Your small group safari begins in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and the gateway to the country’s renowned national parks and wildlife reserves. On arrival, a Trafalgar Representative will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. This evening, meet your fellow travelers and Driver Guide over dinner at the renowned Carnivore restaurant as your Kenya safari gets underway.
Leave the hustle and bustle of Nairobi behind and embark on a 4 x 4 journey north to Aberdare National Park. En route you'll Connect With Locals during a Be My Guest experience in the highlands of central Kenya. Join Elizabeth to learn about the complete journey of coffee and tea production before settling in to savor local cuisine including a sample of local tea and coffee made from the onsite coffee and and tea plantation. Tonight you’ll stay in The Ark Lodge, one of Trafalgar's Stays With Stories, offering spectacular opportunities to view the resident birdlife and wildlife.
Leave the lush greenery of the Kenya highlands region behind as you journey to the contrasting arid landscapes of Samburu National Reserve. As you continue your safari adventure here, you'll have the chance to spot the 'Samburu Special 5', including species such as the grevy's zebra and the reticulated giraffe, found only in the northern Kenya region. Your accommodation tonight is a luxury tented camp on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River.
Made famous by the award-winning book and film Born Free, Samburu National Reserve is closely linked to Elsa the lioness, raised by conservationists George and Joy Adamson. Rise early for a morning game drive with your small group through acacia forest and open grasslands as you search for wildlife with your Driver Guide. Return to camp for time to relax before heading back into the savannah for a late afternoon game drive.
The plight of Africa’s rhinos takes center stage today during a poignant visit to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This morning, you’ll learn about their efforts to fight poaching in East Africa’s largest black rhino sanctuary and enjoy a quick photo stop at the point where the equator slices through the conservancy. Next up is a visit to Sweetwaters Sanctuary, where you'll meet the cheeky resident orphaned or rescued chimpanzees. Continue to your accommodation this evening, keeping a keen eye out for thirsty wildlife that come to drink at the floodlit on-site waterhole after a dry day in the African wilderness.
Have your camera ready for a photo stop at the spectacular Thomson's Falls. Visit the birdwatcher's paradise that is Lake Nakuru National Park, then join your Driver Guide for an afternoon game drive to spot pink flamingos lining the lakeshore and to search for lions and leopards.
Your journey continues to the world-renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve, your home for the next two nights. While here, visit your lodge’s watering hole, where large pods of hippo can often be seen.
Don your hat and polish those binoculars for a full day in the Maasai Mara's wilderness. When you’re not traversing the savannah in search of the Big 5, you’ll join a Maasai community in their local village. Watch the colorfully clad warriors demonstrate their jumping prowess, learn traditional bush hunting skills, and tour the village for a deeper understanding into their daily life. Back at the lodge enjoy a hearty lunch before you set out on an afternoon game drive to soak in more of the iconic Maasai Mara landscape and nature.
Your Kenyan safari adventure at its end, you’ll return to Nairobi where a day room has been reserved at the Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport Hotel for you to use prior to your evening flight over to Zanzibar. Touching down in island paradise, you'll be transferred to your hotel and settle into your resort, home for the next three nights.
What better way to connect with your multi-cultural surrounds than embarking on a walking tour of UNESCO-listed Stone Town with a Local Specialist? Peel back the layers of Zanzibar’s colorful history as you wander through winding alleyways and admire the intricately carved doors distinctive of this Swahili coastal trading town. Visit the former slave market, the House of Wonders, the Sultan's Palace Museum and the Old Arab Fort, unearthing the soul-stirring history of this former trading hub. Later, discover Zanzibar’s reputation as the 'Spice Island', embarking on a Dive Into Culture visit to a shamba (spice farm) with a local guide. Taste and smell the spices, herbs and fruits and learn how they’ve been cultivated and used for centuries.
Kick off your shoes and let the warm sand sink between your toes on Zanzibar’s exquisite beaches. Wade into the clear, warm turquoise waters and immerse yourself in the latest bestseller under swaying palm trees. Make the most of your day in paradise and join an Optional Experience full-day cruise aboard a traditional dhow boat. Set sail from a traditional fishing village, keeping your eyes peeled for glimpses of the tropical fish beneath the water’s surface. You’ll pause on a sandbank where you can cool off in the ocean, and swim or snorkel to see the colorful marine life (all equipment is provided). Feast on a traditional Zanzibar seafood lunch before returning to the shore relaxed and revived.
Enjoy a leisurely start to your final day in Zanzibar, with time to soak up the atmosphere of the Spice Island before your journey comes to an end. Perhaps take one last stroll or simply relax at your hotel before meeting your small group for the transfer to Zanzibar Airport and your onward flight.
