This Mara & Zanzibar vacation is a special trip that combines wildlife viewing with a relaxing beach holiday. You will visit Maasai Mara National Reserve, the most famous and most visited park in East Africa, known for its large number of wild animals and open plains.
After that, you will fly to Zanzibar for a beach holiday, relaxation, and historical tours.
Mara & Zanzibar Vacation Highlights
- Day 1: Transfer from Nairobi to Maasai Mara National Reserve
- Day 2-3: Full-day game drives in Maasai Mara
- Day 4: Maasai community tour and transfer to Nairobi, then fly to Zanzibar
- Day 5-6: Visit Stone Town and enjoy beach relaxation
- Day 7: Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Nairobi to Maasai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast at your hotel in Nairobi, your driver guide will pick you up and drive to Maasai Mara. The drive takes about 5 hours. You will stop along the way at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint to enjoy the views and take photos. Have lunch on the way and continue to the park.
Arrive in the evening, check into the lodge, and go for an evening game drive. You will look for lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, and rhinos, which are the Big Five.
Drive through the open grasslands, enjoy the views of the park, and return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 2-3: Full-day game drives in Maasai Mara
Spend these two days exploring Maasai Mara. After breakfast, go for full-day game drives to look for wildlife. You will enjoy watching animals early in the morning when they are more active before the day gets hot.
Predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs will be hunting, while herbivores search for fresh grass.
If traveling during the migration season, watch the wildebeest migration as thousands of animals cross River Mara. This event attracts predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals, while vultures wait nearby.
Enjoy a picnic lunch near the river and continue with the game drive. Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Maasai community tour and transfer to Nairobi, then fly to Zanzibar
After breakfast, check out and visit a Maasai village in the Narok area. The Maasai will welcome you with songs, dances, and stories about their culture.
Later, drive back to Nairobi, have lunch, and head to the airport for your flight to Zanzibar. On arrival in Zanzibar in the evening, meet your driver guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in and overnight.
Day 5-6: Visit Stone Town and enjoy beach relaxation
Spend these two days exploring Zanzibar Island. Visit Stone Town, the old slave markets, and spice plantations. You will also enjoy beach activities like snorkeling, boat cruises to see dolphins, beach soccer, volleyball, and long walks on the white sand. These activities will be planned depending on the day.
Day 7: Departure
After breakfast with a view of the beach, check out of the hotel and drive to the airport for your flight back home or to another destination.
End of 7 Days Maasai Mara & Zanzibar Vacation.