5 September 2025
Get to Know the Faces Behind Tanzania Specialist
In the Hot Seat: Esther
Roaring into this month’s spotlight from Tanzania, we’re thrilled to introduce you to Esther – one of the passionate experts behind Tanzania Specialist.
Our monthly Get to Know the Faces Behind Tanzania Specialist series takes you behind the scenes to meet the people who make every safari truly unforgettable. From travel tips to insider stories, this is your chance to connect with the people shaping your Tanzanian adventure.
5 Questions With… Esther
1. What’s your name, where are you from, and what’s your role at Tanzania Specialist?
My name is Esther, and I’m originally from the Netherlands. After a few holidays in Tanzania in 2008 and 2011, I fell in love and decided to move to Tanzania right after my daughter was born in 2012. We lived there until recently, as we decided to move to the Netherlands for my daughter’s secondary education.
I’ve been working with Tanzania Specialist almost since the beginning. I was the third travel consultant the company hired in 2017. Since 2021, I have worked as a writer and translator, setting up a team of translators who create content for our website and for the emails we send to clients. Today, I’m the team leader of a wonderful group of 10 people, living in 8 countries, creating content in 8 languages.
2. What’s your favorite destination in Tanzania and why?
Oh, I have so many! The national parks, Zanzibar’s beaches, Stone Town, the Kigamboni beaches of Dar es Salaam, Dar itself even, Moshi, Mbeya… there are so many amazing places. I love going off the beaten track, and one of my favourite towns is Bagamoyo, on the coast just north of Dar es Salaam. It’s a historical town with an art college, so you can dive into the colonial history, explore old buildings, and then enjoy the music and culture, with artists on almost every corner. The music scene is amazing there. Bagamoyo is right along the ocean, so there is always fresh fish, and if you hop on a bike, you can visit the vast salt fields just outside of town. And Saadani National Park is around the corner!
I love Tanzanian culture, with its traditional drumming and dancing called ngoma, and Bagamoyo is a great place to give that a try. Some of the best experiences I’ve had were in local places like this — drumming and dancing into the night, creating trance-like atmospheres. There is such a sense of unity in this culture; it’s beautiful.
Besides beaches, I love areas like the Usambara Mountains (from Lushoto to Magoroto), with their purple jacaranda trees, incredible multi-day hikes, and fresh cheeses and jams. But the mountains around Morogoro are also wonderful. Traffic can’t reach there — there are only narrow paths, lined with strawberries and raspberries, and very old people who navigate the trails with incredible speed. We’ve climbed to the top several times, and in all these mountains, you can find refreshing waterfalls.
Esther’s Favourite Activities
From cooking over charcoal to dancing with locals, Esther’s ideal itinerary includes music, mountains, culture — and getting your hands deliciously dirty.
3. Which safari experience would you recommend to someone visiting for the first time?
Definitely Serengeti National Park, if you have the time and budget — it takes a few days and it’s not the cheapest. But seeing the Great Migration alone is worth it, even without witnessing the Mara River crossing.
If you’re more on a budget (in terms of time or money), you can’t go wrong with visiting Ngorongoro and Tarangire, for example. And if you can, I’d take the time for a detour to Empakai Crater — an amazing place surrounded by Maasai land, where it feels like you’re at the end of the world.
4. What’s the most unforgettable wildlife moment you’ve had?
Hearing a lion roar up close… it’s so powerful that it can be heard from a distance of up to 12 kilometres! You can feel it in your bones — literally.
Then, of course, seeing the Great Migration up close was magical — mostly because of the sounds. The wildebeests and zebras together create such a wild, rhythmic concert.
And seeing a cheetah — my favourite big cat.
Oh, and holding chameleons in the Usambara Mountains — but that’s a different kind of special!
Esther’s Favourite Tours
Esther’s perfect trip? One that blends safari with culture, coastlines, and local connection. Here are the routes she loves most — full of stories, not just sights.
- From $1352 USD*
10 days Safari Mkomazi + Usambara Mountains + Saadani with beach relaxation
- From $3056 USD*
10 days safari in the south
Perfect to visit the southern national parks of Tanzania
- From $2102 USD*
11 Days Safari & Zanzibar
Best of both worlds: Wildlife and tropical beaches
- From $2824 USD*
12 days safari and beach [chance to see the Mara River crossing plus a flight to Zanzibar]
5. Is there a destination in Tanzania you haven’t been to yet but would love to explore one day?
I’ve been to the Empakai Crater, but I would love to take the hike from there to Lake Natron, together with a few Maasai and some donkeys.
And I regret never making it to Nyerere National Park. It’s huge, with lots of jungle and water. You see fewer animals, but I just love the jungle.
Bonus: What’s one tip you always share with guests before they travel to Tanzania?
Don’t just go for the animals — get in touch with the local culture and the people. Learn some Swahili, experience the welcoming vibe, greet people, join in the dancing and drumming, visit a school or a tribal village, or do a cooking workshop.
People here say: ‘Every stranger is a potential friend’, and that’s how they treat you — you really miss something if you don’t talk to people. They are so warm and welcoming. As a bonus, you might help them generate income by buying their products, as many are still struggling to make ends meet.
Want to step in Esther’s footsteps? Ask your travel consultant for more info and visit all her favourite places yourself!
Esther’s Favourite Lodges
Esther’s top lodge picks are full of character — from eco-retreats in the mountains to hidden gems by the sea. Comfort, soul, and sustainability meet here.
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