Land in Nairobi and complete immigration; meet your guide/transfer to your hotel. Nairobi is East Africa’s transport hub and this is your gateway to Kenya’s wildlife and culture.
One of Nairobi’s top fusion restaurants with a lovely garden setting; great introduction to Kenyan flavours and international dishes. Open ~12:00–22:00.
Visit the Giraffe Centre (feed Rothschild giraffes; open 9:00–17:00) then Karen Blixen Museum to learn colonial and literary history (typically open 9:00–17:00). Both give cultural context and are close together in the leafy south of Nairobi.
Classic Nairobi dining: Carnivore for an iconic Kenyan meat-feast experience (check evening hours) or Talisman if you prefer a calmer atmosphere; both provide great first-night dinners.
Short game drive in Nairobi National Park — a unique wildlife 'island' inside city limits where you can see lions, giraffes and rhinos with the skyline in the distance; park gates open at dawn (check local gate time).
Explore Kenya’s archaeology, art and natural history; museum typically open 9:00–17:00 and offers good context for the wildlife and people you’ll meet.
Shop for hand-made souvenirs at the rotating Maasai Market (check days & locations) or enjoy an easy walk in Karura Forest (open ~6:00–19:00) for a green urban escape.
Active option: rent a bike or take a walking gorge tour in Hell’s Gate (open 6:00–18:00); offers dramatic cliffs, wildlife and geothermal scenery close to Naivasha.
First full Mara game drive (best 15:00–19:00) to spot big cats, elephants and plains game as animals become active in cooler hours; Mara is famed for its density of wildlife.
Meet Maasai community members for an authentic cultural exchange (music, crafts and storytelling). Confirm timing with your lodge as visits are typically in late morning or afternoon.
Another prime game-drive window—if your visit aligns with migration season (timing varies), watch for river crossings; otherwise, enjoy abundant resident wildlife.
Charter or scheduled light aircraft transfers connect Maasai Mara to central Serengeti airstrips; a practical way to cross the border quickly with luggage.
Spend a full day tracking wildlife across different Serengeti zones — early morning and late afternoon drives give the best sightings; park generally open dawn to dusk for drives.
Stop at the crater rim for panoramic views and orientation; rim visits are open during daylight hours—great for photos and geology context before tomorrow’s descent.
Full-day crater descent and game drive (gates open at dawn); the crater’s dense wildlife makes it one of Africa’s best guaranteed-spotting areas for rhino, lion and buffalo.
Short transfer (1.5–2 hours) to Lake Manyara area; arrive for an evening village/cultural visit in Mto wa Mbu if time permits (typical visits in late afternoon).
Optional morning drive in Lake Manyara National Park to see tree-climbing lions and flamingos (park open dawn–dusk); short visits work well before heading north.
3–4 hour scenic drive toward Moshi/Arusha; visit a coffee farm en route or stop at Materuni Waterfalls for a short hike if time permits (tours 8:00–16:00).
Short guided hike (1–2 hours) to a waterfall on Kilimanjaro’s slopes, followed by a local coffee and cultural demonstration—great for close-up mountain views without climbing Kilimanjaro.
Enjoy local Chagga cuisine or international options in Moshi/Arusha; plan an evening flight to Zanzibar (flight times vary) — many evening flights depart JRO/ARK to ZNZ.
Enjoy a vibrant street-food experience at the Forodhani Gardens night market (evenings ~18:30–22:00) with grilled seafood, Zanzibar pizzas and sugarcane juice.
Short drive to your chosen beach—Nungwi for lively beaches and sunset views, Paje for kitesurfing or Mnemba for excellent snorkeling/diving. Transfers usually take 45–90 minutes depending on location.
Half- or full-day snorkeling/diving trip to coral reefs—operators run tours 8:00–16:00 with equipment and guides included; great marine life and clear water.
Special final-dinner option: The Rock (book ahead) or a seaside seafood dinner to end your trip on a memorable note; check reservation times as openings vary by season.