Kenya & Tanzania Adventure

Overview

Excellent game viewing, scenery and exotic Zanzibar

Kenya and Tanzania are home to some of the most prolific game-viewing locations not just in Africa, but the world. This itinerary takes in a number of the national parks in and around the Great Rift Valley, giving the opportunity to observe some of the best wildlife and scenery Africa has to offer and finishing on the spice island of Zanzibar, a tropical paradise with white sand beaches. This trip includes a few of our Citizen Science Departures. These special departures offer you the opportunity to be involved in the collection of freshwater samples during the trip. The environmental DNA information derived from this sample will contribute directly to the eBioAtlas; the world’s largest repository of flora and fauna species data, contributing to the conservation and restoration of biodiversity both locally and globally. To book onto one of these special departures, see the Dates & Prices tab. For more information on these departures and the eBioAtlas, click here.

Highlights

Enjoy game drives in Lake Nakuru National Park and the famous Masai Mara
See wildlife in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater
Visit the exotic spice island of Zanzibar
Citizen Science departures available on this trip

Key Information

9 nights full-service camping with shared facilities and 4 nights comfortable hotels all en suite. (Land Only clients have an extra night in a hotel in Nairobi)
Travel in specialist overland vehicle and flight to Zanzibar
Some drives on rough roads

Included

All breakfasts, 9 lunches and 9 dinners
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

Not included

Travel insurance Single accommodation (available on request) Visas or vaccinations

Itinerary

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Day 1: Start Nairobi.
There are no activities planned today so you are free to arrive Nairobi at any time. Accommodation: Heron Court Hotel or similar
Day 2: To Kembu Farm.
After the arrival of the group flights in the early morning, we travel west into the Great African Rift Valley to Kembu, stopping in Nakuru en route to do some shopping and look around this typical African town. We stay on a farm tonight and have an opportunity to do a farm walk this afternoon. Accommodation: Kembu Farm or similar Full-service Camping
Day 3: Full day of game drives in Lake Nakuru N.P.
This morning we drive to Lake Nakuru National Park where we enjoy a superb game drive. Although this is a small park it is home to an amazing variety of animals and birdlife. The park contains a soda lake, which is sometimes home to thousands of flamingos. We hope to see the endangered White and Black rhinos, lion and if we are very lucky the elusive leopard. There is a stunning view from baboon cliffs above the lake, and here we may see the small furry Rock hyrax, which is related to the elephant! Tonight we camp just outside the park in a campsite with good showers and flush toilets. Accommodation: Nderit Campsite or similar Full-service Camping
Day 4: To Masai Mara; late afternoon game drive.
Today we travel into the Masai Mara, one of the most famous ecosystems in the world. This vast grassland is teeming with life; plains game including wildebeest, gazelle, topi, zebra and buffalo abound in the rolling savannah, and never far away lay the predators: cheetah, lion and hyena. Between mid-August to late October one of the greatest spectacles on Earth takes place in the Mara - the annual migration of thousands of wildebeest, gazelle and zebra trampling their way across the long grass. Nothing is guaranteed on safari, but with the help of our brilliant guides you should see and learn a huge amount about the Masai Mara's resident wildlife as we game drive through the park this afternoon. Stay in a campsite just outside the reserve for the next two nights. Accommodation: Mara Springs Camp or similar Full-service Camping
Day 5: Full day of game drives in the Masai Mara.
A full day game drive in the Masai Mara to increase our chances of encountering many of the wildlife species found in the reserve. We'll find a quiet spot inside the park to enjoy lunch by our vehicle, looking out across the plains. There are also several optional excursions that you can enjoy today in addition to the game drive. Get up early for a sunrise Hot Air Balloon Safari (including champagne and breakfast) or visit a traditional Masaai village to meet the locals. Accommodation: Mara Springs Camp or similar Full-service Camping
Day 6: To Lake Victoria.
Our long drive today is up through the Western highlands and allows plenty of time to appreciate the superb scenery. The road begins to descend and we leave behind the neatly ordered rows of tea bushes as we cross the border into Tanzania at Isebania. We camp in a pleasant spot at Musoma on the shore of Lake Victoria. Accommodation: Tembo Beach or similar Full-service Camping
Day 7 - 8: Two days of game drives in Serengeti N.P.
Today, we turn east and enter the vast Serengeti Plain, one of the largest parks in Africa. There is a choice of routes into the Serengeti, depending on the weather: if it is dry, the 130km of the Western Corridor, usually full of plains game, is open. If it is wet, however, this road, which is built on black cotton soil, is impassible, and we have to enter the park from the north, at Ikoma gate. We spend two nights in the park so we plenty of time to enjoy the vast open spaces and the variety of game. We camp at Seronera where there are various camping areas, all of them in open bush, with no fences to prevent the animals from visiting during the night. A real taste of wild Africa! Accommodation: Serengeti Public Campsite or similar Full-service Camping
Day 9: Morning game drive; to Ngorongoro Crater.
We leave early and it is often possible to watch elephants and other animals browsing close to the campsite. The morning is spent game driving in the eastern part of the park, where it is unusual not to spot a pride of lions, in their favourite place - under a big, shady tree. After crossing the vast grasslands we come to the Ngorongoro entry gate at Naabi Hill. We travel up towards the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, the wide-open plains below stretching as far as the eye can see. Finally reaching the top, the crater opens up in front of us, a huge, natural caldera, one of the great sights of Africa. The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest unbroken caldera, formed when its volcano top erupted leaving fertile plains in its place. Before this happened, it was actually the highest mountain in Africa, towering over nearby Kilimanjaro. The crater is essentially made up of grassy plains, lush forest and a soda lake which houses flamingos and an array of birdlife. From the rim, at an altitude of 2400m, the cliff plunges down some 600m to the crater floor with a whole host of extinct volcanoes ringing the valley. Our campsite here is very basic indeed and can be very cold at night so please come prepared. Accommodation: Ngorongoro Ngiri Campsite or similar Full-service Camping
Day 10: Explore the Ngorongoro Crater; drive along the Rift Valley to Arusha.
We descend to the crater floor in 4WD vehicles and spend the morning watching large numbers of plains game, and the ever-present predators around them. We'll search for hippos in the murky pools, and try to protect our food at lunchtime from the fearless Brown kites, as they swoop and snatch anything that appears to be edible! After a fantastic morning we continue our journey to the edge of the Rift Valley, where there is a great view over Lake Manyara (often tinted pink around the edges from large numbers of flamingos) and on to Arusha. Accommodation: Meserani Snake Park or similar Full-service Camping
Day 11: Flight to Zanzibar; afternoon in Stone Town.
Take a morning flight over to the island of Zanzibar, 35km from the mainland. First visited by Arab traders in the 8th century, and countless travellers in the following centuries, the island is most famous for its spices, and infamous for being the centre of the East African slave trade. We spend our first night in Stone Town and then three nights by the beach. Stone Town is a myriad of small alleys and markets. We recommend a spice tour, around the island's plantations, with chances to taste and buy. Accommodation: Abuso Inn or similar
Day 12 - 13: Free days for optional activities.
After a free morning in Stone Town we transfer to our hotel by the beach. There is plenty to occupy your days here. You can visit Prison Island, where difficult slaves were kept, or relax on the eastern and northern beaches, with excellent snorkelling, sailing in a dhow and plenty of fresh seafood. The local buses are efficient and enable you to travel all over the island, although hiring a jeep for a day or two is a more exciting way of getting about and not expensive. It's a fascinating mixture of culture, history and wonderful beaches. Accommodation: Cristal Resort or similar
Day 14: End Zanzibar.
Our adventure ends after breakfast. Those on the group flights will be transferred back to Stone Town for their flight to London.

Important Information

The trip destination

9 nights full-service camping with shared facilities and 4 nights comfortable hotels all en suite. (Land Only clients have an extra night in a hotel in Nairobi)
Travel in specialist overland vehicle and flight to Zanzibar
Some drives on rough roads

Food

All meals are included except lunch and dinner on Zanzibar; you should allow a further US$200 for these. All included meals will be prepared for you by our chef and crew. They are adept at catering for large groups of hungry travellers! Breakfasts will usually include cereal, toast and hot food such as porridge or eggs. Lunches tend to feature a range of sandwich options as well as a selection of fruit. Dinners usually feature soup, main (a mix of local and international cuisine) and dessert. All cooking equipment is loaded onto the overland vehicle and so our crew are ready to prepare food wherever we stop - don’t worry about going hungry on this trip! You will have time to stock up on snacks and drinks along the journey.

Weather

Is this trip for you?

This is an excellent trip for wildlife, scenery and a taste of life in East Africa, with a few days of relaxation at the end. To pack so much into a short time there are some long drives, and although the distances are not great, some of the roads are quite poor and bumpy especially after the rainy seasons. We include breaks for toilet facilities, shopping, photos and meals. The spectacular scenery and glimpses of village life when travelling make the journeys more enjoyable but come prepared with a sense of adventure and a sense of humour for a holiday of a lifetime. We offer a full service camping safari therefore tents will be erected and meals will be prepared for you unless you wish to help! We have our own cook who shops, prepares and cooks all camping meals.

AVAILABLE DATES	PRICE (1 ADULT)	PRICE (1 CHILDREN)	Single room supplement	TRAVEL STATUS
Sun, 04 Aug 2024 / Sat, 17 Aug 2024	NOK 54 555	On request	NOK 3 340	Available
Sun, 25 Aug 2024 / Sat, 07 Sep 2024	NOK 54 555	On request	NOK 3 340	Available
Sun, 01 Sep 2024 / Sat, 14 Sep 2024	NOK 54 555	On request	NOK 3 340	Available
Sun, 08 Sep 2024 / Sat, 21 Sep 2024	NOK 54 555	On request	NOK 3 340	Available
Sun, 15 Dec 2024 / Sat, 28 Dec 2024	NOK 54 555	On request	NOK 3 340	Available

AVAILABLE DATES	PRICE (1 ADULT)	PRICE (1 CHILDREN)	SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT	TRAVEL STATUS
Sun, 04 Aug 2024 / Sat, 17 Aug 2024	NOK 54 555	On request	NOK 3 340	On request
Sun, 25 Aug 2024 / Sat, 07 Sep 2024	NOK 54 555	On request	NOK 3 340	On request
Sun, 01 Sep 2024 / Sat, 14 Sep 2024	NOK 54 555	On request	NOK 3 340	On request
Sun, 08 Sep 2024 / Sat, 21 Sep 2024	NOK 54 555	On request	NOK 3 340	On request
Sun, 15 Dec 2024 / Sat, 28 Dec 2024	NOK 54 555	On request	NOK 3 340	On request

Kenya & Tanzania Adventure

Overview

Itinerary

Photos

Important Information

Prices / Dates