Masai Mara & Tanzania Explorer - 13 days
Masai Mara & Tanzania Explorer - 13 days
Masai Mara & Tanzania Explorer - 13 days
13 Days Starting in Nairobi and ending in Dar es Salaam
Visiting: Maasai Mara National Reserve, Nairobi, Masai Mara National Reserve, Arusha, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, Bagamoyo, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar
Tour operator:
Tour code:
2488/TMME
Specialist Group:
Family/Kids
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 16
Age range:
18 and over. Anyone over 65 to complete a Tour Suitability Form
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
CAMPING SAFARI: Go in search of wildlife in Kenya's famed Masai Mara Reserve before exploring neighbouring Tanzania on this 13-day overland camping safari. Continue your safari adventure in the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, and visit the coastal towns of Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam. Then take the ferry to Zanzibar, for three days, exploring Stone Town and relaxing on beautiful palm fringed beaches.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi
Location: Maasai Mara National Reserve, Nairobi
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Nairobi - Masai Mara. We leave Nairobi early this morning and make our way to the famous Masai Mara National Reserve. The Mara is adjacent to the Serengeti, forming one of the world's last surviving great wildernesses. We will be travelling in specialised safari vehicles for this part of the tour for a more intimate wildlife-viewing experience, and will join up with our main vehicle later.
During our time in the Mara, we enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in search of the huge herds of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope which inhabit the plains and the predators that hunt them. Also keep your eyes peeled for other iconic species like rhino, elephant and giraffe. We camp on the edge of the reserve, close to the action!
Please note: The pre-departure meeting is held at 18:00 on the evening prior to departure. The tour departs at 08:00 on Day 1 so please arrive in Nairobi the day before your tour. Refer to the Joining Instructions in the Trip Notes for more information. We can book accommodation and transfers on request.
Day 2: Masai Mara
Location: Masai Mara National Reserve
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we continue exploring the Masai Mara with morning and afternoon game drives to different areas of the park. As well as the iconic Big Five, we will hopefully spot some of the less glamorous species, but creatures that are important to the ecosystem. Hyenas and vultures scavenge the remains of prey, warthogs scurry through the undergrowth and endangered African wild dogs hunt intelligently in packs. We break in the middle of the day for lunch before game driving back to our camp for the evening.
Day 3: Masai Mara
Location: Maasai Mara National Reserve, Nairobi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Masai Mara - Nairobi. Leaving the Mara, we travel back through the Great Rift Valley to Nairobi, where we spend the night at a campsite on the edge of the city.
Day 4: Arusha
Location: Arusha, Nairobi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nairobi - Arusha (Tanzania). We leave Kenya, crossing into neighbouring Tanzania at the Namanga frontier. We then drive to the country's safari capital, Arusha, arriving late afternoon. Situated in the shadow of Mount Meru and close to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, it is a great base for exploring the region. If time allows, we stop to browse the local markets and join a walk around a traditional Masai village before heading to our camp at the Meserani Snake Park.
Day 5: Serengeti National Park
Location: Serengeti National Park, Arusha
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Arusha - Serengeti National Park. We leave our overland truck behind and transfer to designated safari vehicles to embark on an exciting two day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater excursion. Entering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, we drive around the rim of the crater and onto the wildlife-rich plains of the Serengeti, one of the last great wildernesses in the world.
Millions of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope migrate across these plains throughout the year, followed by the predators, such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs. We game drive to our unfenced campsite, where we can listen to the sounds of the bush and hopefully see some wildlife roaming nearby.
Day 6-7: Ngorongoro Crater
Location: Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, Arusha
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Crater - Arusha. Game driving out of the Serengeti on day 6, we can search for any species we have not managed to spot so far. We travel back to the Ngorongoro Crater, camping on the rim of this UNESCO-listed natural caldera, one of Africa's most spectacular wildlife areas.
On day 7 we drive down a steep road into the crater itself for an unforgettable morning game drive. You will have the chance to spot every major African animal, except for giraffes. Interestingly, they cannot manage the steep climb down the crater rim!
Returning to camp for lunch, we pack up before making the journey back to Arusha.
Day 8: Bagamoyo
Location: Mount Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Bagamoyo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Arusha - Bagamoyo. Today we have a long but scenic drive as we travel away from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and towards the Indian Ocean coast. We will pass Mount Kilimanjaro en route, and if the weather is clear we should be able to enjoy magnificent views of Africa's highest mountain.
The port town of Bagamoyo was founded towards the end of the 18th century and was an important trading port along the East African coast. Today it is a centre for dhow building, with many of the boats being sent to Zanzibar and nearby areas. We camp on the outskirts of the town, near the palm-fringed beaches of the Indian Ocean.
Day 9: Dar Es Salaam
Location: Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Bagamoyo - Dar es Salaam. It's only a relatively short drive south along the coast to Dar es Salaam today. The city is Tanzania’s main port and is a hub of commerce and industry - a hot, humid, and bustling seaport city of high rises, colourful markets, and Arab-influenced architecture on the coast. We set up camp on the beach just outside the city tonight, and you'll have time to go for a swim.
Day 10-12: Zanzibar
Location: Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar. On the morning of day 10, we take the ferry to Zanzibar, leaving our overland truck on the mainland. Evocative and exotic, Zanzibar conjures up images of idyllic, sandy, palm-fringed beaches, romantic winding cobbled alleys, and lush tropical forests.
Enjoy free time on the island. Independently explore historic Stone Town on day 10 before we drive to one of the beautiful beaches in the north of the island for two days of Indian Ocean relaxation. Perhaps visit a spice plantation, spend some time on the tropical beaches and enjoy snorkelling at the coast, home to a wealth of marine life. Other optional excursions you can book include massages and yacht trips. You can also enjoy a sunset dhow cruise. Please see the Trip Notes for more details about the optional activities available in Zanzibar.
In Zanzibar, we stay in simple hotels, with breakfast included. We typically spend day 10 in Stone Town and days 11 and 12 at one of the northern beaches, but this can be flexible.
Day 13: Dar Es Salaam
Location: Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam
Meals Included: Breakfast
Zanzibar - Dar es Salaam. Enjoy a final swim in the turquoise ocean or do some last-minute shopping before we board the ferry back to the mainland. Feeling refreshed after your three-day beach break, it is time for our tour to come to an end.
Day 13: Dar Es Salaam
Location: Dar es Salaam
Meals Included: Breakfast
Zanzibar - Dar es Salaam. Enjoy a final swim in the turquoise ocean or do some last-minute shopping before we board the ferry back to the mainland. Feeling refreshed after your three-day beach break, it is time for our tour to come to an end.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Camping & simple hotels -
12 breakfasts, 9 lunches & 9 dinners
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9 nights camping in 2-person dome tents and 3 nights twin share tourist class hotel in Zanzibar
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Escorted by a 2-person crew
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Transportation in a 24-seater overland truck with camping and cooking equipment
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Masai Mara Excursion in purpose built safari vehicles and game drives with a resident guide
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Maasai Village Walk with a resident guide
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Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Excursion in a purpose built safari vehicle and game drives with a resident guide
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Sleeping mattress (you will need to bring your own sleeping bag)
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All road tolls and vehicle taxes
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Zanzibar return ferry ticket
What's Not Included
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International flights and visas
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Airport transfers - can be booked on request
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Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
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Optional activities (prices listed in Trip Notes), meals not listed in inclusions, additional drinks and items of a personal nature
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Sleeping bag - please bring your own
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Local payment - $1390pp paid in USD
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Optional activities (prices listed in Trip Notes)
Check out our Q&As
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1998
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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