DETAILS: Tanzania

GETTING THERE: Flying from Washington Dulles to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, can take up to 24 hours and generally costs about $1,400 ($2,000 during peak summer season). British Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and Swiss International Airlines offer flights from Dulles with one connection.

GETTING AROUND: Though some safaris depart from Dar es Salaam, most leave from Arusha, a short flight (or six-hour bus ride) from Dar. Round-trip airfare is about $230. From Arusha, safari tour operators arrange transport to the national parks and game reserves.

WHERE TO STAY: All our bookings were arranged by our safari company, Sunny Safaris (telephone 011-255-27-250-7145, http://www.sunnysafaris.com), including accommodations, crater hike and bike safari. The price for lodging, meals and all activities was $1,150 per person double. Our lodgings included Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater rim, with basic accommodations but a stunning view of the crater (011-255-27-254-4595, http://www.hotelsandlodges-tanzania.com); Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, on the eastern side of the rim, with large rooms and floor-to-ceiling windows (011-255-27-250-6886, http://www.africanmeccasafaris.com/tanzania/safaris/lodges/ngorongorosopa.asp); and Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, perched on the rift escarpment with a sweeping view of the lake and its surroundings (011-255-27-250-4058, http://www.serenahotels.com).

Other midrange safari tour companies include Roy Safaris (011-255-27-250-8010, http://www.roysafaris.com) and Leopard Tours (011-255-27-250-3603, http://www.leopard-tours.com).

WHAT TO DO: Tanzania boasts many national parks and reserves, including Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater in the north, and Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha and Mikumi national parks in the south. The island of Zanzibar is a popular add-on destination.

INFORMATION: Tanzania Tourist Board, http://www.tanzaniatouristboard.com.

-- A.A.