Although most people ignore Tanzania’s mainland coast as they travel to Zanzibar, there are some real treasures here, large beaches with a couple of resorts — very untamed Africa.

Where might one locate the mainland beaches?

Many beaches that appear a world apart from the busy city life of “Dar” lie literally just south of Dar es Salaam. Our main recommendation here has always been Ras Kutani, a fantastic stretch of beach with several hotels, one of which is our mainland coast favourite. 600km of beach further south runs to Rovuma River on the Mozambique boundary. Although Kilwa Masoko, Lindi, Mikindani and Mtwara might not have as many creature comforts as most Western visitors would prefer, this area is nonetheless unspoiled and rich in history, a fascinating place for real adventurers.

Though it has declined somewhat, North of Dar’s massive historic trading port, Bagamoyo, is nevertheless essential to East Africa’s past. Further north, at Saadani, the only safari park of its sort on the continent, beach meets bush. Travellers running up to the Kenyan border will discover a more developed area than the region south of Dar, with most of them concentrating on the area around Tanga and the sleepy fishing villages surrounding Pangani and especially Ushongo – our favourite beach on the mainland coast after Ras Kutani even further north.