Stone Town: Cobbled Streets, Sunset Skies And A Musical Legend

We started with three nights in Stone Town, Zanzibar’s historic heart. It is a maze of cobbled alleys, carved wooden doors, spice scented markets and tucked away cafes. Every time we stepped outside, it felt like we had walked onto the set of a different film.

By late afternoon we would wander down to the waterfront to watch the sky turn peach and gold over the Indian Ocean. The sunsets here really are something else, with dhows silhouetted against the horizon, children playing on the beach and the call to prayer drifting on the breeze.

One of our highlights was a boat trip to Prison Island, also known as Changuu. Today it is known for its giant tortoises, some believed to be up to 150 years old. Standing next to these gentle giants, thinking about all the history they have quietly witnessed, was quite humbling.

Stone Town is also where rock legend Freddie Mercury was born, and we visited the museum dedicated to his life. Walking through the displays in the very town where his story began added another layer to the sense of history and culture that runs through Zanzibar.

The Tiny Plane And Big Nerves: Flying To The Serengeti

From the coast it was time to swap sea views for savannah. We flew by tiny aircraft out to the Serengeti, landing at Seronera airstrip. Hamish does not love heights and a tiny plane is not usually on his wish list. There were nervous laughs, white knuckles and a few “why did I agree to this” looks along the way.

But the moment we touched down on that little airstrip and met our guide, all the anxiety started to melt into excitement.

Within minutes of leaving the runway we were in the middle of the Serengeti and Hamish’s whole perception of safari began to change. I joked that I might end up feeding him to the lions, but very quickly it was clear he was hooked.

Falling In Love With Safari: Wildlife Moments From Day One

Almost immediately we started seeing wildlife, from pods of hippos wallowing in muddy pools to zebra grazing against a backdrop of endless plains, and elephants ambling past in that impossibly calm, majestic way that only elephants can.

We even had a moment where we could take a selfie with a lion in the distance behind our open sided safari vehicle. Safely and respectfully of course, but there is nothing quite like realising that iconic lion silhouette is not from a documentary, it is from your own trip.

For Hamish that was the turning point. The sights, the sounds, the sheer scale of it all meant he went from “safari is not really my thing” to “when can we come back” in a matter of hours.

Busch Rover Camp: Sleeping In A Converted Land Rover

Our first two nights were spent at Busch Rover Camp in the Serengeti and it was an experience I will never forget. The camp has hosted royalty and it is easy to see why. This is no ordinary tented camp.

Here you stay in cleverly converted Land Rovers that transform into elevated rooms, with proper beds and a balcony that looks straight out over the Serengeti plains. It feels wonderfully exclusive and utterly unique, but still very much part of the wild landscape.

The food was outstanding, from hearty breakfasts to beautifully presented dinners. One of my favourite rituals quickly became gathering around the campfire before dinner, sharing stories with fellow travellers as the sky turned inky blue and the stars began to appear.

Sitting on our balcony after dinner, listening to the distant calls of wildlife and knowing there was nothing but wild Africa between us and the horizon, was one of those pinch me moments.

Little Okavango Camp: Lakeside Tranquillity On Lake Victoria

From the open plains of the Serengeti we moved on to Little Okavango Camp on the shores of Lake Victoria, and it could not have felt more different, in the best possible way.

Here we stayed in tented rooms on large wooden platforms overlooking the water. It was peaceful, green and full of birdlife, with the added thrill of spotting a hippo right from our room. Watching that huge shape emerge from the water in the soft light of early evening is something I will never forget.

Dinner was another adventure in itself. You travel by boat to the Little Okavango tower, where you dine with beautiful views over the lake and the surrounding wetlands. As the sun sets, the sky reflects in the water in layers of orange and pink and the whole scene feels almost unreal.

Giving Back: Biking, Netball And Community Support

One of the things I loved most about this part of the trip was the chance to connect with the local community in a meaningful way.

We hired bikes and cycled out to watch a local netball team in action. Tent With A View fund a local project, a training centre with teachers and accommodation that is putting money and opportunities back into the community. It was amazing to see what they do  fed directly into something lasting for the people who live here.

We were also privileged to meet the owners of Tent With A View at both Busch Rover and Little Okavango. They told us that the transformation they saw in guests between arrival at Busch Rover and departure from Little Okavango is exactly why they do what they do.

Watching Hamish’s journey from reluctant safari goer to someone who did not want the experience to end made that comment really resonate. It is the magic of these places, the wildlife, the landscapes, the people, and the knowledge that your visit can help support conservation and communities.

Zanzibar Blue Beach: Five Nights To Breathe, Swim And Unwind

After all the early mornings, game drives and adventures, we finished with five nights of pure relaxation at Zanzibar Blue Beach Hotel.

This was our time to slow everything right down. Our days fell into an easy rhythm of lazy breakfasts, walks along the sand, dips in the warm Indian Ocean and simply lying back with a book, listening to the waves. The contrast with the bush was exactly what we needed, yet it still felt like part of the same journey.

It was the perfect place to reflect on everything we had seen and experienced, from the drama of the Serengeti and the tranquillity of Lake Victoria to the history of Stone Town and the warmth of the people we met along the way.

Tanzania and Zanzibar gave us so much, from the atmosphere of Stone Town and sunsets I will always be able to picture to those first lion sightings, hippos outside our room and the sense of adventure that comes from tiny planes and big horizons.

Most of all, it changed the way we, and especially Hamish, feel about safari and about travel that makes a difference. It reminded us that stepping a little outside your comfort zone can open up whole new kinds of holiday that you never knew you would love.

If Tanzania and Zanzibar are on your wish list, or if you have a Hamish in your life who is not quite sure about safari yet, I would love to help you plan something that might just change their mind too. Contact me to start planning your own tailor made Tanzania and Zanzibar adventure.