20 days tour

Best Of East Africa

$ 3,816 .00 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $3,816.00

Best Of East Africa

This tour includes:

Meals

19 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 13 dinners

Transport

Our trucks are purpose-built, self contained safari vehicles. Our fleet of vehicles varies depending on your group size, trip route and style. Your vehicle type may differ from those listed above. It is also important to note that our overland vehicles are not air-conditioned, but all vehicles have windows that can be opened to allow for fresh air. Each seat will have access to a power socket to charge your devices. This outlet will use a UK/K: enyan 3 pronged outlet. There are many early starts with long hours spent driving on rough roads on all African itineraries. While most people love the chance to watch the changing landscape and daily village life, feedback shows that long periods of inactivity does not appeal to all clients. We provide the approximate distance covered each day and how many hours this normally takes to drive so that you can choose the safari experience that is right for you. African conditions are extremely tough on vehicles. While we fastidiously maintain our vehicles at our workshops, you should not expect Africa to be your traditional touring experience. While itโ€™s certainly our aim to avoid them, itโ€™s important that you set off on your trip knowing that the occasional breakdown can happen and are best treated as part of the African adventure. Due to wet weather there may be times when we have to take an alternative route which will mean longer travel times. Overland vehicle , 4x4 Safari Vehicle , Ferry , Minibus

Others

Lake Nakuru - Village Walk & Cooking Class Lake Nakuru - Overland Vehicle Game Drive Lake Naivasha - Boat trip Loita Hills - Cultural talk and village visit Masai Mara - 4x4 Game Drive Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive Serengeti National Park - 4x4 Game Drive Mto Wa Mbu - Village walk & local dinner Irente - Lushoto hike Irente - Local lunch

Accommodation

Accommodation on this trip is mainly in two-person canvas dome tents with camping mattresses supplied. The type and variety of accommodation are determined by conditions on each of our routes. Each route is different - on some, we use a mixture of campsites and wild camps; on others, we also use hotels. In Africa, itโ€™s not usually practical to camp when staying in towns and cities, so we use hotel accommodations and eat out in local restaurants. There may be the occasional night stop when we stay on the grounds of a hotel or at a campsite, which may also have rooms/cabins available. In this case, there may be a choice of camping or upgrading to a room. Rooms cost approximately USD : 40-100 per room per night for a twin room and cannot be pre-booked. Standards of these rooms vary greatly, and we recommend viewing the room before purchasing the nightโ€™s accommodation. The day-by-day itinerary advises when upgrades may be possible (subject to availability). Keep in mind that if we are staying in dormitory accommodation, you may have to share with other passengers or be split into same-sex rooms. Campsites do have facilities, but they usually arenโ€™t to the same standard you would find in Western countries. For example, the bathroom facilities can be very basic. Toilet paper is rarely provided, and shower facilities can be as simple as a hose pipe spurting out cold water. Wild camps have no facilities at all. At times, there may be spare tents in the vehicles. Unfortunately, these cannot be used without the purchase of a single supplement. This is to ensure the tents avoid wear and tear or are clean and ready for the customers arriving on the next section of the trip. Camping (with facilities) (10 nights), Hotel (3 night), Camping (with basic facilities) (3 night), Bunglow (2 nights)

Guide

On this trip you will be accompanied by three crew members - Group Leader, Cook and Driver who will usually be Kenyan. Your Group Leaderโ€™s role involves organizing the overall operation and smooth-running of the trip, managing trip logistics, coordinating the tipping kitty (where applicable) and will form work groups to take turns cooking, cleaning and shopping. (From time to time your leader may drive as well) Your Group Leader will work towards making the trip as safe and enjoyable as possible for all travellers. Intrepid trips are built around the coโ€“operation and participation of all the group members under the supervision of the group leader. The group leader will show the group how to set up and use the equipment. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting, especially when tracking and identifying game - we think itโ€™s the best of both worlds. Regardless of the country of origin, our Group Leaders are chosen for their leadership skills and are wonderful ambassadors for our company and our beautiful continent and its people. Your Cook is responsible for the cooking and will help to coordinate the work groups for preparing the meals and washing up! Cooks are also responsible for organizing food shopping (they are always happy to have you on board) and most importantly, they make sure high hygiene standards are kept at all times while camping. Your Driverโ€™s main responsibility is to get you to your destination safely; they are also responsible for the maintenance of the vehicles along the way. Everyone is expected to participate and carry their share of the workload/duties, making camp chores easier. The duties Rota system is adopted where all members share in general camp duties โ€“ cooking, shopping, washing up etc. If the whole group participates it will be quicker, easier, and more fun. We endeavour to provide the services of an experienced leader and crew; however, situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders.

Not included:

Others

Other activities and services are not included

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Flights

International flights are not included

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Best Of East Africa

  • Day 1 Day 1: Nairobi
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Nairobi

      Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. Your trip begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive with time to spare before the meeting, consider getting to know the city on an Urban Adventure like the โ€˜Nairobi Experienceโ€™. This optional 4-hour tour is a great way to get a feel for Nairobi, and includes lunch at a local restaurant. After the welcome meeting, perhaps join your new travel companions for an optional group dinner.

  • Day 2 Day 2: Lake Nakuru National Park
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Lake Nakuru National Park

      Drive north-west past splendid views of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha and Elementaita to Lake Nakuru National Park. Situated in the heart of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru National Park is a great location for spotting wildlife, which you will do in an early morning game drive tomorrow. For now, head to a nearby village with your leader. This is a fantastic opportunity to interact with the local folk and get a feel for everyday life here. Enjoy a cooking class and return later in the evening to share the results for dinner.

  • Day 3 Day 3: Lake Naivasha
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Lake Naivasha

      Wake early for breakfast and head into the Lake Nakuru National Park for a game drive in the overland vehicle. Along with the other members of the Big Five, Lake Nakuru is home to rhinos, and there will be a good chance of spotting and photographing one of these magnificent beasts. Return to camp for lunch before driving to your camp near Lake Naivasha. One of the few freshwater lakes in the Great Rift Valley, Lake Naivasha has floating islands of papyrus reeds and a border of flat-topped acacias. Itโ€™s also home to a healthy population of hippos and a tremendous variety of birds.

  • Day 4 Day 4: Lake Naivasha
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Lake Naivasha

      Enjoy a free day to choose from a variety of optional activities available around Lake Naivasha. Perhaps venture to Hellโ€™s Gate National Park, which boasts beautiful cliffs, gorges, rock towers, volcanoes and a range of geothermal phenomena. Another great choice is to take a boat trip across Lake Naivasha โ€“ perhaps the best way to take in the atmosphere of this lush area. If youโ€™re looking for something active, why not hire a bike for the day and make some of your own discoveries, venturing beyond the cacti and olive trees.

  • Day 5 Day 5: Loita Hills Maasai Village
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Loita Hills Maasai Village

      Depart Lake Naivasha, making a short stop in Narok to do a spot of food shopping. Continue to Loita Hills, home of the Maasai people, stopping for lunch on the way. Youโ€™ll be camping at Tepesua Village, which is known for championing Maasai womenโ€™s health and education. When you arrive, be welcomed by traditional Maasai warrior song and dance, then your host will explain the details of Maasai warrior training. Take a walk to the community village which was founded to alleviate the poverty of Maasai widows, who traditionally are not allowed to inherit property. The village offers support, safety and economic growth through the โ€˜Tepesua Widows Income Projectโ€™. Spend the evening around a campfire and learn more about their age-old culture and traditions as you share stories with Maasai warriors into the night.

  • Day 6 Day 6: Masai Mara National Reserve
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Masai Mara National Reserve

      Today youโ€™ll travel from Loita Hills to Masai Mara. The road is dusty when dry, and could be slippery and muddy when wet, so the going may be slow. The Masai Mara is the quintessential African experience, with sparse open plains, dramatic skies and some of the worldโ€™s most tremendous animals. After setting up camp, sit down to some lunch. Then itโ€™s time to jump in 4WDs and go for a game drive through the wilderness of the Mara.

  • Day 7 Day 7: Masai Mara National Reserve
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Masai Mara National Reserve

      Venture into the Masai Mara National Reserve for a full dayโ€™s game drive in 4WDs. Youโ€™ll explore this diverse environment and most likely see a multitude of wildlife. An optional balloon ride over the Mara at sunrise is available today. If you have pre-booked this activity you will be picked up before dawn and driven to the launch site for a safety briefing from your pilot. Then you will glide through the dawn, sometimes at tree height, to get some amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you will ascend, getting an overview of the enormity of the plains and of the early morning movements of the teeming herds. After landing, youโ€™ll be treated to a bush breakfast, then be returned to your campsite.

  • Day 8 Day 8: Nairobi
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Nairobi

      Leave the open expanses of the African bush behind and return to the urban environment of a Nairobi hotel with ensuite, bar, pool and WiFi.

  • Day 9 Day 9: Nairobi
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Nairobi

      Your day is free in Nairobi today, until another welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. Maybe head out and explore the National Museum of Kenya, the Karen Blixen Museum or the highly recommended Bomas of Kenya, where traditional homesteads of several Kenyan tribes are displayed in an outdoor village.

  • Day 10 Day 10: Mto Wa Mbu
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 10: Mto Wa Mbu

      Depart early for Mto wa Mbu in your overland truck. The trip includes a border crossing from Kenya into Tanzania, so be sure to have your passport handy. While youโ€™re on the road, there will be a stop at an ATM and a market or shop to stock up on any supplies you might need for the coming days. Arrive in Mto wa Mbu and acquaint yourself with this delightful small village โ€“ itโ€™s a fascinating snapshot of small-town African life, situated well off the tourist trail.

  • Day 11 Day 11: Ngorongoro Crater / Serengeti National Park
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 11: Ngorongoro Crater / Serengeti National Park

      Get up early, put your camping and personal gear into a six-person jeep and head out for an excursion into the Serengeti via the Ngorongoro Crater. Enjoy a safari in the crater, spending 3 to 4 hours exploring this incredible, perfectly intact volcanic caldera. Watch for black rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, impalas, zebras and hippos. The crater floor offers excellent game viewing all year round (some 30,000 animals live here) and the photo opportunities are unrivalled. Next, itโ€™s on to the wide-open plains of the Serengeti. Green after the rains, brown and burnt in the dry season, this is perhaps the quintessential image of Africa โ€“ the home of thousands of hoofed animals and fierce predators. Your campsite is within the Serengeti itself, so listen out for the sounds of nocturnal animals as you drift off to sleep.

  • Day 12 Day 12: Serengeti National Park
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 12: Serengeti National Park

      Awake at dawn and embark on a game drive. You will head out while the animals are at their most active, then head back to camp for brunch at around 11 am. After spending the middle of the day relaxing, just like the animals do, head out again as the day begins to cool. Youโ€™ll return from this second game drive in time for dinner. Thereโ€™s also the option of a balloon ride over the park this morning โ€“ in place of some of todayโ€™s game drives. If you have pre-booked this activity, you will be picked up before dawn and driven to the launch site. After a safety briefing, glide through the dawn, sometimes at tree height, getting some amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you will ascend, getting an overview of the enormity of the plains and the early morning movements of the teeming herds. After landing, indulge in a five-star bush breakfast, then be returned to camp.

  • Day 13 Day 13: Serengeti National Park / Mto Wa Mbu
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 13: Serengeti National Park / Mto Wa Mbu

      Rise with the sun and enjoy another game drive as you leave the Serengeti in your dust. Jump back into your overland vehicle and head for Mto wa Mbu. Once camp is set up, join the local community for a guided stroll around the farming areas, milling machine, and local homes and farmlands. After, weโ€™ll share a local dinner in town and if time permits you may have the oppertunity to watch how itโ€™s made with a local cooking demonstration. After setting up camp, weโ€™ll take a guided stroll through the farming areas, milling machines, and local homes and farmlands, getting to know the local community and their way of life. Later, weโ€™ll enjoy a scrumptious local dinner in town. If time permits, you might even get to witness a local cooking demonstration and see how itโ€™s made.

  • Day 14 Day 14: Usambara Mountains
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 14: Usambara Mountains

      Prepare yourself for a long travel day heading for the Usambara Mountains. Stretch your legs during a brief supply stop in Arusha, then jump back in the vehicle and watch the ever-changing scenery, read your favourite book or get to really know your fellow travellers. Your base will be Lushoto โ€“ an old German colony and home to the Wasambaa people. This highland town sits at approximately 1400 metres and this evening youโ€™ll camp in the grounds of one of the oldest hotels in Africa.

  • Day 15 Day 15: Usambara Mountains
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 15: Usambara Mountains

      Explore the beautiful Usambara Mountains today โ€“ a lovely unspoilt area of Tanzania. Unlike the coast and the north, very few tourists visit this part of the country, so it has a freshness that can be hard to find elsewhere. As beautiful as the surrounding mountains and rainforests are, however, the real jewels here are the local people and villages. Youโ€™ll experience some hospitality on a visit to some of the small local communities. From your base, you will take a walk out to the gorgeous Irente viewpoint. Itโ€™s best to pack some water and snacks in a day pack for this trip. On your way back, visit a local cultural project based at an Irente farm and enjoy a picnic lunch.

  • Day 16 Day 16: Dar Es Salaam
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 16: Dar Es Salaam

      Leaving the mountains behind, travel further south to the coastal town of Kipepeo Beach in Dar es Salaam. Your camp at Kipepeo is by the beach, so make the most of it โ€“ perhaps take a stroll along the shore after you arrive and settle in.

  • Day 17 Day 17: Stone Town
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 17: Stone Town

      Catch a ferry to Africaโ€™s โ€™Spice Islandโ€™ of Zanzibar. Filled with pristine white-sand beaches, winding cobblestone alleyways and fragrant bazaars, Zanzibar has had a colourful history โ€“ everything from slave traders to Arabian sultans and fruit exporters. The sight of traditional dhows sailing along the coast evokes what the island must have been like in centuries ago. The old part of Zanzibarโ€™s main city is known as Stone Town, and the best way to see this is on foot, exploring the markets, shops, mosques, palaces and courtyards. Explore the many charms of Stone Town, the historic part of Zanzibarโ€™s main city, with a local guide. Taste the local delicacies and gain insight into daily local life living on Zanzibar. When the sun is setting, why not grab a drink from a bar overlooking the seafront. A seafood curry at a local restaurant is also a great choice. Youโ€™ll spend the night in Stone Town at a basic inn.

  • Day 18 Day 18: Zanzibar Northern Beaches
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 18: Zanzibar Northern Beaches

      Once checked out of your Stone Town accommodation, consider booking in to an optional guided tour of the islandโ€™s spice plantations, learning all about the history of this townโ€™s spice trade. You will have the opportunity to smell and taste various spices, such as cinnamon, vanilla and ginger, plus sample some teas made with these spices too. After lunch, head to the Northern Beaches, where white sands and sparkling blue seas await. This is the Indian Ocean at its best.

  • Day 19 Day 19: Zanzibar Northern Beaches
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 19: Zanzibar Northern Beaches

      Enjoy free time in this beautiful archipelago today. There are many ways you can spend your day โ€“ perhaps talk to your leader for any recommendations they might have. Snorkelling in search of exotic fish is an excellent option, or you could take a traditional dhow boat on the water. You might also like to feast on a sumptuous lunch of grilled local seafood, or just relax in a hammock underneath a coconut tree with a good book. Itโ€™s totally up to you!

  • Day 20 Day 20: Stone Town
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 20: Stone Town

      After checking out of your accommodation this morning, you will make your way back to Stone Town, arriving at a centrally-located hotel around 12 pm. With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave at any time. That doesnโ€™t mean your adventure has to come to an end! If you wish to stay on in Zanzibar, either at the Northern Beaches beach resort or in Stone Town, weโ€™ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Basic

Almost everyone is fit for these activities. Every hike or physical exercise last less than 30 minutes, such as paragliding and horseback riding. Please ask about specific conditions.

Age range

Age range

Min: 15 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

Select a country to define if the visa is required