Safari in Tansania (Ruaha) & Baden in Kenia (Diani Beach)

About the destination: Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's financial and political hub and its largest city. Dar es Salaam has become one of East Africa’s most important ports and trading centers. Dar has many charm and a great atmosphere. It presents a mix of African, Muslim, and South Asian influences and has a picturesque harbor, beautiful beaches, chaotic markets, and historic buildings. It is well worth extending your stay beyond the time between flights. Walks around the city center are a great way to get a feel for the culture and Kariakoo market can be an interesting place for the more adventurous. It can also be a good base for visiting some of the nearby sites such as Bagamoyo, Bongoyo and Mbudja Islands, as well as to learn to scuba dive or go deep sea fishing.

About the destination: With a flawless, long stretch of white-sand beach hugged by lush forest and kissed by surfable waves, it's no wonder Diani Beach is so popular. This resort town scores points with a diverse crowd: party people, families, honeymooners, backpackers and water-sports enthusiasts. But if that sounds like your typical resort town, think again. Diani has some of the best accommodation in Kenya, from budget party hostels to funky kitesurfing lodges and intimate honeymoon spots. Most places are spread along the beach road, hidden behind a line of forest. When lazing in a hammock gets tiring, visit the coral mosques with their archways that overlook the open ocean, venture into the sacred forests where guides hug trees that speak in their ancestors’ voices, or take in the monkey sanctuary – all are good ways to experience more of the coast than the considerable charms of sun and sand.