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Safari & Sea: An Overland Adventure to Zanzibar

Kenya
8

Safari & Sea: An Overland Adventure to Zanzibar

12 Days 11 Nights
$1,850.00
16
Nairobi
18+ +
10/20
English

Date Expired !

Overview

Embark on a 12-day journey through Eastern Africa, where untamed wilderness meets the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. This adventure takes you from the rolling plains of the Serengeti to the tropical paradise of Zanzibar, blending exhilarating safaris, breathtaking landscapes, and rich cultural encounters.

Spot lions, elephants, and rhinos in the legendary Ngorongoro Crater, trek through the lush Usambara Mountains, and experience the vibrant life of local communities in Mto wa Mbu. Then, trade the savanna for the sea, cruising on a traditional dhow boat, unwinding on Zanzibar’s pristine beaches, and indulging in fresh seafood as you soak in the island’s rich Swahili culture.

With an expert local guide and a group of like-minded explorers, this overland adventure is the perfect mix of wild encounters, cultural immersion, and coastal relaxation. Are you ready to journey from safari to sea?

💎 All-Inclusive (except flights) | Hotel & Meals Included | Private Guided Experiences


🛎 What’s Included?

✅ 11 nights’ accommodation: 4-star accommodation and the highest level of service
✅ 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 11 dinners
✅ Experienced local guides for the duration of the trek
✅ Industry leading Guest-to-Guide ratio (averaging 6:1)
✅ Our knowledgeable Customer Service Team to answer your queries – just a phone call, email or chat away
✅ Customer Service pre-trip phone calls to ensure you’re ‘trip ready’
✅ Nutritious snacks to keep you fueled
✅ All activities outlined in the itinerary
✅ All necessary equipment (well-maintained and safe) for activities
✅ Transportation: Open 4WD Safari Vehicle, Private vehicle, Plane, Riverboat

❌ Not Included: International flights, personal expenses, extra activities, gratuities


From Savannah to Spice Island: The Ultimate East African Escape

This is more than just a trip—it’s a transformational journey across some of Africa’s most iconic and soul-stirring landscapes. Travel through the heart of Tanzania, where sunrises over the Serengeti ignite the sky in gold and the call of the wild echoes across the savanna. Then descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a natural amphitheater teeming with wildlife, before winding through the misty Usambara Mountains, where trails lead to remote villages and warm smiles.

Cap it all off on the spice-scented shores of Zanzibar, where white-sand beaches, Swahili architecture, and crystal-clear waters offer the perfect finale. With every stop, you’ll experience the rhythm, beauty, and depth of East Africa—a place that lingers in your memory long after you’ve left.

  • Explore the Serengeti, a wildlife arena like no other, and look for lions, leopards, elephants and giraffes in this iconic park.
  • Take a mind-blowing safari across the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater in an open-roof 4WD vehicle for a chance to see the endangered black rhinoceros.
  • Embark on a hike through the Usambara Mountains to the Irente viewpoint, then stop at a farm on the way back for a picnic lunch.
  • Wander around Stone Town’s bustling bazaars and fragrant spice markets, and consider heading on an optional guided tour of the island’s spice plantations.
  • Accompanied by a local crew — a leader, driver and cook – you’ll be in excellent hands for the duration of your adventure.

 

Schedule Details

Day 1: Nairobi

Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. If you arrive early, perhaps 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.

Accommodation: Hotel (1 night)
Meals: Welcome Dinner
 
 
Special information

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, though your hotel room may 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 on the floor when in bars or restaurants. 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.

Day 2: Mto wa Mbu

Depart early for Mto wa Mbu in your overland truck. The trip includes a border crossing from Kenya into Tanzania, so be sure to have your passport handy. While you're on the road, there will be a stop at an ATM and a market or shop to stock up on any supplies you might need for the coming days. Arrive in Mto wa Mbu and acquaint yourself with this delightful small village – it's a fascinating snapshot of small-town African life, situated well off the tourist trail.

Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 10 hours.

Your camp tonight has Wi-Fi, a swimming pool, and optional upgrades (subject to availability). We recommend using local currency for any purchases or upgrades.

Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti

Get up early, put your camping and personal gear into a six-person jeep and head out for an excursion into the Serengeti via the Ngorongoro Crater. Enjoy a safari in the crater, spending 3 to 4 hours exploring this incredible, perfectly intact volcanic caldera. Watch for black rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, impalas, zebras and hippos. The crater floor offers excellent game viewing all year round (some 30,000 animals live here) and the photo opportunities are unrivalled. Next, it's on to the wide-open plains of the Serengeti. Green after the rains, brown and burnt in the dry season, this is perhaps the quintessential image of Africa – the home of thousands of hoofed animals and fierce predators. Your campsite is within the Serengeti itself, so listen out for the sounds of nocturnal animals as you drift off to sleep.

Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 
Special information

Our camp within the Serengeti National Park does not have a fence to separate the camp from the animals. This is quite the experience as animals such as buffalo and hyenas often come close to camp after sundown. On arrival at the camp, your leader will give a detailed safety briefing on what is required to ensure the safety of the group.

You may notice some Maasai villages in the region of the Ngorongoro Crater offering a cultural experience. We recommend avoiding these villages, as they can impact negatively on the Maasai culture and travellers' perceptions of it by selling an artificial experience.

Day 4: Serengeti National Park

Awake at dawn and embark on a game drive. You will head out while the animals are at their most active, then head back to camp for brunch at around 11 am. After spending the middle of the day relaxing, just like the animals do, head out again as the day begins to cool. You'll return from this second game drive in time for dinner. There's also the option of a balloon ride over the park this morning – in place of some of today’s game drives. If you have pre-booked this activity, you will be picked up before dawn and driven to the launch site. After a safety briefing, glide through the dawn, sometimes at tree height, getting some amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you will ascend, getting an overview of the enormity of the plains and the early morning movements of the teeming herds. After landing, indulge in a five-star bush breakfast, then be returned to camp.

Accommodation: Camping (with basic facilities) (1 night)
 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 
Included activities: Serengeti National Park - Morning 4WD Safari
 
 
Special information

The balloon ride is offered as a pre-booked service which will guarantee you a place. If you would rather wait and 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. If you participate in this activity you will miss the morning half of the included game drive.

Day 5: Serengeti & Mto wa Mbu

Rise with the sun and enjoy another game drive as you leave the Serengeti in your dust. Jump back into your overland vehicle and head for Mto wa Mbu.

After setting up camp, we'll take a guided stroll through the farming areas, local homes and farmlands, getting to know the local community and their way of life. Later, we'll enjoy a scrumptious local dinner in town.

Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
 
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 
Special information

Your camp tonight has Wi-Fi, a swimming pool, and optional upgrades.

Day 6: Usambara Mountains

Prepare yourself for a long travel day heading for the Usambara Mountains. Stretch your legs during a brief supply stop in Arusha, then jump back in the vehicle and watch the ever-changing scenery, read your favourite book or get to really know your fellow travellers. Your base will be Lushoto – an old German colony and home to the Wasambaa people. This highland town sits at approximately 1400 metres and this evening you'll camp in the grounds of one of the oldest hotels in Africa.

Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
 
Special information: Your travel time today will be approximately 10 hours.
Day 7: Usambara Mountains

Explore the beautiful Usambara Mountains today – a lovely unspoilt area of Tanzania. Unlike the coast and the north, very few tourists visit this part of the country, so it has a freshness that can be hard to find elsewhere. As beautiful as the surrounding mountains and rainforests are, however, the real jewels here are the local people and villages. You'll experience some hospitality on a visit to some of the small local communities. From your base, you will take a walk out to the gorgeous Irente viewpoint. It's best to pack some water and snacks in a day pack for this trip. On your way back, visit a local cultural project where you enjoy a prepared lunch.

Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
Day 8: Dar es Salaam

Leaving the mountains behind, travel further south to the coastal town of Kipepeo Beach in Dar es Salaam. Your camp is by the beach, so make the most of it – perhaps take a stroll along the shore after you arrive and settle in.

Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
 
Special information

Your travel time today will be approximately 9 hours.

Tonight’s camp is on the grounds of a hotel which has Wi-Fi. Accommodation upgrades are usually possible (subject to availability).

Day 9: Stone Town

Rise and shine to catch a ferry to Zanzibar. Filled with pristine white-sand beaches, winding cobblestone alleyways and fragrant bazaars, Zanzibar has had a colourful history – everything from slave traders to Arabian sultans and fruit exporters. The sight of traditional dhows sailing along the coast evokes what the island must have been like in centuries ago. Explore the many charms of Stone Town, the historic part of Zanzibar's main city, with a local guide. Sample some local food and gain insight into daily local life living on Zanzibar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 
 
Special information

The ferry from Dar Es Salaam to Stone Town takes approximately 2 hours and usually departs at 9 am, arriving at 11 am. Occasionally, you may travel on the earlier departure (7 am), which arrives at 9 am.

As this is a combination trip, your trip leader and group members will most likely change today.

Day 10: Zanzibar Northern Beaches

Once checked out of your Stone Town accommodation, consider booking in to an optional guided tour of the island's spice plantations, learning all about the history of this town's spice trade. You will have the opportunity to smell and taste various spices, such as cinnamon, vanilla and ginger, plus sample some teas made with these spices too. After lunch, head to the Northern Beaches, where white sands and sparkling blue seas await. This is the Indian Ocean at its best.

Accommodation: Bungalow (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 
Day 11: Zanzibar Northern Beaches

Enjoy free time in this beautiful archipelago today. There are many ways you can spend your day – perhaps talk to your leader for any recommendations they might have. Snorkelling in search of exotic fish is an excellent option, or you could take a traditional dhow boat on the water. You might also like to feast on a sumptuous lunch of grilled local seafood, or just relax in a hammock underneath a coconut tree with a good book. It's totally up to you!

Accommodation: Bungalow (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 
Day 12: Stone Town

After checking out of your accommodation this morning, you will make your way back to Stone Town, arriving at a centrally-located hotel around 12 pm. With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave at any time. That doesn't mean your adventure has to come to an end! If you wish to stay on in Zanzibar, either at the Northern Beaches beach resort or in Stone Town, we'll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).

Special information

If you wish to organise onward transfers today, please note that the easiest option is to fly out of Zanzibar Airport. 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 mainland Africa if you need to catch your departing flight from Dar es Salaam. Speak to your group leader earlier in your trip for more information.

F.A.Q

Is this trip right for me?

This is an overland trip. That means you’ll be traveling with a group in a purpose-built vehicle, visiting remote communities, setting up your own tent, occasionally roughing it in the bush with no facilities, and getting the best possible views of the Big Five. While the trucks don’t have air conditioning, they do have sliding windows which let in the breeze and make it even easier to take spectacular snaps of the local wildlife. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie.

What’s the accommodation like?

You’ll stay in a mix of permanent safari camps, lodges, and guesthouses, with the occasional rustic stay in more remote areas. All accommodations are clean, comfortable, and locally owned, offering a real taste of East African hospitality.

How physically demanding is the trip?

This tour is rated moderate, with daily activities including hikes, game drives, and walking tours. A basic level of fitness is needed, but the itinerary is well-paced and includes plenty of time to rest, especially once you reach Zanzibar.

What should I pack for this trip?

Bring lightweight, breathable clothing, a warm layer for cooler nights, sturdy walking shoes, swimwear, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a good camera or binoculars for wildlife viewing. A small daypack and reusable water bottle will also come in handy for hikes and excursions.

How do rooming arrangements work?

Trip prices are based on shared arrangements (typically two guests per room), unless otherwise stated. For solo travelers, we’ll pair you with another person of the same gender to share rooms and if there’s no one suitable to share with, there’s no forced single supplement. However, if you specifically request your own rooms, you can opt to pay the single supplement. Solo travelers who book within 120 days of departure, where there are no other solo travelers willing to share, will be required to pay the single supplement.

For Family Vacation bookings, families consisting of four guests traveling with children aged 17 and under will be automatically assigned one shared room. However, the following alternative rooming allocations are available:

  • Families consisting of four guests with all children aged 13 and above are welcome to opt for additional rooms as per advertised double occupancy adult rates.
  • Families consisting of four guests with at least one child aged 12 and under are automatically assigned a shared room. However, families can opt to pay the adult rates for all guests in their family to have an additional room.
  • The same principles apply for families consisting of more than four guests.

Rooming preferences are subject to availability and must be communicated in writing at time of booking. Automatic assignments as per this policy will be applied in the absence of any specification provided by guests. Any request for additional rooms during trips will be at guests’ own expense and subject to rates made available by the accommodation provider at the time. All minors (guests aged 17 and under) must be accompanied by at least one adult.

What's Included

  • Accommodation
  • Additional Services
  • Airport Transfer
  • Breakfast
  • Guide
  • Lunch
  • Meals
  • Transport

What's Excluded

  • Flights

Location Map

Why Book With Us?

  • Once-in-a-Lifetime, Handpicked Experiences. We curate exclusive, immersive journeys that go beyond sightseeing.
  • Every stay is at a 4 5-star luxury retreat, boutique heritage hotel, or secluded mountain sanctuary—because adventure should come with a touch of indulgence.
  • We handle every detail—from private guides to curated dining—so you can focus on the experience, not the logistics.
  • We keep our groups intimate and exclusive so that every traveler gets a bespoke, tailored experience. Looking for a private trip? We can customize your journey for an even more personal adventure.

Got a Question?

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