Tanzania.

June to October is peak, with Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti and dry season game viewing across Tarangire and Ngorongoro. January to March is calving season on the southern Serengeti plains, which is extraordinary for predators. April and May bring the long rains, the lowest rates of the year and a green, almost empty northern circuit.

A volcanic caldera some 260 square kilometres across on the edge of the Serengeti ecosystem, holding an entire self contained ecosystem within its walls. It has the highest density of large mammals in Africa and one of the last reliable black rhino populations on the continent. Ongeri Expeditions recommends two nights on the rim rather than one, so you descend with a full day.

Land held under a private lease rather than as a national park. The Grumeti Reserve and Mwiba are both concessions, and they permit off road driving, night drives and, at Mwiba, walking with a guide. None of those is allowed inside Serengeti National Park, so the same wildlife makes for quite a different day.

Yes, and it is the most natural pairing in Africa. Zanzibar is about an hour from the Serengeti by light aircraft. On our Mnemba Island journey the return flight from the Serengeti, Nairobi, Kilimanjaro or Arusha is complimentary, so the crossing costs nothing.

Our Tanzania journeys run from USD 10,500 per person sharing for seven days across the Maasai Mara and Serengeti, to USD 30,100 for the eight day Grand Circuit across three private reserves. Most guests land between USD 10,500 and USD 15,000 per person.

Most nationalities require an eVisa, applied for online before travel. A Yellow Fever certificate is required if you are arriving from or transiting through a country with risk of transmission, which includes Kenya. Ongeri Expeditions confirms the current requirements for your passport in writing before you travel.