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10-Day Luxury Migration Safari and Zanzibar

10-Day Luxury Migration Safari and Zanzibar

Ten days through the Maasai Mara and Serengeti at the heart of the Great Migration, finished off with white sand and spice markets in Zanzibar.

10 daysDuration Kenya, Tanzania & ZanzibarCountries PrivateGroup type
Overview Highlights Daily itinerary Accommodation Inclusions
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Overview

10-Day Luxury Migration Safari: Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Zanzibar

This is the trip most people picture when they imagine an East African safari: two of the world’s most storied wildlife reserves, back to back, followed by a few unhurried days on Zanzibar’s beaches.

The Maasai Mara and Serengeti sit right next to each other, forming one continuous ecosystem and one of the best wildlife regions anywhere in Africa. Together, they’re famous for the Great Migration, the annual movement of millions of wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras, topi, and Thomson’s gazelles crossing between the two parks.

Because the Mara is one of Kenya’s most in-demand reserves, especially during migration season, booking well ahead genuinely matters for securing the camps you want. Your guides on this route know the terrain in detail; several grew up in the Mara region itself, and that local knowledge tends to make a real difference to what you actually see.

After your final game drive in the Serengeti, you’ll fly to Zanzibar for a change of pace: a guided walk through Stone Town’s old quarter and spice markets, then time on the beach to close out the trip.

Like every safari we build, this one is a starting point. Tell us what you’d like to add, cut, or extend, and we’ll shape it around you.

At a glance

  • Duration10 days
  • CountriesKenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar
  • Group typePrivate

Activities

A few of the experiences built into this route, tell us which ones matter most to you.

Guided game drives
Scenic flight over the Great Rift Valley
Migration river crossing viewing (seasonal)
Optional Nairobi city tour
Guided Stone Town walking tour
Zanzibar spice market visit
Zanzibar beach time
Moments to note

Standout moments

The parts of this route past travellers mention most, unprompted.

I

An aerial view of the Great Rift Valley

Your flight to the Mara crosses one of the planet's longest rift systems, running from Lebanon all the way to Mozambique, with the Kenyan stretch visible right from your window seat.

II

Front row seats to the Great Migration

Time your trip for July to October and you have a real chance of witnessing wildebeest and zebra crossing the Mara River, predators included, one of the most talked about wildlife events on the continent.

III

Two full days deep in the Maasai Mara

An early morning drive to catch nocturnal predators before sunrise, followed by a full day exploring the areas around the Mara and Talek Rivers, where wildlife concentrates.

IV

Serengeti's three distinct regions in one visit

The western corridor, northern Serengeti and the central plains each show you a different side of the park, and a full day here means covering real ground rather than one small corner.

V

Stone Town's spice trade history, on foot

Wander the old town's narrow streets and working spice market, then taste dishes built around the very spices you've just seen being sold.

VI

Zanzibar's beaches to finish

Palm-lined, white sand beaches and a slower pace for your last days, whether you stay in Stone Town or move straight to the coast.

Day by day

How the days break down

A starting shape: pace, order and length of each stage are all adjustable.

Day
01
Nairobi
Arrival in Nairobi

Karibu, welcome to Kenya

Your guide meets you at the airport and transfers you to your Nairobi hotel. An optional city tour can be added for an extra cost if you're up for it after the flight, otherwise it's a relaxed first night to settle in.

Day
02
Maasai Mara
Nairobi to Maasai Mara (flight)

Into the Mara, with huge concentration of wildlife

A short flight from Wilson Airport takes you over the Great Rift Valley to the Maasai Mara. A welcome game drive on the way to camp gets you straight into Big Five country: lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and the Mara's rhino. If you're travelling between July and October, this is also peak season for the wildebeest migration.

Day
03-04
Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara (full days)

Two full days in the heart of the Mara

An early start puts you in the park while nocturnal predators are still active, before returning to camp for breakfast. The rest of each day is spent exploring the areas around the Mara and Talek Rivers, where most wildlife gathers, right through to sunset.

Day
05
Serengeti
Maasai Mara to Serengeti National Park (flight)

Crossing into Tanzania

An early flight takes you from the Mara into the Serengeti, Tanzania's oldest national park and one of its best for Big Five sightings. You'll arrive in time for lunch, then head straight into an afternoon game drive.

Day
06
Serengeti
Serengeti National Park (full day)

Endless rolling savanaah plains and more wildlife species

The Serengeti splits into the western corridor, the northern reaches and the central plains, each with a different wildlife profile. A full day gives you real time in more than one, with realistic chances of spotting the Big Five alongside hyena, cheetah, hippo and giraffe.

Day
07
Serengeti to Zanzibar
Serengeti to Arusha to Zanzibar (flight)

One last drive, then on to the coast

A final early morning game drive gives you a chance to catch anything you missed, sometimes with a bit of predator drama thrown in. From there it's a transfer to Arusha for your flight to Zanzibar, where a local guide meets you and transfers you to Stone Town.

Day
08-09
Zanzibar
Stone Town and the coast

Stone Town's history, then the beach

A guided walk through Stone Town takes in its old architecture and working spice market, with a chance to taste dishes made from the very spices on sale. In the afternoon, head to Zanzibar's white sand beaches, whether you base yourself back in Stone Town or move to a beachfront lodge for the rest of your stay.

Day
10
Departure
Departure from Zanzibar

Departure

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight or extend your stay for more beach time if your schedule and budget allow.

What you'll likely see

Key species on this route

Based on past travellers' sightings on this exact route, here's roughly what to expect.

· · · · · · ·
Lion
Lion
90% chance
Elephant
Elephant
90% chance
Buffalo
Buffalo
85% chance
Leopard
Leopard
55% chance
Black Rhino
Black Rhino
20% chance
Wildebeest
Wildebeest
85% chance
Zebra
Zebra
90% chance
Giraffe
Giraffe
80% chance
The details

What's included

What's included

  • Airport transfers on arrival and departure
  • Domestic flights: Nairobi to Maasai Mara, Maasai Mara to Serengeti, Serengeti to Zanzibar
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • All meals during the safari and Zanzibar stay (full board on safari)
  • Private safari vehicle with English-speaking driver-guide
  • All game drives and activities listed in the itinerary
  • Guided Stone Town walking tour
  • Bottled water during game drives

What's not included

  • International flights
  • Kenya and Tanzania visa fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips and gratuities for guides and staff
  • Optional Nairobi city tour
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Items of a personal nature (laundry, phone calls, souvenirs)

Notes about this trip

  • This itinerary is fully tailor-made, dates, pace, camps and the Zanzibar portion can all be adjusted.
  • The Great Migration's river crossings are a natural event, not a scheduled one. Timing gives strong odds during July to October, but no operator can guarantee a crossing on a specific day.
  • Domestic flight schedules between the Mara, Serengeti and Zanzibar are fixed by the airlines and may shift slightly; your guide will confirm exact times closer to travel.
Responsible travel

Responsible Travel

The Maasai Mara and Serengeti depend on the conservancy and park fees safari travellers pay to enter them, and Zanzibar's coastal communities depend on tourism that treats the island with care. We work with guides and camps who take both seriously.

I

Conservancy and park fees at work

Fees paid to enter the Maasai Mara and Serengeti fund anti-poaching patrols, habitat protection and ongoing research.

II

Local, Mara-based guiding

Several of our guides on this route were born and raised in the Mara region, so the knowledge and income stay close to the community it comes from.

III

Respectful engagement in Zanzibar

Stone Town visits are run through licensed local guides, keeping tourism income within the community and treating the old town's heritage sites with the respect they're due.

Make it mine

This route is a starting point, not a fixed package. Want an extra night in the Mara, a shorter Zanzibar stay, or a stop in Nairobi on the way back? Tell us what matters to you and we'll build it in.

With the route as a starting point, your specialist will adjust the pace, camps and add-ons until the itinerary feels like yours, not a template.

Tailor My Migration Safari
If this isn't quite right

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Common questions

Before you enquire

Ten days, split across both parks, gives you a strong chance of catching migration activity if you travel between July and October, without feeling rushed through either park. Two full days in the Mara and two in the Serengeti are enough time to explore more than one area of each.

River crossings happen most often from around July through October, as the herds move between the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara, though exact timing shifts year to year with rainfall. No safari can guarantee a crossing on a specific day, since it’s driven by the animals, not a schedule, but your guide will position you in the areas giving the best odds for your travel dates.

Yes. The Zanzibar leg is an add-on to the core Maasai Mara and Serengeti safari, and it’s easy to shorten, extend, or drop altogether if you’d rather end the trip after the game drives. Let us know your preference when you enquire.

Yes, and they’re included in the safari price. Short scheduled flights connect Nairobi to the Maasai Mara, the Maasai Mara to the Serengeti, and the Serengeti (via Arusha) to Zanzibar, so you’re not spending long hours on the road between destinations.

Domestic flights between parks and to Zanzibar, accommodation, meals, a private vehicle with driver-guide, and the activities listed in the itinerary are included. International flights, visas, tips and personal expenses are not. See the full inclusions list above for details.

Most nationalities need a visa for both Kenya and Tanzania (Zanzibar falls under Tanzania’s visa requirements). A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you’re arriving from, or have transited through, a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. We recommend confirming current entry requirements with your embassy or a travel clinic closer to your departure date, since rules can change.

Ready when you are

Ask about 10-Day Luxury Migration Safari and Zanzibar

Tell us your dates and we'll confirm whether the timing works, then adjust the route from there.

Start planning this trip