There are several enticing options for those who want to undertake a safari in Tanzania. The most popular is the Northern Circuit that takes in the Serengeti and where you can witness the famous annual migration.

Less well travelled is the Southern Circuit and the Selous Game Reserve where you can enjoy the same variety of wildlife but in a more remote setting. You also have the benefit of being able to enjoy river cruises, not possible in the North.

The more remote area of Western Tanzania includes the Ruaha National Park which receives far fewer visitors than even the Selous and only has a few lodges available.

For a specialist and exclusive experience, head to the Mahale Mountain National Park, right on the western border of Tanzania, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika where you can undertake chimp trekking.

The Northern Circuit is one of the most popular safari routes and one that comes highly recommended for both the opportunity to view game and for seeing Tanzania geographical wonders, including Kilimanjaro and the extinct volcano at Ngorongoro.

Given its popularity, the northern circuit is the busiest route so don't expect to be the only jeep there. But don't let that put you off. It is popular for good reason - the sheer volume of wildlife available means that you are very likely to see animals in their thousands.

The preferred starting point for most safaris on the Northern Circuit are from either Kilimanjaro or Arusha. Both are easily accessible from Dar es Salaam. The route you take from there is entirely dependent on time and budget.

For those with deep pockets you can fly between the various 'stopping points' - Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and the Serengeti with the added benefit of viewing the incredible landscape from the air. More usual is to travel by road, this takes a little longer, but affords you more opportunities to observe the spectacular wildlife the region has to offer.

Distances vary, but if you follow the usual stopping points you would expect approximate drive times as follows:

Kilimanjaro to Arusha - 1 hour
Arusha to Tarangire - 2 hours
Arusha to Lake Manyara - 2 hours
Arusha to Ngorongoro - 4 hours
Arusha to Serengeti - 4 hours

The Selous in the South of Tanzania is the biggest game reserve in Africa. Combined with a lack of crowds in comparison to the North, you have approximately 50,000 square kilometres of largely interrupted views over huge savannahs and an abundance of wildlife.

The Selous also benefits from having the Rufiji river running through the reserve. The river is a great place to view wildlife, especially during the dry season when the animals all gravitate to its shores in search of water. The river also offers those travelling there the opportunity to enjoy boating safaris where you can see water based animals, such as hippos and crocodiles up close and personal.

For the more courageous, you can also undertake walking safaris in the Selous, not something you can do in the north.

There are a number of airstrips that service the Selous, but commonly used is Stiegler's Gorge which is about a 45 minute flight from Dar Es Salaam.

Covering over 20,000 Sq. km, the Ruaha is the 2nd largest national park in Tanzania. It's size and remoteness makes it a great choice for the more adventurous traveller. Game viewing is focused along the Great Ruaha River which runs along the south west edge of the park.

If elephants are top of your list, then Ruaha is known to have the largest population in Tanzania. It is also recognised has having significant numbers of lion and wild dog, the 2nd and 3rd largest populations respectively.

The park is also well known for its large variety of birds, with over 500 different species to be found there. The best time to see them is during the wet season which is traditionally between January and April.

Although accessible by air, some travellers choose to reach the Ruaha by road. This can take up to 10 hours, but offers you an earlier opportunity to enjoy the topography of the area and of course game viewing.

The Mahale Mountains National Park is on the shores of Lake Tanganyika on the eastern border of Tanzania.

The park is famous for being the home of some of Africa's last remaining wild chimpanzees. It is estimated that over 1500 chimpanzees live in the area and so even if you don't see one on your foray into the forest, it would be unusual not to see on if you spend two or three days here.

The best time to see the chimps is during the dry season (between June and October) when they are more likely to be foraging on the ground. In the wet season (November -May), the chimpanzees spend much of their time high in the trees which can make them more difficult to spot.

In addition to seeing the Chimpanzees, there are opportunities to take an expedition on Lake Tanganyika where you can see hippos and crocodiles.

The forest also has a wide variety of colourful forest birds.