Free Tanzania Guidebook

We've put together a guidebook with everything you need to know about Tanzania and Zanzibar. Written by our specialists, it details destination information, a wildlife guide, some suggested itineraries and plenty more to inspire your holiday. Fill in the form below and if you live in UK, your guidebook will arrive by post within the next couple of days. For those who live abroad, we will send you a copy by email.

North or South Tanzania?

Deciding whether to go on safari in the north or south of Tanzania very much depends on what you’re looking to get out of your trip – the two areas offer vastly different experiences but both have so much to offer. We've broken down what to expect where on a safari holiday in Tanzania.

Top 5 birding spots

Tanzania and Zanzibar are fantastic for birders. There are over 1,000 bird species on record, of which over 20 are endemic. We asked our Tanzania specialist and birding enthusiast Anton to whittle down his top five spots for going in search of these nimble creatures of the air…

Ballooning over the Serengeti

Taking to the skies above the Serengeti in a hot air balloon is a totally unique experience that allows you to enjoy Tanzania's savannah from a completely different perspective.

If you would like to tick a balloon flight off your safari bucket list, call one of our Africa specialists now on 020 3141 2810 to start putting together the perfect trip...

On the morning of your balloon safari, you will be woken before dawn and driven to the launch site, spotting some of the bush’s rare nocturnal beasts en route. As you arrive at the site, teams of technicians will be busy unfurling the balloons and preparing them for flight. As dawn begins to break, you will take your position in the basket and wait for your beautiful silk balloon to lift seemingly effortlessly into the air. The early start will quickly become worthwhile, as daylight begins to creep over the limitless plains of the Serengeti, and you’ve got the best seat in the house to watch the sunrise unfold.

The game viewing experience from a hot air balloon is completely different to that of a game drive or guided walk. You won’t get the same close-up sightings, and you don’t have the same control over where you will go – the balloon is guided by the wind, so no two flights are the same. However what you do get is an unbeatable perspective on this vast national park. In a balloon you can fly over areas that are off-limits to vehicles, gaining an understanding of the trails that the animals make and the sheer size of their home. You can look out for hippos, elephants, buffalo and giraffes, and maybe catch sight of a hunt, or watch a lion pride feasting on a recent kill.

An hour can pass in a mere moment when you’re up in the sky, and you’ll find your balloon gradually coming to rest on the ground. Climbing out of the basket, you will be greeted with a refreshing glass of sparkling wine, and led towards a bush breakfast laid out neatly under the shade of a tree. A balloon safari is a luxurious experience that you’ll probably only ever do once, but there are few better ways to celebrate a special occasion than this.

We've handpicked our favourite camps from which to go on a balloon safari...

Based in the heart of the Serengeti, the Serengeti Wilderness Camp – is the perfect spot from which to go on a balloon safari.

Olakira Camp – enjoys one of the best locations to view the wildebeest migration in the north of the Serengeti, the ideal base from which to spot a thrilling river crossing from above.