Excellent
Masai Mara & Tanzania Explorer
CAMPING SAFARI: Go in search of wildlife in Kenya's famed Masai Mara Reserve before exploring neighbouring Tanzania on this 13-day overland camping safari. Continue your safari adventure in the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, and visit the coastal towns of Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam. Then take the ferry to Zanzibar, for three days, exploring Stone Town and relaxing on beautiful palm fringed beaches.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes
Accommodation Standard
Camping
Tour Overview
Duration
13 daysStarts
NairobiEnds
Dar es SalaamRange
OverlandingTour Guide
Yes - escorted by a tour leaderGroup Size
Min 4 / Max 16Minimum age
18 (maximum 75)Departs
SundaysHotel Rating
Camping & simple hotelsCountries
Kenya, Tanzania, ZanzibarArrival Transfer
No - can be booked on requestDeparture Transfer
No - can be booked on requestMeals included
Breakfast: 12, Lunch: 9, Dinner: 9Excellent
4.4 out of 5 based on
275 reviews
Accommodation Standard
Camping
Tour Highlights
Included
Not Included
Accommodation Standard
Camping
Itinerary
Day 1 - Welcome to Kenya!
Day 1 - Welcome to Kenya!
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.
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.
Day 2 - Masai Mara
Day 2 - Masai Mara
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.
Day 3 - Return to Nairobi
Day 3 - Return to Nairobi
Masai Mara - Nairobi. Leaving the Mara, we travel back through the Great Rift Valley to Nairobi, where we spend the night at a campsite on the edge of the city.
Day 4 - Crossing into Tanzania
Day 4 - Crossing into Tanzania
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 camp at the Meserani Snake Park.
Day 5 - Serengeti National Park
Day 5 - Serengeti National Park
Arusha - Serengeti National Park. We leave our overland truck behind and transfer to designated safari vehicles to embark on an exciting two day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater excursion. Entering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, we drive around the rim of the crater and onto the wildlife-rich plains of the Serengeti, one of the last great wildernesses in the world.
Millions of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope migrate across these plains throughout the year, followed by the predators, such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs. We game drive to our unfenced campsite, where we can listen to the sounds of the bush and hopefully see some wildlife roaming nearby.
Days 6-7 - The incredible Ngorongoro Crater
Days 6-7 - The incredible Ngorongoro Crater
Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Crater - Arusha. Game driving out of the Serengeti on day 6, we can search for any species we have not managed to spot so far. We travel back to the Ngorongoro Crater, camping on the rim of this UNESCO-listed natural caldera, one of Africa's most spectacular wildlife areas.
On day 7 we drive down a steep road into the crater itself for an unforgettable morning game drive. You will have the chance to spot every major African animal, except for giraffes. Interestingly, they cannot manage the steep climb down the crater rim!
Returning to camp for lunch, we pack up before making the journey back to Arusha.
Day 8 - Onwards to the coast
Day 8 - Onwards to the coast
Arusha - Bagamoyo. Today we have a long but scenic drive as we travel away from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and towards the Indian Ocean coast. We will pass Mount Kilimanjaro en route, and if the weather is clear we should be able to enjoy magnificent views of Africa's highest mountain.
The port town of Bagamoyo was founded towards the end of the 18th century and was an important trading port along the East African coast. Today it is a centre for dhow building, with many of the boats being sent to Zanzibar and nearby areas. We camp on the outskirts of the town, near the palm-fringed beaches of the Indian Ocean.
Day 9 - Dar es Salaam
Day 9 - Dar es Salaam
Bagamoyo - Dar es Salaam. It's only a relatively short drive south along the coast to Dar es Salaam today. The city is Tanzania’s main port and is a hub of commerce and industry - a hot, humid, and bustling seaport city of high rises, colourful markets, and Arab-influenced architecture on the coast. We set up camp on the beach just outside the city tonight, and you'll have time to go for a swim.
Days 10-12 - Tropical Zanzibar
Days 10-12 - Tropical Zanzibar
Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar. On the morning of day 10, 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.
Enjoy free time on the island. Independently explore historic Stone Town on day 10 before we drive to one of the beautiful beaches in the north of the island for two days of Indian Ocean relaxation. Perhaps 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. You can also enjoy a sunset dhow cruise. Please see the Trip Notes for more details about the optional activities available in Zanzibar.
In Zanzibar, we stay in simple hotels, with breakfast included. We typically spend day 10 in Stone Town and days 11 and 12 at one of the northern beaches, but this can be flexible.
Day 13 - Dar es Salaam
Day 13 - Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar - Dar es Salaam. Enjoy a final swim in the turquoise ocean or do some last-minute shopping before we board the ferry back to the mainland. Feeling refreshed after your three-day beach break, it is time for our tour to come to an end.
Accommodation Standard
Camping
Tour Reviews
Accommodation Standard
Camping
Extras and add-ons
If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.
Pre and Post Tour Accommodation
Extend your tour with us by booking pre and post-accommodation, available at a per-person, per-night rate.
Pre Tour Accommodation Nairobi - Hotel Boulevard, ensuite room
Double
Twin
Single
Post Tour Accommodation Dar es Salaam, Kipepeo, en suite chalet
Double
Twin
Single
Additional Excursions
Enhance your tour with these optional extras, helping you to get the most from your adventure.
Add on: Nairobi Airport Transfer (1 person)
$75
per passengerAdd on: Nairobi Airport Transfer (max. 3 ppl)
$55
per passengerAdd on: Dar es Salaam Airport Transfer (max 4)
$135
per passengerAccommodation Standard
Camping
Campsites
If you are interested in booking pre or post-tour accommodation, here are some of the hotels we typically use.
Accommodation Standard
Camping
Prices & Dates
Departures are guaranteed to operate when there are 6 persons booked on the tour. 'Twin' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a tent. 'Shared' prices are applicable to solo travellers, who will share a tent with another traveller of the same sex.
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