Masai Mara & Tanzania Explorer – 13-Day Overland Safari Adventure
Experience the ultimate East African journey on this immersive 13-day accommodated overland safari, combining iconic wildlife destinations, rich cultural encounters, and idyllic coastal escapes. This carefully curated adventure takes you deep into the heart of Kenya and Tanzania, offering unforgettable moments at every turn.
Your journey begins in Kenya’s world-renowned Masai Mara National Reserve, a vast savannah teeming with wildlife and famous for its breathtaking landscapes and exceptional game viewing. Here, you’ll embark on thrilling game drives in search of the “Big Five” and witness the raw beauty of Africa’s wilderness. You may also have the opportunity to visit a traditional Maasai village, gaining insight into the customs and daily life of one of Africa’s most iconic cultures.
Crossing into Tanzania, the adventure continues into the legendary Serengeti National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its endless plains and extraordinary concentration of wildlife. Spend your days exploring this remarkable ecosystem, where lions roam freely, elephants graze peacefully, and, depending on the season, the awe-inspiring Great Migration may unfold before your eyes.
Next, descend into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, a natural wonder and one of Africa’s most unique safari destinations. This ancient volcanic caldera is home to an incredibly dense population of wildlife, offering a rare chance to see a wide variety of animals—including rhinos—in a single, breathtaking setting.
Leaving the savannah behind, you’ll travel to Tanzania’s coast, visiting the historic town of Bagamoyo. Once a major trading port, Bagamoyo offers a fascinating glimpse into East Africa’s past, with its blend of Swahili, Arab, and colonial influences. Continue onward to the bustling coastal city of Dar es Salaam, where modern energy meets cultural diversity.
From here, board a scenic ferry to the exotic island of Zanzibar, a tropical paradise known for its turquoise waters and rich history. Spend three unforgettable days exploring the narrow, winding streets of Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with vibrant markets, ornate architecture, and cultural treasures. Then unwind on Zanzibar’s pristine, palm-fringed beaches—perfect for relaxation, swimming, and soaking up the sun.
This Masai Mara & Tanzania Explorer tour blends adventure, culture, and relaxation into one seamless journey, offering a truly unforgettable African experience.
Nairobi – Masai Mara. Early this morning we depart Nairobi and drive to the Masai Mara. We will be travelling in small purpose-built safari vehicles for this part of the tour to enjoy a more intimate wildlife-viewing experience. In the Masai Mara we spend two nights on the edge of the reserve in permanent en suite tents. This afternoon we visit a local Maasai village to learn more about their culture and way of life.
Please note: The pre-departure meeting is held at 18:00 on the day before 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 explore the Masai Mara on 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, which are 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. From the Mara we make our way back across the Great Rift Valley to Nairobi, where we overnight. Tonight, you have the opportunity to head out and explore Nairobi’s bustling night life or dine at the famed Carnivore Restaurant.
Nairobi – Arusha (Tanzania). We leave Kenya, crossing into neighbouring Tanzania at the Namanga frontier and travelling on to the country’s safari capital, Arusha. After exploring the curio markets, we head to our camp just outside city. This afternoon, if time allows, we have the option to visit a traditional Masai village.
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.
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.
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 stay on the outskirts of the town, near the palm-fringed beaches of the Indian Ocean.
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 stay by the beach just outside the city tonight, and you’ll have time to go for a swim.
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 typically spend day 10 in Stone Town and days 11 and 12 at one of the northern beaches, but this can be flexible.
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.
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