When contemplating an African safari, with all its novelty and excitement, combining it with a relaxing beach holiday doesn’t always spring to mind. However a few days on the warm Indian Ocean coast with its idyllic white sand beaches, waving palm trees and sapphire blue sea is the perfect way to end a safari.
Tanzania is one country in East Africa that offers the perfect combination of a thrilling wildlife safari and a dreamy beach holiday. From Tanzania’s major safari entry point – the small town of Arusha – it is a direct one hour flight to the breath-taking island paradise of Zanzibar.
Tanzania’s Safari Circuit
Sitting just below the equator, Tanzania is one of Africa’s premier safari destinations. The country is home to the incredible Serengeti National Park, whose endless plains play host to one of the largest terrestrial mammal migrations in the world. Every year over 1.3 million wildebeest, 250,000 zebra and 400,000 Thomson’s gazelles migrate cross the plains as they have done for millennia.
Adjacent to the southern Serengeti is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where awe-struck visitors can enter into the world’s largest, intact volcanic caldera – the mighty Ngorongoro Crater. A veritable Garden of Eden, the crater’s floor shelters some 25,000 large animals, from the “Big 5” to smaller predators such as jackal and serval.
On top of these two iconic destinations are two other magnificent national parks – Lake Manyara and Tarangire, which together can create a superb safari circuit if you have the time.
The beauty of this circuit is that it can be as short or as long as you like, combining two, three or four parks and ranging from as few as 6 nights to as many as 14 nights. Some travellers spend between 7-10 days in the Serengeti National Park alone!
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The beautiful and historic island of Zanzibar
Arab and Persian traders arrived here during the 8th century and by the 17th century Zanzibar was an important port on the spice, ivory and slave trading routes. Governed over the centuries by various sultans, the Portuguese and later the Sultanate of Oman, Zanzibar became a British Protectorate in the late 19th century.
The northern and eastern coasts of the island are home to beautiful, peaceful beaches that boast several luxurious resorts, which makes Zanzibar a perfect place to conclude an East African safari. Sip cocktails by the pool, take a dip in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean and snorkel or dive along spectacular coral reefs.
For those looking for a little bit of history, spend one or two nights in historic Stone Town before heading to a beach resort. The old Stone Town is a UNESCO Heritage listed site and a tour of the town reveals its complex history and dark slaving past, as well as graceful Zanzibari architecture. The maze of narrow streets are lined with elegant coral stone houses – which give the town its name – and feature ornate balconies and intricately carved wooden doors. You can visit the Sultan’s Palace, the Arab Fort and the Old Dispensary.
Check out our 14 day Tanzania Bush and Beach safari
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