Wildebeest stampeding across the plains mix with the sights and scents of the Zanzibar archipelago for an unbeatable combination in this classic African country.

On its jagged course down the continent, the Great Rift Valley cuts a giant swath across Tanzania, leaving in its wake volcanoes and collapsed volcanoes, dramatic escarpment scenery around Lake Manyara, and deep blue lakes on Tanzania’s western fringes. The rest of the nation has its share of stunning landscapes as well, with the sublime coastal region rising to verdant hill ranges in the northeast and southwest. In addition to the continent’s highest mountain, Tanzania has its lowest point – Lake Tanganyika’s floor.

Tanzania assaults the senses; gnarled baobabs silhouetted against the sunset in Tarangire National Park; hippos snorting in Katavi’s lakes; the scents of cloves and vanilla on Zanzibar; sea breezes and palms rustling along the coast; pine-shaded paths in the Usambaras. The mundane mixes with the spectacular for scene after unforgettable scene.

Over one million wildebeest are joined by thousands of elephants, zebras, giraffes, lions, massive pods of hippos, solitary rhinos and so many flamingos that the air takes on a pink hue. For many, Tanzania is defined by its unrivalled collection of wildlife, which is at its most accessible in the northern safari circuit. Offshore is an abundance of colourful fish, corals and sea turtles.