Happy new year. It's a new year with new opportunities and I thought I would share with you my travel experiences to Tanzania over the last few months of 2019 to inspire your 2020 adventures. It is a country that we have been back to again and again, and I have been lucky to have spent a number of weeks there last year for work and family-time. Around the country, I experienced different types of accommodation ranging from five-star resorts, luxury camps & boutique hotels to beach shacks and tree houses (which were my favourite). The best part for me however were the generous people welcoming me into their shops and restaurants, sharing with me an amazing, warm and vibrant culture. If you get the chance, I would absolutely recommend coming out of the big hotels to visit local shops, restaurants and markets or better yet, stay in the smaller boutique hotels to really get an immersive experience of the country.
Top Tip: I recommend sorting out your e-Visa in advance as I did this and it helped me beat the queue after a long flight.
Back on the Mainland and in the south of Tanzania, I got the chance to see the “big 5” in the unfenced wilderness. Ruaha National Park and the Selous Game Reserve are some of the largest wildlife refuges in Africa and I travelled for miles surrounded by animals with no other people in sight. It’s a perfect self-drive destination to follow big cats and even bigger game off the beaten track (though I recommend going with a guide if you have small children or if it is your first time on safari). Out there glamping was the only way to stay and spending a little extra time there really allowed me to pick out the best from the rest, enjoying a private plunge pool after a long day’s game drive.
