Zanzibar to Nairobi

12 Days
From CAD 2,812 Was CAD 3,515
Best Rate
Guarantee
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Light

Rating


(10 reviews)

Experience Overview

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?

Highlights

  • Wander around Stone Town’s bustling bazaars and fragrant spice markets and opt to embark on a guided tour of the spice plantations.
  • Explore the Serengeti – a wildlife arena like no other – and look for lions, leopards, elephants and giraffes in this iconic park with your local crew.
  • Learn to prepare a Swahili dish, crafting and learning about village life in Mto wa Mbu.
  • Take a mind-blowing safari across the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater in an open-roof 4WD vehicle for a chance to see endangered black rhinoceros.
  • Embark on a hike through the Usambara Mountains to the Irente viewpoint, then stop at a farm on the way back for a picnic lunch.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, the East African Wildlife Society. Donations help them protect endangered wildlife, support conservation and promote sustainable management of natural resources in East Africa.

Trip Details

Product CodeProduct Code: 3172

Tour TypeTour Type: Small Group

AccommodationAccommodation: Basic

TransportTransport: Overland vehicle,4x4 Safari Vehicle,Ferry,Minibus

Guide LanguageGuide Language: English

Travel StylesTravel Styles: Overland Expedition

Supplier CodeSupplier Code: YXOQC

StartStarts: Stone Town, Kenya

FinishFinishes: Nairobi, Kenya

DurationDuration: 12 days

DeparturesDepartures: Guaranteed

Physical RatingPhysical rating: Light

Includes

Meals: Breakfasts (11), Lunch (7), Dinner (8)
Accommodation: Hotel (1 night),Bungalow (2 nights),Camping (with basic facilities) (2 nights),Camping (with facilities) (6 nights)

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 2812 (CAD 234 /day)

Itinerary

1
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.

Optional Activities:

  • Stone Town Tour - Dharajani Market, Joseph's Cathederal, Palace Museum, Forodhani Food Market (20 USD)
  • Zanzibar - Prison Island Tour (25 USD)
  • Stone Town - Handicraft & Music Urban Adventure (50 USD)

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

2
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.

Optional Activities:

  • Zanzibar - Spice tour (25 USD)

Accommodation:

  • Bungalow (Number of Nights: 1)

3
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!

Optional Activities:

  • Zanzibar - Snorkelling (50 USD)
  • Zanzibar - Dhow Trip (35 USD)

Accommodation:

  • Bungalow (Number of Nights: 1)

4
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.

Optional Activities:

  • Stone Town - Culinary Urban Adventure (29 USD)
  • Stone Town - Handicraft & Music Urban Adventure (50 USD)

Accommodation:

  • Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

5
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.

Accommodation:

  • Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

6
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.

Included Activities:

  • Irente - Lushoto hike
  • Irente - Local lunch

Accommodation:

  • Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

7
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.

Accommodation:

  • Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

8
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!

Included Activities:

  • Ngorongoro Forest - Elephant Cave Trek
  • Karatu - Home-Cooked Dinner
  • Karatu - Coffee Farm Tour

Accommodation:

  • Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

9
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.

Included Activities:

  • Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
  • Serengeti National Park - 4x4 Game Drive

Accommodation:

  • Camping (with basic facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

10
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.

Included Activities:

  • Serengeti National Park - 4x4 Game Drive

Optional Activities:

  • Serengeti National Park - Balloon Ride (from price) (745 USD)

Accommodation:

  • Camping (with basic facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

11
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.

Included Activities:

  • Serengeti National Park - 4x4 Game Drive
  • Mto Wa Mbu - Village walk & local dinner

Accommodation:

  • Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

12
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.

Optional Activities:

  • Nairobi - Nairobi by Night Urban Adventure (76 USD)

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

Reviews

 

Mateus   -  Traveled, May 2023

My very first in Africa and made me feel so grateful for the time I spent here, this is open mind for different values in life, I’ll comeback for more because I wish spend more time in this lovely country with this beautiful people. I have Africa in my heart!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/03/2023

 

Janine   -  Traveled, May 2023

Trip of a lifetime! Serengeti was beyond any expectations and I’ll forever be grateful for this experience! Experiencing Africa will be a big enrichment! Thx to our tour guide Victor and team who made it a trip to remember!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/03/2023

 

Megan   -  Traveled, May 2023

A fabulous trip to a beautiful country. The snorkelling in Zanzibar and game drives in the Serengeti are not to be missed. Choose the time you visit as it can be wet and muddy.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/03/2023

 

May   -  Traveled, May 2023

The time spent in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater is phenomenal especially since you get to camp in the wild. Intrepid also makes sure to be a "responsible traveler" -the multiple village walks with the locals was such a wonderful learning experience. The crew made the whole experience into an amazing journey

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/03/2023

 

Dean   -  Traveled, December 2022

A great trip to Zanzibar to Nairobi, Serengeti marvellous and Zanzibar relaxing. The experience is well worth it.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/31/2022

 

Duncan   -  Traveled, December 2022

Wow people you’d go on this trip with intrepid because they’re fantastic people and you will see fantastic sites and then when you get to the Serengeti it blows your mind away

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 01/07/2023

 

Myriam   -  Traveled, November 2023

Camping in Serengeti and hearing lions a night ! What an incredible experience - Thanks Intrepid Travel for making this true (And making sure the lions did not eat me)

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/04/2023

 

Nicola   -  Traveled, May 2024

An amazing trip from Zanzibar to Nairobi, the Serengeti was a massive highlight along with the crater! The best trip with the best crew and friends that have now become family!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/12/2024

 

Jemma   -  Traveled, May 2024

Prep for camping which brings you an experience that will positively change your life forever more. Ray, Ibrahim and John are an amazing team. Anyone who books this trip will come back with more than just a great selection of photos <3

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/12/2024

 

Josh  -  Traveled, June 2024

The trip was amazing! We saw some very special bucket list sights in our short stint in Africa. A beautiful place with a range of scenery (hikes, local villages, beaches and the safari!). The crew couldn’t have been better. We had three fellas from Kenya who were absolutely outstanding!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 07/08/2024

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