Tanzania Bucket List: Serengeti, safari, Zanzibar!

Sunglasses, bags, camera, a yearning to explore – you've got everything you need, and you're heading to the airport! As your plane rolls down the runway, you get more and more hyped about what lies ahead. You lean back, snuggle up in your seat and start dreaming of all the adventures that await you in the African wilderness. One thing's for sure: this is gonna be the trip of a lifetime!

You step off the plane, gaze over at the horizon and – bam – there it is: Mount Kilimanjaro. You snap a quick pic (it's a must!) and then greet your waiting driver. On the ride, you wind down the windows and can barely hold yourself back from sticking your head out as you take it all in – new colours, new sounds, new smells. Your pulse is racing, and your mind's only thinking one thing: let's gooo! In Arusha, you start off easy by checking in and putting your feet up. Once you're ready, you can take a look around, perhaps tuck into your first dinner with a local touch and enjoy the excitement. Tomorrow, you're off out into the wilderness and into your safari adventure.

Safari vibes ahead – and your guide's already waiting. You grab your camera and sunglasses, and then you're out of Arusha and into adventure! The destination: Tarangire National Park, which is less well-known than the big names but a real insider travel tip for exactly that reason. Dust dances in the air as you cruise past shimmering plains and small villages. And once you reach the park, everything falls silent. No traffic, no noise, it's just pure nature – and heaps of elephants! Herds of families leisurely saunter past your vehicle as if you weren't even there. And that's without mentioning the zebras, giraffes and wildebeest, all attracted by the Tarangire River. You soak it all up, quickly fill your camera roll, marvel at the sight and laugh in disbelief. Come evening, it's on to your next place to stay, where the amazement continues. Glamping in the middle of the Rift Valley with a view of Lake Manyara? What a jackpot! You round off the day by scoping out the best sunset spot, grabbing a hot choc and just enjoying it all.

New day, new wildlife – and the small but mighty Lake Manyara National Park is on the agenda. Your guide picks you up, and you set off. As palm trees give way to forests, the landscape just gets greener and greener. Suddenly, you spot water glistening between the trees. You've reached the lake! But you can barely see the surface through the hundreds of flamingos. A sea of pink flutters before you – a little surreal and very magical. Deeper in the park, monkeys do gymnastics in the branches and elephants cross your path. But your gaze is drawn upwards to the highlight of this place: tree-climbing lions – no joke! If you're lucky, one might even be chilling in the branch right above you. Keep your camera close! After the game drive, it's off to Karatu, where your next safari stay awaits: your cosy lodge surrounded by the wilderness. When you get in and unpack, the choice is yours: off to bed or into the pool?