Compare Zanzibar to Nairobi by Intrepid Travel vs Kenya & Tanzania: The Safari Experience with Nairobi & Zanzibar by Globus
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
4.5 | Great
|
5 | Excellent
|
| Duration | 12 days | 17 days |
| Price From | $ 2,605 | $ 9,569 |
| Price Per Day | $ 217 | $ 563 |
| Highlights |
|
|
| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Basic | Premium |
| Physical Level |
|
|
| Travel Themes |
|
|
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
|
|
| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
| Activities |
|
|
| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Admire the sweeping landscapes of Tanzania – full of incredible wildlife and fascinating cultures – on this 12-day adventure. From the pristine beaches of Zanzibar across the lush slopes of the Usambara Mountains and through the savannas of Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, discover a land where elephants roam, lions hunt and communities embrace the land. This is the heart of Africa – a land for the true explorer. When will you go in search of the Big Five? |
Africa conjures up dreamy images of mystical mountains, savanna grasslands, and endless plains, but for the adventure seeker, it’s where the wild things are. The “Big 5”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo await you on this ultimate safari through East Africa. Featuring unique lodges and tented camps, custom-made 4-wheel-drive safari vehicles, and exclusive meals in the bush, this Kenya and Tanzania tour promises larger than life experiences and countless memories. You’ll savor the unique terrain and wildlife at seven renowned national parks, reserves, and conservancies, including the famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, and the vast, volcanic Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Beyond sightings of the “Big 5,” be on the lookout for cheetah, wildebeest, crocodile, hippo, and rhino. On the tamer side, you’ll also enjoy a visit to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary as well as the endearing experience of interacting with local children at a primary school in Karatu.Explore more on your tour of Africa with time in Nairobi and Zanzibar. In Nairobi, feed endangered giraffes at the Giraffe Center and meet orphaned elephant calves at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Ease into the rhythm of relaxing Zanzibar after your exhilarating vacation of game drives. Snorkeling, outdoor markets, quiet beaches, and unique animal sightings highlight your island getaway to Zanzibar. Move too fast and the hospitable locals will offer the gentle reminder, “Pole, pole!” (Slowly, slowly!). |
Day 1 Stone Town
Catch a ferry to Africa's 'Spice Island' of 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. The old part of Zanzibar's main city is known as Stone Town, and the best way to see this is on foot, exploring the markets, shops, mosques, palaces and courtyards. When the sun is setting, why not grab a drink from a bar overlooking the seafront. A seafood curry at a local restaurant is also a great choice. You'll spend the night in Stone Town at a basic inn.
Day 2 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.
Day 3 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!
Day 4 Stone Town / Bagamoyo
Today you will be picked up and taken back to Stone Town to meet your new leader and travel group at an 11 am welcome meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary and meet your new fellow travellers. After this important meeting, catch the ferry to Dar es Salaam. There you'll meet your driver and cook, board your overland vehicle and take a short drive to your camp at Bagamoyo, a lovely spot by the beach.
Day 5 Usambara Mountains
If you wake early, you can make an optional excursion to the historical slave trade markets that once operated in Bagamoyo. After, it’s time to travel into the remote Usambara Mountains.This unspoilt area of Tanzania attracts very few tourists, making it the perfect place to soak in your surroundings. The forests stretch across the mountains and are ideal for easy hikes and guided walks. You base is the old German colony of Lushoto, where you’ll stay on the grounds of one of the earliest hotels in Africa.
Day 6 Usambara Mountains
Today, explore the beautiful Usambara Mountains and experience this area’s gentle hospitality on a visit to some of its small communities. From your base, hike 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 based at Irente farm and enjoy a cooking demonstration and a picnic lunch.
Day 7 Arusha
Get ready for is a full day of travel as you board your truck once again and venture towards Tanzania’s national parks. Your destination is the sprawling gateway town of Arusha. Arrive at your campsite on the outskirts of the town and settle in for the evening.
Day 8 Karatu
After breakfast this morning, head to Karatu, the gateway to the Ngorongoro Crater. Here, you'll hike through the Ngorongoro Reserve Forest to Elephant Caves and the Endoro waterfalls along the way. Rich with calcium, the Elephant Caves got their name as elephants would come here and break off pieces of rock, eating the dust to receive important minerals. Today's trek, accompanied by an expert local guide and armed ranger, is the perfect way to stretch your legs after a few days of overland travel. You'll hike through Ngorongoro rainforest as your local guide explains the ins and outs of the area here and points out interesting animal tracks and footprints. Marvel at the wild landscape and spot beautiful birdlife as you walk. After, head to Karatu village for a tour of the local coffee farm. Here, you'll see the innovative farming practices from the locals and learn about the farming activities that sustain the coffee, bean, maize, banana, soya and pea crops. Tonight, enjoy a traditional dinner with a local Tanzanian family in their home, who will cook you a few different dishes to try. Learn about the local culture with educational stories from a locally trained guide. What a night!
Day 9 Ngorongoro Crater / Serengeti National Park
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 between 3 and 4 hours exploring this perfectly intact volcanic crater. Watch for black rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, impalas, zebras and hippos. Next, move on to the 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.
Day 10 Serengeti National Park
Wake at dawn and embark on a game drive. You will head out while the animals are at their most active, then go 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 today of a balloon ride over the park (in place of a portion of the morning game drive). If you have pre-booked this activity you will be picked up before dawn and driven to the launch site. After a safety briefing, you will glide through the dawn, sometimes at tree height, which provides amazing photo opportunities. After landing, you'll be treated to a five-star bush breakfast, then be returned to your camp.
Day 11 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, locally prepared dinner in town.
Day 12 Nairobi
Set off early and cross the Kenyan border then continue to Nairobi. You'll be dropped at the finishing point hotel in Nairobi where your trip ends. If you'd like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent.
Day 1: ARRIVE IN NAIROBI, KENYA
Jambo, Kenya!Welcome to Nairobi, gateway to your dream safari. Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.
NAIROBI-CITY-CENTER.jpg
Day 2: NAIROBI
Conservation MattersGuided sightseeing starts at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to learn about elephant conservation including orphaned elephant calves. After lunch, visit Karen Blixen Museum, dedicated to the Danish baroness and author of Out of Africa – a 1937 autobiographical account (later, an Academy Award winning film) illustrating her experience as a coffee farmer and connections with Kenya. You’ll also visit the Giraffe Centre, followed by free time this evening.
(Breakfast,Lunch)TOUR HIGHLIGHTTALL ORDERS Operated by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife, the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi is a non-profit organization focused on saving the Rothschild giraffe. During a visit to this remarkable sanctuary, learn about this giraffe sub-species, meet them up close, and feed them. Get closer from the feeding platform, and you may just get a kiss!
NAIROBI-SHELDRICK.jpg
Day 3: NAIROBI–OL PEJETA CONSERVANCY
To the Foot of Mount KenyaDrive north out of the city to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the largest rhino sanctuary in East Africa. After lunch and some time to settle in, embark on a game drive to begin your search for the “Big 5”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo. End the day with a [LF] welcome barbeque dinner in the bush.
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT A guest favorite, Sweetwaters Serena Camp is in the heart of the conservancy with magnificent views of Mount Kenya. Globus guests are always given tents directly in front of the floodlit waterhole where wildlife comes to drink day and night, improving the opportunity to see fascinating wildlife directly from your private verandah!LOCAL FAVORITEA WILD WELCOME Join your traveling companions for a special welcome dinner in the bush overlooking the Ewaso Ng’iro River. Share stories of the day over food and drink and learn what adventures lie ahead.
OL-PEJETA-WHITE-RHINO.jpg
Day 4: OL PEJETA
Safari SensationRise early for a morning game drive with beautiful Mount Kenya as the backdrop. Beyond the “Big 5,” you may spot cheetah, zebra, gazelle, and more. If you are lucky, you might even spot rare wild dogs. After some down time and lunch, visit the [LF] Sweetwaters Chimp Sanctuary then set out on an afternoon game drive. Dinner at camp concludes your first full day on safari!
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
LOCAL FAVORITETAKE SANCTUARY Learn more about the plight of chimpanzees during a visit to Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. In partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Jane Goodall Institute, the sanctuary offers a long-term home to orphaned and abused chimpanzees—a moving example of wildlife conservation for future generations.
SWEETWATERS-CHIMP.jpg
Day 5: OL PEJETA–NYAHURURU FALLS–LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK
High and MightyLeave Ol Pejeta and journey through the beautiful Kenyan highlands, one of the most fertile agricultural areas in all of Africa. Stop at scenic Nyahururu Falls and then on to Lake Nakuru National Park for an afternoon game drive and a chance to see giraffe, impala, flamingo, striped hyena, and a variety of birdlife along the water’s edge. Lake Nakuru National Park is home to the largest euphorbia forest in Africa, an important pollination and food source for bees and black rhinos, yet toxic to many animals.
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
KENYAN-HIGHLANDS.jpg
Day 6: LAKE NAKURU–MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
Jewel of KenyaThis morning, depart for Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s most famous game area. “The Mara,” as it is called by locals, is part of the Serengeti ecosystem and boasts a strong permanent population of game. When the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra arrive, typically from August to early November, their population grows by almost 2 million - a bountiful food source for predators such as lion, cheetah, leopard, and hyena. After lunch at your lodge, set out on an afternoon game drive.
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT RICH IN CULTURE Neutral tones are encouraged for safari expeditions but the village visits provide spectacular visions of vibrantly beaded necklaces and red clothing traditional to the Maasai culture, symbolizing strength and courage, as well as serving to ward off predators from afar.
MAASAI-MARA-CHEETA.jpg
Day 7: MAASAI MARA
Magical MaraRise early for a morning game drive including an exclusive [LF] bush breakfast. Be sure to watch for elephant, rhino, giraffe, topi, hyena, and much more. Return to the camp and relax prior to your afternoon game drive.
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
LOCAL FAVORITEBREAKFAST IN THE BUSH As part of your morning game drive, you’ll be treated to this time-honored safari experience in Africa’s unmatched landscapes, reminiscent of Africa’s early explorers. Sip mimosas as you savor this memorable experience in the wild.
MAASAI-MARA-WILDEBEESTS.jpg
Day 8: MAASAI MARA–AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK
In the Shadows of “Kili” After breakfast, fly to Amboseli National Park, known for spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro or “Kili” as the locals call it, the highest mountain in Africa. After lunch at the lodge, embark on an afternoon game drive.
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTSAFARI LODGE Spend leisure time at the lodge exploring the grounds on a guided nature walk or participate in eco-tourism activities by planting an indigenous tree to improve the dry area. Cooking classes, language lessons, massage services, and a free-form pool enrich your experience.
AMBOSELI-MOUNT-KILLIMANJARO.jpg
Day 9: AMBOSELI
Adventure in Amboseli Morning and afternoon game drives are included today. Amboseli affords you a terrific opportunity to get close to the mighty elephant. You may spot Cape buffalo, zebra, wild dog, and more. Stop for sundowner drinks prior to returning to your lodge for dinner.
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTSUNDOWNER DRINKS This evening, as the sun sets with “Kili” as the backdrop, savor a memorable happy hour in the bush!
AMBOSELI-MOUNT-KILIMANJARO-ELEPHANTS.jpg
Day 10: AMBOSELI–ARUSHA, TANZANIA–LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
Border Duties & Into TanzaniaThis morning, cross the border into Tanzania. Enjoy lunch in Arusha. Witness the colorful culture in the villages and diverse ecosystems en route to your lodge along the rim of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Check in and enjoy leisure time prior to dinner. Consider a visit to a local village for a market experience or nature walk on the safari lodge property.
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
MANYARA-LAKE-FLAMINGOS.jpg
Day 11: LAKE MANYARA–KARATU–NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA
From Forest Floor to Crater’s EdgeLake Manyara National Park is a small, ecologically diverse park with groundwater forests, grassy plains, and alkaline Lake Manyara itself. The park is also home to the world’s largest concentration of baboon. Watch for these mischievous primates, giraffe, hippo, and more on your morning game drive. After lunch, journey to Karatu where you’ll visit a [LF] local primary school. Continue to your lodge on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater, which is part of the larger Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
LOCAL FAVORITECLASS IS IN SESSION Visit a local primary school to meet the children and learn about the educational system in rural Tanzania.
AFRICA-SCHOOL-CHILDREN.jpg
Day 12: NGORONGORO
Into Africa’s EdenDescend into the crater for a full-day game drive. Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest unflooded caldera, more than 2,000 feet deep with a floor covering over 102 square miles. Game viewing here is fantastic, as most of the animals stay in this area year-round. This is your best chance to see the rare black rhinoceros, lion, Cape buffalo, hippo, elephants, and a variety of birds during this extraordinary experience. An exclusive [LF] bush lunch will be served in the crater.
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
LOCAL FAVORITECRATER CATERING Because of the time it takes to descend into and ascend out of the crater, it’s common to eat lunch in the crater. Standard safari fare is a typical box lunch, but you’ll enjoy an exclusive, freshly cooked lunch served under a grove of Acacia trees.
NGORONGORO-CRATER.jpg
Day 13: NGORONGORO–SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
On the Endless PlainsDrive to Serengeti National Park, Tanzania’s largest and most famous park. The Serengeti covers an area of roughly 5,700 square miles. The name comes from the Maasai word siringit, meaning “endless plains.” Enjoy lunch at your tented camp before an afternoon game drive. You have the chance to see the big cats—lion, leopard, and cheetah—as well as an abundance of other animals, including the Nile crocodile, giraffe, gazelle, and eland. You may even spot a caracal, a rare, beautiful cat with distinctive ears and strong hind legs.
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
SERENGETI-ZEBRA.jpg
Day 14: SERENGETI
Serengeti SerendipityContinue your exploration during morning and afternoon game drives. Home to the annual Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra, generally between late November and July, the Serengeti attracts visitors from around the world and is great for year-round game viewing. Tonight, join a [LF] farewell dinner in the bush featuring a traditional Maasai dance performance.
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
LOCAL FAVORITEDINNER & DANCE The Maasai people bring a history of colorful culture tied to this wilderness known as the Cradle of Life. Your special farewell dinner in the bush includes a traditional Maasai dance performance celebrating an ancient culture amid the majestic wildlife who find sanctuary here. The perfect ending to a spectacular safari adventure!
MAASAI-PERFORMANCE.jpg
Day 15: SERENGETI–STONE TOWN, ZANZIBAR
Island Life BeckonsEmbark on a final game drive in the Serengeti before flying to Stone Town (via Arusha), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Settle into your oceanfront hotel.
(Breakfast)
SERENGETI-SUNRISE.jpg
Day 16: STONE TOWN
Walk on the Wild SideTake a walking tour of Stone Town to see the Old Fort, National Palace, slave caves, and colorful spice markets, followed by a visit to Jozani Forest for a guided walk. Free time in the late afternoon and evening. Spend free time with an optional excursion with MyGlobus selections.
(Breakfast,Lunch)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT MONKEY BUSINESS Foray into the forest fauna of Jozani Forest, the tranquil national park known for monkeys, mangrove trees, medicinal plants, and one of the last remaining sanctuaries of the rare red colobus monkey, found only in Zanzibar. Also keep an eye out for bushbabies, 50 butterfly varieties, and 40 species of birds.
STONE-TOWN.jpg
Day 17: STONE TOWN–DAR ES SALAAM
Kwaheri, Africa!Bid farewell to your African adventure with a flight to Dar es Salaam, where a day room has been reserved for your convenience. Schedule departing flights after 4 pm.
(Breakfast)
DAR-ES-SALAAM.jpg
