16 Day Nairobi to Stone Town: East Africa Small Group Tour – Mixed Accommodation

Your incredible East Africa safari begins in Nairobi, Kenya’s vibrant capital. Arrive at your leisure and settle in before joining your guide and fellow travelers for a welcoming meeting. This is your initial opportunity to connect and prepare for the breathtaking journey ahead.

Journey by private vehicle from Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Great Rift Valley. After an included lunch at your lodge, embark on an exhilarating sundown safari drive. Keep your camera ready to spot diverse wildlife, including buffalo, impalas, hyenas, and if luck is on your side, even lions and leopards. The lake itself is famous for its vibrant birdlife, including pelicans and cormorants.

Rise early for a captivating morning safari drive into Lake Nakuru National Park as the sun casts its golden hues over the landscape. Witness animals beginning their daily routines and look for black and white rhinos. The afternoon offers free time to either embark on another optional safari drive for more wildlife viewing or simply unwind and enjoy the amenities of your lodge.

Today, your Kenya safari experience intensifies as you travel to the legendary Masai Mara National Park. Upon arrival, immerse yourself in local culture with an included visit to a Masai Village. Learn about their traditions, admire intricate beadwork, and witness the athletic jumps of the young men. Afterward, an exciting afternoon safari drive into the Mara awaits, where you’ll actively search for giraffe, zebra, hyena, antelope, majestic lions, elusive leopards, rhinos, buffalos, and large herds of elephants amidst stunning scenery.

Dedicate an entire day to exploring the vast plains of the Masai Mara National Reserve, entering through Sekenani Gate. This park is globally recognized for its exceptional wildlife viewing, particularly its abundance of big cats and the drama of the Great Migration (seasonal). You have the option to pre-book an unforgettable hot air balloon safari at dawn, offering unparalleled aerial views of the wildlife pageant below, followed by a champagne breakfast. Alternatively, opt for an early morning safari drive to catch wildlife in the first light. Enjoy a packed lunch amidst the wild before returning to your comfortable tented camp for a night under the stars.

Bid farewell to the Masai Mara as you travel back to Nairobi, with opportunities for last-minute wildlife spotting on your exit. En route, experience a meaningful “Good Moment” with an included lunch at Amani Ya Juu, a community project where you’ll engage with women learning entrepreneurship and creating handicrafts, directly supporting local economic independence.

Journey closer to the Tanzanian border to Amboseli National Park, famous for its breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro. After an included lunch at your lodge, set out on an exhilarating safari drive. Amboseli boasts five distinct habitats and is renowned for its large herds of elephants, offering incredible photographic opportunities with Africa’s highest free-standing mountain as your backdrop.

Enjoy a final morning safari drive in Amboseli National Park before traveling to Arusha, Tanzania. Experience the cultural transition as you cross the border at Namanga, making your way into the heart of Tanzania. A packed lunch is provided en route, and upon arrival in Arusha, you’ll have free time to settle into your hotel before an optional group dinner.

Today, explore Tarangire National Park, a hidden gem known for its immense elephant population and ancient baobab trees. Enjoy an extensive safari drive upon arrival, where you can witness the unique dry season migration and observe elephants congregating around the Tarangire River. A picnic lunch inside the park enhances your immersive wildlife experience before continuing to Karatu for the evening.

Spend a relaxed morning in Karatu with free time to unwind or choose an optional Lake Manyara morning safari drive, known for its diverse birdlife and tree-climbing lions. In the afternoon, engage in a fascinating coffee tour with local farmers, learning about the harvesting, sorting, drying, and roasting processes of Tanzania’s prized export.

Prepare for an early start as you head to the awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest inactive and intact volcanic caldera. Descend into this unique, self-contained ecosystem for a spectacular wildlife safari drive, offering a high concentration of animals including the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. Enjoy lunch amidst this serene natural wonder before departing for the legendary Serengeti National Park, where you’ll experience a safari drive en-route to your tented camp for a night under the stars.

Dedicate an entire day to exploring the magnificent Serengeti National Park, an iconic symbol of Eastern Africa. Known for the Great Migration, this park offers unparalleled opportunities to spot the Big Five and a vast array of other wildlife across its “endless plains”. Consider an optional Serengeti Balloon Safari for an epic sunrise view from the sky. Enjoy a picnic lunch amidst the park’s breathtaking vistas before returning to your tented camp to relax.

Gather for a final breakfast at camp, taking in the morning life of the Serengeti before beginning your journey back to Arusha. Stop for a locally sourced lunch at Mto wa Mbu. Arrive in Arusha in the late afternoon, where you can settle into your hotel. Dinner this evening is on your own, giving you a chance to explore the local culinary scene.

After breakfast, transfer to Arusha airport for your scenic internal flight to the tropical paradise of Zanzibar. Upon arrival, enjoy an orientation walk through the historic narrow streets of Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Afterward, transfer to Jambiani on the island’s captivating east coast, where you’ll have free time to settle into tranquil island life and explore local restaurants.

Delve into Zanzibar’s rich history and fragrant heritage with an included spice tour. Learn about the spice plantations that shaped the island’s past and present, from black pepper to vanilla. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy paradise: choose an optional snorkeling adventure in the crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Blue Lagoon, visit the nearby Jozani Forest to see the red colobus monkeys, or simply unwind, sunbathe, and swim on Zanzibar’s sugar-white, palm-lined beaches.

Enjoy your final breakfast in Jambiani before a convenient group transfer back to Zanzibar airport outside of Stone Town. Your incredible 16 day East African safari and beach escape concludes here, leaving you with unforgettable memories of Kenya, Tanzania, and the tropical allure of Zanzibar.