My experience visiting Tanzania……
The very first time I visited Africa, I flew straight into Nairobi, Kenya. I had booked myself on an all inclusive safari adventure with a big adventure company. Here I was alone flying solo across the globe for the very reason I booked this adventure in the first place – to spot the incredible lion that i’ve longed to see for years and to be somewhere far away from normal life, from worklife and from my everyday routine.
We drove in a small mini-bus from our hotel in Nairobi across the border to Arusha in Tanzania. I will say Tanzania is a much prettier place than the bustling city of Nairobi. Visiting Tanzania for the first time was welcoming and exciting, for we had a jam-packed itinerary of many Tanzania excursions and destinations to look forward to.
On our very first day we bundled into the safari van and set on our journey. We were ecstatic to see zebras and giraffes for the first time. Little did we know by the end of the trip Zebra and Giraffe were an everyday occurrence as by then we had seen the most beautifully exotic wild animals and were yearning to see more lions, more leopards, more elephants. We spent every day spending numerous hours sitting, sleeping and looking out for that ever elusive animal. I yearned to see lions, lions are amazing to me. We definitely heard many lions at night. Their roars seem so near but are yet so far, thankfully! We camped three nights in the Serengeti, in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. Nothing surrounding us apart from wide stretched savannahs and more importantly, nothing protecting us from the wild animals. I couldn’t sleep. Our guide told stories of encounters with lions that filled us with excitement and dread at the same time. Hyena’s loved our campsite, more so they loved the outside kitchen area that was made out of steel and situated right near our camps. They spent nearly all night scavenging for food LOUDLY. I didn’t manage to get an hour’s sleep or a minute’s peace but our Tanzania excursions were incredible! From exploring the Ngorongoro Crater to riding through the Serengeti and witnessing the Great Migration. Lake Manyara was fascinating too, especially as we got to see the flock of flamingos. Hot air ballooning across the Serengeti was unbelievable – memories that I shall never forget.
Visiting Tanzania has always been special to me, the place, the feeling. You cannot replica it anywhere else in Africa. Tanzania is filled with good souls, friendly acquaintances, peaceful ways, incredible views, stunning landscapes and memories of wild animals running wild and free will stay with me forever.
Founder of BornWild – Kate K.F
A lion standing in the grass looking out. A large number of lions inhabit the Serengeti in Tanzania – be sure to visit this National Park on your travels /
WHERE IS TANZANIA AND HOW TO GET THERE?
The country of Tanzania is located on the eastern side of the African continent. If you look at the map below, you’ll see that it borders several other African countries like Kenya and Uganda to the north. On the west side is the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to the south are Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique. As the map shows, Tanzania is well situated and connected to other beautiful countries that are also worth visiting. It is accessible by most modes of transport, with air and road travel being the most common.
Tanzania’s most connected airport to the northern circuit of national parks is Kilimanjaro International Airport. Even though it is small, it is one of the airports we recommend flying into to access some of the most well-known Tanzanian destinations. If you are unable to get a direct flight to Tanzania, flying into Nairobi, Kenya, is also a great option. It takes around six hours to drive from Nairobi to Arusha, which is just across the border and is known as the gateway to safaris. It is also only an hour away from Kilimanjaro Airport.
