Essential East Africa
Tour Description
Day 1: Nairobi
Got 10 days, an adventurous spirit and a desire to see as much of East Africa as you can? Whether you’re a solo traveller looking for new friends or some new friends looking for a solo to join the pack, this is for you! Head out on multiple 4WD safaris in the Maasai Mara National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park for the best opportunities to spot the Big Five and all your bucket list wildlife! Stop at remote market towns, spend a night in a Maasai village and another night by the largest tropical lake in the world and soak up all the chances to chat with the locals and learn about their culture. This trip is like a crash course in what East Africa is all about.
Itinerary
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 Maasai Experience
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: Masai 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: Masai 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: Lake Victoria
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 at the entrance to the park, 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: Mto Wa Mbu
Take it easy this morning with a relaxed breakfast at camp before setting off for Mto Wa Mbu with your group. You’ll have the rest of the day free to explore. Mto wa Mbu offers a snapshot of small-town East African life. You might consider joining a guided village walk or maybe take a bike ride around the farming areas, spotting milling machines, local homes and farmlands. Or, round up your fellow travellers to check out the craft market.
Day 10: Arusha / Nairobi
Pack up camp for the final leg of your journey to Arusha, where your adventure comes to an end when you arrive at approximately 10am. A departure transfer can be booked at an additional expense, to either Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK). Alternatively, you can continue to finish in Nairobi around 5pm. If you need to organise additional accommodation, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
Departure Dates
| Start Date | End Date | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 2025 | Oct 27, 2025 | $3,895.00 | |
| Dec 13, 2025 | Dec 22, 2025 | $3,760.00 | |
| Feb 14, 2026 | Feb 23, 2026 | $3,250.00 | |
| May 16, 2026 | May 25, 2026 | $3,250.00 | |
| Jun 13, 2026 | Jun 22, 2026 | $3,250.00 | |
| Jun 27, 2026 | Jul 6, 2026 | $3,250.00 | |
| Jul 11, 2026 | Jul 20, 2026 | $3,775.00 | |
| Aug 1, 2026 | Aug 10, 2026 | $3,775.00 | |
| Aug 22, 2026 | Aug 31, 2026 | $3,775.00 | |
| Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 14, 2026 | $3,775.00 | |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 | $3,775.00 | |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 26, 2026 | $3,775.00 | |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 23, 2026 | $3,775.00 | |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 7, 2026 | $3,775.00 | |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | $3,775.00 | |
| Feb 13, 2027 | Feb 22, 2027 | $3,410.00 | |
| May 15, 2027 | May 24, 2027 | $3,410.00 | |
| Jun 12, 2027 | Jun 21, 2027 | $3,410.00 | |
| Jun 26, 2027 | Jul 5, 2027 | $3,410.00 | |
| Jul 10, 2027 | Jul 19, 2027 | $3,965.00 | |
| Jul 31, 2027 | Aug 9, 2027 | $3,965.00 | |
| Aug 21, 2027 | Aug 30, 2027 | $3,965.00 | |
| Sep 4, 2027 | Sep 13, 2027 | $3,965.00 | |
| Sep 18, 2027 | Sep 27, 2027 | $3,965.00 | |
| Oct 16, 2027 | Oct 25, 2027 | $3,965.00 | |
| Nov 13, 2027 | Nov 22, 2027 | $3,965.00 | |
| Nov 27, 2027 | Dec 6, 2027 | $3,965.00 | |
| Dec 11, 2027 | Dec 20, 2027 | $3,965.00 |