East Africa Explorer (Accommodated)

Nairobi - Masai Mara. We leave Nairobi early this morning and make our way to the famous Masai Mara National Reserve. The Mara is adjacent to the Serengeti, forming one of the world's last surviving great wildernesses. We will be travelling in specialised safari vehicles for this part of the tour for a more intimate wildlife-viewing experience, and will join up with our main vehicle later. In the Masai Mara, we will be staying in twin-share pre-erected tents with ensuite facilities.

During our time in the Mara, we enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in search of the huge herds of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope which inhabit the plains and the predators that hunt them. Also keep your eyes peeled for other iconic species like rhino, elephant and giraffe. We camp on the edge of the reserve, close to the action!

Please note: The pre-departure meeting is held at 18:00 on the evening prior to departure. The tour departs at 08:00 on Day 1 so please arrive in Nairobi the day before your tour. Refer to the Joining Instructions in the Trip Notes for more information. We can book accommodation and transfers on request.

Today we continue exploring the Masai Mara with morning and afternoon game drives to different areas of the park. As well as the iconic Big Five, we will hopefully spot some of the less glamorous species, but creatures that are important to the ecosystem. Hyenas and vultures scavenge the remains of prey, warthogs scurry through the undergrowth and endangered African wild dogs hunt intelligently in packs. We break in the middle of the day for lunch before game driving back to our camp for the evening.

Masai Mara - Nairobi. Leaving the Mara, we travel back through the Great Rift Valley to Nairobi, where we spend the night.

Nairobi - Arusha (Tanzania). We leave Kenya, crossing into neighbouring Tanzania at the Namanga frontier. We then drive to the country's safari capital, Arusha, arriving late afternoon. Situated in the shadow of Mount Meru and close to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, it is a great base for exploring the region. If time allows, we stop to browse the local markets and join a walk around a traditional Masai village before heading to our accommodation.

Arusha - Serengeti National Park. Once again, we transfer to smaller, specialized safari vehicles for our excursion into the Serengeti National Park. Much larger than the Masai Mara, the Serengeti National Park is home to all of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo) and is sure to yield incredible wildlife experiences. Driving around the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater (we'll be back here later in the tour!), we game drive to our unfenced bush campsite, for a night spent camping and listening to the sounds of the African wild.

Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Crater - Arusha. Day 6 sees us game-driving back out of the Serengeti and into the nearby Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This UNESCO-listed site is dominated by the Ngorongoro Crater, Africa's largest caldera. It is also home to some of the highest densities of wildlife on the entire continent. Descending to the crater floor, we'll enjoy incredible views of the surrounding walls, as well as searching for wildlife. We spend the night camping on the rim of the crater.

On day 7 we enjoy a final game drive in the crater, returning to the camp for lunch. It's then time to pack up as we return to Arusha.

Arusha - Bagamoyo. It's time for some downtime! We head first to the port city of Bagamoyo, which is located on the Indian Ocean coast. It's a long drive, but we will be afforded views of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro if the weather is clear. Our campsite for the night is near the beach, and you are more than welcome to head out to explore.

Bagamoyo - Dar es Salaam. Saying farewell to Bagamoyo we make the 2 - 3 hour drive along the coast to Dar es Salaam. This vibrant city is Tanzania's main port and a kaleidoscope of culture. Impressive Arab architecture and colourful markets give way to blissful beaches and turquoise ocean. We stay by the beach tonight before our excursion to Zanzibar.

Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar. On the morning of day 7, we take the ferry to Zanzibar, leaving our overland truck on the mainland. Evocative and exotic, Zanzibar conjures up images of idyllic, sandy, palm-fringed beaches, romantic winding cobbled alleys, and lush tropical forests.

Our time on Zanzibar is not too structured. There is plenty of free time to explore the old part of Zanzibar City - Stone Town. You'll also want to visit a spice plantation, spend some time on the tropical beaches and enjoy snorkelling at the coast, home to a wealth of marine life. Other optional excursions you can book include massages and yacht trips. Please see the Trip Notes for more details.

In Zanzibar we typically spend day 7 in Stone Town and days 8 and 9 at one of the northern beaches, but this can be flexible.

Zanzibar - Dar es Salaam. We have the morning to do any last-minute shopping or enjoy one last swim before catching the ferry back to Dar es Salaam and travelling on to our accommodation by the coast for the evening.

Dar es Salaam - Mikumi National Park. Making our way southwest, we head back inland and towards the border with Malawi. We'll be driving through Mikumi National Park for a large chunk of the day, and will hopefully see some of the wildlife that lives in Tanzania's fifth-largest game reserve.

Our accommodation for the night is right on the edge of the park and there is an optional additional game drive if you'd like to search further for elephants, giraffes, or the other species that call Mikumi home. Alternatively, you can relax in the local bar and restaurant, or enjoy an evening around the campfire.

Mikumi National Park - Iringa. Continuing our journey south, we pass through Baobab Valley, home to many of these ancient, swollen baobab trees. Reaching the town of Iringa, we end our journey at the Kisolanza Farm. This family-run business supplies Dar es Salaam with organic meat and vegetables and is a well-known stopover, located in the scenic Southern Highlands of Tanzania.

Iringa - Mbeya Area. As we head towards Malawi, we make a stop at the tranquil Utengule Coffee Lodge, nestled amidst the majestic Mbeya range in Southern Tanzania. We take in breathtaking views of the East African Rift Valley, unwind by the poolside, or enjoy activities like squash, tennis, pool, table tennis, and volleyball. For those of us interested in coffee, we have the option to join a guided tour through the coffee plantation, complete with a roasting demonstration and a delicious cup of home-grown coffee.

Mbeya Area - Chitimba Beach (Malawi). After our last night in Tanzania, we make our way to the Songwe border post and cross into Malawi. Lake Malawi, formerly known as Lake Nyasa, covers nearly a fifth of the country and is a vital source of livelihood for many Malawians. Fishermen, fish traders, and canoe and net makers all rely on the lake, and at dawn, we see fishermen in their Bwato—traditional dugout canoes—casting their nets as the sun rises over the water. The lake is also home to the highest number of endemic freshwater fish species in the world. We have plenty of free time to relax on the beach, stroll through the village, and explore the local craft market, where we can try our hand at woodcarving and create our own souvenir. We also have the chance to learn the traditional game of Bao or test our bargaining skills while shopping for unique handmade treasures.

Chitimba - Nkhotakota Region (Lake Malawi). Lake Malawi is too much of a highlight for us to only visit one location along its never-ending shore! On day 18 we take a nice scenic drive through rubber plantations to Mzuzu - the capital of the northern region and the third largest town in Malawi - where we stop for a short while to grab supplies and check out the markets, before arriving to Ngala Beach Lodge.

On day 19 you’ll have some free time to try some of the optional activities, such as hiring a kayak, snorkelling, village walk, waterfall hike, or simply relax and enjoy the warm, fresh waters of Lake Malawi.

Nkhotakota Region (Lake Malawi) - Petauke (Zambia). Saying our goodbye’s to ‘the Lake’, we drive through Nkhotakhota Game Reserve towards the border where we cross into Zambia. After completing the border formalities, we continue our journey to Petauke, a region known for agriculture, producing maize, cotton, sunflower, soya beans, and other crops. mosques.

Petauke - Lusaka. It's an early start today as we have a long drive to the Zambian capital, Lusaka. The scenery en route is stunning though: we'll take the Great Eastern Road, passing through lush countryside and crossing the rushing Luangwa River. Our campsite is at a tranquil farm outside Lusaka, which is Southern Africa's fastest-growing city.

Lusaka - Livingstone. On day 22 we drive to Livingstone, our final destination, and home to Victoria Falls. There is an included visit to see the Zambian side of this famous cascade and the following day is free to relax or enjoy some of the numerous optional activities available. Activities range from a further visit to see the cascades (prepare to get wet!), canoeing and rafting on the Zambezi River, bungee jumping and fishing to a scenic flight over the falls, or an abseiling experience - the choice is yours!

Today our tour comes to an end after breakfast today. If you'd like to stay a while longer in Livingstone then speak to our team about booking post-tour accommodation.