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A couple of weeks ago, readers, we asked you for your globetrotting expertise on travelling to Tanzania—ideally, without breaking the bank. And my goodness, did you deliver!

The tips we received ranged from WhatsApp numbers of local tour guides, to the best lesser-known mountain trails, and how to spot a pickpocket’s tricks (keep your wits about you if someone says you stood on their toes!). We’ve distilled it all down into the crème de la crème for you here, so you can plan a great African adventure, too!

We’ll start with the elephant in the room—or rather, in the wild—Safaris.

The Northern Circuit, which borders Kenya and includes the Serengeti National Park, is by far the most famous and popular area for safari tours in Tanzania. Most leave from Arusha, near Mount Kilimanjaro, and can last anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks.

Despite being overshadowed by the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park came highly recommended by you. Not least because it has the country’s largest elephant population, with herds of up to 300 animals working together to hunt for water during the dry season.

The park is also home to wildebeest, zebras, leopards, lions, rhinos and more, so there’s little chance of missing out, especially if you time your trip during the peak migration season in June–October. There’s also a second, short dry season in January–February, where you might find it easier to strike the balance between lower prices, fewer crowds, and plenty of animals.

Or if, like the JFC team, you fly where the deals take you and land in Dar es Salaam, the Southern Circuit could be a better shout—and much less crowded. Detour reader Andy shared his experience:

In our Facebook Community, Pam seconded Selous as an amazing destination. She advised that while you can cut costs by staying outside the reserve and travelling in each day, you risk missing peak viewing times during the cooler hours.

Many companies offer different levels of tour package to suit different budgets, with camping options usually coming in cheapest. You might (very reasonably) be a little petrified at the idea of having nothing but a tent to protect you from prowling lions, but JFC Community member Bruce assures us it’s one of the most special experiences you’ll ever have. We presume “special” isn’t being used as a code word here…

We also received a huge number of recommendations for specific tour companies, so thank you very much for those! There are plenty to sift through over on the Facebook thread, but a few names kept appearing:

• Lion King Adventures - Knowledgeable & flexible company who put their customers first & offer packages to suit every budget
• Zara Tours - Super friendly guides operating both safaris and guided hikes across the country
• Kiss Tanzania Safaris - Owner Johannes will work with you to tailor trips, so you can have your perfect holiday (and apparently he can sort out a very good deal!)

Some of you prefer to keep those plans loose until you land, knowing there’s a chance of getting a good deal when local companies have spots to fill at the last minute. Given the number of companies out there, you can easily just rock up in Dar or Arusha and see what’s available.

Kilimanjaro will no doubt be on a few Tanzania-to-do lists, as well. Know from the outset that this part really won’t be cheap, since a park permit costs USD $1000, and you count the week’s worth of costs for guides, accommodation, food, etc.

If it’s a non-negotiable part of your trip, both Zara and Kiss mentioned above offer guided Kilimanjaro hikes. One reader also sang the praises of Kili Dreamers as an amazing budget tour company. One of their highlights was a sunrise summit, and the company owner, Eli, went above and beyond to help them find rental gear after a lost luggage nightmare.

Mount Meru crops up on many tour sites as well, and though you might not have heard of it, the dormant volcano can be a great choice for saving cash and time while still getting your trek on. The ascent takes around 3–4 days, and with views over Arusha National Park, you’re likely to encounter at least a few antelope, up to 400 species of bird, and maybe even a leopard or two.

A few of you also recommended making the journey across to Tanzania’s west coast and Lake Tanganyika. As well as kicking back in affordable lakeside hotels, it’s the place to go if you want to see chimpanzees. The city of Kigoma is the ideal starting point for trips to Gombe National Park, where renowned primatologist Jane Goodall studied the species.

The village of Ujiji, near Kigoma, is also famous for being the location where explorer and missionary David Livingstone was found after going missing during his expedition in East Africa. Today, you can visit the Livingstone Memorial and Museum to learn about how he was tracked down and his work to end the brutal slave trade taking place in the region at the time.

The quickest way to reach western Tanzania from Dar es Salaam is, of course, on a 2-hour domestic flight with Air Tanzania. You can expect that to come in at around £130 rtn.

However, there is a budget alternative, not for the faint of heart— the train. The journey can take anywhere from 30–48hrs, depending on which train you catch, and will cost around £26 each way for a 1st class sleeper berth. Don’t count on luxury, or even particular comfort, but you are sure to have an adventure.

Save the finer things for when you round off your trip in Zanzibar. A short 45-minute flight or 2-hour ferry from Dar will drop you within reach of all those idyllic beaches you’ve seen online. Matemwe Beach wins our reader recommendation award, though, getting a shout-out from several of you for being a calmer, more authentic and rustic side of the island.

Everyone agrees that it is absolutely essential to spend some quality time in Stone Town as well. Taking a walking tour through the winding streets is the best way to learn about the island’s melting pot history, before sampling the results at the Forodhani Gardens food market. Seafood is the speciality, but we hear Zanzibar pizza is a must!

Foodies and history buffs alike should hop on a tour to Siso Spice Farm, before stopping by another Stone Town hotspot—the Freddie Mercury House, where the legend himself was born. Don’t skip the Old Slave Market, either, where you will learn about the city’s role as host to one of the last open slave markets in the world.

If you’ve saved up all your pennies to splash on Zanzibar, consider putting them all into Chumbe Island, a private nature reserve with a protected coral reef, rare wildlife and cosy eco lodges. Or for the experience of a lifetime, book the underwater room at the Manta Resort on Pemba Island. Just don’t be surprised if you wake up to a few beady-eyed fish watching you!

One final piece of advice that lots of you reminded us of—check which vaccinations you’ll need in advance, and take those antimalarials even if they make you feel a bit groggy. The last thing anyone wants is for a mosquito to ruin your trip.

Thanks again for all your wonderful suggestions, readers. I think we can all agree that Tanzania will make an incredible holiday, and the JFC team have a lot of planning to do!

What a week to encounter Iowa, as its roads have been packed with the world’s biggest recreational bike ride. Up to 50,000 people are expected to have taken part along the way, crossing the state from Sioux City in the west to Davenport in the east.

Unless you’re in it for the cycle, you’re probably better off road-tripping this one, so you can head off course to chase waterfalls, or stick to the rivers and lakes that you’re used to (TLC reference complete).

In between all the sky-high cornfields and glorious nature, there are lots of man-made curios to tick off in your i-SPY Iowa book. In the small and otherwise unsuspecting town of West Bend stands the largest man-made grotto on Earth. It’s quite the spectacle, having been made by hand from rocks, shells, fossils and more over the course of four decades by the parish priest.

Next up, you might remember Gnome Chomsky from when we covered New York—well, Iowa is home to his nemesis (gnomesis?), Elwood, the world’s tallest (concrete) garden gnome. That concrete bit is important, since he was quickly outstripped by some taller fibreglass and metal competitors in Poland and Canada. Elwood lives in Reiman Gardens, a large botanical garden ideal for a sunny afternoon stroll, even if you’re somehow not that into gnomes.

Trekkies will know Iowa as the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk. Thankfully, we don’t have to wait the 200-odd years until he’s born to pay homage, since Riverside already has a tombstone-like plaque, a Kirk statue, an exhibition in its history museum and an annual Trekfest. Phew, we'll need a Saurian brandy after all that.

Our final bit of Io-weird can be found in Pella. In fact, you’ll probably forget you’re in the US altogether when you spot the cute Dutch houses and windmill. The town’s strong Dutch heritage can’t be missed, so you may as well lean into it and visit during the annual Tulip Time festival in early May.

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.

• American Airlines recently turned around a plane en route to Guyana from New York due to a “ disruptive passenger”. Except the disruption in question was the passenger calling a flight attendant “waiter”. Note to selves: do not get on the wrong side of the cabin crew.
• Planning to visit one of America’s National Parks this year? Just remember not to tease the animals while they’re mating, and try not to give birth in the Saline Valley Hot Springs.
• Japan Airlines will soon rent you clothes for your holiday! Not just as a solution for lost luggage, but rather as a novel way to reduce carbon emissions by encouraging travellers to pack light and collect their outfits on arrival.
• And finally, here’s the info we all need to pick our next trip— which airline serves the best free snacks? United are luring us in with stroopwafels on all their early morning flights, while BA are serving up a variety of flavours of Jude’s ice cream to keep us cool over summer.

  But we have to give it to Korean Air, who dish out free ramen cups, rice balls, fruit and crackers before you even get to the meal service. Seoul, here we come!