ITINERARY

16 Days in East Africa

Inspiration for your next adventure

Nairobi, Kenya
Giraffe Manor, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Maasai Mara, Serengeti
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Stone Town, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Mafia Island
Changuu Island
Chole Bay
AND MORE….

Day One

On arrival at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you will be met by a local representative who will transport you to your home for the night. Our top resort pick in the heart of Nairobi.

This boutique hotel elevates the standard of luxury for travellers in the region. Beautiful in its symmetry and flooded with natural light, this plantation-style property is airy and spacious. Each suite has a private balcony overlooking the iconic silhouette of the Ngong Hills, a magical view which can also be enjoyed over sundowners at the bar.

Day Two

Depart by private transfer to Giraffe Manor. There you will be welcomed by the hotel’s resident Rothschild’s giraffes, who roam the grounds surrounding this classic manor house. The giraffes are completely wild but enjoy being fed by guests, making this an experience unlike any other in the world.

After lunch, explore the Retreat, created exclusively for guests of Giraffe Manor. The Retreat at Giraffe Manor provides the perfect beginning to any African safari. Surrounded by nature, it offers an exquisite wellness experience for Manor House guests

Day Three

Enjoy the most unforgettable bucket-list breakfast in the world with the resident Rothschild’s giraffes. The giraffes love to interact with visitors, reaching out with their long, inquisitive tongues in hope of a treat. Seeing their mascara-like eyelashes from just inches away, feeling the roughness of their dark tongues and witnessing their different personalities is fascinating.

After checkout, explore the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the world’s most successful orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation program. The life saving conservation work they carry out is incredible.

Later, transfer to the airstrip for your scheduled flight to Maasai Mara.

Day Four

Maasai Mara is a must-visit destination for your safari, and provides habitats for many incredible animals, including lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras and hippos. Catch the Wildebeest migration to witness what is considered to be the 8th wonder of the natural world.

Enjoy bush breakfasts, private guided safaris, village walks and sundowners, all in a day’s activities!

Day Five

Take to the skies on an incredible hot-air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara at sunrise. In the afternoon, take part in a captivating game drive.

The Maasai Mara is unforgettable due to the abundance of wildlife and spectacular landscapes. This is the quintessential African safari experience, where travellers can expect to encounter the Big Five and observe thrilling predator interaction.

Day Six

Back at camp, a refreshing lap pool provides cool comfort in between captivating game drives.

Tonight, dine under the African sky with an open-air meal on the banks of the Mara River or out on the plains. At night take in the sounds of the bush while enjoying a fireside meal. Your every whim is taken care of and your table set up in the wilds of Africa makes for a sublime dining experience.

Day Seven

In the morning, go by private transfer to the airstrip for your scheduled flight to the Serengeti, where you’ll have a front-row seat to the wildlife.

Arrive at your lodge which offers panoramic views of the savannah, a sense of immense freedom, and stillness. Elegant cottages offer expansive en-suite bathrooms, dressing areas, fireplaces, living rooms and French doors opening onto welcoming verandas.

Day Eight

Explore the Serengeti on a 350,000-acre private reserve. Walking safaris are an incredible way to experience the bush up close and personal. Your expert guide and tracker will accompany you as you track animals on foot through the wilderness and explore the magnificent plants and landscapes around you.

Relax in the afternoon with a personalized wine tasting within the unique ambience of your lodge’s own temperature-controlled cellar.

Day Nine

Journey into the heart of Africa’s most untouched and remote wilderness areas with twice-daily game drives presenting the opportunity for intimate connections with nature and discover the raw beauty of the continent’s most magnificent creatures up close.

Each tailormade exploration with your personal field guide celebrates the freedom to spend unfiltered time in wide-open spaces and while no two game drives are ever the same, you are bound to be enchanted by vivid encounters with Africa’s most iconic wildlife.

Day Ten

Transfer to the airstrip for your flight to Dar es Salam. From there, take a short flight to Zanzibar, a barefoot paradise off the coast of Tanzania. Your private guide will take you to the beachside town of Paje.

Tonight, experience dinner at The Rock. An open-air terrace, offering that romantic evening under the African stars by night, skies by day, with panoramic seascapes. The restaurant is reached off the beach on foot at low tide or by boat at high tide.

Day Eleven

Today, take to the Indian Ocean in a private charter. Sail to the waters off the north-east coast of Zanzibar to look for dolphins, then off to Mnemba Reef. This breathtaking marine ecosystem is famous for sightings of green turtles and dolphins that like to join you as you snorkel or dive.

In the evening, enjoy a sunset cruise on a traditional dhow boat.

Day Twelve

Explore the inner forest of Zanzibar with a visit to Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park. The Jozani Forest is the home of the red colobus monkey, a rare species found only on the island.

In the afternoon, visit nearby Changuu Island, one of the few islands in the world that houses Aldabra tortoises. The tortoises in Changuu have their ages written on their shells, with the oldest one being 193 years old. Visitors can feed the tortoises lettuce and fruit by hand.

Day Thirteen

Today you will fly to Mafia Island, but before your departure from Zanzibar, find your Bohemian Rhapsody in nearby Stone Town. Walk in the footsteps of Zanzibar’s legendary son, Freddie Mercury: lead vocalist and songwriter of the British-based rock band Queen. A UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the city is a multi-cultural mix of architectural influences, including 19th century coral-stone buildings, an old Arab fort, and a diverse collection of Swahili influences.

On Mafia Island, check into your eco-lodge with private bungalows tucked away in the coconut palms overlooking Chole Bay.

Day Fourteen

Dive into a fascinating world beneath the waves. Whale sharks can be found year-round in the Mafia Island Marine Reserve. Snorkel or dive with these gentle giants for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

A true diver’s paradise, East Africa’s largest marine reserve boasts some of the most pristine and unspoilt coral reefs in the Indian Ocean for scuba or snorkeling. Explore vibrant coral colonies lying under clear waters with up underwater visibility of up to 130 feet.

Day Fifteen

Between June and September, you can witness baby sea turtles scrambling across the white sand into the warm Indian Ocean. Sail in a traditional dhow across Chole Bay, landing on the shielded western side of Juani Island. Hidden below the African sand are sea turtle nests.

The little hatchlings emerge from the sand, scrambling out of their nest, flapping their fins vivaciously, racing to reach the surf and start the next step of their incredible journey.

Day Sixteen

Check-out from your eco-lodge. Enjoy breakfast overlooking the Indian Ocean before you depart to Dar Es Salaam for your flight home.

Our theory on East Africa

Taking part in conservation efforts can add a richness to your journey. Join a community visit during your stay at the Seregenti to experience the positive impact that tourism has on the surrounding communities.

CASEY

The perfect trip to East Africa is a balanced blend of safari and a luxury beach escape! Catch your adrenaline in the bush with up-close encounters to wildlife, and then transition to a private villa on the Indian Ocean. A must do!

KITTE