Saturday. Welcome to Nairobi! We’ll be there to collect you from Nairobi Airport. Your first night will be spent at our pre-expedition hotel in the centre of town. There will be a pre departure meeting at 17:00hrs. The next morning we head north to the market town of Nanyuki, a popular tourist resort due to its proximity to Mount Kenya, Kenya’s highest peak. Overnight - Nairobi

On day 2 we travel south, crossing the border into Tanzania at Namanga. Tonight we stay in a lovely campsite in Meserani on the outskirts of Arusha, before heading out on our 3 day Optional Excursion to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Overnight - Arusha (L, D)

For those not opting to visit the Ngorongoro Crater or Serengeti National Park, the next days are spent at leisure enjoying the Meserani reptile park, Masai Cultural Museum and the surrounding villages and craft markets. Alternatively the town of Arusha is close by to explore.

The optional 3 day Ngorongoro/Serengeti excursion takes us via the Masai town of Mtu Wa Mbu (Mosquito River) that lies adjacent to the Lake Manyara National Park and up the Rift Valley Escarpment to the higher village of Karatu. Karatu offers magnificent views over the hills. We spend the evening at a pleasant campsite in Karatu. The following morning we depart early for the Ngorongoro Conservation area and head into the wildlife rich Ngorongoro Crater. This World Heritage Site boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa – including the elusive black rhino.

After our game drive in the Crater, we head down the Crater rim and past the ‘Cradle of Mankind’ on our way to the Serengeti National Park. We cross the vast plains as we game drive through the southern and central areas in the park. Tonight we camp in the bushveld surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness. In the morning, we head off for another game drive and explore the landscape in search of the resident game. With some luck, we may see some of Africa’s ‘Big 5’!

After our morning drive, we head back across the plains and the lush Crater rim to our truck at Arusha, where we spend the evening musing over our thrilling wildlife experience. Overnight - Dar Es Salaam/Arusha (3) (B:3, L:3, D:3)

After a morning exploring Arusha and it’s fabulous craft markets, we head south towards Dar Es Salaam. Keep your eyes peeled for views of Mt Kilimanjaro en route! We spend the night in Pangani and continuing our journey on day 6 we reach Dar Es Salaam and our seaside campsite. Overnight - Pangani (1), Dar Es Salaam (1) (B:2, L:2, D:2)

A ferry from Dar Es Salaam takes us to ‘Spice Island’, where we have the option to spend the next three nights.* Zanzibar is steeped in history and offers a wealth of experiences. Wander the streets of Stone Town, take an excursion around a spice plantation or simply laze on one of the pristine white sandy beaches, the choice is yours!

* For those opting not to visit Zanzibar, the 3 days can be spent at leisure at the beach campsite or exploring Dar Es Salaam.

History aside, Zanzibar offers a wealth of experiences for the visitor. Today the quiet streets of the old Stone Town still retain their Arabic influence, from the Medina-like shops to the palaces of the Sultans, who founded their vast empires on the spoils of the slave and ivory trade. The island is famous for its spices and an excursion around a spice plantation is always a fascinating experience. Other options include a trip to the beautiful beaches and giant tortoises of Prison Island, a full day scuba dive in Nungwe or a fishing trip in a traditional dhow. Mopeds are available for hire if you’d like to explore the more remote areas of the island. Zanzibar is a seafood lover’s paradise. Numerous restaurants offer a great variety of the freshest catch from the ocean - crayfish being a popular speciality. Alternatively, mingle with the locals for dinner at the Forodhani Gardens seafront market, where delicious, inexpensive seafood is on offer. Overnight - Zanizibar/Dar Es Salaam (B:1)

Tuesday. This morning we return to the mainland and Dar Es Salaam where our tour ends.