12 Days Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Zanzibar safari : Embark on the ultimate 12-day safari exploring Kenya’s majestic Maasai Mara national reserve, Tanzania’s incredible Serengeti national park and then the wonderful Ngorongoro Conservation Area, before island-hopping to the tropical paradise of Zanzibar. This epic safari promises massive wildlife encounters, including the Big five, witnessing the Great Migration, and marveling at the stunning landscapes of Africa’s most renowned national parks and conservation areas. As the safari concludes, you will unwind on the Zanzibar’s pristine beaches, indulge in the exotic cuisine, and soak up the laid-back island vibes, making for an unforgettable adventure that combines thrilling wildlife experiences with the relaxing tropical bliss.
Tour Highlights.
Day 1: Arrival.
Day 2: Transfer to Maasai Mara national reserve and afternoon game drive.
Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon game drive.
Day 4: Transfer to Serengeti national park.
Day 5 and 6: Full day in Serengeti national park.
Day 7: Transfer to Ngorongoro via Olduvai Gorge
Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater experience.
Day 9: Transfer to Arusha.
Day 10: Stone Town Tour, Prison Island and spice tour.
Day 11: Blue safari experience.
Day 12: Departure.
Detailed itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival.
On the 1st day of the safari, your safari guide from African Vacation Safaris, with pick you up from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and he will welcome you and brief you about the 12 days safari. After the briefing you will be transferred to your hotel in Nairobi and then check in your lodge and relax. Later you will be served with dinner, relaxation and overnight stay and prepare for the journey tomorrow to Maasai Mara national reserve.
Day 2: Transfer to Maasai Mara national reserve and afternoon game drive.
On the 2nd day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and enjoy your breakfast. After breakfast you will check out from your hotel and then your safari guide will transfer you to Maasai Mara national reserve. You will begin on your journey to Maasai Mara National Reserve, with the attractive features along the way you will pass through the Narok town where you will interact with the Maasai people and many other locals. And once you arrive, you will check in your lodge and be served with lunch. After lunch you will meet your safari guide and transfer to the reserve for the late afternoon game drive to spot the incredible big five mammals that includes the lions, rhinos, buffaloes, elephants and leopards and among many others like wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, and among others without forgetting the numerous numbers of the bird species. After the experience you will be transferred to the lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon game drive.
On the 3rd of the safari, wake up early in the morning and be served with a hearty breakfast, after you will meet your safari guide and go in the reserve for the morning game drive, this is where you are going to search and witness abundant of the wildlife in the reserve. You will explore the Mara River where you will spot diverse numbers of the crocodiles, hippos and other aquatic animals can be spotted, as well as Talek area known for its abundant numbers of lions, cheetahs. Other best spot areas in the reserve includes Sekenani and Sand River area, which are the prime habitats for the leopards, elephants and giraffes and among others. After the morning game drive you will be transferred back to your lodge and be served with lunch.
After lunch, you will meet your safari guide and transfer back to the reserve to do an afternoon game drive for more experience, this is where you will spot diverse numbers of animals that you missed during the morning game drive. During the afternoon game drive you will see diverse wildlife around the Oloololo Escarpment that offers the stunning backdrop for spotting elephants, giraffes, antelopes, and others, the Mara Triangle offers you the wonderful hotspot for the big cats like the lions, cheetahs, you as can well explore around the Musiara swamp a favorite haunt of hippos, crocodiles and a variety of the birdlife thus providing endless opportunities for exciting wildlife encounters. After the afternoon game drive you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Transfer to Serengeti national park.
On the 4th of the safari, wake up early in the morning and be served with breakfast, after the breakfast you will checkout from your lodge, and meet your safari guide for the transfer to Serengeti National Park. As you start on the journey from Maasai Mara National Reserve you will pass through a diverse range of landscapes and attractions that offer an experience into the rich cultural and natural heritage of Tanzania and Kenya. Departing from Maasai Mara you will initially drive through the rolling hills and grasslands of the Mara ecosystem, before crossing into Tanzania at the Isebenia-Sirari border; this is where your safari guide from Tanzania will pick up and then proceed with your journey. From there you will drive through the town of Tarime, a bustling commercial center that’s is a home to the Sukuma people, you will proceed with your journey through the Grumeti Game reserve, that is a home of the elephants, giraffes, antelopes and others. Along the way you will have the enroute lunch and after lunch you will proceed with your journey; until you reach the park.
When you reach the park you will go for the afternoon game drive; where you will spot various numbers like lions, leopards, cheetahs around the Seronera Valley which is a wildlife hub. The Kopjes a series of granite outcrops that provide a vantage point for spotting predators and prey, and the endless plains a seemingly boundless expanse of grasslands that are home to the massive herds of wildebeests, zebras and antelopes offers breathtaking views and the unforgettable wildlife encounters. After the experience you will be transferred to your lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 5 and 6: Full day in Serengeti national park.
On the 5 and 6th day of the safari, get up early in the morning and enjoy the delicious breakfast, with your packed lunch you will meet your safari guide and go to the park for the full day experience. This day offers you unforgettable adventure that allows you to immerse yourself in the park’s stunning landscapes and the incredible wildlife, and explore many of the hidden secret places. During the morning you will watch the sun rise over the endless plains and spotting the early risers such as lions, hyenas, leopards and others as they start their day, as the morning wears on, you will head to the Seronera valley, in the center of Serengeti where you will spot the big five mammals that includes the lions, buffaloes, rhinos, leopard and elephants roam and the grasslands provide a habitat for the incredible variety of wildlife. After the experience you will go for your picnic lunch.
After the picnic lunch, you will continues your exploration of the park visiting the kopjes, as series of the rocky outcrops that offer stunning views of the surrounding plans, and the Retina Hippo pool, where you can watch the hippos wallowing in the shallow waters, before ending the day with the sunset game drive. After the experience you will be transferred back to your lodge for dinner, relaxation an overnight stay.
Day 7: Transfer to Ngorongoro via Olduvai Gorge
On the 7th day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and enjoy your hearty breakfast, after you will check out from your lodge and then begin your journey to Ngorongoro conservation Area, then you will make your way to Olduvai Gorge, a deep ravine in the East African Rift Valley. En route we stop for a picnic lunch and enjoy game viewing. The gorge features one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, hosting some of the earliest fossils of our humanoid ancestors. You will visit the Olduvai Gorge Museum to see the excavated remains of our ancestors, with Homo erectus remains that date as far back as 1.2 million years ago. From Olduvai, we continue to our accommodation in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where we have dinner and spend the night.
Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater experience.
On the 8th you will enjoy breakfast early in the morning, meet your safari guide and dip some 600m down into the crater for an action-packed day of game viewing in this wildlife paradise. Our 4×4 game drive takes us through the diverse habitats of the crater floor, where we encounter a variety of wild animals.
While in the crater you will have a picnic lunch. The Ngorongoro Crater is renowned for its high concentration of animals, with most wildlife species represented here. Due to the high density of animal populations, you will likely to see an excellent array of animals in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Later you ascend the crater walls after the game viewing adventure. After the experience you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 9: Transfer to Arusha.
On the 9th day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and be served with a hearty breakfast, after breakfast check out from your lodge, and meet your safari guide and then get back to Arusha with the perfect views while existing your lodge. You will proceed with your journey to Arusha upon your arrival you will be transferred to the airport and transfer to Zanzibar, and once you arrive your safari guide will pick you and transfer to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 10: Stone Town Tour, Prison Island and spice tour.
On the 10th day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and enjoy your hearty breakfast, later after breakfast you will meet your safari guide and get the opportunity to discover one of the island’s most historically, culturally, and architecturally attractive areas with the past time history. You will start your day with Stone Town, this is where you will learn about Zanzibar’s former role in the worldwide slave trade and explore the ancient slave market. You will also explore the neighboring new market where you will grab yourself fresh fruits, and many others. As well you will visit museums like Peace memorial museum, the House of Wonder and Old Arab Fort, Palace Museum and Livingstone House and among others. After exploring the stone town will be transferred to the prison island tour to where you will see centuries-old tortoise and among others. And after you will transferred for lunch.
After lunch you will be transferred and experience the spice tour. During the tour you will learn about and sample the sweet tropical fruits and spies that are grown on the farms, not only serving as the food these spices are also used as the ornaments and medicines that are worth to be explored. You will also explore both the state-owned and privately-owned plantations. After the experience you will be transferred to your resort for dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 11: Blue safari experience.
On the 11th day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and enjoy your hearty breakfast. After breakfast you will go for the Zanzibar tour for Blue safari experience this is where you will as you go sailing on the Indian Ocean while using the traditional dhows. During the experience you will explore Menai bay conservation area, where you will enjoy watching dolphins, swimming, snorkeling and among others. During the experience you will enjoy lunch during the tour at the island with the impressive breeze, later after the experience you will return to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12: Departure.
On the last day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and enjoy your breakfast. After breakfast you will check out from your hotel, and your safari guide will transfer you back at the airport to get a flight back home and this will bring your safari come to the end.
Price includes.
Arrival and departure airport transfers.
Transport.
Accommodation per itinerary.
Zanzibar activity fees as indicates.
Meals per itinerary that includes lunch, breakfast and dinner.
Government taxes.
All meals on the safari.
All day game drives as per sample itinerary.
All national park fees.
Experienced safari guide.
Price excludes.
Visas and related costs.
International and domestic flights.
Travel insurance.
Personal expenses like laundry, beverages, telephone and other items of personal nature.
Tips and souvenirs.
Laundry.
Flights.
Tips and gratuities.
Optional excursions and activities not listed in the itinerary.
