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24-Day Seychelles, Zanzibar and East Africa Journey
Seychelles, Zanzibar And The Kenya Tanzania Safari Circuit
Duration
24 DaysStarts In
Mahe IslandRoute
Mahe Island, Zanzibar Island, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Nairobi, Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Elementaita , Amboseli National Park
Few journeys span an entire ocean and a continent's wildest interior in one trip. This one does. Twelve days aboard Aqua Lares thread through the Seychelles' most remote and least-touched atolls — Aldabra's giant tortoises, Astove's four-mile coral wall, D'Arros's shark-rich channels — before the ship makes landfall in Zanzibar. Two unhurried days on the Spice Island follow: a walk through Stone Town's centuries-old alleyways, a morning among clove and vanilla groves, an afternoon doing nothing at all on the beach. From there, the journey turns to land, tracing Kenya and Tanzania's classic safari circuit — the Masai Mara, Amboseli beneath Kilimanjaro, and the sheer wildlife density of the Ngorongoro Crater — for a finish as wild as the start. Sea, spice, and savannah, in one continuous 24-day arc.
SAFARI & CRUISE ITINERARY - 24 Days / 23 Nights featuring a Luxury Cruise from the Seychelles to Zanzibar aboard the Luxury Aqua Lares, followed by an East Africa Safari. Includes 11 nights cruising, 2 Nights in Zanzibar and 9 nights in Luxury Safari Lodges; Cruise includes luxury cabin accommodations, all onboard meals, soft drinks, all visits and daily excursions with bilingual Naturalist guide, onboard cruise director and snorkeling, Kayaking and paddleboarding equipment; Safari portion of the itinerary includes all arrival & departure transfers, daily safari ranger - guided excursions, and wildlife encounters as indicated in the itinerary.
Includes
- Accommodations as per itinerary
- Meals as per itinerary; breakfast (B), lunch (L), dinner (D)
- Shore excursions as per itinerary
- Keytours 24-hour emergency assistance
- Cruise Cabin accommodation: at category shown in the itinerary
- Private arrival and departure transfers as per itinerary
- National Park Entrance Fees
- Game Drives: As Per Itinerary
Excludes
- Items of a personal nature
- All other items not mentioned as included
- Transfers not mentioned in the itinerary
- International flights
- Travel insurance; please inquire with your Keytours travel consultant
- Gratuities for drivers, guides, and escorts
Itinerary
Day
1
1
Day 1
Day 1: Setting Sail — Mahé and the Outer Horizon
Board Aqua Lares at L'Escale Marina on Mahé and settle into your design suite as the ship's Cruise Director and Naturalist Guides welcome you aboard. As the vessel pulls away, sundeck views trace the silhouettes of neighboring islands before they fade astern — the opening notes of a westward crossing that will carry guests from the Seychelles' most remote atolls to the shores of East Africa.
Day
2
2
Day 2
Day 2: A Conservation Frontier — D'Arros Island
D'Arros opens the voyage on a high note: a privately managed coral cay in the Amirantes Group, safeguarded by the Save Our Seas Foundation, where sustained conservation has produced exceptionally rich waters. A morning dive or snorkel at St Joseph Channel drifts among sharks, rays, and turtles, while the afternoon's excursion to Turtle Town adds another layer to the day. Dinner on board closes out a strong first full day at sea.
Day
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Day 3
Day 3: Coconut Groves and Coral Gardens — Saint-François Atoll
Tenders carry guests into the Alphonse group for a morning among lush coconut forest and hard coral formations just offshore. In the afternoon, Saint-François Atoll itself takes center stage, its mangrove channels sheltering juvenile sharks, crabs, and crab plovers, while the surrounding lagoon and barrier reef invite snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and paddleboarding in equal measure.
Day
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Day 4
Day 4: Unmapped Waters — Providence Atoll
Providence unfolds in shades of azure, its reef system still largely unexplored by recreational divers. Snorkelers and divers here have a rare shot at coral formations few outsiders have ever seen, while red-footed boobies wheel overhead — a place where marine life still vastly outnumbers visitors.
Day
5
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Day 5
Day 5: The Underwater Grand Canyon — Astove Island
Astove's defining feature lies beneath the surface: the Astove Wall, a four-mile drop-off draped in soft coral, with visibility stretching to 40 meters in ideal conditions. Sharks, rays, and reef fish move through its depths in a setting often compared to an underwater canyon — a genuine highlight for divers and snorkelers alike.
Day
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Day 6
Day 6: Seabird Sanctuary — Cosmoledo Atoll
A guided tender excursion opens the day, tracing Cosmoledo's lagoon for masked gannets and brown boobies found nowhere else in Seychelles waters. Beneath the surface, the atoll's protected reefs offer some of the most undisturbed diving of the entire voyage — a fitting pairing of birdlife above and reef life below.
Day
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Day 7
Day 7: Ancient Ground — Aldabra Atoll
Aldabra shelters one of the planet's most isolated ecosystems and its most famous residents — more than 100,000 giant tortoises spread across four islands, the largest such population on Earth. Visit the Aldabra Research Station and old settlement in the morning, followed by a tender ride and nature walk along the atoll's east side. The afternoon's dive or snorkel reveals tropical fish, sharks, and turtles moving through waters where manta rays occasionally make an appearance.
Day
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Day 8
Day 8: The Quiet Edge — Assumption Island
Assumption rounds out the Aldabra group with a morning of ocean swims, paddleboarding, or kayaking in clear, current-calmed water. Below the surface, coral reefs teeming with turtles, rays, and tropical fish reward a snorkel or dive excursion in one of the voyage's most remote settings.
Day
9
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Day 9
Day 9: Westward Passage — A Day at Sea
With Tanzania still ahead, the day belongs to the ship itself. Unwind at the spa or jacuzzi, or watch for red-footed boobies hunting flying fish along the swells. Naturalist presentations offer insight into the geology and ecology linking the Seychelles to the East African coast, while dinner and stargazing from the Sun Deck close out a day built for reflection on the journey so far.
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Day 10
Day 10: Giants of Mafia Island — Kilindoni Bay & Mange
Mafia Island marks the crossing into Tanzanian waters, renowned as the only place in the country where whale sharks reliably gather. At Kilindoni Bay, snorkel alongside these gentle giants before returning aboard for lunch. The afternoon brings a dive or snorkel from the ship, followed by a sail to Mange, a pristine sandbank rising from Mafia's coastal shallows. Sundowners at the Outdoor Lounge close the day with sweeping coastal views.
Day
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Day 11
Day 11: Beach Club and Bay — Mange & Chole Bay
Morning unfolds at Aqua Lares' Beach Club on Mange, surrounded by coral reefs alive with tropical fish. After lunch, arrive at Chole Bay, where lagoon-clear water invites a snorkel or dive through colorful coral gardens, tide permitting, or a slower kayak through the lagoon for those content to take the scenery in from the surface.
Day
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Day 12
Day 12: Landfall — Arrival in Zanzibar
A final breakfast on board offers a last look at the sea before Aqua Lares docks at Azam Marine in Zanzibar. Time before checking into tonight's hotel allows for a guided walk through Stone Town's historic alleyways, tracing centuries of Swahili, Arab, and colonial history through its winding streets — a fitting close to the sea voyage, and the first of two unhurried days on Zanzibar before the journey continues by land into Kenya and Tanzania.
Day
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Day 13
Day 13: Spice Farms and Sultans — A Full Day in Zanzibar
Zanzibar's nickname as the Spice Island comes alive this morning with a guided tour of a working spice plantation outside Stone Town, where cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, and vanilla grow in fragrant tangles much as they did when the island supplied much of the world's clove crop under Omani rule. Guides crush leaves and bark underfoot for guests to identify by scent alone, and the tour typically closes with fresh tropical fruit and a stop at the ruined Persian baths built for the Sultan at Kidichi. The afternoon brings a transfer to a beachfront hotel just outside Stone Town, where the rest of the day is left open — a swim in the Indian Ocean, time by the pool, or simply watching dhows drift past as the sun drops toward the water.
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Day 14
Day 14: Last Light on Zanzibar — Onward to Nairobi
A final morning on Zanzibar's coast is left unstructured, whether that means one more swim, a stroll along the beach, or an optional half-day trip to Prison Island (Changuu) to visit its resident giant Aldabra tortoises and snorkel the reef just offshore. In the afternoon, guests transfer to Zanzibar Airport for the short flight to Nairobi — just over an hour in the air — trading the Indian Ocean for the highlands of East Africa and marking the start of the safari to come.
Day
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Day 15
Day 15: Karibu Kenya — Touching Down in Nairobi
On arrival, a private transfer carries you to the Hilton Garden Inn Airport Hotel, ideally located near the international airport just 15 km from Nairobi's city center. With the afternoon at leisure, settle in and shake off travel fatigue, or consider an optional excursion — the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Elephant Orphanage, an Out of Africa-themed outing, or the Nai Nami Cultural Walking Tour all offer a gentle introduction to Kenya. Modern, stylish, and equipped with a pool, fitness center, and complimentary WiFi, the Hilton Garden Inn makes for a relaxed evening before the safari proper begins tomorrow.
Day
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Day 16
Day 16: Into the Rift — Nairobi to the Masai Mara
Breakfast is followed by a scenic drive through Kenya's fertile highlands and down the dramatic rift escarpment, along a road built by Italian prisoners of war during World War II. Pass a charming chapel at the escarpment's foot and the striking Longonot earth satellite station before crossing the valley to Narok and on through fields of wheat and barley, arriving in the Masai Mara in time for lunch. Your first game drive follows immediately after, tracking the reserve's abundant wildlife as the light softens toward sunset. Tonight's stay is at Sentrim Mara Camp, its 31 tents spread beneath acacia trees with private balconies overlooking the hills.
Day
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Day 17
Day 17: Mara Magic — Game Drives and Maasai Culture
An optional sunrise hot air balloon safari offers early risers a silent, aerial view over the plains, descending to treetop level to observe wildlife from above before a celebratory bush breakfast (offered at additional cost). For everyone else, an early breakfast precedes a morning game drive through the Mara's golden grassland, returning to camp mid-morning. After lunch and perhaps a siesta, a second game drive pairs with a visit to a local Maasai village, offering genuine cultural insight before returning to camp as the sun dips below the horizon. Overnight at Sentrim Mara Camp.
Day
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Day 18
Day 18: Breadbasket to Birdland — Masai Mara to Lake Elementaita
Leaving the Mara behind, the journey crosses Kenya's agricultural heartland through Narok before descending onto the Rift Valley floor, arriving at your lodge on the shores of Lake Elementaita around midday. After lunch, a game drive through nearby Lake Nakuru National Park reveals the park's famous birdlife — flamingos among them — alongside thriving populations of black and white rhino and the endangered Rothschild giraffe. Returning to the lodge as the sun sets, tonight's stay is at Sentrim Elementaita Lodge, a haven for bird lovers set on the shores of one of the world's great ornithological spectacles.
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Day 19
Day 19: Kilimanjaro Calling — Elementaita to Amboseli
An early start brings a stop at Lake Naivasha for a scenic boat ride before the journey turns south, leaving the Rift Valley behind. Passing through Nairobi for an early lunch, the road continues toward Amboseli, arriving at your camp by late afternoon. Famous above all for its unobstructed views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, Amboseli is home to some of the continent's largest elephant herds alongside lion, cheetah, and giraffe across its swamps, savannah, and acacia woodland. Tonight's stay is at Sentrim Amboseli Camp, its deluxe ensuite tents set near Kimana Gate with fantastic views of Kilimanjaro.
Day
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Day 20
Day 20: Giants of Amboseli — A Full Day of Game Drives
Today is dedicated entirely to Amboseli's extraordinary wildlife, with a full day game drive revealing the park's famous elephant herds against the ever-present backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. A picnic lunch is enjoyed out in the park before returning to the lodge by 1600 hrs, leaving time to unwind in your room or lounge, or take a quick dip in the pool before dinner. Beyond elephants, keep an eye out for lion, cheetah, zebra, and the more than 400 bird species recorded within the park's boundaries, with Kilimanjaro's snow-capped peak rarely far from view when the clouds allow.
Day
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Day 21
Day 21: Crossing Borders — Amboseli to Tarangire
A final glimpse of Kilimanjaro accompanies your departure from Amboseli as the road leads to the Namanga border, where farewells are exchanged with your Kenyan guide before a Tanzanian driver takes over for the onward journey. Lunch is taken in Arusha, gateway to Tanzania's northern safari circuit, before continuing to Tarangire National Park, arriving at your tented lodge in the late afternoon for time at leisure. Named for the river running through its heart, Tarangire is known for its immense elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and sweeping views across the Maasai Steppe. Dinner and overnight await at Tarangire Simba Lodge.
Day
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Day 22
Day 22: Baobab Country to Karatu — Tarangire's Farewell
A morning game drive through Tarangire's elephant-rich plains precedes lunch back at the lodge before departure. The route winds through surrounding bushland, passing small Maasai villages and farms on a well-maintained unpaved road, before reaching Makuyuni and joining the paved road toward Lake Manyara, the Great Rift Valley, and on to Karatu town. Known for its proximity to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and its lively local market, Karatu offers a small-town, rural Tanzanian pace after days on safari. Tonight's stay is at Karatu Simba Lodge, nestled against the lush Ngorongoro Forest Reserve, with the remainder of the day at leisure.
Day
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Day 23
Day 23: Into the Crater — A Day Among 30,000 Animals
An early departure carries you into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, climbing the crater's back wall to the rim before descending to the floor of one of Africa's most extraordinary wildlife arenas. Within just 102 square miles, more than 30,000 resident mammals create exceptional odds of spotting all of the Big Five in a single day. A picnic lunch is enjoyed at a scenic spot on the crater floor before the afternoon return to the rim, and back to Karatu Simba Lodge for dinner and overnight. Few wildlife experiences anywhere in the world match the sheer density and drama of a full day spent within this ancient volcanic caldera.
Day
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24
Day 24
Day 24: Journey's End — Karatu to Arusha
Following breakfast, the journey retraces its route back to Arusha, arriving in the city for lunch. From there, a transfer to Kilimanjaro International or Arusha Airport brings this extraordinary 24-day journey to its close. From the Seychelles' remotest atolls to the spice markets of Zanzibar, and from the Mara's golden plains to the Ngorongoro Crater's volcanic floor, this trip has delivered an unmatched sweep of the western Indian Ocean and East Africa's safari country — via sea, sand, and savannah, built for comfort and ease from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Seychelles, Zanzibar and the Kenya Tanzania Safari Circuit package includes a diverse range of destinations: Mahé Island in Seychelles, Zanzibar Island, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Nairobi, Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Elementaita, and Amboseli National Park. This itinerary offers a unique blend of luxury cruising and safari experiences across these stunning locations.
This tour spans 24 days and includes the following distribution of nights: 11 nights aboard the Aqua Lares luxury cruise in the Seychelles, 2 nights in Zanzibar, and 9 nights in luxury safari lodges across Kenya and Tanzania. This structure allows travelers to fully immerse themselves in both the serene oceanic environment and the thrilling wildlife experiences.
The price of the Seychelles, Zanzibar and the Kenya Tanzania Safari Circuit package includes: - Accommodations as per itinerary - Meals as per itinerary (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Shore excursions and daily activities with bilingual Naturalist guides - National Park entrance fees - Private arrival and departure transfers - Keytours 24-hour emergency assistance. Please note that items of a personal nature, international flights, travel insurance, and gratuities are not included.
Yes, this package offers customization options. Travelers can discuss preferences for accommodations, such as room categories or specific lodges, with a Keytours travel consultant. Additionally, optional excursions may be available in certain destinations, allowing travelers to tailor their experience according to their interests.
Travelers will move between destinations using a combination of private transfers and domestic flights. The itinerary includes private arrival and departure transfers, as well as a short flight from Zanzibar to Nairobi. Once in Kenya and Tanzania, game drives and transfers to various national parks and lodges are also part of the package.
This itinerary involves a moderate level of physical activity. Travelers should expect daily excursions that include game drives, walking tours, and potential snorkeling or diving activities during the cruise portion. While most activities are accessible, some may require a reasonable level of fitness, especially during wildlife viewing and exploration in national parks.
Yes, travelers can add extra destinations or nights to this itinerary. Keytours Vacations can assist in customizing the trip to include additional locations or extend stays in specific areas, allowing for a more personalized travel experience. It's best to discuss these options with a Keytours travel consultant when planning your journey.
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