Ultimate Kenya & Zanzibar Safari Adventure – 16 Days of Wildlife, Culture & Paradise Beaches

Experience the best of East Africa with this 16-day luxury small-group safari and island escape. From hand-feeding giraffes in Nairobi to tracking Kenya’s iconic Big Five, then immersing yourself in the history and exotic flavors of Zanzibar, this journey blends adventure, culture, and relaxation in unforgettable ways.

DAY 1: Thursday – Depart for Kenya

Your East African adventure begins! Depart for Kenya, ready to experience thrilling wildlife encounters and vibrant local culture.

DAY 2: Friday – Arrive in Nairobi

Arrive in Nairobi, the dynamic gateway to your Kenyan safari. Transfer to your hotel and spend the day at leisure, acclimating to the new time zone and soaking in the city’s energy.
Overnight: Nairobi

DAY 3: Saturday – Giraffe Center, Elephant Orphanage & Karen Blixen Museum

Visit the Giraffe Center, where you can hand-feed the elegant Rothschild giraffes and learn about vital conservation efforts. Next, explore the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, the world’s most successful elephant rescue center, and witness orphaned calves being nurtured before their release into the wild. Travel to the Ngong Hills to tour the Karen Blixen Museum, once the iconic author’s farmhouse. End the day at the Kazuri Beads Workshop, where handmade African jewelry is crafted from Mt. Kenya clay. Wrap up with a tour orientation and dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Nairobi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Sunday – Travel to Samburu National Park & Evening Game Drive

Journey north to Samburu National Park, a unique semi-arid reserve home to species rarely seen elsewhere, such as beisa oryx, long-necked gerenuk, and Grevy’s zebra. Stop en route at the Trout Tree Restaurant, built inside a giant fig tree beneath Mount Kenya, for lunch. Upon arrival, enjoy your first evening game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro River, where animals gather to drink, providing spectacular photographic opportunities.
Overnight: Samburu National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Monday – Full-Day Game Drives in Samburu

Spend a full day exploring Samburu’s dramatic landscapes on morning and afternoon game drives. Watch for lions, elephants, ostriches, cheetahs, and endemic wildlife unique to northern Kenya. Return to your lodge for leisure and dinner in the heart of the wilderness.
Overnight: Samburu National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6: Tuesday – Aberdare National Park & The Ark Tree Lodge

Travel southwest to Aberdare National Park and ascend to The Ark, one of Kenya’s iconic tree lodges. From multi-level decks and lounges, watch wildlife at a floodlit watering hole, including elephants, buffalo, bushbucks, and occasionally rhinos. A ground-level bunker provides unmatched up-close photography opportunities.
Overnight: Aberdare National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7: Wednesday – Lake Nakuru National Park

Explore Lake Nakuru National Park, famed for pink flamingos, white rhinos, and leopards. Witness thousands of birds feeding in the alkaline lake, panoramic views from Baboon Rocks, and wildlife including warthogs, waterbucks, and rhinos. Evening at leisure at your lodge near Lake Naivasha.
Overnight: Lake Naivasha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8: Thursday – Lake Naivasha Boat Tour & Cooking Class

Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, a sanctuary for hippos and countless bird species. Return for a hands-on cooking class, learning to prepare traditional Kenyan dishes, then taste your creations. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Lake Naivasha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9: Friday – Masai Mara National Reserve Afternoon Game Drive

Drive early to Masai Mara National Reserve, home to the Big Five and an abundance of wildlife year-round. Stop at a local school en route* before enjoying lunch and your first afternoon game drive in the vast savannah.
Overnight: Masai Mara National Reserve
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

*School visits subject to schedule changes.

DAY 10: Saturday – Full-Day Masai Mara Safari

Experience a full day of safari in the Masai Mara, searching for lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, rhinos, antelopes, gazelles, hippos, and exotic birds. Celebrate your final night in the Mara with a special dinner under the African skies.
Overnight: Masai Mara National Reserve
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11: Sunday – Return to Nairobi

Depart the Mara and travel back to bustling Nairobi, bidding farewell to your Kenyan guide. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure in this energetic city.
Overnight: Nairobi
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 12: Monday – Stone Town, Zanzibar

Fly to Zanzibar and transfer to your hotel in Stone Town, the historic heart of the archipelago. Spend the afternoon exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site independently. Dinner is served at your hotel.
Overnight: Stone Town
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 13: Tuesday – Stone Town Walking Tour & Sunset Dhow Cruise

Take a guided walking tour of Stone Town’s winding alleyways, ornate doors, and Swahili architecture.* After lunch at your beachfront hotel, board a traditional dhow for a sunset cruise over the turquoise Indian Ocean, complete with a glass of chilled wine.
Overnight: Zanzibar Beach Area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

*Expect local merchants along the route.

DAY 14: Wednesday – Spice Farm & Kidichi Persian Baths

Discover Zanzibar’s aromatic spice heritage on a spice farm tour, learning the culinary and medicinal uses of spices. After lunch, visit the Kidichi Persian Baths, built for Sultan Said’s wife, Sheherazade, and used for ceremonial and social gatherings. Return to your hotel in the evening.
Overnight: Zanzibar Beach Area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 15: Thursday – Leisure Day or Optional Jozani Forest & Prison Island Tour

Enjoy a free day for relaxation, spa treatments, swimming, or exploring the island. Optional tour to Jozani Forest to see endangered red colobus monkeys, followed by Prison Island to meet giant Aldabra tortoises and visit historical ruins. Return to your hotel for dinner.
Overnight: Zanzibar Beach Area
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 16: Friday – Depart Tanzania

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Dar es Salaam and onward departure. Ensure flights depart no earlier than 6:30 PM.
Meals: Breakfast

Package Highlights

• Small-group safari (max 18 travelers)

• Hand-feed Rothschild giraffes & visit Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

• Personal game drives in Samburu, Aberdare, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara

• Luxurious tree lodge experience at The Ark

• Explore Stone Town, Zanzibar’s cultural gem

• Sunset dhow cruise & spice farm tour

• Optional Jozani Forest & Prison Island excursion

Inclusions

• International flights: New York–Nairobi, Dar es Salaam–New York (other cities available)

• Intra-flights: Nairobi–Zanzibar & Zanzibar–Dar es Salaam

• 14 nights in First Class accommodations

• 36 meals: 14 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 12 dinners

• Modern 4×4 safari vehicles & local guides

• National park fees, safari drives, and sightseeing

Not Included

• Zanzibar Infrastructure Tax (payable locally)

• Travel insurance

• Optional tours & gratuities

This 16-day East Africa adventure is perfect for travelers seeking luxury, wildlife, and cultural immersion, combining the thrill of safari with the exotic beauty of Zanzibar.