Tanzania has always been Kenya's shy cousin, but of late it has begun stepping into the limelight and is firmly on the map as a destination that is coming into its own; in fact, the further we venture, the more we discover there is to be seen. For wilderness that is still truly wild, for the jaw-dropping spectacle that is the Great Migration, for exotic islands and oceanic abundance a trip to our neighbour below is the way to go.

As a country, this destination is best to be thought of in sections: Northern Circuit including areas such as the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti and of course the majestic Kilimanjaro, the west including the Mahale and the jewel of Lake Tanganyika, the south with the vast parks of Selous and Ruaha and of course the palm-fringed coast. This itinerary combines the popular north circuit with the adventure of chimpanzee trekking on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.

The Mahale Mountains are hidden away in a part of Tanzania so far-flung that there are still no roads - just tiny fishing villages dotting Lake Tanganyika's shore, and boats afloat its clear cool expanse. The thickly forested slopes host families of chimpanzees, happy in their untouched paradise of a home. After your intrepid trek to visit these wondrous primates, head to the water's edge for some fresh sashimi with your sundown swim.

Selous Game Reserve's wild dogs - poetically called painted wolves for their beautiful dappled markings - number a few of the world's 4-5,000 remaining. Rare and endangered, they only occur in seven other countries, and this particularly stunning expanse of Africa is an idyllic place to seek them out. Their endearing pack dynamics belie deadly predatorial skills, and watching these incredible creatures hunt is akin to spectating an exquisitely choreographed dance of lithe limbs and grace as lethal as it is elegant.

Each year, the great wildebeest migration masses on the southernmost Serengeti plains to give birth to its next millions-strong generation. Spectate the miracle of life on the grandest scale imaginable, attended by the many hungry predators that feast on the glut of this time of plenty. From a private concession poised on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, board a helicopter that will swoop you down among flocks flamingoes on Lake Eyasi and perch atop an ancient seething volcano, before skimming over the Cradle of Mankind and innumerable gnus swarming the infinite savannah.

The very word 'Zanzibar' murmurs with warm trade winds fragrant with exotic spicy aromas and tales of sheikhs, ships and faraway lands. Steeped in history, in the 1600's the island belonged to the Sultan of Oman who grew rich in the trade of ivory and spices - and by the mid 19th century, it was the Swahili Coast's chief port for selling slaves, numbering as many as 50,000 a year. Today, it is renowned for its stunning beaches, fishing and diving, and its rich culture characterised by Stone Town's beguiling narrow streets, carved doors, and warm coastal welcome.

Ruaha National Park is a rare gem, being one of the largest conservation areas in Africa, and among the least-visited. And once you move off the roads and tread the wilderness on foot, the exquisite isolation makes it easy to forget there are any other humans on the planet. Trek deeper and deeper into the secret heart of the park, sleeping out in a mobile camp that relocates daily to match your route, and immerse in a wild wonderland of awe-inspiring vastness and beauty.

In deepest darkest Africa, the Mnyera River's icy mountain waters flow into the steaming Kilombero Valley, bubbling and seething with giant tigerfish. As you motor upstream for a morning's angling, the mist rises behind you unveiling pristine rapids and calm clear pools, untouched and unsullied. Glimpse the flitting wing of rare nesting African Skimmers and a plethora of other bird species, as you float past wildlife ambling along the riverbanks, coming down to drink.