Traveller Ian Wright begins his African adventure on the historic island of Zanzibar. Zanzibar is a former slave trading centre and it is here that he discovers the horrors of the Arab-dominated slave trade that continued until 1922, and the work of antislavery campaigners like Dr David Livingstone. Ian also enjoys the lighter side of life in Zanzibar as he wanders through the food markets of Jamituru Gardens and samples the cuisine of the 'Spice Island'. Ian heads to the mainland to the bustling capital of Tanzania, Dar Es Salaam, and on to the world's biggest game reserve, Selous. The highlight of his journey through the Selous Game Reserve is a river safari on Lake Tagala, keeping a safe distance from the crocodiles and hippos that populate the lake. Tracing the footsteps of the explorer Dr. Livingstone, Ian travels to the western edge of Tanzania to scenic Kigoma, and then on to the Gome Stream Chimpanzee colony run by famed anthropologist Dr. Jane Goodall. Further east, in Arusha, Ian bargains with touts who are preparing for a safari to the Ngorongoro Crater, including a meeting with the Masai tribespeople. Next day Ian takes an early morning hot air balloon ride over Tanzania's most famous game park, the Serengeti, populated by over 1.5 million wild animals. Ian concludes his trip to East Africa by spending an exhausting week climbing to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain. (from:Pilot Guides)

Tanzania, republic in East Africa, on the Indian Ocean. A diverse country in which close to 100 different languages are spoken, Tanzania was formed by the federation of the nations of Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964. The country's name is a combination of the first syllables of the component territories' names. Tanzania is bounded on the north by Kenya and Uganda; on the east by the Indian Ocean; on the south by Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia; and on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi, and Rwanda. The country includes the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, and other offshore islands in the Indian Ocean. The total area of Tanzania is 945,100 sq km (364,900 sq mi). Dar es Salaam is the executive capital and largest city; the smaller city of Dodoma is now the legislative center of Tanzania and has been designated as the eventual capital.

Zanzibar (island), island in the United Republic of Tanzania, located in the Indian Ocean 30 km (20 mi) off the East African coast. Zanzibar’s sister island of Pemba lies an equal distance to the northeast. Zanzibar extends 90 km (56 mi) north to south and 43 km (27 mi) east to west and has an area of 1,660 sq km (640 sq mi). Covered with luxuriant tropical plant life, Zanzibar is a low-lying coral island with elevations no higher than 120 m (400 ft). Temperatures average between 24º and 27º C (75º and 81º F) throughout the year and are tempered by ocean breezes. Zanzibar's average annual rainfall, influenced by Indian Ocean monsoon wind patterns, is more than 1,520 mm (more than 60 in). The island’s once prevalent forests have largely been replaced by cultivated crops, including cloves, bananas, and coconuts. Animal life is limited to small mammals and abundant birds.

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