How to Plan a Roadtrip from Nairobi to Serengeti & Popular Places

Nairobi is the Centre to begin you roadtrip to Serengeti

You could visit Carnivore Restaurant referred to as ‘Africa’s Great Eating experience’ and also ranks among the top 50 restaurants in the World . Or you could visit the famous Casinos of Nairobi and check out the nightlife . Or visit the Bomas of Kenya which is traditional houses display to know more about their culture .

Tourist Attraction

1. Bomas of Kenya

Reach Arusha Region from Nairobi near the Tanzania Border

Tourist Attraction

2. Arusha Region

In the Morning head towards Tarangire National Park which takes its’s name from the Tarangire river  . The park has a diversity of beautiful landscapes including acacia woodlands and forests , also famously known to spot tree climbing African Pythons , huge herds of elephants together and animal gatherings at the river and swamps .

Tourist Attraction

3. Stay & Game Drive at the Tarangire National Park

Today while continuing your journey to Serengeti you will cross the famous Lake Manyara National Park which is between the Rift Valley and soda lake . Here you do see some unique landscapes and balances around 11 ecosystems , it supports one of the highest biomass densities of mammals in the world . A famous sighting here is the tree climbing lions . So you can enjoy the Game viewing here as well .

Tourist Attraction

4. Lake Manyara Game Drive & Stay

Finally head to the Serengeti Park , one of the largest parks in the whole of African Continent . This is a great place for animal sighting any time of the year but particularly during the wildebeest and zebra migration when millions of wildebeest and zebra cross the river in search of greener pastures , that time of the year is a great spectacle and once in a life time experience . Serengeti is known for endless plains and so the park gets its name from the Maasai Phrase ‘Siringit’ which means endless plains . You can choose to stay in Luxurious tents or beautiful themed fenceless hotels/lodges . Central area and Seronera Area should be chosen for wildlife viewing and stay all round the year and during migration that is in the month of May should choose Western area of the park [ Grumeti River ] for spectacular views of herds crossing .

Tourist Attraction

5. Serengeti Game Drives & Stay

Gerally Morning evening are the Game Drive Sessions of about 2 hours and generally done with a safari guide cum driver. During the morning & evening game drives your guide will take you to various spots where you can spot the famous African Big 5 ! and also herds of , zebra , impala, gazelle , rhino , hippos , cheetah , Hyenas and many more species .

Tourist Attraction

6. Serengeti Stay & Game Drives

You could also get to visit a Masai Village and see how the tribe lives along with their traditional houses and art work which also makes a good souvenir to take back home . The Masai people have their unique style of welcoming you by jumping and singing to you . You will be amazed to see how in the simplest form of existence they are happy and content within themselves . In the village they also have their own school and their ways of curing health problems . They also use the oldest method to create fire through stones and have no electricity in their village , lastly how they protect their cows from Lions and other wild animals around as their village has no fences . Existence in the most basic form !

 Get your own ‘OUT OF AFRICA’ [film] feeling . Another thrilling option is the night safari which some of the Lodges offer where Goosebumps are guaranteed . However in only few areas and lodges the Night Safari Option is available so if you wish to do that you must choose you resorts accordingly .You will see Hunting Lions , Leopards , hyenas and many different species like porcupine , springhare , banded mongoose , bat eared foxes and many more . This unique safari is a must try .

Tourist Attraction

7. Masai Village Visit & Game Drives

Tourist Attraction

8. Night Safari

Today after Morning Game Drive you could go to Ngorongoro Crater . After reaching you could explore the Ngorongoro Crater which is the world’s largest intact Crater . It has a 20 kms diameter and 600 meter long wall . In the centre it has a salt lake and this crater is by far the most densely populated areas when it comes to wildlife so some great sighting opportunities .

Tourist Attraction

9. Game Drive & Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater

 You could experience the sunrise while flying over the Serengeti Reserve . While the pilot prepares for the flight you can experience standing in the middle of the jungle with wilderness all around you , a very thrilling experience . When the ride is ready you take off and enjoy breath-taking views of Serengeti and flying over herds of elephants and lions .

You will see a beautiful horizon upon sunrise . After the Hot Air Balloon ride you will head straight away for a scrumptious bush breakfast cooked right there with a private chef at a safe spot away from animals but still in the middle of the jungle . Truly a magical experience .

Tourist Attraction

10. Hot Air Balloon with Bush Breakfast [ breakfast middle of jungle ]

Reach Arusha region after few hours drive for a quick stopover and take a flight from the airstrip to Zanzibar . After a full week of bush adventures explore the beautiful island in the Indian Ocean , Zanzibar . Zanzibar is more than just a beautiful tropical island . Along with its white sandy beaches and waving palms trees it is historically important and the place has a well-defined culture with a mix of remnants of Persian  , Arab , Indian , Western , Swahili heritage . This Island should be in everyone’s bucket list .

Visit the UNESCO heritage site of Stone Town , an old city and the cultural hub of Zanzibar . A place where you can see narrow rustic alleys , bustling markets and grand Arab houses . Stone town has different elements of the African culture . You could also visit the traditional hotels like Africa house hotel and have an authentic lunch, also check out the unique architecture . You will visit the iconic place , ‘House of Wonders’ also known as the ‘Palace of Wonders’ at the port in Stone town which is the first building to receive electricity and also the first building in whole of East Africa to get an elevator . You could the visit the slave chambers in the Old Slave Market and see the place where the slaves used to be kept for years together . All these Activities are not too far from each other so you can plan it together.

Also visit the house where famous singer Freddy Mercury was born and the iconic Anglican Church . Later visit a spice plantations and enjoy the intoxicating smell of spices , also understand how they can be used for medical purposes. You could also choose to visit the Nakupenda Beach , a beautiful and popular beach in Zanzibar and explore water sports like snorkelling . Enjoy sunbathing here and different soothing sounds of birds as this island has many different species of birds to welcome you here . Or you could choose to visit the landmark site of prison island where giant tortoises freely roam making it a beautiful sight to watch . You could talk a trail walk or snorkel here as well and admire the corals and beautiful under sea life .

Tourist Attraction

11. UNESCO heritage Stone Town & Spice Farms

Tourist Attraction

12. Prison island & giant tortoises

Tourist Attraction

13. Nakupenda Beach

Other islands can be explored in Island hopping in Zanzibar , Explore the Paje beach with crystalline water , white sands and colourful coral reef in traditional ‘Dhow’ wooden boat with sails . Also could try kite surfing and other activities on the sun-kissed Paje beach . You will also get to see the green marshy mangroves . Snorkelling is also recommended here as you will get to see an array of fishes including triggerfish , zebrafish , parrot fish , lion fish , squirrel fish , Eel and other tropical fishes .

Tourist Attraction

14. Island hopping , Snorkelling & Mangroves

Tourist Attraction

15. Jozani Forest

You could also do Dolphin sighting where your guide will take from the fishermen village of Kizimkazi and take you exactly in the spots where you could see plenty of dolphins .Optionally you could plan a trip to Jozani Forest along with a traditional village spa . Jozani Forests , the only National Park of Zanzibar. Red Columbus monkeys which is a rare species can be spotted here . After a trip to the lush green forests head for a different kind of traditional spa in the village which will completely rejuvenate your senses .

 Trip to the beautiful Menai Bay is also a good day tour for beach and snorkel fun .