Need to know

When to go

Between June and October is the dry season in Serengeti National Park, when you can expect sunny days (25–27ºc) and clear nights. Between May and July is when you’ll see the wildebeest herds trekking north across the park, with river crossings typically sighted between July and October. The Serengeti has two wet seasons (Nov– Dec; Mar– May); these sandwich the hottest months (Jan– Feb), when temperatures are at their most fiery (29ºc), the land is a bright green colour and the crowds are much thinner.

Visa & currency

Visa: Not required by UK nationals for stays of up to 90 days. Currency: Tanzanian shilling (TZS), currently around TZS3,227 to the UK£.

Getting there & around

There are no direct flights to Tanzania from the UK. The author flew with Ethiopian Airlines (ethiopianairlines.com) from London to Kilimanjaro International Airport via Addis Ababa. Flights run daily from London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Manchester airports. Prices start from around £680 return and take from 14 hours.

Serengeti Balloon Safaris (balloonsafaris.com) fly daily yearround in Serengeti National Park and seasonally in Tarangire and Ruaha national parks. Daily flights start from $Us550pp (£435), including all transfers, a balloon flight, champagne toast and bush breakfast.

Carbon offset

A return flight from London, via Nairobi, to Kilimanjaro International Airport produces 837kg of carbon per passenger. Wanderlust encourages you to offset your travel footprint through a reputable provider. For advice on how to find one, visit wanderlust.co.uk/sustainable-travel.

Where to stay

The author stayed in a mobile tented camp run by Wayo Africa (wayoafrica.com) and was guided on the ground by Wayo Africa’s expert walking safari guides.