Feeling a bit bleary-eyed from my night flight from Heathrow, the hustle and bustle of central Dar es Salaam was a bit of a shock to the system, but equally, it felt exhilarating to finally begin our week-long adventure in Tanzania.
Despite my Geography degree credentials, I must admit that I drew a bit of a blank when a friend asked if I’d like to join them in their first foray into the southern hemisphere. Having always earmarked South Africa as my dream destination in this great continent, I was nevertheless keen to swot up on Tanzania to see if took my fancy. Following a swift on-line consultation with trusty Jeeves (keep your Google, I like the personal touch), it soon became obvious that this vast Republic is home to a number of Africa’s most famous sights.
Take a moment to think about central Africa and you will no doubt picture the Serengeti, with its acres of sprawling savanna, teaming with spectacular fauna. You may also picture the majestic, snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro or white-sand beaches such as those found on the tropical island of Zanzibar. Believe it or not, Tanzania is home to all of these wondrous sights, and much more besides.
The main focus of our trip was the aforementioned Serengeti National Park – some 5,700m² of unspoilt natural splendour located to the north of the country and adjoining the equally famous Maasai Mara at the Kenyan border. Depending on who you speak to, the park is most famous for either inspiring the backdrop to ‘The Lion King’ (‘Circle of Life’ – still a great tune), or as the setting for the annual Great Migration – a spectacular springtime melee where two million colourful critters head north in search of greener pastures.
Prior to our visit, I had read about the ‘Big Five’ mammals that call the Park home, so-called because they represent the biggest prizes sought by hunters. Obviously, the only shooting we got involved with was with our cameras, but I was still excited to see how many of the ‘Big Five’ I could capture (on film), and was happy to settle for the African Elephant and Buffalo, though slightly disappointed not to witness a real-life Simba or Scar (the rare African Leopard and Black Rhino are the other two, in case you were wondering). Our time in the Park was admittedly brief, with tailor-made safaris that last for weeks on end available to wealthier tourists than I, but the few days we spent rolling around the beige, barren landscape in our battle-hardened Jeep will live long in the memory.
It would be rude to finish this piece without mentioning a couple of Tanzania’s other hotspots. Firstly, the exotic island of Zanzibar – home to lush gardens, picture-perfect beaches, colourful markets and some of the finest Tanzanian restaurants. It is also the birthplace of ‘Queen’ singer Freddie Mercury, for those who love pointless facts or thrive on pub quizzes.
Secondly, standing proud at a whopping 5,895m, Mount Kilimanjaro is, for many visitors, the very reason for visiting Tanzania in the first place. Whilst I would have loved to have squeezed in a trip to Moshi, which cowers in the mountain’s shadow, and gazed up in awe at Africa’s highest peak whilst contemplating the gruelling hike to the summit, we simply didn’t have the time in our short trip.
The phrase ‘once in a lifetime trip’ is often used as an indicator of the sheer beauty of a place or the rare experiences to be had there. While both of these certainly apply here, I hope that the more literal meaning of the phrase doesn’t turn out to be true, and that I can return to Tanzania someday. I would love to photograph the rest of the ‘Big Five’ in their natural habitat and maybe even tackle Kilimanjaro if I’m feeling brave (although, having read a bit about the effects of mountain sickness, I’m not sure it appeals to me as much as it does to some!).
Author Bio:
James Rathmell is a Geography graduate currently working in Manchester as a Transport Planner. He can often be found city-hopping across Europe or gigging with his band at a venue near you.
*All photos provided by James.
*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers & Beans Travel Website and Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!
Like Our Post? Subscribe by email and get new posts delivered straight to your inbox!
