Spiked through the center by the summit of Mt Meru, Tanzania's iconic Arusha National Park is all about escaping the city and getting that fix of Great Rift Valley wilderness. It might not have the Big 5 game, or the reputation of other nearby reserves – think Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti – but what does await here is a glimpse of primeval Africa, as rock peaks crown the horizon, flamingo-peppered marshes spread below, and colobuses swing in the vine-strewn forests.

Arusha National Park tour guides are at hand in the nearby town of Arusha itself. They often recommend day-long game drives straight into the heart of the reserve. On those, common sightings include bushbucks and zebra, flamingos and Cape buffalo. If you've got a little extra time, lacing up the boots for a walking safari can be a better way to get up close and personal with the fauna, taking you deep into mossy woodlands and across murky swamps.

The most daring of travelers might want to set their sights on the summit of Mt Meru. It's a fine primer for the arduous trek up Kilimanjaro. In fact, it's called Kilimanjaro's Little Brother, clocking up nearly 4,600 meters above sea level and hosting carved craters to conquer at its top.