East Africa Safari & Coast





Explore East Africa and its coast on a safari adventure, ending with some chill time in Zanzibar
Embark on an unforgettable adventure through East Africa, starting in Nairobi, Kenya. Explore some of the continent's most renowned destinations, such as the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Serengeti National Park, and the Ngorongoro Crater. Experience multiple game drives to spot the Big Five and other majestic animals. Marvel at the vastness of Africa's biggest lake and immerse yourself in the culture of the Maasai and Hadzabe tribes. Learn about their ancient customs and modern ways of life from their wise elders.
4.7
46 reviewsStart: Nairobi, Kenya
End: Zanzibar, Africa
- Duration
- 13 days
- Group size
- 1 to 16
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Original
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Overland, Wildlife
- 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
Why you'll love this trip
- Meet Maasai warriors and experience Kenya's tribal life during a village visit in Loita Hills. Then, get to know a Hadzabe community in Tanzania to see how their ancient culture exists today.
- Venture into the incredible Maasai Mara National Reserve for a full-day game drive in 4WDs, looking out for the iconic wildlife that call this reserve home.
- Explore the Serengeti National Park in depth, with two early morning and two late afternoon game drives through this spectacular wildlife arena.
- Take a mind-blowing safari across the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater with local guides in an open roof 4WD for a chance to see the endangered black rhinoceros.
- Snorkel with tropical fish on a dhow cruise in the transparent waters of northern Zanzibar. Then, spend some time chilling on the beach and exploring at your own pace.
Itinerary
Karibu! Welcome to Kenya. Your adventure begins in Nairobi – Kenya’s capital – with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe head out and explore the National Museum of Kenya, the Karen Blixen Museum or the highly recommended Bomas of Kenya, where traditional homesteads of several Kenyan tribes are displayed in an outdoor village. When you've met your new travel buds, why not join the group for an optional group dinner and get to know each other better.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Petty theft is common in Nairobi. As a general rule, the safest place for your valuables is on your person in a neck wallet or money belt. Your hotel room or reception may also have a safe in which to store things. If you do decide to go exploring, make sure you get local advice on where it is and isn't safe to walk – particularly for later in the day. Be careful not to leave bags unattended on chairs or the floor when you're in a bar or restaurant. Without being paranoid, appearing vigilant is a great deterrence to would-be thieves. Also, make scans of important travel documents and email them to yourself – this will save you hours of time in paperwork if anything does happen.
Transfer from Nairobi to the famous Maasai Mara – one of the best game reserves in Africa. On the way, you'll stop in Loita Hills – a remote region home to the traditional Maasai people. This is one of the key places where the Maasai people still practice their traditional way of life, with little influence from the Western world. Visit the Tepesua Village, known for championing Maasai women’s health and education. Maasai Warriors will welcome you here by way of traditional song and dance. Meet your hosts and attend a talk full of insights into this remarkable and ancient culture. Take a walk to the community village, which was founded for widows who can never remarry and lost their cows due to drought. The village offers support, safety and economic growth through the Tepesua Widows Income Project. Here, the women make handicrafts and sew handbags using sustainable materials as well as washable sanitary pads and backpacks to sell to visitors and locals. Learn about village life and be shown around a traditional Maasai home and its cattle enclosures. Continue to the outskirts of the Maasai Mara, where your permanent tented camp can be found.
- Permanent Tented Camp (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Loita Hills - Maasai Village Visit
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
This morning, you have the option to take part in a hot air balloon ride and bush breakfast, giving you a rare chance to see the open plains at sunrise, teeming with wildlife. After, explore the Maasai Mara in 4WD safari vehicles with game drives in the morning and the afternoon today to give you the best chance to spot the Big Five. This is the quintessential African experience, and with sparse open plains and some of the world's most impressive animals, you won't soon forget this one. Keep your eyes peeled for wildebeest, lions, leopards, antelope and giraffes along the way.
- Permanent Tented Camp (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Masai Mara National Reserve - Full Day 4WD Safari
- Masai Mara National Reserve - Balloon ride (from price) - USD470
An optional balloon ride over the Mara at sunrise is offered as a pre-booked service, which guarantees you a place. If you would rather wait and try to get a better price by booking this locally on the ground, you are welcome to—but keep in mind that this is a popular activity, and places are limited.
You'll be picked up before dawn and taken to the launch site for a safety briefing with your pilot. As the sun rises, you'll drift through the sky, sometimes floating at tree level, offering incredible photo opportunities. At other times, you'll soar higher, taking in sweeping views of the vast plains and the early morning movements of the wildlife below. After landing, enjoy a bush breakfast before returning to camp to rejoin your group.
Get ready for a long travel day as you journey toward the Kenya-Tanzania border and make your way to the magnificent Lake Victoria. This vast lake is the main source of the Nile, the longest river in the world, and spans the shores of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. On arrival, unwind with a lakeside dinner while you ponder the magnitude of the world’s largest tropical lake.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Your travel time today will be approximately 10-11 hours, including border formalities.
Enjoy a relaxed morning, taking in the magnificent views of Lake Victoria in the morning light. Travel to Serengeti National Park, renowned for its incredible wildlife and vast, open landscapes. After passing through the park gate, experience the greatest commute possible as we slowly make our way to our permanent tented camp via the 'scenic safari route.' Along the way, stop to take photos of the abundant wildlife and stunning views. Tonight, you'll have a true African safari experience – with your comfortable safari camp set right in the heart of the Serengeti. After dinner, gather around the campfire to share stories, then fall asleep to the sounds of the wild.
- Permanent Tented Camp (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Serengeti National Park - 4WD Safari
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours, not including your safari en route to camp.
Your safari tent is equipped with an ensuite, solar power, and private veranda. The camp is unfenced, and there's a good chance wildlife will be nearby or wander through camp, particularly at night. Your leader will provide a full safety briefing upon arrival.
Wake to another glorious day in the Serengeti National Park. Start the day with an early morning 4WD safari to spot the wildlife when they're at their most active. Then, return to camp for a relaxed brunch. This afternoon, head off again for another drive through the park. Return to camp for dinner and another night under the Serengeti's stars.
- Permanent Tented Camp (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Serengeti National Park - Afternoon 4WD Safari
- Serengeti National Park - Morning 4WD Safari
- Serengeti National Park - Balloon Ride (from price) - USD800
There is another optional balloon ride this morning, offered as a pre-booked service, which will guarantee you a place. If you would rather wait and try to get a better price by booking this locally on the ground, you are welcome to – but keep in mind that this is a popular activity and places are limited.
Today’s game drives will depend on the time of year and how far the best possible animal sightings are likely to be from camp. To maximize your chances of epic wildlife encounters (and reduce time spent commuting to and from camp), you may do a full-day safari rather than separate morning and afternoon safaris.
Enjoy a final game drive through the Serengeti National Park this morning as you exit your camp inside the park and make your way to the park gate. From here, drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation area, where you'll hop in the park's 4WD jeeps and descend to the crater floor. The jeeps have an open roof, and the animals here are less wary of humans and vehicles, which makes watching them up close easier. Take in the spectacular views from the crater's rim as you make your way to the bottom, where animals roam the lakes, rivers, woodlands and hills. Keep an eye out for wildebeest, lion, zebra, cheetah, buffalo, gazelle, endangered black rhino and the colourfully dressed Maasai people who often water their cattle at the lake here. This afternoon, leave the Ngorongoro Crater and drive to Karatu – a small town on its outskirts and your base for the next two nights.
- Lodge (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
- Serengeti National Park - Morning 4WD Safari
Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours, not including the safari as you make your way out of the Serengeti.
After breakfast this morning, you’ll make your way to Lake Eyasi – a huge seasonal soda lake. Lake Eyasi has been home to the Hadzabe people for more than 10,000 years and is one of the few places in Africa where traditional tribal life continues without modern influence. Today’s visit to the Hadzabe lands offers incredible insight into this ancient culture and a chance to learn about their way of life. You’ll be able to meet community members and join in on daily activities like hunting, gathering and traditional dance. You’ll also learn about their unique ‘click’ language, which is thought to be one of the oldest languages still in use today. Return to your lodge in Karatu later in the day to put your feet up and relax.
- Lodge (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Lake Eyasi - Hadzabe Bushmen Visit
- Lake Eyasi - Soda Lake
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
Today is a free day to relax or choose from the various optional activities available from your base in Karatu. You might like to head to a local coffee plantation or take a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. Maybe opt for a hike through the Ngorongoro Reserve Forest to Elephant Caves accompanied by an expert local guide and armed ranger. This is the perfect way to stretch your legs after a few days of travel. You'll hike through the Ngorongoro rainforest as your local guide explains the ins and outs of the area and points out interesting animal tracks and footprints. Marvel at the wild landscape and spot the varied birdlife as you walk. In the afternoon, you’ll head to Arusha, where you spend your last night.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Karatu - Village Visit - USD20
- Karatu - Coffee Tour - USD25
- Ngorongoro Forest - Elephant Cave Trek - USD80
- Lake Manyara Game drive - USD100
Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.
The optional activity prices do not include transportation costs. These depend on the number of travellers booking the activity and can be split accordingly.
This morning, bid farewell to your crew, transfer to Arusha Airport and take an included flight to Stone Town, Zanzibar. You'll be unescorted for the rest of the trip, however, local representatives will be on hand to look after you. Zanzibar is an archipelagic gem filled with idyllic beaches, vibrant markets and a varied history. This is a place rooted in slavery, where Arabian sultans once lived, and Swahili and Islamic influences blend together to create an island paradise. Why not throw yourself into the midst of Stone Town’s maze of narrow streets on a self-guided walk or head to one of the bars on the seafront and soak up the salty air with a cocktail. If you would like to hear more about Stone Town and the island's history, a local representative can organise an afternoon tour.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
As this trip is a combination of shorter itineraries, the travellers in your group and your group leader are likely to change today.
You’ll be unescorted for the flight and the Zanzibar portion of this trip. However, our local representatives will be on hand to look after you.
This morning, you have the option to visit the spice plantations for a guided tour, where you'll learn about the history of the region's spice trade and have the chance to touch, smell, and taste spices like cinnamon, vanilla, and ginger, followed by a tea sampling. Alternatively, you can head directly to the white sands and sparkling blue seas of the northern beaches.
- Beach Cottage (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Zanzibar - Spice tour - USD25
Wake up in paradise and perhaps take the opportunity walk along the coast before a beachside breakfast. Today, you'll have an included dhow cruise and snorkelling trip in the transparent waters among the tropical fish.
- Beach Cottage (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Zanzibar - Snorkelling
To book optional activities, please contact Zanzibar Watersports, located at Kendwa Rocks Beach Resort. Zanzibar Watersports is the only provider we have risk assessed and recommend using. However, please keep in mind that we have not risk-assessed all their activities, and only those listed in our trip notes are recommended.
Zanzibar Watersports
Phone or WhatsApp: +255 622 474 444
Your trip comes to an end today. Please advise your booking agent at the time of booking if you need help with transfers to Stone Town Airport or the ferry terminal. If you’d like to spend more time in this island paradise, post trip accommodation can also be pre-booked at your beach resort or in Stone Town.
There are no meals included on this day.
From Stone Town, flying out of Zanzibar Airport is the easiest option. However, if you have arranged to fly out of Dar es Salaam Airport, ferries depart Zanzibar at 7.30 am, 9.30 am, 12.30 pm and 3.30 pm. It's important to allow enough time to get back to the mainland if you need to catch your departing flight from Dar es Salaam. Speak to your local representative or hotel reception about the best way.
Inclusions and activities
8 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 7 dinners
4WD Open Safari Vehicle, Private 4WD Vehicle, Plane
Hotel (4 nights), Basic Lodge (2 nights), Permanent Tented Camp (4 nights), Beach Cottage (2 nights)
- Loita Hills - Maasai Village Visit
- Masai Mara National Reserve - Full Day 4WD Safari
- Serengeti National Park - 4WD Safari
- Serengeti National Park - Afternoon 4WD Safari
- Serengeti National Park - Morning 4WD Safari
- Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
- Lake Eyasi - Hadzabe Bushmen Visit
- Lake Eyasi - Soda Lake
- Zanzibar - Snorkelling
- Masai Mara National Reserve - Balloon ride (from price) - USD470
- Serengeti National Park - Balloon Ride (from price) - USD800
- Karatu - Village Visit - USD20
- Karatu - Coffee Tour - USD25
- Ngorongoro Forest - Elephant Cave Trek - USD80
- Lake Manyara Game drive - USD100
- Zanzibar - Spice tour - USD25
This trip generates 28 kg of CO2-e per person per day
Learn more about our climate commitment.
When you travel with us, The Intrepid Foundation gives you more opportunities to support important causes in destinations you visit.
Before you book you should know
- No two journeys in Africa are identical. Be prepared for travel times to be longer or shorter than advised. Weather and road conditions can change things significantly, so embrace the detours, shortcuts, and unforgettable moments along the way.
- Staying in a permanent tented camp 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.
- The section of this trip that takes place in Zanzibar is unescorted. You will not have a designated local leader while you are here. However, our local representatives are on hand should you need any advice or assistance.
- This is a 4WD overland trip. That means you’ll be travelling with a group in 4WD vehicles, visiting remote communities and world-renowned wildlife parks. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie.
- 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.
- The day-to-day itinerary features a selection of optional activities. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and is intended only as a guide. Prices are approximate and may change at the discretion of the local provider, and all activities are subject to availability.
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
If you require a Sleep Apnea Machine to sleep please ensure that it is battery operated. Lodges and Permanent Tented Camps are often powered by generators which are turned off during the night.
Hotel Boulevard
Harry Thuku Road
Westlands
Nairobi
KENYA
Description
Hotel Boulevard is 1.4 km from the city centre and 600 metres from Nairobi National Museum. Guests can enjoy the convinience of a 24-hour front desk reception, room service, a garden, and complimentary WiFi.
Instructions
If you have pre-booked a transfer please look out for our representative holding an Intrepid board with your name at the arrival terminal. If you fail to see our representative, please call +254 733 523 813 and our reservations team in Kenya will be able to assist.
If you are making your own way to the hotel, there is a taxi stand outside the airport building. A taxi should cost approximately US$25-30, and can be paid in Kenyan Shillings or US dollars.
Dates and prices
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 itinerary offers two optional sunrise balloon safaris—one in the Maasai Mara and another in Serengeti National Park. We offer both as a pre-booked service, which will guarantee you a place. If you would rather wait and try to get a better price by booking this locally on the ground, you are welcome to – but keep in mind that this is a popular activity, and places are limited.
3. You will be unescorted for the flight and Zanzibar portion of this trip. However, our local representatives will be on hand to look after you.
4. This trip finishes on the northern beaches of Zanzibar. Pre-bookable transfers back to Stone Town are available through your bookings consultant or your hotel can assist in arranging a taxi.
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.
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