Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Naivasha
The Empakaai Cultural Safari guide will meet you in Nairobi International Airport, welcome you to Kenya and go through the trip logistics and arrangements with you.
We will then drive to our first destination on this trip, the beautiful Lake Naivasha. We will arrive to our camp situated right on the Lake Naivasha shores.
This afternoon there is a possibility to explore places around the camp on foot. Or do an optional game walk in Naivasha Game Sanctuary, if you are already in the mood to have your first encounters with the wildlife of East Africa.
After dinner your guide will help you to put up the tents and prepare for your first camping night under the starry African skies.
Day 2: Lake Naivasha to Maasai Mara
We will wake up early and after breakfast we will hit the road driving from Lake Naivasha to Maasai Mara National Reserve. The beautiful landscapes of Kenya will open up in front of our eyes. The green and hilly landscapes will start changing into open valleys as we are driving towards to the world famous Maasai Mara. It can be quite busy on the road, as we will pass by the local towns and villages with their lively market stalls and small shops built on the roadsides.
After lunch in a local restaurant, we will pass the Maasai town of Narok. While getting closer to the National Reserve, we will start seeing more traditional villages and Maasai people with their herds of cattle.
We are scheduled to arrive to our camp in Maasai Mara in the afternoon, on time to do an evening game drive before the park gates close.
After our camp dinner, we will prepare our tents for the night.
Day 3: Maasai Mara game drive and Maasai village visit
After an early morning start, we will enjoy our breakfast and will depart to explore the beautiful Maasai Mara National Reserve.
After seeing Maasai Mara you will never see the world through the same eyes again.
Its endless green spaces and its wildlife are very impressive, both in real life and on photos! The chances are high that we will see most of the Big 5 this morning, as well as impressive herds of zebra and wildebeest.
We will have a picnic lunch in open air and then drive to a Maasai village to spend an afternoon getting familiar with the culture of this beautiful tribe, their way of living today and their traditional arts.
We will move to another camp in the Maasai Mara West area the evening to have dinner and share the impressions of the day.
Day 4: Maasai Mara to Musoma
Today we are leaving the Maasai Mara National Reserve early in the morning. Right after breakfast we will start our drive towards the border between Kenya and Tanzania. Tanzania will be our home for the next few days. After passing the border formalities, we will drive towards the magnificent Lake Victoria where we will take a boat trip. We will admire Lake Victoria from its waters and from its shores for a while.
After having lunch, the road will take us to the camp situated in the town of Musoma. We will have our dinner there and put up our tents for the night’s rest.
Day 5: Musoma to Ngorongoro
This morning we will get up with sunrise, as this is going to be an intensive day with a very long drive through one of the most beautiful place of the Planet Earth – the Serengeti National Park.
We will cross the Serengeti National Park from west to east, admiring its beautiful and varying scenery. We will no doubt have many sights of the wild inhabitants of Serengeti on our way.
We will stop to have a quick picnic lunch in one of the rest areas and proceed towards the park gate at the border with Ngorongoro conservation area. Our campsite is situated in a scenic area close to one of the natural wonders of the world – the Ngorongoro crater, which we are going to visit the next day.
Day 6: Ngorongoro to Mto Wa Mbu
Today we will wake up in the midst of African wilderness, and get ready to start our morning game drive at the Ngorongoro Crater bottom after breakfast. This is a unique natural area, where animals enjoy very favorable natural conditions. Also the local Maasai tribes are allowed to let their cattle graze here. We will enjoy the beauty of the Crater and its wild inhabitants: elephants, lions, hippos, zebra, wildebeest, rhino and many beautiful birds.
We will have a picnic lunch in open air and then it will be time to say goodbye to the Ngorongoro crater. We will take a last look at the Ngorongoro crater from a viewpoint, and then cross the gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area on our way to the village of Mto Wa Mbu. This afternoon we will do a cultural visit to the Mto Wa Mbu village, see the red banana plantations and try the famous banana beer.
After dinner we will put up our tents to have a well-deserved night’s rest.
Day 7: Mto Wa Mbu to Arusha
Today after breakfast we will leave the friendly village of Mto Wa Mbu and drive to the tourist hub of Tanzania, Arusha. We will check in to our hotel in Arusha and prepare for an afternoon trip.
This afternoon we have a trip to Moshi planned on our itinerary. The town of Moshi offers very good views on Mount Kilimanjaro. We will walk around the town of Moshi and admire the beauty of the fascinating Mount Kilimanjaro from a distance.
We will get back to our hotel in Arusha and go to bed at a reasonable time, as tomorrow will be a long day.
Day 8: Arusha to Usambara Mountains
This morning we will get up with sunrise and start driving right after breakfast, as we have a long distance to cover today. We will be driving through the beautiful Tanzania towards Usambara Mountains and stop to have a picnic lunch in open air. Be patient, enjoy the scenic drive and admire the Tanzanian landscapes, nature, villages and people.
We will arrive to our campsite situated in beautiful green surroundings, have a dinner and put up our tents to enjoy a good night’s rest.
Day 9: Lushoto to Dar Es Salaam
Prepare for another long drive day through the amazing land of Tanzania, as we are starting our day early to drive towards the direction of the Tanzanian capital city, Dar Es Salaam. If all goes as planned, we will reach our camp on the shores of the Indian ocean on time to enjoy a sunset while having a dinner.
Day 10: Dar Es Salaam to Stone Town
An early morning speed ferry will take us from Dar Es Salaam to the wonderful island of Zanzibar. After checking in to our hotel in Stone Town, you will enjoy a couple of free hours to explore picturesque streets of the historical part of Stone Town.
This afternoon we will do a Spice Tour to the famous spice plantations of Zanzibar.
There are plenty of things to do in Stone Town in the evening, or you might just choose to relax and take it easy.
Day 11: Stone Town to Nungwi
This morning after breakfast we will make a transfer to Nungwi, the amazing scenic beach area in North Zanzibar.
From Day 11 to Day 15
You will enjoy your privacy and your relaxing time on the beach in the accommodation of your choice.
Day 15: Nungwi to Dar Es Salaam airport or to Zanzibar airport
Your guide will meet you after breakfast, as it is time to start making our way back to Dar Es Salaam or to Zanzibar airport to catch your flight home. If you are flying back from Dar Es Salaam, then first we will make a transfer to Stone Town and then take a speed ferry to Dar Es Salaam. Depending on the traffic conditions in Dar Es Salaam, we will stop over for a dinner and then continue our drive to the airport, to arrive there on time for your return flight from Dar Es Salaam.
Contact us:
- by email on info@empakaaiculturalsafari.com or empakaai.cultural.safari@gmail.com
- by direct mail on Instagram empakaai_cultural_safari
We are happy to answer all your questions, discuss your preferences and help you to book your trip.