flares

Any one been?

Zanzibar, Serengeti, Arusha/Moshi?

Usually do Far East or Europe but quite fancy it myself

mentalist

Yes, thanks. I still prefer Kenya.

flares

cheers for that

that's my mind made up then

Miss Anne Thrope

Tanzania is much more laid back and less in your face than Kenya and a bit more foreign - schooling is in KiSwahili rather than English; government followed a socialist path until Nyere's death in the '90s; no colonial hangover local white population; mainly Muslim - but I like it.

I remember giving a talk in Dar a few years ago and prior to starting the room was almost full (say 100+ people) but entirely quiet. I can't think of anywhere else in Africa that would have been the case.

Dar is a very pleasant but not very exciting city. Zanzibar is truly different from anywhere else on the mainland. I have no idea how the safari trips compare but I would guess the tourist infrastructure is much less developed than Kenya and the service mentality and style will likely be a bit more soviet (although humanity, warmth and natural charm will undoubtedly shine through eventually as everywhere in Africa south of the Sahara).

If you have an Irish passport you don't need a visa!

benzonar

I did Zanzibar last November - and loved it. Nov is one of the few months you can dive. Stayed in a great place called Red Monkey Lodge - quite basic but you are smack bang in the middle of a coastal village and are welcomed with open arms.

norsk

Like mentalist I've spent most of my time in Kenya so a bit biased, but I have been on some pretty special trips to Tanzania as well. Ngorongoro is a safari experience different than anywhere else I've been.

I'm not so sure they are that far behind Kenya in terms of service and standard anymore. Check this place out http://www.ngorongorocrater.com/

Zanzibar is supposed to be beautiful although I've never been. Kilimanjaro is of course well known, but they milk the tourists for money these days. It used to be $50 to enter the park and that was it.....

Serengeti is also obviously good, but from what I've heard people say who have been you may as well go to Maasai Mara (which is the Kenyan side of Serengeti) as it is more developed and better managed.

The Dean

OK - then settle an argument please: is it 'Tan-zer-near'' (with emphasis on first syllable) or 'Tan-ZAY-nia' (with emphasis on second syllable)??

Blue Cat

yes I would like to know that and is it Abu Dabeee or Abu Darbeee

The Dean

Dabby - rhymes with flabby

benzonar

It's Tan-ZAR-nia - according to my Tanzanian friend.

The Dean

Blimey - I've never even heard it pronounced that way - ever........

Miss Anne Thrope

What he said.

And it's actually more like Abu Th-obbey ("th" like in mother).. But then again you're speaking English and you wouldn't refer to Paris as Paree (I hope).