The diving around the Zanzibar Islands is exceptional, offering some of the best diving in the world. For serious divers the best locations must be the deep dives out on the Pemba Reefs. If you are into this, then Pemba Island is the place to go for all your diving along the East African Coast. These reefs are awesome with a great variety of diving on offer.

The diving around Zanzibar town, particularly Mnemba Island, is great for both experienced and novice divers. The reefs close by are useful as a refresher if you have not dived for a while. The dives in the area are relatively cheap and some of the wrecks provide some spectacular sights.

The port area of Stone Town has one or two good wreck dives. The wreck of HMS Pegasus, which was sunk in 1914, is 50m long. Unfortunately it is for experienced divers only. Some of the fish to see here are tuna, barracuda, jack fish, lionfish and giant stingrays. The Great Northern wreck is the remains of an old cable layer and has plenty of leaf fish, eels and a huge variety of coral. Visibility in the area is excellent.

Pange Reef, the first sand bank west of Zanzibar town, is ideal for open water dive courses as it is calm and shallow. An enormous array of coral and tropical reef fish can be found, such as clownfish, parrotfish, Moorish idol and many others. Many people do night dives here on the reef, when you can see cuttlefish, squid, crab and many other night dwellers.

If you’re up for something a bit more challenging, then travel to the northernmost tip of the island to Nungwi. Leven Reef is found here and is probably the best reef off the main island. Because of the strong currents this is only for experienced divers. What makes this reef so attractive is the array of reef and pelagic fauna which includes guitarfish, tuna, moray eels, barracuda, dolphins, and white tip reef sharks. There is a huge variety of coral with clusters of honeycomb and pillar coral.

Wattabomi reef on the eastern side of the island is excellent for snorkelling and novice divers. The reef includes small reef fish, regal angelfish, bluestreak, cleaner wrasse, eels and blue spotted rays. Look for flounder and sole lying buried on their sides in the sand. Most of the year you will find bottlenosed, spinner and common dolphins.

This is merely a brief guide to Zanzibar’s diving opportunities and there is so much more on offer for the novice or the experienced diver alike. I would suggest going on maybe two day dives in and around Stone Town and then moving to the beaches and islands for the more exciting diving experiences.

Mbeya is a mountainous region, with the exception of some lowland areas which lie within the Rift Valley. Close to Mbeya town are picturesque valleys surrounded by undulating hills and a range of mountains.

This is Tanzania’s main gateway to the southern countries of Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. The temperatures vary quite dramatically, from lows of -6°C on the highlands to highs of over 29°C on the lowlands. Driving through the Southern Highlands it is possible to feel the dramatic temperature shifts, with the vegetation changing just as dramatically within very short distances.

Mbeya enjoys an abundant and reliable rainfall and there never seems to be a lack of water. It is cool and often misty and even a woolly sweater is needed from time to time – especially in the evenings.

There is a high plateau, the Kitulo Plateau, sometimes referred to as “the garden of God”, and here high above the madding crowd is a secret sea of orchids. This National Park of wild flowers in all its glorious colour is a delight to anyone who appreciates and loves the orchid in its natural setting. It was in order to protect its plants and in particular the orchids that the Kitulo Plateau was designated Tanzania’s fourteenth National Park.

This huge carpet of ground orchids blooms quite unnoticed, every year, in this forgotten corner of Tanzania. It is unnoticed because it is possibly as far away from the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro as you can get and still be in Tanzania.

To get to Kitulo, travel from Mbeya along the road to the Zambian border – at a place called Chimala turn south – this is about an hour’s drive from Mbeya town. Then travel up the escarpment and pass through Matamba and arrive at the plateau.

There are not many amenities here, so self-sufficiency is the only option. There are a few local places where you can board close to the park. However, it is possible to camp on the plateau itself.

It is a pleasure to drive in and around the region, as it is well served with good roads connecting to different parts of the country – most unusual in Africa. Mbeya also connects with the two main highways linking to Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa.

Mbeya is among the best places in Tanzania for hiking and forest walking, which are all the more enjoyable for the cool weather. For me, Mbeya is a real treat and I always love to visit the area but sadly I tend not to make it to this part of Tanzania as often as I would like.

Deep sea fishing

Deep sea fishing in the Indian Ocean’s waters from August to November provides really good sport for the big yellowfin tuna, one of the strongest fish in the area. The large blue marlin and a number of striped and black marlin are also found, as well as sailfish, king fish, dorado, sharks, barracuda and many other IGFA species.

Deep sea fishing in Tanzania is best organised through private companies which specialise in boating and ocean trips, or through lodges and hotel properties which offer day excursions throughout the coast.

The game fishing here is excellent year round, with many hotels’ boats equipped to the highest international safety standards and including the latest technology, such as GPS navigational aids, colour echo sounder and fishfinder.

Freshwater fishing

Although it is not allowed in national parks, fly and lake fishing in remote areas outside the parks is possible. It is a rewarding and peaceful way to experience the beauty of African scenery and enjoy the country at a leisurely pace.

Sometimes private companies, tour operators, and lodges can arrange for day trips to nearby lakes and rivers, and longer fishing safaris around the region can be organised with tour operators. In addition to planned day excursions, local fishermen in the region will gladly take you with them on their daily fishing trips and show you the best places to get started.

Lake fishing

The freshwater lakes of Tanzania offer fishing opportunities for visitors willing to rough it a little and to venture off the beaten track. Fishing in Lake Victoria affords an opportunity to experience freshwater lake fishing and observe life around the lakes of Tanzania, where boatmen will gladly arrange for you to accompany them on their daily trips to net Nile perch and tilapia in the waters offshore. Trips to Rubondo Island National Park also offer fishermen a base from which to embark on trips around Lake Victoria.

Fly fishing

Fly fishing along Tanzania’s many rivers and large streams is another rewarding experience for sportsmen wanting to take in remote areas at a more relaxed tempo. During the rainy season, rivers swell with fish and river life, and any time after the short and long rains is a good time to plan a fishing safari. Many adventure tour operators cater for international fisherman looking for the best fishing waters in East Africa, and everything from trolling through flood plains to fly fishing in mountain streams is possible.

The Arabic influence is especially seen in the singing and many of the stringed instruments – the cultural intercourse between Tanzania and the Arab world was mutually beneficial, as evidenced by the exportation of the leiwah dance to Bahrain.

Over the past few years in particular the Sauti za Busara (Sounds of Wisdom) music festival has become increasingly popular within Tanzania and overseas. And for many years now the Swahili Music Festival has firmly established itself as one of East Africa’s finest annual events. It takes place over five days and brings people together from different backgrounds and cultures all under the umbrella of music.

In past years the festival has been focused mainly on musicians from Zanzibar, the Tanzanian mainland, Uganda, Kenya and Burundi. However, in more recent years people have come from West Africa and even as far away as Swaziland and Europe. Tanzanians are a truly peaceloving and friendly people, and this music festival has been described as “the friendliest festival on Planet Earth”.

The quality of local music never fails to surprise visitors from Europe and America and many young musicians are making their mark on international audiences on this spiced island of Zanzibar. The international audiences who come for the festival are primarily interested in interacting with the culture and history of the island – we have tourism that is actually benefiting the community. This is responsible tourism making a difference to local people.

Sauti za Busara is held at the Old Fort in Stone Town over four nights and then moves to the beaches on Zanzibar’s north coast for a special grand finale celebration. Tanzanian food is not usually top of any tourist’s list; however, the Swahili cuisine is delicious and at its best on this island (and maybe also in Dar es Salaam).

This festival also offers an opportunity to visit historic Stone Town, village cultural projects, spice plantations, taarab rehearsals, beach trips, dhow cruises, game safaris, snorkelling, diving, and swimming with dolphins. If you organise excursion trips through the festival then you are ensuring you get the best deal, and profits go to the local communities and not an overseas middleman.

The past few festivals have had more than eleven thousand visitors and future festivals can only become more popular. It seems as if Zanzibar is using this festival as a new approach to market itself as an important cultural tourism destination. The event provides artists from the Swahili-speaking world with a rare opportunity to meet, exchange ideas, learn from each other and to be creative.

Be properly equipped. It is an essential part of your preparation to ensure that you are well equipped for the attempt on Kilimanjaro. Draw up a check list or print one out from one of the many Kilimanjaro specialist websites.

It is important to be physically prepared. You will be hiking to the top, and it is a demanding climb, so make sure your body is adequately prepared for the physical challenges that lie ahead. In the months and weeks before your departure for Tanzania take part in a training programme to ensure your body is in shape for your Kilimanjaro expedition.

Mental preparation is also important. You should always remain in a positive state of mind, but not overly confident. Your mental stamina will, without a doubt, make the difference on the last day when you climb toward the summit. Try to look ahead at what may happen, situations you may encounter on the mountain and try to work out the most suitable course of action, either by yourself and then as a group.

Adequate travel insurance is important. Be certain that your travel and medical insurance will also provide you with cover for the climb up Kilimanjaro.

Listen to the guides. Your guides will instruct you on the best way to reach the top of Kilimanjaro. It is in their interest that you reach the top so listen to them – They Know Best. When climbing you will be repeatedly told: “pole pole“, which is Swahili for “go slowly”. Besides, for the first day or two the scenery is lovely, so take it slowly and enjoy the surroundings. Many times people want to take the climb quickly and altitude sickness stops them short of reaching their goal: the highest point in Africa.

Drink plenty of water. You will be also told to drink water; make sure you drink at least four litres of liquid per day – preferably water. Water on the mountain is safe to drink from the second day onwards, but care should always be taken. Remember a stomach upset can dehydrate you and this will make the climb all the more difficult, if not dangerous.

Don’t overburden yourself. Climb as lightly as possible. This becomes even more important on your summit night – extra weight will slow you down and will also make breathing more difficult. Clothing lists are available from most specialist websites.

And finally… A ski-pole is essential as it reduces external and internal loads on the knee joints. Using one ski-pole is a must, but two poles are recommended. These can be rented in Tanzania. Replace your head-lamp and camera batteries with new ones on your summit night.

Do a little research and be a good scout and be prepared, and most of all enjoy the climb.