Accommodation

Accommodation within the Serengeti is in two-person canvas dome tents with sleeping bags and camping mattresses supplied. The campsite does have facilities but they are very basic and are not to the same standard you would find in western countries. There is rarely toilet paper provided and shower pressure is often reduced to a trickle of cold water. 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 (5 nights), Lodge (1 night), Permanent Tented Basic Lodge (2 nights), Camping with basic facilities (2 nights), Beach Cottage (2 nights)

Meals

8 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 7 dinners

Transport

Our trucks are purpose-built, self contained safari vehicles. Our fleet of vehicles varies depending on your group size, trip route and style. Your vehicle type may differ from those listed above. It is also important to note that our overland vehicles are not air-conditioned, but all vehicles have windows that can be opened to allow for fresh air. Each seat will have access to a power socket to charge your devices. This outlet will use a UK/K: enyan 3 pronged outlet. There are many early starts with long hours spent driving on rough roads on all African itineraries. While most people love the chance to watch the changing landscape and daily village life, feedback shows that long periods of inactivity does not appeal to all clients. We provide the approximate distance covered each day and how many hours this normally takes to drive so that you can choose the safari experience that is right for you. African conditions are extremely tough on vehicles. While we fastidiously maintain our vehicles at our workshops, you should not expect Africa to be your traditional touring experience. While it’s certainly our aim to avoid them, it’s important that you set off on your trip knowing that the occasional breakdown can happen and are best treated as part of the African adventure. Due to wet weather there may be times when we have to take an alternative route which will mean longer travel times. Overland vehicle , 4x4 Safari Vehicle , Plane , Private Vehicle

Others

Loita Hills - Maasai Village Visit Masai Mara National Reserve - Full Day 4x4 Game Drive Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game Drive Serengeti National Park - Morning Overland Vehicle Game Drive Serengeti National Park - Afternoon Overland Vehicle Game Drive Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game drive Lake Eyasi - Hadzabe Bushmen Visit Lake Eyasi - Soda Lake Zanzibar - Snorkelling

Guide

On this trip you will be accompanied by three crew members - Group Leader, Cook and Driver who will usually be Kenyan. In Zanzibar you will be unaccompanied however our local representatives will be on hand should you require any assistance. Your Group Leader’s role involves organizing the overall operation and smooth-running of the trip, managing trip logistics, coordinating the tipping kitty (where applicable) and will form work groups to take turns cooking, cleaning and shopping. (From time to time your leader may drive as well) Your Group Leader will work towards making the trip as safe and enjoyable as possible for all travellers. Intrepid trips are built around the co–operation and participation of all the group members under the supervision of the group leader. The group leader will show the group how to set up and use the equipment. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting, especially when tracking and identifying game - we think it’s the best of both worlds. Regardless of the country of origin, our Group Leaders are chosen for their leadership skills and are wonderful ambassadors for our company and our beautiful continent and its people. Your Cook is responsible for the cooking and will help to coordinate the work groups for preparing the meals and washing up! Cooks are also responsible for organizing food shopping (they are always happy to have you on board) and most importantly, they make sure high hygiene standards are kept at all times while camping. Your Driver’s main responsibility is to get you to your destination safely; they are also responsible for the maintenance of the vehicles along the way. Everyone is expected participate and carry their share of the workload/duties, making camp chores easier. The duties Rota system is adopted where all members share in general camp duties – cooking, shopping, washing up etc. If the whole group participates it will be quicker, easier, and more fun. We endeavour to provide the services of an experienced leader and crew; however, situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders.

Not included:

Optional

Masai Mara National Reserve - Balloon ride (from price) - USD500 Serengeti National Park - Balloon Ride (from price) - USD745 Karatu - Village Visit - USD20 Karatu - Coffee Tour - USD25 Ngorongoro Forest - Elephant Cave Trek - USD80 Lake Manyara Game drive - USD100

Insurance

Travel insurance is not included.

Flights

International flights not included.

Others

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 includes 2 nights camping within the Serengeti National Park. Tents, sleeping mats and sleeping bags will be provided. Please bring a pillow (or travel pillow) for these 2 nights. 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. 5. An optional sunrise balloon ride in the Serengeti National Park is possible on this itinerary. Please see Day 7 for full details of this activity. As the balloon only holds 16 people, places are limited, and we recommend that you book in advance. Please inquire when booking your trip to book this optional activity.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Nairobi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Nairobi

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.
Day 2 Day 2: Masai Mara National Reserve
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Masai Mara National Reserve

Transfer from Nairobi to the famous Masai 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 Masai Mara, where your permanent tented camp can be found.
Day 3 Day 3: Masai Mara National Reserve
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Masai Mara National Reserve

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 Masai 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.
Day 4 Day 4: Lake Victoria
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Lake Victoria

Prepare for a long travel day as you head towards the border separating Kenya and Tanzania, then on to the small town of Musoma on the shores of Lake Victoria. Not only is this the largest lake in Africa, it’s also the largest tropical lake in the entire world and shares its shores with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The next three days will be spent in the wilderness, so make the most of your afternoon and evening by stocking up at the local market, grabbing cash from the town’s ATM and kicking back with a cold drink as the sun goes down.
Day 5 Day 5: Serengeti National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Serengeti National Park

Travel from Lake Victoria to Serengeti National Park this morning, stopping at the entrance of the famous expanse for a picnic lunch with your group. Continue to your campsite on your first game drive in Serengeti in an overland vehicle, keeping an eye out for the hoofed animals and predators that call this place home. Tonight, you’ll have a true African safari experience – camping in an unfenced site within the national park, right in the heart of all the action. Your leader will give you a full safety briefing when you arrive, then you’ll swap stories around the glow of the camp fire and fall asleep to the sounds of nearby wildlife.   
Day 6 Day 6: Serengeti National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Serengeti National Park

Wake to another glorious day in the Serengeti National Park. Start the day with an early morning overland game drive to search for the local animals when they’re at their most active. Then, return to the campsite for a relaxed brunch. Spend the hottest part of the day chilling out at camp – don’t stress, the animals will do the same! This afternoon, head off again for another drive through the park. Return to the campsite for dinner and another night under the Serengeti’s stars.
Day 7 Day 7: Karatu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Karatu

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 in your overland vehicle. From here, drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation area, where you’ll hop in 4WDs and descend to the crater floor for a 4WD excursion. If all goes to plan, you’ll see some or maybe even all of the Big Five that reside here! Better yet, the vehicle has an open roof, so you can really feel like a part of the action. The animals here are less wary of humans and vehicles, so watching them up close is 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.
Day 8 Day 8: Karatu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Karatu

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.
Day 9 Day 9: Arusha
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Arusha

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 overland 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.
Day 10 Day 10: Stone Town
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Stone Town

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.
Day 11 Day 11: Nungwi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Nungwi

Venture out of Stone Town this morning and drive to the spice plantations for your optional guided tour, or head directly to the pristine northern beaches. If you choose to explore the spice plantations, you’ll learn all about the history of this town’s renowned spice trade. Take the opportunity to touch, smell and taste various spices – such as cinnamon, vanilla and ginger – then sample some delicious teas! After lunch, head to the northern beaches, where white sands and sparkling blue seas await for an afternoon of leisure.
Day 12 Day 12: Nungwi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Nungwi

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. The late afternoon is free to dine on freshly caught seafood or to simply relax in a hammock underneath a coconut tree with a good book.
Day 13 Day 13: Nungwi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Nungwi

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.

+10

13 days tour

East Africa Safari & Coast

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip East Africa Safari & Coast

Day 1: Nairobi

Day 2: Masai Mara National Reserve

Day 3: Masai Mara National Reserve

Day 4: Lake Victoria

Day 5: Serengeti National Park

Day 6: Serengeti National Park

Day 7: Karatu

Day 8: Karatu

Day 9: Arusha

Day 10: Stone Town

Day 11: Nungwi

Day 12: Nungwi

Day 13: Nungwi

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