Itinerary
- Day 1
Nairobi to Maasai Mara
You'll head out from the city in your game viewing vehicle and connect with local guides who'll lead the way. There's a stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint where you'll learn how this geographic feature formed, then pass through Narok as you continue toward Maasai Mara National Reserve. By evening you're settling into camp right on the reserve border with local security keeping watch through the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Game viewing vehicle transfer from Nairobi
- Great Rift Valley viewpoint visit and orientation
- Transfer through Narok to Maasai Mara buffer area
Landmarks/POIs Great Rift Valley Maasai Mara National Reserve - Day 2
Maasai Mara
An early start gets you out on the game drive into Maasai Mara while conditions are best for spotting wildlife. If you're traveling July through September, you'll potentially see the Great Migration with wildebeest, gazelle, and zebra moving across from the Serengeti. Other times of year bring chances to see cheetahs, lions, leopards, antelope, elephants, hyenas, buffalo, giraffes, and plenty of different bird species throughout the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full day game drive in Maasai Mara National Reserve
- Wildlife viewing including predators and grazing herds
Landmarks/POIs Maasai Mara National Reserve Sand River Serengeti National Park - Day 3
Maasai Mara to Nairobi
After your time in the Mara, the drive back takes you across the Great Rift Valley and into Nairobi. You'll check into a comfortable hotel for the night and have a chance to relax and regroup before the next leg.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Return journey across Great Rift Valley to Nairobi
Landmarks/POIs Great Rift Valley - Day 4
Nairobi to Arusha
Heading south from Nairobi, you cross the border into Tanzania and drive to Arusha, known locally as Safari Town. There's time to walk through the markets and grab supplies you'll need, then you're off onto the Maasai plains to your accommodation for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer from Nairobi to Arusha
- Market exploration and shopping stop in Arusha
Landmarks/POIs Arusha - Day 5
Arusha to Serengeti
You'll transfer into purpose-built 4x4 vehicles with professional local guides for a three-day excursion. The drive takes you through Maasai plains and up the Great Rift Valley escarpment with views over Lake Manyara below. After lunch at the rim of Ngorongoro Crater, you descend into the Serengeti Plains and arrive at camp deep in the park.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater), Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer to specialized 4x4 game drive vehicles
- Professional local guides for Serengeti and Ngorongoro excursion
- Drive through Maasai plains and Lake Manyara views
- Ngorongoro Crater rim stop and lunch
Landmarks/POIs Lake Manyara Ngorongoro Crater Serengeti National Park Great Rift Valley - Day 6
Serengeti
An early rise gets you out at first light to explore the Serengeti on a full game drive. You're searching for the Big 5 across grassland dotted with flat-topped acacia trees and rock formations. You might see large herds of grazing animals during migration season. By afternoon you're driving to Ngorongoro Crater rim where you'll camp for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Early morning game drive through Serengeti National Park
- Big 5 wildlife viewing and animal migration search
- Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater rim
Landmarks/POIs Serengeti National Park Ngorongoro Crater - Day 7
Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha
You rise in the cool dawn and watch mist and cloud clear from the crater rim as the sun comes up. Then you head down into the crater for a full morning game drive spotting the main animal species (except giraffe). After lunch, it's the steep ascent back up the crater walls before beginning your drive back toward Arusha.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sunrise view over Ngorongoro Crater rim (weather dependent)
- Full morning game drive on crater floor
- Return journey to Arusha
Landmarks/POIs Ngorongoro Crater - Day 8
Arusha to Coastal Region
This is a long driving day heading around the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro. If the weather clears, you might catch a view of the peak. The route takes you through sisal plantations and then toward the coast, arriving at the palm-fringed beaches along the Indian Ocean.
Included Activities
- Long-distance travel around Mount Kilimanjaro
- Journey through sisal plantations to coastal region
Landmarks/POIs Mount Kilimanjaro - Day 9
Coastal Region to Dar es Salaam
A short drive down the coast gets you to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's commercial capital. The route through busy traffic leads to your comfortable beachside camp. This is your base for getting ready to head to the spice island of Zanzibar next.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer to Dar es Salaam beachside camp
Landmarks/POIs Dar es Salaam - Day 10
Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar
A short drive takes you to the port where you'll board a fast ferry crossing to Stone Town, Zanzibar's capital city. Once there, you'll walk through the old town with its rich trading history and can browse the markets for deals if shopping interests you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Port transfer from Dar es Salaam
- Fast ferry to Stone Town, Zanzibar
- Old town exploration and market browsing
Landmarks/POIs Stone Town Zanzibar - Days 11 - 12
Zanzibar Beaches
You travel north through the island to beautiful white sand beaches where you'll spend two nights. There's an optional traditional dhow trip with swimming and snorkeling, or you can explore nearby villages, or simply relax on the beach and enjoy the ocean.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Breakfast, Lunch, Lunch, Dinner, Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer to northern beaches of Zanzibar
Optional Activities
- Traditional dhow sailing trip
- Swimming and snorkeling
- Nearby village exploration
- Beach relaxation
Landmarks/POIs Zanzibar Northern Beaches - Day 13
Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam
Leaving the northern beaches, you drive back through the island to Stone Town to catch the fast ferry returning to Dar es Salaam. Your driver meets you at the port and takes you back to your comfortable beachfront accommodation on the Indian Ocean.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer from northern beaches to Stone Town
- Ferry crossing back to Dar es Salaam
- Transfer to beachfront accommodation
Landmarks/POIs Stone Town - Day 14
Dar es Salaam to Mikumi
An early departure from Dar es Salaam has you traveling through Mikumi National Park where you might spot game near the road. You arrive at camp on the far side of the park and, depending on timing, there's possibly an optional game drive to do before settling in.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer through Mikumi National Park
Optional Activities
- Optional game drive in Mikumi National Park (depending on arrival time)
Landmarks/POIs Mikumi National Park - Day 15
Mikumi to Southern Highlands
Continuing through Tanzania, you climb into the southern highlands where the climate turns cooler and fresher after your days on the coast. Your accommodation is a working organic farm that's been family-owned for over 70 years, with a cozy bar, hot showers, and great chocolate brownies.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer to southern highlands organic farm accommodation
- Day 16
Southern Highlands to Utengule Coffee Lodge
Heading toward Malawi, there's a stop at Utengule Coffee Lodge nestled in the Mbeya range with views over the East African Rift Valley. You can relax by the pool or try activities like squash, tennis, table tennis, or volleyball. There's an optional guided coffee plantation tour available with roasting demonstration and home-grown coffee tasting.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Stop at Utengule Coffee Lodge
- Views of East African Rift Valley
- Poolside relaxation
Optional Activities
- Guided tour through coffee plantation
- Coffee roasting demonstration and tasting
- Squash, tennis, pool, table tennis, or volleyball activities
Landmarks/POIs Utengule Coffee Lodge Mbeya Range East African Rift Valley - Day 17
Tanzania to Malawi
After your last night in Tanzania, you head to the Songwe border post and cross into Malawi. Lake Malawi comes into view, covering almost a fifth of the country and providing livelihood for local people through fishing. You can relax on the beach, take a village walk, visit the craft market for woodcarving, learn to play Bao, or haggle for souvenirs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer to Songwe border post
- Border crossing from Tanzania to Malawi
- Transfer to Lake Malawi accommodation
Optional Activities
- Beach relaxation
- Village walk
- Local craft market visit and woodcarving lesson
- Learning to play Bao
- Souvenir shopping
Landmarks/POIs Lake Malawi Songwe Border Post - Day 18
Lake Malawi to Mzuzu
A scenic drive through rubber plantations takes you to Mzuzu, capital of the northern region and Malawi's third largest town. You'll stop briefly to grab supplies and check out the markets before arriving at Ngala Beach Lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic drive through rubber plantations
- Stop in Mzuzu for supplies and market browsing
- Transfer to Ngala Beach Lodge
Landmarks/POIs Mzuzu Ngala Beach Lodge - Day 19
Mzuzu
You have free time to try optional activities on Lake Malawi like kayaking, snorkeling, village walks, or waterfall hikes, or simply relax and enjoy the warm, fresh waters of the lake.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Kayak hire on Lake Malawi
- Snorkeling
- Village walk
- Waterfall hike
- Lake swimming and relaxation
Landmarks/POIs Lake Malawi - Day 20
Malawi to Zambia
Leaving the lake, you drive through Nkhotakhota Game Reserve toward the border. You cross into Zambia and handle border formalities before continuing to Petauke, a region known for agriculture and production of maize, cotton, sunflower, and soya beans.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive through Nkhotakhota Game Reserve
- Border crossing from Malawi to Zambia
- Transfer to Petauke
Landmarks/POIs Nkhotakhota Game Reserve Petauke - Day 21
Petauke to Lusaka
An early departure takes you along the Great Eastern Road through lush country and small villages. You cross the Luangwa River to reach Lusaka, Zambia's capital. Lusaka is Southern Africa's fastest growing city with around 1.7 million people, sitting at 1,300m elevation. You'll stay at a tranquil campsite set on a farm.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer via Great Eastern Road
- Luangwa River crossing
- Transfer to Lusaka farm campsite
Landmarks/POIs Luangwa River Lusaka - Day 22
Lusaka to Livingstone
This is your last driving day heading to Livingstone and Victoria Falls. At high water, the spray column is visible from over 30km away. Your accommodation sits on the banks of the Zambezi River with a team ready to help you make the most of everything available here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Transfer to Livingstone
- Transfer to Zambezi River accommodation
Landmarks/POIs Victoria Falls Zambezi River - Day 23
Livingstone
You have a full free day to check out adventure activities in the Livingstone area, which is truly a playground for adventure lovers with plenty of options to choose from.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Adventure activities in Livingstone
Landmarks/POIs Livingstone Victoria Falls - Day 24
Livingstone
The safari ends this morning after breakfast. If you want, consider spending extra time in the Livingstone area to take advantage of what's available there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
