The Allure of the Swahili Coast

Overview

To give an insight into the types of safari experiences we create, please view the sample itinerary below. It can either be treated as a standalone program, incorporated into a longer itinerary, or modified to match your particular interests and budget. Alternatively, you may wish for us to start with a blank canvas, to handcraft a personalised itinerary based on what you want and nothing more. Prices will fluctuate based on the time of year, length of stay, accommodation choices, number of participants and inclusions.

We pride ourselves in our ability to plan and execute every trip to perfection.

Itinerary

Meet your Travulous guide at your Nairobi hotel. After completing our arrival in country procedures, we depart for Chyulu Hills National Park.
Chyulu Hills National Park is home to spectacular landscape views, including the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro. Located between Amboseli and Tsavo West National Parks, Chyulu is a rugged wilderness area which to this day still displays signs of its ancient volcanic origins, including spectacular cave systems and craters. The national park offers an abundance of wildlife.
Upon arrival at Chyulu Hills National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying its facilities.
Driving Time: 3:30 hours.
Meals: Dinner included, breakfast and lunch at own arrangement.
Overnight: Speak to us or browse the accommodation section below for inspiration. Your custom itinerary will contain full descriptions of your chosen properties.
Activities: Let's plan your safari! Contact us to learn about available activities.
After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Chyulu Hills National Park. Activities include bird watching, game drives, horse riding or mountain climbing.
Chyulu Hills is one of the national parks in Kenya which is proudly home to all the Big Five, including lion, elephant, black rhino, leopard and buffalo. Other wildlife also call this park their home, including giraffe, zebra, eland, bushbuck, mountain, reedbuck, steenbok and bush pig, amongst others. Bird watchers will love Chyulu as its home to a great selection of bird species including turaco, sunbird, mousebird, barbet, hornbill, reedwarbler and greenbul.
All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.
Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in Chyulu Hills National Park).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight: Speak to us or browse the accommodation section below for inspiration. Your custom itinerary will contain full descriptions of your chosen properties.
Activities: Let's plan your safari! Contact us to learn about available activities.
After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Malindi.
Boasting a fascinating history, Malindi is a bustling town located on Kenya’s coast. Home to a number of historical sights, the town offers a good selection of accommodations, bars, restaurants, a nearby marine national park and some of East Africa’s best tropical white-sand beaches, including Malindi’s very own and also neighbouring Watamu.
Upon arrival in Malindi, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure exploring Malindi or enjoying your accommodation’s facilities.
Driving Time: 5:30 hours.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.
Overnight: Speak to us or browse the accommodation section below for inspiration. Your custom itinerary will contain full descriptions of your chosen properties.
Activities: Let's plan your safari! Contact us to learn about available activities.
After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities or explore the sights and sounds of Malindi. Activities include visiting its historical sights, shopping and enjoying a selection of good dining opportunities.
Malindi is also home to many nature based activities, such as discovering its tropical beaches, going snorkeling and diving to discover its marine life, embarking on a boat cruise, or visiting the Marine National Park. A visit to Hell’s Kitchen, which has become part of the local folklore and is comprised of a series of eroded sandstone gorges, is also worthwhile. A short drive from Malindi you will find the abandoned and crumbling city of Gedi, once one of the most important Swahili cities on the East African coast.
Spend the evening exploring Malindi or relaxing at your accommodation.
Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in Malindi).
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.
Overnight: Speak to us or browse the accommodation section below for inspiration. Your custom itinerary will contain full descriptions of your chosen properties.
Activities: Let's plan your safari! Contact us to learn about available activities.
After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Lamu Island, via a boat from Mokowe.
Going back in history, Lamu was once an important stopover on ancient trading routes connecting Africa to the rest of the world. A mixture of Arab, Chinese, European and Indian influences, Lamu Old Town is one of the best-preserved and oldest Swahili settlements in East Africa. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001, Lamu Old Town has become one of the pivotal centres for the study of Swahili cultures.
Upon arrival in Lamu, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure exploring Lamu or enjoying your accommodation’s facilities.
Driving Time: 3:30 hours.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.
Overnight: Speak to us or browse the accommodation section below for inspiration. Your custom itinerary will contain full descriptions of your chosen properties.
Activities: Let's plan your safari! Contact us to learn about available activities.
Today, you can either enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Lamu Island. Activities include visiting its historical sights, beautiful beaches, or exploring the road-free island via motorbike.
Lamu’s pristine white sand beaches offer a good selection of land and water based activities, such as snorkelling its dazzling coral reefs. A visit to Lamu Old Town is an absolute must if you are interested in learning more about the Swahili culture. Characterised for its maze of narrow streets, traditionally constructed buildings with wooden doors, mosques, shops and boutiques, you can spend all day exploring its fascinating history and architecture.
Spend the evening exploring Lamu or relaxing at your accommodation.
Driving Time: 0:00 hours.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.
Overnight: Speak to us or browse the accommodation section below for inspiration. Your custom itinerary will contain full descriptions of your chosen properties.
Activities: Let's plan your safari! Contact us to learn about available activities.
After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Mombasa.
Historically, Mombasa was an important port for trade across the Indian Ocean. It gained it’s reputation due to the trade in gold, spices and ivory which passed through it’s old port. It has cemented this role as Kenya’s, and indeed one of the region’s, most important trading hubs due to its modern deepwater port. The city also attracts many tourists, due to its historical significance and its proximity to a range of attractive beaches.
Upon arrival in Mombasa, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of the day at leisure exploring Mombasa or enjoying your your accommodation’s facilities.
Driving Time: 6:00 hours.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.
Overnight: Speak to us or browse the accommodation section below for inspiration. Your custom itinerary will contain full descriptions of your chosen properties.
Activities: Let's plan your safari! Contact us to learn about available activities.
Today, you can either enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Mombasa. Activities include discovering the city’s many cultural and historical attractions, in addition to its lively music scene and great seafood cuisine.
If you are interested in Mombasa’s history, then a visit to its old town and Fort Jesus is an absolute must. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2011, Fort Jesus is one of the best preserved examples of 16th century Portuguese military fortifications. Other attractions include visiting the city’s spice, fruit and vegetable markets, stunning beaches and nearby marine national park & reserve.
Spend the evening exploring Mombasa or relaxing at your accommodation.
Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity).
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.
Overnight: Speak to us or browse the accommodation section below for inspiration. Your custom itinerary will contain full descriptions of your chosen properties.
Activities: Let's plan your safari! Contact us to learn about available activities.
After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Tanga.
In the past, Tanga was a popular colonial town with wide avenues and an elegant waterfront. Being the location of grand hotels, including a swimming and sailing club, the town flourished as it morphed into a thriving industrial centre. Despite Tanga today being one of Tanzania’s largest cities, its previous standing as a destination for the wealthy is not as prevalent anymore. For Drive Into The Wild’s purposes, Tanga serves as a suitable transit stop enroute to Saadani National Park.
Upon arrival in Tanga, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure exploring Tanga or enjoying your accommodation’s facilities.
Driving Time: 3:30 hours + 1 hour border crossing
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.
Overnight: Speak to us or browse the accommodation section below for inspiration. Your custom itinerary will contain full descriptions of your chosen properties.
Activities: Let's plan your safari! Contact us to learn about available activities.
After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Tanga. Activities include visiting the city’s Ropeworks, Independence Avenue, Railway Station, Library and Boma overlooking the old harbour.
Areas to visit around Tanga include a tour of the Amboni Caves, which form one of the most extensive limestone cave systems in East Africa. Some of the locals visit to offer prayers and sacrifices, as they believe the caves to be supernatural and the home of a powerful deity. Alternatively, nearby Tongoni Ruins are also worth a visit. Although dating from the 13th to 16th centuries, they also include mosques and tombs from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Spend the evening exploring Tanga or relaxing at your accommodation.
Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity).
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.
Overnight: Speak to us or browse the accommodation section below for inspiration. Your custom itinerary will contain full descriptions of your chosen properties.
Activities: Let's plan your safari! Contact us to learn about available activities.
After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Saadani National Park.
Located along Tanzania’s coastline on the Indian Ocean, Saadani National Park is famous for being the only wildlife reserve in East Africa which has a beachfront with plenty of marine life, in addition to a national park which is home to wildlife. For those who want to combine game drives, walking safaris, Wami River boat trips and relaxing on the beach, Saadani is the perfect destination for you.
Upon arrival in Saadani National Park, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying your accommodation’s facilities.
Driving Time: 3:45 hours.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included, lunch at own arrangement.
Overnight: Speak to us or browse the accommodation section below for inspiration. Your custom itinerary will contain full descriptions of your chosen properties.
Activities: Let's plan your safari! Contact us to learn about available activities.
After breakfast, you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities, or explore Saadani National Park. Activities include game drives, walking safaris, river trips and relaxing on the beach.
Converted from a game reserve to a national park in 2005, it is not unusual to encounter wild animals on the beach of this coastal park. Saadani is breeding site for endangered sea turtles and the park also protects important mangrove forests, which are rapidly disappearing along Africa’s coastlines. The park's wildlife includes the elusive leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo, hyena, giraffe, wildebeest and warthog, amongst others.
All meals are served at your accommodation. Spend the evening relaxing, enjoying its facilities.
Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in Saadani National Park).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight: Speak to us or browse the accommodation section below for inspiration. Your custom itinerary will contain full descriptions of your chosen properties.
Activities: Let's plan your safari! Contact us to learn about available activities.
After breakfast, it is time to pack your vehicle and depart for Zanzibar, via Dar es Salaam from where we board a ferry or flight to Zanzibar.
Few names evoke such a romantic image as the spice islands of Zanzibar. Stone Town, its capital, is one of East Africa’s best cultural highlights and provides a fine example of a Swahili coastal trading town. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, it is home to a fascinating maze of narrow streets, ready for you to explore. Zanzibar also has beaches, with the Nungwi and Kendwa beaches in the north of the island ranking as some of its best.
Upon arrival in Zanzibar, transfer to your accommodation. Spend the rest of your day at leisure exploring Zanzibar or enjoying your accommodation’s facilities.
Driving Time: 3:30 hours + 1 hour flight.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.
Overnight: Speak to us or browse the accommodation section below for inspiration. Your custom itinerary will contain full descriptions of your chosen properties.
Activities: Let's plan your safari! Contact us to learn about available activities.
Today you can enjoy your accommodation’s facilities or explore the sights and sounds of Zanzibar and the island’s many optional activities and tours on offer.
This is the Indian Ocean at its very best. Unwind on pure white sand beaches or enjoy a selection of optional activities. Learn about the rich history of Zanzibar, its culture or stunning marine life. Alternatively, participate in a great selection of optional activities including spa treatments, dhow and sailing tours, motorised and non-motorised water activities, snorkelling and diving, guided tours (Prison Island, Jozani Forest, spice plantation, and cultural excursions.
Spend the evening exploring Zanzibar or relaxing at your accommodation.
Driving Time: 0:00 hours (unless you choose a vehicle based activity in Zanzibar).
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.
Overnight: Speak to us or browse the accommodation section below for inspiration. Your custom itinerary will contain full descriptions of your chosen properties.
Activities: Let's plan your safari! Contact us to learn about available activities.
After breakfast, transfer to Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume International Airport for your onward travel arrangements.
Alternatively, consider extending this trip by adding one of our Extension Ideas (see below) to this program.
Driving Time: 1:15 hours.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.

General Info

Tailor-made

Kenya & Tanzania

Duration: 15 days

Lodges/Camps: 4>5*

Escorted or Un-escorted (Copy)

Fitness: Easy

Your money: protected

Travel Notes: see below

Highlights

Click on the text links above to watch the videos in full screen mode

Accommodations

When it comes to choosing accommodations in East Africa, we can suggest a wide range of properties. View a sample of some of our favourite hotels, lodges and camps below:

If you have an alternative property in mind, contact us as we contract with a large variety of accommodation providers.

Map

Extension Ideas

**SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS**

Visit world famous safari highlights including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and the Gorillas

**BEHIND THE SCENES**

Gain unique insights into Wildlife Conservation, Educational Experiences and History & Traditions

**BEACH DESTINATIONS**

Round-off your safari in East Africa with a great choice of world-class Indian Ocean beach destinations

**WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES**

Visit a wildlife sanctuary and learn about the incredible work they do to safeguard Africa’s wildlife

Driving

Due to the distances we travel whilst on safari, long driving days will sometimes be required to explore off-the-beaten track destinations. We spend a minimum of 2 nights in each destination, giving our customers time to relax, enjoy the property facilities and participate in activities.
On the days where long drives are required, we leave at 8am, drive for 2-3 hours, stop for a 2 hour lunch-break, and continue for another 2-3 hours in the afternoon before reaching our destination.

Alternatively, this itinerary can also be operated as a fly-in safari, where you travel between destinations in a small aircraft instead of by vehicle.

Travel Notes

KENYA
Kenya is a year-round destination with a diverse climate influenced by its vast size, varying altitudes, and coastal areas. Picking the 'best time' will depend on your interests, where you are travelling to and for what purpose. While generally tropical, Kenya is broadly divided into dry and wet seasons.
The approximate seasons are: short dry season - January to mid-March long wet season - mid-March to May; long dry season - June to October and short wet season - October to December. These are generalised weather patterns, and regional variations can be significant. During the rainy seasons, the landscape is lush and green with fewer tourists around.
TANZANIA
Tanzania is a year-round destination with a diverse climate influenced by its vast size, varying altitudes, and proximity to the Indian Ocean. Picking the 'best time' will depend on your interests, where you are travelling to and for what purpose. While generally tropical, Tanzania is broadly divided into dry and wet seasons.

The approximate seasons are: short dry season - mid-January to February; long wet season - mid-March to May; long dry season - June to October and short wet season - November to mid-January. These are generalised weather patterns, and regional variations can be significant. During the rainy seasons, the landscape is lush and green with fewer tourists around.
KENYA
All foreign nationals will require a Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for entry to Kenya. Please check with your local Kenyan Embassy or our travel team for further information. ETAs can not be obtained, on arrival, at any port of entry. The Kenyan government has introduced an online eTA application system for issuing eTAs in advance of travel. Travellers should carry a printed copy of their eTA to present to immigration officials.

TANZANIA
Most foreign nationals will require a visa for entry to Tanzania. Please check with your local Tanzanian Embassy or our travel team for further information. Tourist visit visas can often be obtained, on arrival, at most ports of entry. The Tanzanian government has introduced an online 'e-visa' application system for obtaining visas in advance of travel. Travellers who require a visa prior to arrival should carry a printed copy of their visa to present to immigration officials.
KENYA
Kiswahili and English are the official languages of Kenya. Kiswahili is spoken by most Kenyans, with English fluency varying outside of major towns and cities. There are over 65 languages spoken throughout Kenya, which mainly belong to the various Bantu and Nilotic tribal populations.

TANZANIA
Kiswahili and English are the official languages of Tanzania. Kiswahili is spoken by most Tanzanians and Zanzibaris, with English fluency varying outside of major towns and tourist areas. In Zanzibar, many residents also speak Arabic. There are 126 languages spoken throughout Tanzania, making it one of the most linguistically diverse countries in East Africa.
KENYA
The local currency is the Kenyan shilling, which divides into 100 cents. US dollars are often acceptedin hotels and at tourist attractions; local currency is required for dining in restaurants, tipping and small purchases. Some vendors will only accept USD dated 2013, or newer. Hotels in tourist areas generally accept credit cards; however, surcharges are commonplace. Remote lodges often accept cash only. Access to cash machines is available in most major towns, and exchanging currency can be done in banks and foreign exchange bureaus.

TANZANIA
The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling, which divides into 100 senti. US dollars are widely accepted in hotels and at tourist attractions; local currency is required for dining in restaurants, tipping and small purchases. Some vendors will only accept USD dated 2013, or newer. Larger hotels in tourist areas may accept credit cards; however, surcharges are commonplace. Do not rely on using credit cards other than as a backup. Remote lodges often accept cash only. Access to cash machines is limited outside of major towns and cities. Exchanging currency can be done in banks and foreign exchange bureaus.
KENYA
Kenya has three international airports; Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi (NBO), Moi International Airport in Mombasa (MBA) and Moi International Airport in Eldoret (EDL).
TANZANIA
Tanzania has several international and regional airports. The main airports are Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam (DAR), Kilimanjaro International Airport in Kilimanjaro (JRO) and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar (ZNZ).