When it comes to a safari, East Africa jumps immediately to mind, thanks largely to Hollywood and an oh-so proper colonial past that cemented it in the minds of anyone vaguely interested in the "Dark Continent". But when it comes to Tanzania, people usually say "where?"... Sigh. We know geography isn't big any more, so let's look at Kenya's bigger and (we think) sexier neighbour...

It's actually nearly twice the size of Kenya. And way more diverse when it comes to its safari offering. But Tanzania is still East Africa's poor relation when it comes to branding. Mention the Serengeti and people snap to attention, and they might have heard of the Ngorongoro Crater and Kilimanjaro (cue: "Isn't that in Kenya?") but mention Tarangire, Katavi, Ruaha or The Selous (now sliced up into Nyerere National Park) and watch faces blank over.

Fact. Kilimanjaro is contained in its entirety inside the borders of Tanzania, a country that's the largest in East Africa and packed full of incredible wildlife and stunning national parks, conservancies and protected areas. And one of the most idyllic Indian Ocean islands - Zanzibar! So if it's an East African safari extraordinaire you're looking for with the added bonus of some serious bikini and beach time, "Tanz" has got you covered!

Round and round we go...

We've created our own safari circuit that takes in some of the incredible landscapes, phenomenal wildlife and awe-inspiring destinations this truly fabulous country has to offer, so let's get jiggy with it and find out more...

First up is Tanzania's rock star safari destination - the Serengeti. It needs little introduction because it's world famous. Like serious celebrity status, and all because of a million or so wildebeest and their striped friends the zebra. 

They move in a never-ending circle between the Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara in search of fresh grass, following the rains, throwing themselves off high cliffs into the raging torrents of the Mara River and generally causing a huge spectacle that draws tourists in their thousands. 

You haven't done Tanzania if you haven't done the Serengeti and marvelled at the scale of it all - those vast grassy plains that go on forever and enormous skies stretching across endless horizons... So it's a great place to start your love affair with this fantabulous country with truckloads of safari camp options to boot. 

See you later, great big crater...

While the Serengeti blows your mind, the Ngorongoro Crater adds socks to the equation and blasts them clear off your feet. It's the largest in-tact volcanic caldera on little old Planet Earth, formed around 3-million years ago when a volcano that makes Kilimanjaro look like a pebble went all diva-like and blew its top, collapsing at the same time.

The Ngorongoro is a unique destination covering 264 square kilometres. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a rich diversity of wildlife with lots of different ecosystems inside one big rock bowl. In the middle is the seasonal alkaline Lake Magadi where you'll find greater and lesser flamingoes. The crater wall towers 600m and is mostly thick montane forest that leopards just love. So expect stunning views and the highest concentration of predators (especially lion) on the planet. 

The area around the crater is aeons old - just take the 14km long craggy gash in the Earth's surface known as Olduvai Gorge if you don't believe us... This is where some of the oldest remains of man's early ancestors have been found, furthering our understanding of human evolution. 

All of the lodges and camps that serve the crater are perched around its rim or in the rich conservation area around it 

The hidden gem...

Every country has one, and in Tanzania's case it's Tarangire National Park, perhaps the most underrated destination in East Africa! Rivalling the Serengeti in its diversity of life, Tarangire also stands head and shoulders above it's more famous "sister" thanks to its colossal baobabs and huge herds of elephant. 

Fewer visitors means wide open spaces with hardly anyone in them and a distinctly exclusive air you'd expect from private conservancies rather than a drop-dead gorgeous national park packed with wildlife and just stunning scenery. During the dry season Tarangire has the highest concentrations of mammals in the entire country, with more than 550 bird species and off-the-chart predator action, from lion and leopard to cheetah and painted wolves. 

It's a great place to walk and learn more about the small stuff that you often miss when whizzing around on an open game vehicle and you can do night drives here too, which is a bonus that's not found inside the Serengeti (although allowed on the private concessions around the park). You can also see gerenuk here. It's a long-necked antelope, in case you were wondering.

The dry season between June and October is the best and will have your jaw defaulting to a permanently dropped position and leave you struggling to find enough superlatives to enthuse with, especially around the Tarangire River.

Beach, baby!

There's no better way to top off a stupendous safari than slumming it on a soft white sand beach lapped by a ridiculously turquoise ocean with obligatory palm fronds waving gently overhead against a cloudless, fabulously blue sky. Welcome to Zanzibar, the island paradise off the coast of Tanzania where there's a lounger that's just perfect for you and your cozzie will work overtime. 

Fringed by pristine coral reefs and populated with some seriously sexy beach resorts and escapes, Zanzibar is a rich, cultural melting pot that's deserving of exploration if you can bear to drag yourself away from the beach for a few hours. We recommend a visit to the capital of Stonetown, with its trademark blue doors and Afro-Arabic vibe.

If you want an idea of what a Tanzanian safari with us would look like, check out this great itinerary for some inspiration and downright salivation... 

Want to go? Then let's chat!