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Peregrine Travel Centre

Real East Africa & Zanzibar

Real East Africa & Zanzibar

From $ 4,390 AUD

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Description

Got 13 days and a desire to see as much of East Africa as you can? Welcome to the trip of a lifetime. This trip is the perfect introduction to the diversity of East Africa – go on 4WD safaris in the Maasai Mara and Serengeti National Parks, stop at remote market towns, spend a night in a Maasai village, explore the Ngorongoro Crater in a jeep, then top it all off with two full days to enjoy the powdery beaches of Zanzibar. Do it all with a small group of like-minded travellers, forging new friendships along the way.

Trip Name
Real East Africa & Zanzibar
Last Updated
1970-01-01
Days
13
Capacity
22
Highlights
  • Spend a night in a Maasai village in the remote Loita Hills region – be welcomed with traditional warrior song and dance, learn about life from community elders and maybe even learn to throw a spear.
  • Search for wildebeest, lions and leopards on a game drive in Maasai Mara National Reserve, then listen to the African wilderness come alive after sunset at your bush camp.
  • Relax on the powdery white beaches of Zanzibar, the perfect place to unwind after days spent searching for wildlife.
  • Cross the Serengeti in a purpose-built truck for a classic East African experience – see vast plains spotted with thorn trees and huge herds of zebras and gazelles.
  • Explore the Ngorongoro Crater – the world's largest intact volcanic caldera and a home for around 30,000 large mammals. Look out for elephants and hippos as you drive along the crater floor.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway and has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if deemed necessary due to safety concerns. , OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk., ROAD CONDITIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN AFRICA: Roads in Africa are often in very poor condition, which makes it hard on our vehicles. Our vehicles are serviced regularly and are generally in good condition, but breakdowns can and do happen. Sometimes the going on this trip is quite tough, the distances covered fairly large and some of the roads and tracks are not exactly smooth or free from dust, but the rewards are exceptional. The travelling times indicated in our Essential Trip Information is just a rough guide and is dependent on various factors that may be outside our control, such as road conditions, weather and time spent at borders. DRIVE TIMES: The travel times listed in the day to day itinerary are a guide only. Please be aware that delays may occur and please be patient - it's all part of the experience afterall! Additionally, the travel times do not include time spent on game drives as these can vary with each departure.

Day 1 - Nairobi
Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight in Nairobi. If you arrive early, why not check out the National Museum of Kenya, the Karen Blixen Museum or the highly recommended Bomas of Kenya where traditional homesteads of some Kenyan tribes are displayed at an outdoor village. After your meeting tonight, maybe head out for an optional welcome dinner with your new fellow travellers.
Day 2 - Loita Hills
Depart Nairobi this morning, stopping in Narok along the way for some food shopping. Today's drive crosses the Great Rift Valley – Africa's huge divide – to the remote region of Loita Hills. This is the home of the Maasai people and when you arrive, you’ll grab some lunch then visit the Maasai, known for their dazzling red dress and elaborate jewellery. Gain an insight into the culture and ancient ways of this proud East African community. A local elder will deliver a fascinating talk about the Maasai and what they're about. You'll also be shown around a traditional Maasai home and see where the resident cattle are kept.
Day 3 - Maasai Mara National Reserve
Travel from Loita Hilla to Maasai Mara today. The Maasai Mara is one of those classic African experiences – wide open plains, perfect blue skies and some of the world's great wild animals. After setting up camp, sit down to some lunch. Then, it's time to jump aboard your 4WD and go for a game drive through the wilderness of the Mara.
Day 4 - Maasai Mara National Reserve
Adventure into the reserve for a full day's 4WD game drive. You'll explore this diverse environment and most likely see a lots of different wildlife. An optional balloon ride over the Mara at sunrise is well worth considering. If you have pre-booked this activity, you’ll be picked up before sunrise and driven to the launch site for a safety briefing from your pilot. Then, glide through the dawn, sometimes at tree height, which provides amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you’ll ascend, getting an overview of the enormity of the plains and the early morning movements of the teeming herds. After landing, you'll be treated to a bush breakfast, then return to your campsite to meet up with your group. 
Day 5 - Musoma
Travel towards the Kenya-Tanzania border and to the shores of Lake Victoria. This is not only Africa's biggest lake – it's the largest tropical lake in the world. It shares its shores with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. You'll arrive in the late afternoon, with time to chill out lakeside with a cold drink at sunset. Make the most of the ATM and local market to stock up for your next three days of wilderness adventures. You’ll be camping on the shores of the lake tonight, at one of its least visited campgrounds on the outskirts of a small town called Musoma, far from the tourist track.
Day 6 - Serengeti National Park
Today, you’ll travel from Lake Victoria to the gate of Serengeti National Park on a smooth road. Stop for a picnic lunch on the way, then enter the Serengeti and start your overland vehicle game drive on the way to your campsite. These plains – green after rain and brown and burnt in the dry season – are home to thousands of hoofed animals and fierce predators, so see how many you can spot! Your campsite is right in the action, within the park itself, so listen out for the sounds of nocturnal animals as you drift off to sleep tonight.
Day 7 - Serengeti National Park
Start the day with a game drive in your overland truck at dawn. You’ll head out while the animals are at their most active, then head back to camp for brunch. After spending the warmer part of the day relaxing as the animals do, depart again in the afternoon for another adventure through the wild. You'll return in time for dinner. There's the option of an early-morning balloon ride here too, so if you didn't take one in the Mara, today's your chance!
Day 8 - Karatu
Rise and shine for a final chance to spot Serengeti wildlife as you make your way out of the park this morning. At Nabi gate, hop aboard a jeep and descend into Ngorongoro Crater. This gigantic, perfectly intact volcanic crater is home to some 30,000 animals. Among these are endangered black rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, impalas, zebras and hippos. The crater floor is great for game viewing all year round and the photo-opportunities here are next level. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater before heading back out on safari all afternoon. After, travel on to Karatu town and arrive at camp for a freshly prepared dinner with your group.
Day 9 - Arusha
Take it easy this morning with a relaxed breakfast at camp. Maybe set off for Mto Wa Mbu for an optional guided village walk or take a bike ride around the farming areas, spotting milling machines, local homes and farmlands. Mto Wa Mbu offers a snapshot of small-town East African life. Then, hit the road to Arusha where you'll spend your final night together.
Day 10 - Arusha
Pack up camp after breakfast and say goodbye to your crew. Transfer to Arusha Airport and take an included flight to Stone Town, Zanzibar. Your trip will be unescorted from here on, however local Intrepid representatives will be on hand to look after you. Zanzibar is an archipelagic gem filled with idyllic beaches, vibrant markets and a varied and sometimes troubling history. This is a place rooted in slavery, where Arabian sultans once lived – you’ll notice a blend of Swahili and Islamic influences. Why not throw yourself into the midst of Stone Town’s maze of narrow streets – every twist and turn is alive with an enticing mix of fragrant bazaars, mosques and centuries-old ruins. Maybe head to one of the bars on the seafront and soak up the salty ocean air with a cocktail in hand. Or, if you’d like to learn more about Stone Town and the island's history, a local representative can organize an afternoon tour.
Day 11 - Zanzibar Beaches
Venture out of Stone Town this morning and drive to the spice plantations for your optional guided tour, or head directly to the perfectly pristine northern beaches. If you choose to explore the spice plantations, you’ll learn all about the history of this town's renowned spice trade. Take the opportunity to touch, smell and taste various spices – such as cinnamon, vanilla and ginger – then sample some delicious teas! After lunch, head to the northern beaches, where white sands and sparkling blue seas await, and reunite with your group for an afternoon at leisure. This is the Indian Ocean at its best.
Day 12 - Zanzibar Beaches
Wake up in paradise and enjoy a full day of freedom to indulge in the beautiful island surrounds. Take the opportunity to walk the stretch of powder white sand and swim in the bath-like Indian ocean, dine on freshly caught sumptuous seafood or simply relax in a hammock underneath a palm tree with a good book. There are many ways you can spend your day – perhaps talk to your leader for any recommendations.
Day 13 - Zanzibar Beaches
Your trip comes to an end today. Please advise us at the time of booking if we can help with transfers to the airport or ferry terminal. If you’d like to spend more time in this island paradise, post-trip accommodation can be pre-booked at your beach resort or in Stone Town.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
13-06-202625-06-2026AUD $ 4,390-
27-06-202609-07-2026AUD $ 4,390-
11-07-202623-07-2026AUD $ 5,160-
01-08-202613-08-2026AUD $ 4,990-
22-08-202603-09-2026AUD $ 4,895-
05-09-202617-09-2026AUD $ 5,090-
19-09-202601-10-2026AUD $ 4,890-
17-10-202629-10-2026AUD $ 5,230-
14-11-202626-11-2026AUD $ 4,595-
28-11-202610-12-2026AUD $ 4,595-
12-12-202624-12-2026AUD $ 4,595-
13-02-202725-02-2027AUD $ 4,560-
15-05-202727-05-2027AUD $ 4,560-
12-06-202724-06-2027AUD $ 4,560-
26-06-202708-07-2027AUD $ 4,560-
10-07-202722-07-2027AUD $ 5,060-
04-09-202716-09-2027AUD $ 5,060-
18-09-202730-09-2027AUD $ 5,060-
16-10-202728-10-2027AUD $ 5,060-
13-11-202725-11-2027AUD $ 5,060-
11-12-202723-12-2027AUD $ 5,060-

Accommodation

Camping with facilities (5 nights), Camping with basic facilities (2 nights), Hotel (5 nights)

Transport

Overland vehicle, Plane, Private Vehicle

Map

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