Although it’s often used as a stopover for those journeying to Serengeti or Mount Kilimanjaro, the city of Arusha itself has a lot to offer. One of the top attractions here is the Maasai Market. Located in the heart of town and packed full of all sorts of souvenirs, jewellery and artwork, it’s the place to go if you want to try your hand at haggling. Afterwards, you can wander over to the Cultural Heritage Centre, to see a variety of art from around the continent, from wood carvings and paintings, to beautiful Tanzanite jewellery.

Alternatively, if wildlife-watching is more your thing, then a visit to Meserani Snake Park is sure to tick all the boxes. Lead by a Maasai tour guide, you’ll come up-close to Puff Adders, Egyptian Cobras, and many more fascinating species.

Less than a two hour a drive from Arusha, Mount Meru is a staggering 4,566 metres tall, making it the fifth highest peak in Africa. Just seeing this mighty mountain is a spectacle in itself, but if you’re wanting to climb to the summit, you can expect the trek to take between three to four days. Once you make it to the top, you’ll be rewarded with breath-taking views across the wide savanna and over to Mount Kilimanjaro. What’s more, the wildlife on this hike is unmatched, so you’re likely to spot monkeys, warthogs, and buffaloes along the way.

Of course, if you fancy an even bigger challenge, there’s always the option to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The expedition length is about double the time, but talk to anyone and they’ll tell you it’s worth it.

No trip to Tanzania is complete without a safari experience. Luckily, when you’re in Arusha, getting to Lake Manyara National Park is a piece of cake. Here, flamingos are the star attraction, gathering in their thousands over on the lake. But, if you choose to embark on a game drive, there’s an endless number of incredible creatures for you to see.

From here, if you travel a few hours further west, you’ll reach the iconic Serengeti National Park. There’s no better place in Tanzania to see the ‘Big Five’. Have your camera at the ready, as you drive past lions, leopards and mud-covered elephants. And, if you time your visit right, you could witness the Great Migration and see huge herds of wildebeest journey across the sprawling plains.

Weather-wise, there’s not too much variation between the seasons in Tanzania. You’ll get the hottest temperatures between December and March, but even in the cooler months, it’s still pleasantly warm during the day. If you want to avoid any showers, visit during the dry season that runs from June until October, with August being the clearest month of the year.

When it comes to wildlife, different months have their own advantages. For the best chance of seeing the Great Migration through the Serengeti, May, June and July are promising months. Or, if you’re itching to see the flamingos at Lake Manyara, anytime between November and April is a good time to go.