Masai Mara, Zanzibar, Vic Falls: 24 Day Tour (Accommodated)

Day 1. Nairobi, Kenya to Maasai Mara Reserve Highlights. Great Rift Valley.

We board our game viewing vehicles and meet our local guides and head out of the busy city. Along the way we stop off at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint to learn more about the geographic phenomenon that stretches from the middle east through to the Zambezi valley.

From here we continue through the town of Narok and on to the buffer area that leads to the un-fenced Maasai Mara National Reserve. We spend our first night at our camp on the border of the reserve in the company of the local Askari to guard us from the roaming predators at night.

3 images Great Rift Valley

Day 2. Maasai Mara National Reserve Highlights. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Accommodation. Enchoro Wildlife Camp, Masai Mara.

We head out early on our game drive into the Mara and begin our search for the wildlife that is home here. From July to September the Maasai Mara hosts the herds of the Great Migration as they make their way across the Sand River from the neighbouring Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. It is during these months that you'll find the Mara dotted with wildebeest, gazelle and zebra as they enjoy the lush green grazing found here in the north.

During the other months there is still much to see in the reserve as there is a large resident wildlife population. The advantage is also that the reserve is less crowded with people on safari.

Seek out the predators like cheetah, lion and leopard as they hunt and the antelope as they graze with the moving herds. There are elephant, hyena, buffalo, giraffe and a variety of species to see - not to mention a rich variety of birdlife too.

3 images Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

3 images Enchoro Wildlife Camp, Masai Mara

Day 3. Maasai Mara to Nairobi

After an exciting time in the Maasai Mara National Reserve we journey back across the Great Rift Valley to Nairobi and our comfortable hotel for the night.

Day 4. Nairobi to Arusha, Tanzania Highlights. Maasai Culture Village Walk, Arusha, Tanzania. Meserani Snake Park, Tanzania.

From Nairobi our journey takes us south and across the border into neighbouring Tanzania and the town of Arusha which is located midway between Cairo and Cape Town.

Arusha is very much 'Safari Town' and we stop to explore the markets and stock up on provisions before continuing the short distance out of town, onto the Maasai plains and our accommodation for the night.

3 images Maasai Culture Village Walk, Arusha, Tanzania

3 images Meserani Snake Park, Tanzania

Day 5. Arusha to Serengeti National Park Highlights. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

We swap our Acacia vehicle for purpose-built 4x4 game drive vehicles and are accompanied by professional local guides for a 2 night /3-day excursion into the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater.

Our drive takes us out over the Maasai plains and up the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley with stunning views over Lake Manyara before entering the Ngorongoro highlands. After lunch on the rim of the famous Ngorongoro Crater, we continue on down into the Serengeti Plains and see the seemingly endless sea of grass opening up before us.

We game drive to our camp deep in the park and relax for the night.

3 images Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Day 6. Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Crater Highlights. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.

We are up early and out at first light to enjoy all that is on offer in this world-famous national park. The park will be most peoples image of safari in Africa with the plains of grass, flat-topped acacia trees and rock outcrops. We drive in search of the 'Big 5' and if we are lucky we might encounter the large herds of grazing animals while on their annual migration.

This afternoon we make our way out of the park and up towards the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater where we camp for the night.

3 images Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Day 7. Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha Highlights. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.

We are up in the cool of the dawn and we may be lucky enough to see the sun rising over the rim of the crater, gradually burning off the mist and cloud before we jump on the 4x4 vehicles and head down into the crater for a full morning game drive.

We will be rewarded with some amazing animal sightings on the crater floor as all the main species of animals in the region are found in the crater with the exception of giraffe.

Following lunch we ascend the steep crater walls again and commence our journey back to Arusha.

3 images Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Day 8. Arusha to Bagamoyo Highlights. Bagamoyo, Tanzania.

We have a long drive today around the snow capped Mount Kilimanjaro where, if it's clear we may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the peak. Continuing on towards the coast we travel through sisal plantations and onwards to the palm fringed beaches of the Indian Ocean.

3 images Bagamoyo, Tanzania

Day 9. Bagamoyo to Dar es Salaam Highlights. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

We journey the short distance down the coast to the commercial capital of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam. After working our way through the busy traffic we arrive at our comfortable beach side camp and prepare for our excursion over to the spice island of Zanzibar.

3 images Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Day 10. Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar Island, Stone Town Highlights. Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania.

After the short drive into the port we take the fast ferry across to Stone Town, the capital city of Zanzibar.

Zanzibar has a rich and varied history as for many years it was an important trading port from spices to slaves. We explore the old town, maybe grabbing a bargain or two in the markets.

3 images Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Day 11-12. Zanzibar Island, Nungwi Highlights. Zanzibar, Northern Beaches, Tanzania.

On the morning of day 11 we travel up through the island to the beautiful white sand of the northern beaches where we have two nights to relax and enjoy this beautiful environment. Maybe take a trip out on a traditional dhow and go swimming and snorkelling or possibly explore some of the nearby villages or simply just kick back and relax. The time is up to you!

3 images Zanzibar, Northern Beaches, Tanzania

Day 13. Zanzibar Island, Nungwi to Dar es Salaam Highlights. Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Leaving the beaches behind this morning we make our way down through the island to Stone Town to catch the ferry back to Dar es Salaam where we are met by our driver. We head back to our comfortable accommodation on the warm Indian Ocean beachfront.

3 images Zanzibar, Tanzania

Day 14. Dar es Salaam to Mikumi National Park Area Highlights. Mikumi National Park, Tanzania.

Leaving Dar es Salaam early this morning we continue our journey in the Acacia vehicle. The route takes us through Mikumi National Park and we may be lucky enough to see some game near the road.

Upon reaching our camp on the far side of the park, depending on time, we may have the opportunity to take an optional game drive within the park.

3 images Mikumi National Park, Tanzania

Day 15. Mikumi National Park Area to Iringa

Continuing on through Tanzania we climb up into the southern highlands today and enjoy the cooler fresher climate compared with that of the last few days in Zanzibar. Our accommodation for the night is a working organic farm that has been owned by the same family for over 70 years and is well known for its cozy bar, hot showers and great chocolate brownies.

Day 16. Iringa to Mbeya Region

Heading towards Malawi we make a stop at the tranquil Utengule Coffee Lodge nestled amidst the majestic Mbeya range in Southern Tanzania.

Enjoy breathtaking views of the East African Rift Valley, relax by the poolside or enjoy the various activities like squash, tennis, pool, table tennis, or volleyball.

For those interested in coffee, an optional guided tour through the coffee plantation is available, including a roasting demonstration and a cup of home-grown coffee.

Day 17. Mbeya Region to Chitimba (Lake Malawi), Malawi

After our last night in Tanzania, we head to the Songwe border post into Malawi. Lake Malawi formerly ‘Lake Nyasa’ covers almost a fifth of the country’s area and provides the source of livelihood for many of the Malawi people. Fishermen, fish traders, canoe and net makers all ply their trade, and a common sight is that of a fisherman in his Bwato, (dugout canoe made from hollowed out tree trunk) fishing on the lake at the break of day. The lake also has the highest number of endemic freshwater fish species of any in the world.

Relax on the beach, take a leisurely village walk, visit the local craft market where you can enjoy learning the ins and outs of woodcarving your own souvenir, learn to play the game of Bao or haggle for some souvenirs.

Day 18. Chitimba to Nkhotakota Region (Lake Malawi)

Today we take a nice scenic drive through rubber plantations to Mzuzu - the capital of the northern region and the third largest town in Malawi - where we stop for a short while to grab supplies and check out the markets, before arriving to Ngala Beach Lodge.

Day 19. Nkhotakota Region (Lake Malawi) Highlights. Lake Malawi, Malawi.

Today you’ll have some free time to try some of the optional activities, such as hiring a kayak, snorkelling, village walk, waterfall hike, or simply relax and enjoy the warm, fresh waters of Lake Malawi.

3 images Lake Malawi, Malawi

Day 20. Nkhotakota Region (Lake Malawi) to Petauke, Zambia

Saying our goodbye’s to ‘the Lake’, we drive through Nkhotakhota Game Reserve towards the border where we cross into Zambia. After completing the border formalities, we continue our journey to Petauke, a region known for agriculture, producing maize, cotton, sunflower, soya beans, and other crops.

Day 21. Petauke to Lusaka Highlights. Lusaka, Zambia.

Today we leave early and take the Great Eastern Road through lush country and small villages, cross the Luangwa River to Lusaka, Zambia’s capital. Lusaka is Southern Africa’s fastest growing city with approx. 1.7m inhabitants.
It is located on Zambia’s southern plateau at an elevation of 1300m with four main highways running north, south, east, and west to different parts of Africa. Our campsite for the evening is set in a tranquil and relaxing setting on a farm.

Day 22. Lusaka to Livingstone Highlights. Livingstone Activities, Zambia. Victoria Falls - Mosi oa Tunya National Park, Zambia.

Today is the last day on the road for the safari with the destination being Livingstone and the nearby mighty Victoria Falls. At high water, we will be able to see the column of spray from over 30km's away. Our accommodation here is on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River and we have a team on hand to ensure that we make the most of what is on offer here.