Travel stories

What was the moment when you thought, “Wow, I’m never going to forget this”?

There were more unforgettable moments than we could count. Seeing wild animals for the first time, including spotting the Big Five, was fantastic, as was swimming in the crystal-clear Indian Ocean.

Another moment we’ll never forget was when a lion walked right past us while we were enjoying a drink in front of our tent in the middle of the Serengeti. At the same camp, I woke up during the night to find a hippo grazing as it wandered past our tent.

What surprised or moved you about Tanzania? Perhaps something you hadn’t expected beforehand?

At many of the accommodations, we were welcomed with singing. We felt genuinely welcome and everyone was incredibly hospitable. We were also struck by the beauty of the landscapes, particularly in the Serengeti. The park kept surprising us, both with its wildlife and its scenery.

How did you experience meeting the people and experiencing the culture? Think about conversations with your guide, local customs and hospitality.

Our safari guide really added something special to our journey. Without him, there is so much we wouldn’t have seen or learnt. The people were incredibly welcoming. We stayed at Amini Maasai Lodge, which was beautiful and gave us an insight into Maasai culture. The people at our other accommodations were also very friendly and helpful.

One thing we did notice was the way rubbish is dealt with locally. Waste is often left lying around, swept into piles and then burnt. At the same time, tourists are not allowed to bring plastic bags into the country, which we fully support, so it was striking to see how much plastic waste there still was.

What would you recommend future travellers definitely shouldn’t miss?

We would recommend choosing an accommodation inside the Serengeti. You can hear and see the wildlife right from the camp, and it also saves a lot of travelling time. We also thought the food at Serengeti View Camp South was excellent.

What are you taking home from this journey, in your head, your heart and/or your suitcase? Something that has changed the way you do or see things, or that will simply stay with you forever.

The entire journey will stay with me forever. It was wonderful to be able to experience this together as a family. Our children, who were almost 16, were completely captivated by the wildlife and never minded heading out on safari as early as six in the morning.

Ending our journey with a few days on Zanzibar was fantastic too. We stayed at Jambiani Villas, where we had some truly excellent food.