Tanzania is one of Africa’s most popular holiday destinations, it’s the perfect combination of safari and beach that rolls into one adventurous yet relaxing trip! The opportunity came up to explore the country further and experience some of the charm of the people, wildlife, scenery and culture and we returned with a new-found soft spot for this wonderful African country.

Tanzania and Zanzibar are often sold as two different holidays but we would highly recommend pairing the two together to make the most of your time away. I spent time climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, enjoying the safari within the Ngorongoro crater and Serengeti and rounded off the trip with a few days of supreme relaxation on the beaches of Zanzibar, it was a perfect trip! It’s very easy to travel from mainland Tanzania to Zanzibar and what better way to finish a holiday than on the white sand beaches of the Indian Ocean.

For those who want to read a little further about my adventures on Kilimanjaro and the excitement of conquering Africa’s tallest mountain, you might like to take a read of our feature here.

Moving away from Kilimanjaro, next on our itinerary we had a treat in store, spending time in search of the array of wildlife you can find in the Ngorongoro Crater and across the plains of the Serengeti. Moshi is the perfect entry point to Tanzanian safari as it’s a relatively short journey and after an early start before we knew it we were looking across the great plains and savanna from the top of the crater. It’s an incredibly impressive site as, the walls of the crater tower high (about 600m) above the valley floor and excitement rose in anticipation of the wildlife that we could find. With our guide we explored the Ngorongoro crater and Serengeti where there’s a huge concentration of wildlife and what an experience to enjoy.

The safari found across the plains is amazing and a real feast for the eyes with lions, elephants and wildebeest and a host of wildlife to spot. The watering holes are where the true spectacles can be found with flamingos and hippopotamuses sitting side by side cooling off in the waters, wherever you look there’s something to spot and we quickly realised why the area is quite so popular with safari aficionados.

Zanzibar was the final stop on our itinerary before flying back to the UK and as mentioned above, what a way to round off a trip to Africa. We opted to travel from Dar es Salaam to Stone Town by ferry (if you do I’d recommend opting for the slightly more expensive, more modern ferry – it’s a bit quicker as well.) Arriving into Stone Town it was time to explore the UNESCO listed capital of Zanzibar, but first a quick bite to eat.

Freddie Mercury is often associated with Zanzibar having been born on the island and spent some time there as a child. What better way to start our stay on Zanzibar than by eating some huge fresh prawns and drinking in the gorgeous Indian Ocean views out across the bay from the bar come restaurant Mercury’s. After an aptly named Kilimanjaro beer we felt revitalised and ready to get lost through the narrow streets of Stone Town. Into the Darjani Bazaar we headed, set in the Old Town of the city, it’s split into different sections of fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, we predominantly stuck to the fruit and vegetables and haggled our way through the mazes of the Bazaar playing the inevitable game of to and for negotiations with locals and enjoying the sights and sounds of the bustling market.

After a few hours of exploring the bazaar and its surrounding streets where you’ll find souvenirs, fabrics and clothing it was time for a break and one of my most silly but guiltiest of pleasures whilst abroad; coca-cola from a glass bottle. There’s something about it that just immediately causes an association for me with being on holiday, as much as donning flip-flops or packing swimwear might have.

After another day of exploration of Stone Town which included the House of Wonders and soaking up the views it was time for the final part of our journey, heading to the coast for the famed white-sand beaches and it was safe to say after some slightly weary legs remaining from the ascent of Kilimanjaro we were ready for it.

The coast of Zanzibar was the perfect compliment to the rest of our holiday, after plenty of exploration and adventure and with new experiences, the gentle pace of the coast was a wonder. The beaches of Zanzibar are everything that you might expect and hope for, the remainder of our holiday was spent swimming in the warm clear Indian Ocean waters, relaxing on white-sand beaches and eating beautifully fresh fish and fruit. There are some excellent places to eat and all quite different, my personal favourite was lunch on the beachfront sitting on hand-carved seats and tables whilst an elderly woman magiced up wonderful spiced fish on just one gas burner, it might have taken a while but it was worth the wait! Snoozing under the tropical palm trees, enjoying cocktails with stunning beach views and a game of beach football with a mix of tourists and locals, I’d recommend heading to Zanzibar soon to discover the island for yourself.