Game viewing in the beautiful Masai Mara National
Reserve, Big Five encounters in the Serengeti and
Ngorongoro Crater. Relax on the beaches of Zanzibar.
[Daily Highlights (as covered by Fully Inclusive Local Payment) 01 Depart Nairobi, Great Rift Valley, Masai Mara National Reserve LD 02 Masai Mara National Reserve, Morning/Afternoon Game Drive BLD 03 Nairobi BLD 04 Arusha BLD 05 Serengeti National Park, Afternoon Game Drive BLD 06 Serengeti National Park Morning Game Drive, Ngorongoro Crater BLD 07 Ngorongoro Crater Morning Game Drive, Arusha BLD 08 Moshi area/ Pangani BLD 09 Dar es Salaam BLD 10 Ferry to Zanzibar B 11 Zanzibar 12 Zanzibar 13 Ferry to Dar es Salaam
Day 1 - 3 From Kenya’s capital Nairobi, we cross into the open plains of the Masai Mara National Reserve. This is Kenya’s most well-known game reserve, home to a range of wildlife and with some of the most evocative landscapes in Africa. From our camp on the edge of the ‘Mara’, explore the park in search of lion, antelope, wildebeest, elephant, zebra, cheetah, amongst many others. If you are here between July and October, you may be lucky to witness the annual migration of thousands of wildebeest and zebra - one of the most incredible movements of animals on earth. From the ‘Mara’ we return briefly to Nairobi before traveling south into Tanzania.
Day 4 - 8 The first stop in Tanzania is the bustling city of Arusha, nestling in the shadow of Mount Meru (4556m) and nearby Mount Kilimanjaro (5895m). Explore Arusha’s colorful markets and bargain hard for curios! From our base just outside town there is an opportunity to visit a snake enclosure and a local Maasai village to learn something of traditional people. Switching to 4x4 vehicles, we then travel via the Olduvai Gorge to the renowned Serengeti National Park. The reserve covers some 15,000sq km, mainly of open plains. Camping on the African plain is an exhilarating experience, as much for the sounds at night as for the sights of the day! After the Serengeti, we descend the inner walls of Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage Site, containing one of the most concentrated populations of wildlife anywhere in Africa. This is Africa’s largest intact caldera and the view from crater rim to crater floor, 700m below, is staggering.
Day 9 – 13 We return to Arusha and head south to the balmy Indian ocean and Tanzania’s main commercial port, Dar es Salaam (‘Haven of Peace’). We take the ferry to Zanzibar for three nights on the island. With its palm-fringed beaches, winding cobbled alleys and lush tropical forests, this is an ideal place to end our tour. Once the most important town on the East African coast, as transit post for the slave trade and (later) base for 19th century explorers, such as David Livingstone and John Hanning Speke, the first European to see Lake Victoria, Zanzibar is a delight. The influence of both African and Arab cultures is visible everywhere in the architecture and atmosphere - the old slave markets, ‘Prison Island’, Stone Town’s mosques, palaces, courtyards and coffee shops. But don’t forget to save time for the tropical northern beaches where snorkeling and diving are excellent. Returning to the mainland, our tour ends in Dar es Salaam.
NB As we leave the truck on the mainland, basic tourist class accommodation on Zanzibar is included in the Local Payment but for the sake of flexibility meals are left for your own account. Typically we spend one night in Stone Town and the next two nights in the north of the island at one of the beaches. Your tour leader will be available to assist if you experience any problems but there are no set activities - the time is entirely at leisure.
Age: Our tours are designed to meet the expectations of adults in the 18-39 age bracket. If you are older, please enquire and one of our friendly consultants to ensure that you book a tour suited to your expectations
Price: Low Season: GB £ 775 plus Basic Local Payment - Mandatory = US $ 1170, which includes
Food and Camping Masai Mara Excursion Masai Village Walk Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Zanzibar Ferry and Accommodation
Included in Price: Fully equipped safari vehicle, camping and cooking equipment, all road tolls and vehicle taxes, all ground transportation, services of two crew, sleeping mattress, meals as indicated, Snake Park entrance, Masai village walk.
Not Included: Local Payment excursions, visas, flights, travel insurance, departure taxes, airport transfers, sleeping bag, optional activities, tips, drinks, items of a personal nature, meals and accommodation on Zanzibar (3 nights).
