Day 1: Nairobi to Maasai Mara
In specialised safari vehicles, we depart Nairobi early and make our way to the Maasai Mara National Reserve via the Great Rift Valley. We stop off at a viewpoint to look at the cleft in the earth and imagine the size of this rift that spans most of the east African continent.
The Maasai Mara is home to all of Africa's 'Big 5' as well as a number of other species - including gazelle and zebra. Tomorrow we'll head out on a game drive and hope to spot these in their natural surroundings.
Day 2: Maasai Mara National Reserve
Today we spend the day searching for wildlife in this reserve. Maasai Mara National Reserve and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania have no fences separating them - allowing the wildlife to roam freely between the two.
The surrounding scenery presents dappled hills and we spend the day heading over and around these in search of the resident wildlife. Famed for the great herds that gather here from July to September each year, the Maasai Mara offers exceptional game viewing throughout the whole year.
Day 3: Maasai Mara to Nairobi
Today we bid farewell to the Mara and journey back across the Great Rift Valley to Nairobi.
Day 4: Nairobi to Arusha, Tanzania
We leave Kenya and cross into Tanzania via the Namanga border post, before making our way to Arusha, the bustling safari capital of Tanzania, situated mid-way between Cairo and Cape Town on the Pan-African Highway. As we drive, we'll see some of the coffee plantations that provide a means of income (other than tourism) in this region.
Once we get to our camp at Meserani, we prepare for our 4x4 excursion to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
Day 5: Arusha to Serengeti National Park
This morning we leave Arusha in 4x4 safari vehicles and head across the Great Rift Valley through Mto Wa Mbo (Mosquito creek) into the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. We drive the rim of the crater and descend down onto the Serengeti plains - all whilst game driving to our camp for the night.
Along the way, we get so see many fascinating sights - including the savanna plains that the Serengeti is famed for. We spend the afternoon in search of the predators and herds that roam the area, as well as stopping off at the hippo pools or perhaps even seeing a leopard laze in the bough of an Acacia tree!
Day 6: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
Waking with the dawn, we explore our surrounds in search of the wildlife that has been active overnight.
After breakfast, we pack up our camp and make our way back along the plains and to the Ngorongoro Crater where we spend the night on the crater rim.
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha
We wake early once more, have a quick breakfast and head off on our day's exploration. We descend down along the steep road into the Ngorongoro Crater for our morning game drive. Spot the herds from high above as we wind our way down and then marvel at the abundance of wildlife found in this picturesque haven.
After lunch we make our way back to Arusha and our accommodation at Meserani Snake Park.
Day 8: Arusha to Bagamoyo
We jump back onto our vehicle today and leave Arusha early to Bagamoyo along the Tanzanian coast. We travel via Moshi at the base of Kilimanjaro, before heading south where, as we put some distance between ourselves and the towering mountain, we may catch a glimpse of the snowy peak.
Tonight we enjoy the warm tropical waters of the Indian Ocean.
Day 9: Bagamoyo to Dar es Salaam
Heading further along the coast, we make our way south to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's main port and busiest city.
Our camp is situated on the beach to the south of the city.
This afternoon we prepare for our trip to Zanzibar where we spend the remainder of our tour.
Day 10: Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar
This morning we take the ferry from Dar es Salaam and cross the channel to Zanzibar Island. Explore Stone Town (the island's capital) by foot - visiting mosques, palaces, courtyards and markets, wending our way through the winding maze of alleyways of the old town.
Enjoy sun-downer cocktails (made with fresh fruits from the surrounding plantations) with picture perfect views of dhows sailing past the dipping sunset.
Day 11-12: Zanzibar
Leaving Stone Town, we make our way to the northern beaches for the next couple of nights. Enjoy the powdery white-sand beaches and the clear blue ocean here - scuba diving, snorkelling or just relaxing under palm fronds by the waterside.
There is much to do while on Zanzibar - allowing you to be as relaxed, or as busy as you'd prefer. Whether heading out to explore activities across the island, or simply chilling in a hammock is your thing - you'll love the Island and all it has to offer.
Day 13: Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam
We make our way back to Stone Town for some last minute souvenir-shopping and sightseeing before making our way back to Dar es Salaam and the African mainland where our tour ends.
