The best developed of Tanzania’s tourism routes is known as the Northern Circuit though it remains quite unspoilt by  overexploitation. Here there’s the chance to see huge herds of wildebeest or flocks of brilliant pink flamingos emerging from the swirling mists of alkaline lakes, a sight, it is believed, that gave birth to the legend of the phoenix or the “fire bird.”

The main base for exploring the Northern Circuit is the pretty town of Arusha. The circuit includes many of the country’s most famous national parks, such as Serengeti, Arusha, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, as well as famous landmarks such as the Ngorongoro Crater, the Olduvai Gorge and Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro.