Zanzibar - an island for the explorer, the adventurer and the romantic. Laze on the beach or venture into its heart and get lost in the narrow alleyways of Stone Town. Hear the chatter of the locals as they bargain in Ki Swahili. Smell the peculiar odor of an ancient town mixed with the aroma of freshly ground spices. Feel the rhythm of life in the markets. Taste its offerings, the 1000-year-old town that has not changed for the last 200 years...
 

 

The Zanzibar Experience

Lying off the coast of Tanzania +/- 80 km north of Dar Es Salaam, Zanzibar is one of the undiscovered jewels on the African coast. White, powdery beaches lined with giant coconut palms swaying in the breeze. Azure blue seas beckoning in the distance. MAGIC. However those who expect something like Mauritius or the Comores will be in for a surprise. Not yet on the same level of development, Zanzibar attracts the more adventurous traveler. Yet Zanzibar with its mix of un-spoilt beaches, aquamarine, warm seas, incredible culture and interesting history, will not be a secret for much longer.
 
Scuba Diving in Zanzibar

The island of ZANZIBAR brings images of idyllic tropical holidays to mind. It has for many years been a favorite travel destination for those in the know, but has only recently become known as a superb diving destination. The reefs are in general shallow with clean and calm water. The coral is mostly unspoiled and teems with large numbers of tropical marine inhabitants.
 

Snow capped and shrouded by clouds, the local Chagga people called it 'Kilema Kyaro' meaning 'that which cannot be conquered' or 'that which makes a journey impossible'. Today, it is the dream of every adventurer to conquer its summit and stand on the roof of Africa. KILIMANJARO is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain known to man. It is a mountain where you can hike for more than 50 kilometres, gain 4 000 meters in altitude, traverse rain forest, moorland, alpine desert, snow fields and ice cliffs, all virtually on the equator! A truly unforgettable and fascinating adventure . . .
 

 

How difficult is the Climb

About 22,000 climbers set out every year to conquer the Kilimanjaro peak. Several well-marked hiking routes lead to the summit of the mountain. To use the word "climber" is not always correct. Although none of these hikers routes really requires mountaineering skills, hiking to the "roof of Africa" is physically and mentally demanding and should not be under estimated. As much as 40% of those who set out to climb Kilimanjaro turn back before they reach Uhuru peak. With the adequate preparation any reasonably fit person above the age of 12 years can reach the summit successfully, in fact the oldest person to date to reach the summit was a Frenchman Valtee Daniel at an age of 87!!
 

 
The Routes

There are mainly two routes which lead most hikers to the summit. They are the Marangu route, which are main tourist and by far the most famous and the Machame route, probably the most scenic and most beautiful route. Although other routes also lead to Uhuru Peak, they mainly form parts of the Machame route, like the Shira route from the North west.

 
The "Northern Circuit" in Tanzania forms the backbone of game conservation in East Africa. It consists of Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti amongst others. The Serengeti is the biggest game sanctuary in Africa and one of the biggest in the world. To really explore this wilderness area, join a safari of your choice and discover the Africa of your dreams.
 
The Attractions

Serengeti: Arguably the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world. "Serengeti" means "endless plains" in the Maasai language, and within its boundaries are more than three million large mammals living in total freedom. About 35 species of plain animals can be seen here including the so-called "big five" - elephant, rhino, lion (the biggest concentration in the world), leopard and buffalo. In May or Early June, huge herds of wildebeest, gazelle and zebra begin their spectacular migration from the plains to the permanent water in the north and west of the park. Columns of wildebeest up to 40 kilometers long have been witnessed.
 
Ngorongoro: The Ngorongoro Crater is surrounded by steep walls rising up to 610 meters from the crater floor and covers an area of about 260 sq. m. The crater is home to an amazing 25 000+ large mammals, making it the most intensive game viewing area on earth! Zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, buffalo, eland, hartebeest and wart hog can be seen. There are also vast numbers of predators, consisting of lion, hyena, cheetah and leopard. The area abounds with bird life and ostriches, koori bustards, secretary birds and crested crane can be seen. It is also possible to see countless flamingos in the soda lakes.
 
Olduvai Gorge: Located within the Ngorongoro are is the Olduvai Gorge, 1180 km from Arusha. It is here that Dr. Louis Leakey discovered the remains of Homo Hablis or "handy man" regarded as mankind's first step on the ladder of human evolution. But many more fossils have been discovered here, including those of prehistoric elephants, giant horned sheep and enormous ostriches. Footprints of humanoids believed to be three million years old have also been found.
 
Tarangire: The park gets its name from the Tarangire river that threads it's way though the length of the reserve. It is famous for its dense wildlife population, which is most spectacular between June and October, the dry period. During this period thousands of animals - wildebeest, zebra, eland, elephant, hartebeest, buffalo and fringe-eared Oryx - migrate from the dry Maasai steppe to the Tarangire River looking for water. Lion and other predators follow the herds. Resident species includes giraffe, rhino, waterbuck, impala, kudu and dik-dik.
 
Lake Manyara: Lake Manyara National Park is probably most famous for its tree climbing loins, which spend most of the day in acacia trees. As visitors enter the gate, they enter the lush ground water forest, whose tall trees are home to troops of baboons and blue monkeys. Further along, the forest opens up into woodlands, grasslands, swamps and beyond, the soda lake itself. Lake Manyara covers 390 sq. kilometers and is a sanctuary to over 350 species of bird including flamingo, storks, pelican, sacred ibis, cormorants and Egyptian geese. The park is also noted for its numerous buffalo, elephant, giraffe, impala, hippo and a great variety of smaller animals.
 
Arusha: This small park offers abundant wildlife and is one of the most beautiful and topographically varied parks in Tanzania. The park's three most significant features include the rugged Mt. Meru (Tanzania's second highest peak at 4566m), the notably different colored Momela Lakes, and the 3km wide Ngurdoto Crater, which was formed about fifteen million years ago! The varied and beguiling fauna and flora found in this park are mainly determined by the different altitude and geography of these 3 "zones".