Green season safari in Kenya & Zanzibar

Day 1 Lake Naivasha

 Nairobi ,  Lake Naivasha

Arrive in Nairobi this morning. Your driver greets you before you begin the three-hour journey to Lake Naivasha. The road snakes along the escarpment and into the Rift Valley, where you have views over the volcanic cones of Mount Longonot and Mount Suswa, and passes through farmland dotted with small villages. Arriving in Lake Naivasha, settle into your room at Loldia House and have lunch with views of the lake. Then, join a game drive or nature walk, looking out for some of the area’s 500 bird species. Return for dinner, perhaps with views of hippo munching beside the water.

Day 2 Lake Naivasha

 Lake Naivasha

After an early breakfast, your guide drives you two hours through the Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park. The park is particularly known for its rhino population and the millions of great and lesser flamingoes that gather on the water, creating a sea of pink. Your guide leads you on a game drive through the park, then you stop for a picnic lunch in the shade. Return to Loldia House in time for an afternoon tea on the lawn. The rest of the day is yours to relax, perhaps taking a dip in the outdoor pool overlooking the lake.

Day 3 Masai Mara National Reserve

 Lake Naivasha ,  Masai Mara National Reserve

You’re driven to the nearby airstrip for your half-hour flight to the Masai Mara this morning. On arrival, you’re met by a driver-guide from your next camp, who’ll lead you on a short game drive to the property. Then, after settling into your room, you should have time to embark on a full afternoon game drive, looking out for the Big Five and any other animal on your checklist. Return to camp for dinner, then gaze up at the stars in the inky-black night sky.

Day 4 Masai Mara National Reserve

 Masai Mara National Reserve

After a light breakfast, set off on a morning game drive. The rising sun gradually illuminates the open plains, where herds of antelope, zebra and wildebeest graze in the cooler temperatures. You might see tracks left by predators on their night-time hunts. Vehicle numbers are limited in private conservancies, so you’ll see few other vehicles and often have wildlife sightings to yourself. Return to camp for brunch before spending the hottest part of the day relaxing. You head out on another game drive in the afternoon, stopping for sundowners before returning to camp as darkness descends for a chance to see nocturnal species.

Day 5 Masai Mara National Reserve

 Masai Mara National Reserve

Enjoy another day on safari in the Masai Mara and whichever conservancy you’re staying in, taking both morning and afternoon game drives with your guide. The reserve and its bordering conservancies are particularly known for big cats, so keep your eyes peeled for prides of lion, cheetah poking their heads above termite mounds to scan their surroundings, and leopard hiding in the shady branches of acacia trees. Spend your final evening of safari with a shared dinner around the table before swapping stories with fellow guests around the boma.

Day 6 Zanzibar Island

 Masai Mara National Reserve ,  Nairobi ,  Zanzibar Airport ,  Zanzibar Island

You have time for a final morning game drive today en route to the airstrip, where you then catch your approximately one-hour light-aircraft flight back to Nairobi. You’ll be met and greeted on arrival, then transferred to the international airport for your one-and-a-half-hour onward flight to Zanzibar. A private driver will be waiting to escort you to your hotel on the island. Then, you have the rest of the day to settle in and relax. Stroll the white-sand beaches, snorkel in the warm waters or sit back beneath a palm tree with a cocktail.

Day 7 Zanzibar Island

 Zanzibar Island

Spend today doing as much or as little as you like. You might like to indulge in a spa treatment and relax by the pool under the shade of palm trees, or on the beach with a book as you recover from your activity-filled safari. If you're feeling more active, you can go diving or snorkeling on the nearby reefs, go sailing to explore the coastline, or try windsurfing. In the evening, you could dine on the beach or in your private villa — most beachside hotels offer a variety of menus, with many dishes showcasing Indian, Swahili and Mediterranean influences.

Day 8 Zanzibar Island

 Zanzibar Island

We recommend visiting one of Zanzibar’s small-scale spice farms today. You can tour the farm with a local guide, enjoying a hands-on experience as you taste and smell your way around the different spices grown on the island. Your guide will tell you about Zanzibar’s spice history and about the different methods of growing and harvesting the spices. Afterwards, you could relax back at your hotel or on the beach, or hire a bicycle to explore the local area, including the traditional fishing villages that line the coast.

Day 9 Zanzibar Island

 Zanzibar Island

For a break from the beach, we suggest exploring the trails that weave through Jozani Forest with a local guide. This pocket of natural groundwater and coastal forest is best known for its rare Kirk’s red colobus monkeys, which are endemic to the island. Your guide will help point them out as they swing through the branches, as well as other wildlife such as bush babies, Sykes’ monkeys, butterflies and birds. They’ll also tell you about the different medicinal uses of various plants that grow here.

Day 10 Zanzibar Island

 Zanzibar Island

On your final full day, you could head into Stone Town, the largest town in the archipelago, set on the west coast. You can hire a guide to help you explore the narrow alleyways and cobbled streets – they’ll fill you in on the town’s past as a colonial trading hub and its role in the East African slave trade. You pass palaces hidden behind ornate railings and intricately carved doors, and browse its markets filled with spices. We also recommend strolling the waterfront, watching traditional dhows sail in and out of port.

Day 11 Return home

 Zanzibar Island

After breakfast, your driver picks you up for the short drive back across the island to the airport, where you catch your onward flights.