17 day East Africa Safari Adventure – Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar

Day 1 - HOME / DUBAI

Our East African adventure begins today as we depart Melbourne or Sydney on our Emirates flight to Dubai. Settle in, enjoy the renowned Emirates inflight service and get some rest on the long journey ahead.

Meals - As per flight

Day 2 - DUBAI / NAIROBI (KENYA)

We arrive in Dubai early this morning, where we have a stopover of before our connecting flight. This is a good opportunity to stretch our legs, relax in the terminal or browse the famous duty-free shops. We then continue on to Nairobi, the lively capital of Kenya. On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport we are warmly welcomed by our local representative and transferred to our hotel, set in lush tropical gardens on the edge of the city. After checking into our room, we will have our first Welcome dinner together.

Meals - As per flight / Dinner

Accommodation - Nairobi Serena Hotel or similar

Day 3 - NAIROBI / LAKE ELEMENTAITA

This morning we explore Nairobi, visiting some of its most loved attractions. At the Giraffe Centre we come face to face with the endangered Rothschild giraffe, and at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage we watch the keepers care for orphaned baby elephants (subject to visiting hours). We may also visit the Karen Blixen Museum, the former home of the author of "Out of Africa", or browse a local craft market.

After lunch at a local restaurant we head into the Great Rift Valley, arriving at Lake Elementaita in the afternoon. This peaceful soda lake is home to flamingos and an abundance of birdlife – the perfect place to relax and take in the views.

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation - Lake Elementaita Serena Camp or similar

Day 4 - LAKE NAIVASHA / MAASAI MARA

This morning we enjoy a boat ride on beautiful Lake Naivasha, famous for its resident hippos and spectacular birdlife, including fish eagles. We then take a gentle guided walk on Crescent Island, where giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and antelope roam freely – a rare chance to walk among wildlife on foot.
In the afternoon, we continue to the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, arriving in the late afternoon to check in to our lodge, perched high with sweeping views over the plains.

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation - Maasai Mara Serena Safari Lodge or similar

Day 5 - MAASAI MARA

Today is a full day of game viewing in the Maasai Mara, with a picnic lunch out in the reserve. Our driver-guide takes us to different areas in search of lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo and the vast herds of plains game.

Late August is the height of the Great Migration in the Mara, and with luck we may witness thousands of wildebeest and zebra crossing the Mara River – one of nature's most dramatic sights. We return to the lodge in the evening for dinner.

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch (picnic) / Dinner

Accommodation - Maasai Mara Serena Safari Lodge or similar

Day 6 - MAASAI MARA – HOT AIR BALLOON SAFARI

An early start this morning for one of Africa's most unforgettable experiences – a hot air balloon safari over the Maasai Mara. As the sun rises, we float silently above the endless plains, spotting elephants, giraffes, lions and buffalo below. On landing we celebrate with a traditional champagne bush breakfast before returning to the lodge.

After some time to relax, we head out on an afternoon game drive in search of the Big Five.

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation - Maasai Mara Serena Safari Lodge or similar

Day 7 - MAASAI MARA / NAIROBI / LAKE MANYARA (TANZANIA)

After breakfast we farewell the Maasai Mara and return to Nairobi, where we board our flight across the border to Tanzania. On arrival we are met by our Tanzanian safari guide and transferred to our lodge, set high on the escarpment with magnificent views over Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley.

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation - Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge or similar

Day 8 - LAKE MANYARA / NGORONGORO / SERENGETI

Today we travel through the scenic highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards the vast Serengeti National Park. We enjoy a game drive en route as we enter the park, arriving at our lodge in the afternoon.

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation - Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge or similar

Day 9 - SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

A full day exploring the endless plains of the Serengeti. Our expert guide leads us through a variety of habitats in search of the Big Five, as well as cheetahs, hyenas, crocodiles and countless grazing animals. A picnic lunch is served in the park before we continue our afternoon safari.

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch (picnic) / Dinner

Accommodation - Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge or similar

Day 10 - SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

We rise early for a morning game drive, when the Serengeti is at its most active – a wonderful time to see predators returning from the night's hunt. We stop at a scenic spot for a picnic breakfast, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the African bush.

We return to the lodge for a leisurely lunch, and the afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the lodge and its views.

Meals - Breakfast (picnic) / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation - Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge or similar

Day 11 - SERENGETI / NGORONGORO CRATER RIM

After breakfast we enjoy a final game drive as we leave the Serengeti, stopping at Naabi Hill Gate for a picnic lunch with views across the plains. We then continue through the highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, home to Maasai communities, to the rim of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater – the world's largest intact volcanic caldera. Our lodge sits right on the crater rim, with breathtaking views to enjoy for the rest of the afternoon.

Meals - Breakfast, Lunch (picnic), Dinner

Accommodation - Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge or similar

Day 12 - NGORONGORO CRATER / KARATU

This morning we descend some 600 metres into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. On the crater floor we search for the endangered black rhino, lions, elephants, buffalo, hippos, zebras and wildebeest, and enjoy a picnic breakfast at a scenic spot.

Around midday we arrive at our lodge in the Karatu Highlands for lunch. The afternoon is free to relax in the gardens or by the pool.

Meals - Breakfast (picnic), Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation - Acacia Farm Lodge or similar

Day 13 - KARATU / ARUSHA / ZANZIBAR

After breakfast we transfer to Arusha for our short flight to the tropical island of Zanzibar. On arrival we are transferred to our beachfront resort on Zanzibar's east coast, where we stay on an all-inclusive basis. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the white sandy beach and the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation - Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa or Sultan Sands Island Resort or similar

Day 14 - ZANZIBAR (PRISON ISLAND, STONE TOWN & SPICE FARM)

This morning we take a short boat ride to Prison Island (Changuu Island), home to giant Aldabra tortoises – some over a century old. We then continue to historic Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a guided walk through its winding alleyways and bazaars, visiting the House of Wonders, the Old Fort, the former Slave Market and the busy local market.

Later we visit a spice farm to discover why Zanzibar is known as the "Spice Island", seeing, smelling and tasting cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, cardamom, nutmeg and tropical fruits. We return to our resort in the late afternoon.

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation - Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa or Sultan Sands Island Resort or similar

Day 15 - ZANZIBAR

A day at leisure to relax on the beach, swim in the warm Indian Ocean or enjoy the resort's facilities.

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Accommodation - Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa or Sultan Sands Island Resort or similar

Day 16 - ZANZIBAR / DUBAI / HOME

After breakfast we check out and transfer to Zanzibar International Airport for our flight to Dubai, where we connect with our Emirates flight home to Melbourne or Sydney, bringing our unforgettable East African safari and beach holiday to a close.

* Please note that due to limited flight scheduling out of Zanzibar there will be a longer than usual transit at Dubai airport on the way home, approximately 7-8 hours.

Meals - Breakfast / As per flight

Day 17 - ARRIVE HOME

Touch down back into home today, carrying a treasure trove of lifelong memories, having journeyed through the wild landscapes of Kenya, the untamed plains of Tanzania, and the sun-drenched, spice-scented shores of Zanzibar.

Meals - As per flight