Planning a holiday trip in Kenya and Tanzania and possibly Zanzibar? We at Mara Gates Safaris have the capacity and experience to offer you a trip that will be memorable and within your budget. We’ve been in this business for 14 years and have the experience to handle family as well as large groups.
Below is a suggested itinerary for a 12-day safari covering Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar. We can customize the trip to suit your preference and budget by adding or removing destinations.
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Highlights
In summary, here are the highlights of your trip:
- Maasai Mara Safari: Witness the Big Five and the Great Wildebeest Migration.
- Serengeti National Park: Explore vast plains teeming with iconic African wildlife.
- Ngorongoro Crater: Experience unparalleled game viewing in a unique volcanic caldera.
- Zanzibar Beach Holiday: Relax on pristine beaches and explore historic Stone Town.
Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi
- Arrive in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Transfer to your hotel and relax after your journey.
Day 2-3: Masai Mara Safari
- Depart Nairobi for Masai Mara National Reserve.
- Enjoy two full days of safari activities in Masai Mara, known for its abundant wildlife, including the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros).
- Stay overnight at a lodge or luxury tented camp in Masai Mara.
Day 4: Transfer to Serengeti
- After breakfast, travel by road from Masai Mara to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
- Enjoy scenic views and wildlife spotting along the way.
- Arrive in Serengeti and check into your accommodation.
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Day 5: Serengeti Safari
- Embark on a full day of game drives in the Serengeti.
- Witness the famous wildebeest migration (if visiting during migration season).
- Explore the vast plains and diverse ecosystems of the Serengeti.
- Overnight stay in Serengeti.
Day 6: Travel to Ngorongoro
- Depart Serengeti after breakfast and head towards Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
- Enjoy a leisurely drive, stopping for wildlife sightings and photo opportunities.
- Arrive at Ngorongoro and check into your lodge or camp.
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater Exploration
- Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day of game viewing.
- Marvel at the dense population of wildlife within the crater, including lions, elephants, hippos, and an array of bird species.
- Enjoy a picnic lunch within the crater.
- Return to your accommodation in the late afternoon for relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 8: Lake Manyara
- Depart Ngorongoro after breakfast and drive to Lake Manyara National Park.
- Explore the diverse habitats of Lake Manyara, including the lake itself, forests, and grassy plains.
- Look out for tree-climbing lions and flocks of flamingos along the lakeshore.
- Overnight stay in Lake Manyara area.
Day 9-10: Zanzibar
- Transfer to the airport and fly to Zanzibar.
- Spend the next two days relaxing on the pristine beaches of Zanzibar.
- Explore the historic Stone Town, visit spice plantations, and enjoy water activities such as snorkeling or diving.
- Overnight stays in Zanzibar.
Day 11: Zanzibar Attractions
- Embark on a guided tour of Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to explore its narrow streets, ancient buildings, and vibrant markets.
- Visit attractions such as the Sultan’s Palace, House of Wonders, and the Old Fort.
- In the afternoon, you can relax on the beach or indulge in optional activities like a sunset dhow cruise.
- Overnight stay in Zanzibar.
Day 12: Departure
- Transfer to Zanzibar Airport for your flight back home via Arusha.
- Departure from Arusha back home, concluding your memorable safari and beach holiday.
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This itinerary combines the thrill of wildlife safaris in Kenya and Tanzania with the relaxation of beach time in Zanzibar, offering a diverse and unforgettable African adventure.
About Us (Mara Gates Safaris)
We are based in Nairobi, Kenya and have been in this business for 13 years. We have the manpower and expertise to handle your East Africa trip. Below is our 30+ person group from Philippines that we planned for a trip some time back. Contact us through the form below
Contact Us
Use the form below to contact us regarding your East Africa holiday. Agnes, our tours consultant will get back to you as soon as possible and design for you an itinerary that is within your budget and preferences
Google Review Testimonials About Us
Below are some of the reviews people have left on Google Reviews concerning our services
Luis Eduardo Torres R.
12:29 27 Dec 19
Unbelievable experience! From planning and booking with Agnes, up to our last day, everything was great!Our driver, Jackson, was AMAZING! He definitely a big factor in making our experience so unique.
rommel carlos
21:27 17 Oct 19
Agnes of Mara Gates always responds within 24 hours regarding any of my inquiries. She made the process very easy and always accommodated changes to our itinerary. Ken our driver/guide is very knowledgeable about animals and their behavior. Will definitely book another Safari trip with Mara Gates.!!!
Robert Schlag
21:43 14 Oct 19
Mara Gates provided us with an experience of a lifetime. The places that we visited were breathtakingly beautiful, the variety and number of animals and flora were spectacular. And our guide, Ken, was so courteous, knowledgeable, and organized. The depth of his knowledge and explanations of animal behavior and the local environments was like traveling with a patient university professor of zoology, ornithology, and botany. Our lodging, food, and their support service staff were excellent. I give this company and its guide my highest recommendation. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Malou Carlos
20:46 10 Oct 19
We had a wonderful 9-day safari with Mara Gates. My husband found their website and came up with a custom-made itinerary, that Agnes gladly accommodated and made it even better. Communicating with them was so easy because Agnes responds promptly. As soon as their office is open in Nairobi, they respond to our email inquiries quickly. We also met her at our hotel and we discussed the itinerary and she gave us pointers on what to expect during our trip. On the morning of the beginning of our safari, Ken our guide and driver promptly arrived and packed our van. Ken is a very intelligent, knowledgeable, wonderful person who gave us quick lessons on the different types of animals, birds, reptiles and also gave us lessons on their behavior. We would really like to go back and do another safari with Mara Gates, and most especially with Ken. Thank you so much for a wonderful trip!
Rob Lovemore
09:55 07 Oct 19
our family booked a hot air balloon trip with Mara Gates. A very good driver collected us from our camp in a smart closed body Toyota Landcruiser. Our camp was nearly an hours drive from the balloon site so it was a good commitment. Hot air ballooning is a must for visitors to the Mara. It's expensive but well worth it. We had a very competent pilot from Switzerland. The open air breakfast on the plains after we landed was also excellent. Then the same driver took us back home again. A great day out. Thanks Mara Gates.
ABHIJIT MANNA
02:36 03 Sep 19
We booked our African Safari trip with Mara Gates Safaris in May, '19. This was one of the best trips we have made so far and thanks to Mara Gates Safaris, it became the most memorable one. We received all the help we needed starting from the booking until the end of the trip. Special thanks to our guide Ken who enlightened us so much about the nature and behavior of the animals in the wild and took us to some of the best viewing spots over the different parks.
A Google User
14:20 29 Aug 19
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our safari with Mara Gates. They were helpful from initial enquiries, through changes, to the final stop of getting us to the airport. The guide, hotels and meals were all excellent. Our guide took great pains to ensure that we saw 'all' the animals and were able to take wonderful photos. We have great memories of this trip. At 84 and 72, we were comfortable all the way and felt well cared for. We would highly recommend this company and in fact we have to several friends. On another note, we had to cancel an earlier booking with this company because of an unexpected hospitalization. They were most kind and considerate and expeditiously handled refunds of our down-payment. Finally, from what I have seen, their prices are very good and certainly fall into the category of 'good value for the money'.
Maurine Limo
12:12 10 Dec 18
I had a wonderful experience with Mara Gates Safaris. I wanted a 5 day trip to the coastal town and they got me a very good safari. They are highly organized, excellent communicators- never once did I not get my queries answered and very accommodating. Everything went exactly as scheduled and discussed. Ms. Agnes is easy to work with and a professional in her line of duty. First time with Mara Gates and I will definitely be using them.
