The name evokes images of the best wildlife parks in the world, including the wild, untamed Serengeti; or perhaps you might think of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in Africa, and then there is the exotic spice island of Zanzibar, one of the oldest surviving Swahili cities.

Tanzania is a travelers paradise - for many reasons. Within a limited time, you can scale the highest mountain in Africa, safari in the Great Rift Valley, and end your time relaxing on the beaches of Zanzibar or Pemba - all within a period of three weeks. From the tribal Maasai in the north, who still dress traditional clothes and live in mud huts, to the western educated businessmen in Dar es Salaam, or to the veiled Muslim women of Zanzibar, Tanzania is a huge, rural, diverse country that offers a unique, sometimes contrasting landscapes and culture - almost like the old world is mixing with the new world.

Given safety conditions in parts of Kenya, Tanzania is becoming the more traveled to country these days. A majority of travelers tend to overload northern Tanzania, called the "northern circuit," because of the amazing game parks, the majestic beauty of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and perhaps seeing and visiting the colorful Maasai. With a little planning, Tanzania can accommodate either the budget traveler looking for an off-the-beaten path village, or the classic affluent westerner, who wants old-world, Ernest Hemingway-like luxury while watching the wildebeest migrate across the Ngorongoro Crater, also known as the eight wonder of the world.

With a decent, fairly efficient, bus system, and expensive prices in the north, the rest of Tanzania has some unique, seldom visited areas, such as the Selous Game Reserve, home to more 22,000 elephants; the hidden Kilwa Masoka contains some of the oldest, best preserved, 15th century Arabs ruins. There are even huge wildlife game parks in the east, like Uwanda Game Reserve, or Katavi Plains, which receive only a few hundred visitors per year compared to hundreds of thousands in the north. With a little bit of time, patience, and a small appetite for adventure, the other parts of Tanzania offer the amenities of the north without the people.

The islands off the coast of Tanzania in the India Ocean - Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia Island (and a few others sprinkled around the edges) - offer a completely different culture from the mainland. First, the islands tend to be almost 99 percent Muslim, with the architecture, and religions indicative of the Middle East, mainly Oman and its colonial influence. Often called the Swahili Coast, an area often referred to from Southern Somali to Northern Mozambique, these islands and mainland were ruled over by the Portuguese, Arabs, Germans and many other colonial powers.

After a safari or a Kilimanjaro climb, a huge majority of travelers go to these islands, mainly Zanzibar. The highlight is usually Stone Town and the northern beaches, where a reliable tourist infrastructure enables easy travel and western amenities, like good food, Internet Cafes, and other tourists to share experiences with. Other islands tend to be a little less traveled and perhaps a little bit more difficult to navigate, but offer a more genuine, adventurous experiences. More backpackers are flocking to unexplored parts of Pemba, which has lush, dense vegetation, and is rated one of the top places to scuba dive in the world.

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our Africa Insiders page.