Zanzibar to Nairobi

12 Days | Open-roof safaris, seaside strolls and Africa’s ‘Spice Island’

4.9 out of 5 based on 13 reviews submitted.
Overland
Wildlife
From
NZD $2,505
View dates and book

Admire the sweeping landscapes of Tanzania – full of incredible wildlife and fascinating cultures – on this 12-day adventure. From the pristine beaches of Zanzibar across the lush slopes of the Usambara Mountains and through the savannas of Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, discover a land where elephants roam, lions hunt and communities embrace the land. This is the heart of Africa – a land for the true explorer. When will you go in search of the Big Five?

Trip overview

Map of Zanzibar To Nairobi including Kenya and Tanzania, United Republic Of
Start
Zanzibar, Africa
Finish
Nairobi, Kenya
Theme
Overland, Wildlife
Destinations
Tanzania, Kenya
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Basix
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 22
Trip code
YXOQC
This trip generates 20 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Wander around Stone Town’s bustling bazaars and fragrant spice markets and opt to embark on a guided tour of the spice plantations.
  • Explore the Serengeti – a wildlife arena like no other – and look for lions, leopards, elephants and giraffes in this iconic park with your local crew.
  • Learn to prepare a Swahili dish, crafting and learning about village life in Mto wa Mbu.
  • Take a mind-blowing safari across the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater in an open-roof 4WD vehicle for a chance to see endangered black rhinoceros.
  • Embark on a hike through the Usambara Mountains to the Irente viewpoint, then stop at a farm on the way back for a picnic lunch.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, the East African Wildlife Society. Donations help them protect endangered wildlife, support conservation and promote sustainable management of natural resources in East Africa.

Is this trip right for you?
  • This is an overland trip. That means you’ll be travelling with a group in a purpose-built vehicle, visiting remote communities, setting up your own tent, occasionally roughing it in the bush with no facilities, and getting the best possible views of the Big Five. While the trucks don’t have air conditioning, they do have sliding windows which let in the breeze and make it even easier to take spectacular snaps of the local wildlife. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie. For more info on this style of travel, see our Africa overland page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/africa/overland
  • Camping in the Serengeti National Park with no barriers between you and the animals is amazing, but it's important to heed the safety advice of your leader. You will be briefed as a group on arrival.
  • At Usambara Mountains, you'll hike to the beautiful Irente viewpoint. It's not overly strenuous, but a reasonable level of fitness is required.
  • As the early bird catches the worm, the early camper sights the animals. There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.
  • Some passengers on this trip will have been travelling together prior to the start of your trip. To see what you're missing out on check out our Vic Falls to Kenya trip – search trip code YXOWC on the Intrepid website for more information and to book.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Map of Zanzibar To Nairobi including Kenya and Tanzania, United Republic Of

Inclusions

Meals

11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners

Transport

Overland vehicle, 4x4 Safari Vehicle, Ferry, Minibus

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night), Bungalow (2 nights), Camping (with basic facilities) (2 nights), Camping (with facilities) (6 nights)

Activities
  • Irente - Lushoto hike
  • Irente - Local lunch
  • Ngorongoro Forest - Elephant Cave Trek
  • Karatu - Home-Cooked Dinner
  • Karatu - Coffee Farm Tour
  • Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
  • Serengeti National Park - Morning 4WD Safari
  • Mto Wa Mbu - Village walk & local dinner
Add on activities
  • Stone Town Tour - Dharajani Market, Joseph's Cathederal, Palace Museum, Forodhani Food Market - USD20
  • Zanzibar - Prison Island Tour - USD25
  • Stone Town - Handicraft & Music Urban Adventure - USD50
  • Zanzibar - Spice tour - USD25
  • Zanzibar - Snorkelling - USD50
  • Zanzibar - Dhow Trip - USD35
  • Stone Town - Culinary Urban Adventure - USD29
  • Serengeti National Park - Balloon Ride (from price) - USD745
  • Nairobi - Nairobi by Night Urban Adventure - USD76

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. This trip starts with a welcome meeting at 2pm on Day 1 in Stone Town. This trip ends on Day 12, and you are free to leave at any time.
3. An optional sunrise balloon ride in the Serengeti National Park is possible on this itinerary. Please see the itinerary above for full details of this activity. As the balloon only holds 16 people, places are limited, and we recommend you book in advance. Please inquire when booking your trip to book this optional activity.
4. This trip is a combination of YXON and YXOQ of our most popular itineraries. As such the makeup of your group and your leader may change on Day 4.
5. The Zanzibar portion of your itinerary may have a few more passengers than the maximum group size of 22 as we have a crossover of trips starting and finishing in Zanzibar.
6. This trip finishes upon arrival at our finish point hotel in Nairobi on Day 12. Please do not book any flights until after 8 pm this evening.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 based on 13 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Roisin · Traveled August 2024
This trip is fantastic, you fit so much into a short amount of time. Culture, beach, hiking and of course - wildlife!
Review submitted 08 Sep 2024

Colm · Traveled August 2024
An unforgettable trip, brilliant for anyone looking for a classic and thrilling East African adventure but who may be short on time.
Review submitted 12 Sep 2024

Heidi · Traveled August 2024
Just returned from this trip and it was every bit as good as the reviews say. The Serengetti is incredible but so too were the other places we went to. I particularly liked the hike in the mountains, being able to see the local village and try traditional food. The rice fields in Mto Wo Mbu and the coffee plantation/elephant cave hike were also highlights. The scenery is so beautiful, people are friendly and the food is really good. One of the best trips I've ever been on and I'm already planning more trips to Africa as a result.
Review submitted 26 Aug 2024

Josh · Traveled June 2024
The trip was amazing! We saw some very special bucket list sights in our short stint in Africa. A beautiful place with a range of scenery (hikes, local villages, beaches and the safari!). The crew couldn’t have been better. We had three fellas from Kenya who were absolutely outstanding!
Review submitted 08 Jul 2024

Nicola · Traveled May 2024
An amazing trip from Zanzibar to Nairobi, the Serengeti was a massive highlight along with the crater! The best trip with the best crew and friends that have now become family!
Review submitted 12 Jun 2024
Zanzibar to Nairobi
From
NZD $2,505