SHORTLIST

Masai Mara & Tanzania Explorer (Accommodated) - 13 days

ACCOMMODATED SAFARI: Go in search of wildlife in Kenya's famed Masai Mara Reserve before exploring neighbouring Tanzania on this 13-day overland accommodated safari. Continue your wildlife adventure in the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, and visit the coastal towns of Bagamoyo and Dar es Salaam. Then take the ferry to Zanzibar for three days spent exploring Stone Town and relaxing on beautiful palm fringed beaches.
Tour details
Tour Provider On The Go Tours
Price From
$7,088
Number of Days
13
Start Location
Nairobi, Kenya
End Location
Dar es Salaam, Kenya
Age Range
Avg. 50+
Group Size
1 to 28
Tour Style
Comfort
Tour Themes
Adventure
Physical Rating
Easy
Itinerary Open all
Day 1: Nairobi
Nairobi - Masai Mara. We leave Nairobi early this morning and make our way to the famous Masai Mara National Reserve. The Mara is adjacent to the Serengeti, forming one of the world's last surviving great wildernesses. We will be travelling in specialised safari vehicles for this part of the tour for a more intimate wildlife-viewing experience, and will join up with our main vehicle later.



During our time in the Mara, we enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in search of the huge herds of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope which inhabit the plains and the predators that hunt them. Also keep your eyes peeled for other iconic species like rhino, elephant and giraffe. We camp in pre-erected en suite tents on the edge of the reserve, close to the action!



Please note: The pre-departure meeting is held at 18:00 on the evening prior to departure. The tour departs at 08:00 on Day 1 so please arrive in Nairobi the day before your tour. Refer to the Joining Instructions in the Trip Notes for more information. We can book accommodation and transfers on request.
Day 2: Masai Mara
Today we continue exploring the Masai Mara with morning and afternoon game drives to different areas of the park. As well as the iconic Big Five, we will hopefully spot some of the less glamorous species, but creatures that are important to the ecosystem. Hyenas and vultures scavenge the remains of prey, warthogs scurry through the undergrowth and endangered African wild dogs hunt intelligently in packs. We break in the middle of the day for lunch before game driving back to our camp for the evening.
Day 3: Nairobi
Masai Mara - Nairobi. From the Mara we make our way back across the Great Rift Valley to Nairobi, where we overnight. Tonight, you have the opportunity to head out and explore Nairobi’s bustling night life or dine at the famed Carnivore Restaurant.
Day 4: Arusha
Nairobi - Arusha (Tanzania). We leave Kenya, crossing into neighbouring Tanzania at the Namanga frontier. We then drive to the country's safari capital, Arusha, arriving late afternoon. Situated in the shadow of Mount Meru and close to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, it is a great base for exploring the region. If time allows, we stop to browse the local markets and join a walk around a traditional Masai village before heading to our rustic accommodation at the Meserani Snake Park.
Day 5: Serengeti National Park
Arusha - Serengeti National Park. We leave our overland truck behind and transfer to designated safari vehicles to embark on an exciting two day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater excursion. Entering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, we drive around the rim of the crater and onto the wildlife-rich plains of the Serengeti, one of the last great wildernesses in the world.



Millions of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope migrate across these plains throughout the year, followed by the predators, such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs. We game drive to our unfenced campsite, where we can listen to the sounds of the bush and hopefully see some wildlife roaming nearby.
Days 6-7: Ngorongoro Crater
Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Crater - Arusha. Game driving out of the Serengeti on day 6, we can search for any species we have not managed to spot so far. We travel back to the Ngorongoro Crater, camping on the rim of this UNESCO-listed natural caldera, one of Africa's most spectacular wildlife areas.



On day 7 we drive down a steep road into the crater itself for an unforgettable morning game drive. You will have the chance to spot every major African animal, except for giraffes. Interestingly, they cannot manage the steep climb down the crater rim!



Returning to camp for lunch, we pack up before making the journey back to Arusha.
Day 8: Bagamoyo
Arusha - Bagamoyo. Today we have a long but scenic drive as we travel away from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and towards the Indian Ocean coast. We will pass Mount Kilimanjaro en route, and if the weather is clear we should be able to enjoy magnificent views of Africa's highest mountain.



The port town of Bagamoyo was founded towards the end of the 18th century and was an important trading port along the East African coast. Today it is a centre for dhow building, with many of the boats being sent to Zanzibar and nearby areas. We stay on the outskirts of the town, near the palm-fringed beaches of the Indian Ocean.
Day 9: Dar es Salaam
Bagamoyo - Dar es Salaam. It's only a relatively short drive south along the coast to Dar es Salaam today. The city is Tanzania’s main port and is a hub of commerce and industry - a hot, humid, and bustling seaport city of high rises, colourful markets, and Arab-influenced architecture on the coast. We stay by the beach just outside the city tonight, and you'll have time to go for a swim.
Days 10-12: Zanzibar
Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar. On the morning of day 10, we take the ferry to Zanzibar, leaving our overland truck on the mainland. Evocative and exotic, Zanzibar conjures up images of idyllic, sandy, palm-fringed beaches, romantic winding cobbled alleys, and lush tropical forests.



Enjoy free time on the island. Independently explore historic Stone Town on day 10 before we drive to one of the beautiful beaches in the north of the island for two days of Indian Ocean relaxation. Perhaps visit a spice plantation, spend some time on the tropical beaches and enjoy snorkelling at the coast, home to a wealth of marine life. Other optional excursions you can book include massages and yacht trips. You can also enjoy a sunset dhow cruise. Please see the Trip Notes for more details about the optional activities available in Zanzibar.



In Zanzibar we typically spend day 10 in Stone Town and days 11 and 12 at one of the northern beaches, but this can be flexible.
Day 13: Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar - Dar es Salaam. Enjoy a final swim in the turquoise ocean or do some last-minute shopping before we board the ferry back to the mainland. Feeling refreshed after your three-day beach break, it is time for our tour to come to an end.
Inclusions
  • 12 breakfasts, 8 lunches & 8 dinners
  • 10 nights simple twin share accommodation including permanent tented camps and 2 nights camping in 2-person dome tents (please refer to trip notes for details)
  • Escorted by a 2-person crew
  • Transportation in a 24-seater overland truck with camping and cooking equipment
  • Masai Mara Excursion in purpose built safari vehicles and game drives with a resident guide
  • Maasai Village Walk with a resident guide
  • Mattresses, sleeping bag and pillow provided for the nights camping
  • Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Excursion in a purpose built safari vehicle and game drives with a resident guide
  • All road tolls and vehicle taxes
  • Zanzibar return ferry ticket
Departure dates
All pp pricing is based on twin share occupancy. Single supplements will apply
Start End Availability Price NZD
19 Oct 2025 31 Oct 2025 Contact Operator $7,088
16 Nov 2025 28 Nov 2025 Available $7,088
28 Dec 2025 09 Jan 2026 Available $7,088
11 Jan 2026 23 Jan 2026 Available $7,250
25 Jan 2026 06 Feb 2026 Available $7,250
08 Feb 2026 20 Feb 2026 Available $7,250
22 Feb 2026 06 Mar 2026 Available $7,250
22 Mar 2026 03 Apr 2026 Available $7,250
05 Apr 2026 17 Apr 2026 Available $7,250
19 Apr 2026 01 May 2026 Available $7,250
03 May 2026 15 May 2026 Available $7,250
17 May 2026 29 May 2026 Available $7,250
31 May 2026 12 Jun 2026 Available $7,250
14 Jun 2026 26 Jun 2026 Available $7,250
28 Jun 2026 10 Jul 2026 Available $7,250
12 Jul 2026 24 Jul 2026 Available $7,250
26 Jul 2026 07 Aug 2026 Available $7,250
09 Aug 2026 21 Aug 2026 Available $7,250
23 Aug 2026 04 Sep 2026 Available $7,250
06 Sep 2026 18 Sep 2026 Available $7,250
20 Sep 2026 02 Oct 2026 Available $7,250
04 Oct 2026 16 Oct 2026 Available $7,250
18 Oct 2026 30 Oct 2026 Available $7,250
01 Nov 2026 13 Nov 2026 Available $7,250
15 Nov 2026 27 Nov 2026 Available $7,250
29 Nov 2026 11 Dec 2026 Available $7,250
13 Dec 2026 25 Dec 2026 Available $7,250
27 Dec 2026 08 Jan 2027 Available $7,250