapes and the chance to witness this extraordinary bird spectacle, combined with encounters with local Maasai culture.

Mto wa Mbu is a bustling farming village at the gateway to Lake Manyara National Park, unique for its incredible cultural diversity – with more than 120 Tanzanian tribes living peacefully together. The lush, irrigated fields provide an abundance of fruit and grains, while the vibrant local market offers an authentic insight into Tanzanian rural life.

Lodoare Gate is the main western access and a crucial checkpoint for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) in Tanzania. It is the central entry point for most visitors heading to the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater and further towards the plains of the Serengeti. At this busy gateway, park fees are paid and safari vehicles queue to enter the iconic game reserve.

Nestled in the cool, green highlands of northern Tanzania, the lively agricultural town of Karatu is a popular base for travellers looking to explore the wonders of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the iconic Ngorongoro Crater, and the national parks of Lake Manyara and Tarangire. Surrounded by fertile fields and thriving coffee plantations, Karatu offers a refreshing stopover, where visitors can taste the authentic rhythm of Tanzanian rural life – right at the crossroads of agriculture and tourism.

Tarangire National Park is a landscape filled with ancient baobab trees and seasonal swamps, famous for some of Africa’s largest elephant herds. The park’s lifeline, the Tarangire River, attracts spectacular concentrations of game during the dry season – an unrivalled safari experience for nature lovers and adventurers.

At the foot of Mount Meru lies Arusha – Tanzania’s vibrant safari capital and the starting point for legendary adventures in East Africa. This vibrant city is the gateway to the northern safari circuit and opens the way to iconic destinations such as the vast Serengeti, the impressive Ngorongoro Crater and majestic Kilimanjaro. Arusha offers more than just a starting point: enjoy vibrant markets, cultural experiences and all the amenities for the ultimate wildlife journey.

Arusha Airport (ARK) serves as the vibrant domestic springboard for unforgettable adventures in Tanzania. The airport takes travellers directly to the heart of East Africa’s most popular wildlife destinations in the north of the country. From this strategically located airport, just outside the city of Arusha, countless safaris depart daily by charter flight or domestic connection to iconic locations such as the vast plains of the Serengeti, the unique ecosystem of Ngorongoro Crater, and the varied landscapes of Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks.

Arusha Airport offers an intimate and direct connection to the northern safari route, making it the ideal starting point for any safari. The airport’s infrastructure is currently being upgraded to further serve the steady stream of international visitors – further enhancing its reputation as the gateway to the northern safari experience.

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) is the main gateway to Zanzibar, welcoming travellers to this enchanting archipelago of Tanzania. Located on Unguja Island, near Zanzibar City, the airport connects the Spice Islands to East Africa, Europe and the Middle East. With a modern international Terminal 3, it is the ideal start for discoveries in Stone Town and along the islands’ famous beaches.

Escape to Zanzibar, a breathtaking archipelago off the coast of Tanzania that sparkles in the Indian Ocean. This iconic destination in East Africa is a mosaic of idyllic, white-sand beaches gently lapped by crystal-clear turquoise waters – the ultimate tropical island holiday.

At the heart of the island is Stone Town, a historic city of great cultural value, where ancient Arab, Indian, African and European influences can be felt in its narrow alleys and centuries-old architecture.

Known for generations as the ‘Spice Island’, the scent of cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon still hangs in the air – best experienced on a fragrant and colourful spice tour. Zanzibar is much more than just sun and beach: it offers a harmonious blend of enchanting coastal landscapes, a vibrant Swahili culture and a rich, compelling history.