East Africa – Combine an active and expensive budget safari in Kenya with Zanzibar’s beaches. On the trip you cycle through Hell’s Gate National Park, hike the crater of Mount Longonot and live in a camping tent in a local Maasai village. See loverists for more about Kenya.
Join us on an adventurous day trip on the beautiful and sleeping volcano Mount Longonot. Here you can enjoy the beautiful views of the Great Rift Valley while moving at an altitude of over 630 meters to reach the edge of the crater which is 2776 meters above sea level. On some stretches the tour is very steep and uneven and the hiking trail itself, from the main entrance to the crater edge and back again, is about nine kilometers. From here the journey goes to Lake Naivasha which is only 80 km north of Nairobi. Here the bird life is very varied and you can see flamingos, river eagles and weavers. Of wild animals you can experience giraffes, antelopes and hippos. The nearby Hell’s Gate National Park is relatively small, but here you will find a beautiful landscape with narrow ravines surrounded by red cliffs and open grasslands. Here you get the opportunity to ride a Kenyan mountain bike and hike in the beautiful landscape. On this safari tour beyond the ordinary, a 10 km bicycle safari awaits you where you can experience giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, gazelles, zebras, baboons, badgers and vultures.
On this part of the tour you will embark on a guided safari on Lake Nakuru and in the Masai Mara, where you can enjoy the rich and varied animal and bird life which includes thousands of zebras, wildebeest and flamingos as well as lions, cheetahs, leopards , giraffes, hippos, jackals, elephants, rhinos, gazelles, impalas, crocodiles, vultures, marabou dryers, baboons, hyenas, ostriches … yes, the list is almost endless.
On the safari, you camp next to a local Maasai village where you get really close to daily life. You visit the huts while the guide tells you about the many aspects of life in the village, such as how they build huts, their wedding ceremonies, the food, the clothes, family life, the leadership and the traditional medicine. In the afternoon there will be a hiking tour in the area.
On Zanzibar you will find some of the world’s finest sandy beaches with turquoise waters and swaying palm trees. There are many opportunities for various activities such as visiting the many paradise beaches and picturesque villages, experiencing huge land turtles and snorkeling among impressive corals in the Indian Ocean.
Day 1: Departure from Scandinavia
Departure from Scandinavia to Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, where you will arrive the next day. Depending on the airline, there will be 1-2 stops on the way.
Day 2: Arrival in Nairobi
In Nairobi you will be picked up at the airport by our driver and driven to Wildebeest Eco Camp. The rest of the day is at your disposal.
Day 3: The best of Nairobi
After breakfast you will be picked up for an excursion around Nairobi and you will visit the following places: Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage: You will visit Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, home of orphaned elephant children preparing to return to nature. All elephants have their own individual “development plan” for how they can best be trained to be reintroduced into nature and no elephants will remain in the orphanage. Depending on the age of the baby elephant, it can take anywhere from one to ten years. Giraffe Center: The day also includes a visit to the AFEW (African Fund for Endangered Wildlife) Giraffe Center to see the center’s Rothschild giraffes, which are an endangered breed in Kenya. Today, Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the few places where they can be experienced outdoors. Rothschild giraffes are known for their long white “socks” which goes all the way to the knees as opposed to the Massage giraffes, which only have white “ankle socks”. The center also offers an informative exhibition on giraffes and here is a nice little cafe. Local English speaking guide included. Kazuri Jewelry and Ceramics Workshop: You will also have a visit to the Kazuri Jewelry and Pottery Workshop. The Kazuri project started in 1975 and helped single mothers support themselves and their children. The women hand-painted jewelry and ceramics and sold them. The project has now become so popular that over 200 women are employed and their goods are sold all over the world. Everything is done by hand and it is incredibly exciting to experience the women’s skills. Local English speaking guide included. Karen Blixen’s house: The excursion ends at Karen Blixen’s African house 20 km west of Nairobi – one of the capital’s main attractions. The Baroness’s home was converted into a museum in 1985 due to the film adaptation of the now famous film “My Africa” starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. to go for a walk in the beautiful park overlooking the Ngong Hills. ( There will be time to take a walk in the beautiful park overlooking the Ngong Hills. ( There will be time to take a walk in the beautiful park overlooking the Ngong Hills. (F )
Day 4: Nairobi – Mount Longonot – Lake Naivasha
After breakfast, leave Nairobi to continue towards Mount Longonot. Along the way there will be a stop to enjoy the beautiful views of the Great Rift Valley. Today’s hike begins at the national park’s main entrance where the trails quickly begin to twist up along the dormant volcano. You bravely move 630 meters up to reach the crater’s edge, 2776 meters above sea level. On some stretches the tour is very steep and uneven and the hiking trail itself, from the main entrance to the crater edge and back again, is about nine kilometers. From the top of the crater there is a spectacular view of the crater itself and the surrounding area, where Lake Naivasha, open plains and small villages adorn the landscape. The bottom of the crater is covered with a forest of trees that serve as homes for a variety of animals, including zebras, giraffes and buffaloes. The dormant volcano has been created by many layers of solidified lava and ttros most recently erupted in the 1860s. The name of the volcano, Mount Longonot, comes from the Maasai word “oloongonot” which means “a mountain with many steep ridges”. Mount Longonot National Park covers over 52 square kilometers, most of which are covered with mountains. After your hike, continue to your accommodation at Lake Naivasha. The rest of the day is at your own disposal. ( The rest of the day is at your own disposal. ( The rest of the day is at your own disposal. (F , L , M )
Day 5: Lake Naivasha – Hells Gate Mountain Biking – Lake Naivasha
Today you drive through the town of Naivasha and along the southern shore of the lake, past several flower plantations to the entrance to Hell’s Gate National Park. When you enter the park, you will encounter an impressive landscape and you will be led into a dramatic, semi-barren world with bare, jagged cliffs, open plains and deep, hidden ravines, a genuinely fascinating and different experience in Kenya. As there are no large predators in Hell’s Gate National Park, you can participate in many activities in the park. After your arrival, a fun mountain bike ride through the park awaits, you can climb up steep cliffs, watch birds and trek in ravines with hot springs – the day is planned on site together with your local guide. You enjoy the packed lunch inside the park. At the end of the afternoon you leave Hell ‘ s Gate and return to your guest house on Lake Naivasha. Here is the opportunity for a well-deserved hot shower and dinner. (F , L , M )
Day 6: Lake Naivasha – Lake Nakuru National Park – Lake Nakuru Town
After breakfast, depart from Lake Naivasha in the direction of Lake Nakuru. An adventurous safari tour awaits here in the park and you have a packed lunch at the lookout point over the lake. In the afternoon, another safari in Lake Nakuru National Park awaits you. Previously, Lake Nakuru was known for its many flamingos that came to the lake during all seasons of the year in search of food. Today, there are not as many here as it used to, while the lake itself is as beautiful a nature experience as ever and also Kenya’s best place for rhinos, something the park also has a special reserve status for. There are also great chances to experience buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, water bucks and maybe even the volatile leopard. ( F , L , M )
Day 7: Lake Nakuru – Masai Mara National Park
After breakfast, leave the Lake Nakuru area and travel to the Masai Mara National Park. During the car ride you stop and you have lunch. After a short stop at your camp, the first samples of the national park’s fantastic wildlife and its varied and hilly landscapes are common. Note that the car ride is really tough during the last part of the stretch, where the roads are in a rather primitive condition. ( F , L , M )
Day 8: Safari and Masai Mara
The whole day is set aside for driving around and observing wildlife in the reserve. You start early in the morning, when the chance of seeing lions, cheetahs and leopards is greatest. Kenya’s leading Masai Mara Safari Reserve is a continuation of the Serengeti Plain and world famous for the unique and spectacular migration of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebras. From June they start arriving at the Masai Mara in search of food and in October the grass is eaten and they start hiking back to the Serengeti. Masai Mara is also rich in resident animals with over 95 different species, which makes the park a great animal experience all year round. In the Masai Mara you will find the whole “The Big Five”, ie elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and a small number of rhinos, but also giraffes, hippos, hyenas and countless antelopes. The national park also has an incredibly rich and varied bird life with over 480 species. (F , L , M )
Day 9: Masai Mara National Park – Masai Village and Masai Mara Conservancy
Early ascent for a morning safari followed by breakfast in your camp. From here you drive to a Masai village in the Masai Mara Conservancy and arrive in the morning. Upon arrival you will be welcomed by Maasai warriors from the village. After the welcome, you visit the huts while the guide explains the many aspects of village life. You will learn more about how they build the huts, hold wedding ceremonies, provide food and clothing, and hear stories about their family life, leadership, and traditional medicine. After lunch in the camp, you have the opportunity to go hiking in the area and participate in daily life. You are back in the village when the animals return from their pasture. You are welcome to participate in the milking of the villages and make sure that they are fenced in before the night. Please note that the experience in the Maasai village takes place under simple conditions. ( F , L, M )
Day 10: Massage Village
Time for an early breakfast and several bush walks in the company of the Maasai families where you can learn all about this exciting tribe. ( F , L , M )
Day 11: Massage Village – Nairobi
After breakfast you can enjoy the morning activities in the Maasai village and then head to Nairobi with lunch along the way. You arrive in Nairobi in the late afternoon. ( F , L )
Day 12: Nairobi – Zanzibar – Kendwa Beach
This morning you will be picked up in Nairobi and taken to the airport, where you will fly to the beautiful island of Zanzibar, east of the coast of Tanzania. On Zanzibar you will find some of the world’s most beautiful sandy beaches with turquoise blue water and swaying palm trees. There are plenty of opportunities to sunbathe, snorkel and dive in the Indian Ocean. When you arrive in Zanzibar you will arrive at your beach hotel at Kendwa Beach, where you will stay for the next few days. The rest of the day you have on your own. ( F )
Day 13-17: Beach vacation at Kendwa Beach
Kendwa Beach is perhaps Zanzibar’s most beautiful beach, stretching along the north west coast. Kendwa is Zanzibar’s only beach that has not been affected by tides, making it perfect for a beach holiday. The beach is chalk white and surrounded by azure waters and swaying palm trees scattered along the coast. There is plenty of opportunity to enjoy a cold drink, a beer or a coke by the beautiful water or at one of the many cozy beach bars. On the beach it is possible to book a massage or book water activities such as snorkelling and diving. From Kendwa Beach you can also book boat trips to the coral reef on the small coral island Mnemba Island. The days are on their own. ( F )
Day 18: Kendwa Beach – Stone Town
In the morning you drive to Zanzibar’s largest city, Stone Town. Here you will find small narrow streets full of cozy souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants and local markets. Another attraction is Changuu, also known as Prison Island, where you can snorkel at the impressive coral reefs. Stone Town’s old town is full of religion and exciting colonial history. Throughout history, the city has served as one of Africa’s most influential trading places. If you are interested in history, we highly recommend a city tour of the old colonial city. Every night, the locals open their stalls at Forodhan and here you can experience an exciting range of street food and taste many of Zanzibar’s specialties, which is a fantastic experience. The day is on its own. ( F )
Day 19: Departure from Zanzibar
You will be driven to Zanzibar Airport just outside Stone Town, a 20-minute drive away. The pick-up time depends on the time of your return flight. When you arrive at the airport, your return journey begins from one of Africa’s most beautiful islands. ( F )
Day 20: Arrival in Scandinavia
After an eventful trip in Kenya and Tanzania, you arrive in Scandinavia.
Overnight stays
Three nights at Wilderbeest Eco Camp in Nairobi.
Two nights at a guesthouse on Lake Naivasha
One night at a budget hotel in Nakuru
Two nights in a stationary budget tent at Masai Mara National Park
Two nights in a camping tent CEO of a local Masssajby
Six nights at a simple hotel Kendwa Beach Zanzibar
One night at a hotel in Stone Town Zanzibar
