Kenya and Tanzania Itinerary – with safari in the Serengeti and beaches in Zanzibar

Traveling to East Africa had always been at the top of my bucket list, but for one reason or another, it kept getting pushed aside. Until one day, the moment finally arrived! After years of planning, the trip went from dream to reality, and straight into the hall of fame of my life: sixteen unforgettable days on an incredible itinerary through Kenya and Tanzania., with a legendary safari in the Serengeti and a few days of well-deserved rest in Zanzibar.

I had already done safaris in South Africa, at Kruger Park and at Addo Elephant Park. These were incredible experiences that left me with a huge desire to return to the African continent and relive the thrill of being face to face with these animals..

And the best part? We did it all on our own, planned by me, no agencies or middlemen involved. Everything worked out perfectly: zero stress, hassle-free. A tailor-made trip, at a much lower cost than any package deal.

So dive into this post: here you’ll find our full itinerary so you can make this dream happen too!

Everything is explained “for free,” with quality information passed from traveler to traveler, because here, we take our friends by the hand and show them the way, just as we once learned from the hands of other travelers.
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First of all, follow me on Instagram @danae_explore – that’s where you can keep up with my trips, find lots of travel tips, and send me a DM anytime! I love chatting about travel

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Overview of our Kenya and Tanzania itinerary

The main goal of this trip was to go on safari in the Serengeti and spend a few days on the beautiful beaches of the Indian Ocean in Zanzibar, both in Tanzania. In the end, thanks to convenient flight connections, our route also included a stop in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. Here’s how the itinerary turned out:

1️⃣ Nairobi – Arrival with Ethiopian Airlines at 1:30 AM. Check-in at Best Western Plus Meridian Hotel and some rest. In the afternoon, Walking Tour od Nairobi, booked via GetYourGuide with Happy Tribe;

2️⃣ Nairobi – Full-day tour including visits to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Giraffe Center and Karen Blixen Museum, booked through GetYourGuide with Niroskos Tours;

3️⃣ Transfer to Arusha (Tanzania) - By bus with Impala Shuttle. Pick-up at the bus station included in the safari package. Overnight at Karibu Heritage House;

4️⃣ - 8️⃣ Safari - A 5-night safari with Serengeti Wakanda Tours & Safaris, which we found on SafariBookings.com but negotiated and booked directly with the company (all inclusive package). On the last night, we returned to Karibu Heritage House;

9️⃣ Arusha → Zanzibar - Flight from ARK to ZAN with Air Tanzania, airport transfer included in the safari package. In the afternoon, Walking Tour of Stone Town, booked via GetYourGuide with Sweetkona Tours; Overnight stay at Hotel Aurelia Zanzibar;

1️⃣0️⃣ - 1️⃣3️⃣ Zanzibar (Nungwi & Kendwa) - Beach days at Hotel Kilimanjaro, plus a boat trip to Mnemba Island;

1️⃣4️⃣ - 1️⃣6️⃣ Zanzibar (Paje & Bwejuu) - More beach time at Sand Beach Boutique Hotel, with visits to the Jozani Forest and a Spice Farm;

1️⃣7️⃣ Return – Departure from Zanzibar at 4:00 AM, connecting in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
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For more details about our trip to Zanzibar, check out the ou complete guide to visiting Zanzibar.

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Adjustments I would make to the itinerary

Even though I always think my itineraries are excellent, and I’m sure this trip was absolutely special, now, after having lived the experience, I would make the following adjustments:

• I would exclude the days in Paje/Bwejuu (check the Zanzibar post where I explain the reasons)
  
  
• In Zanzibar, I would spend two more days in Stone Town: one day taking the tour to Prison Island and Nakupenda Sandbank and another day visiting Jozani Forest and a Spice Farm;
  
  
• I would take advantage of reducing the time in Zanzibar (from 8 to 5 or 6 days) to make a stopover in Addis Ababa . We had a very good and interesting experience in Nairobi, so why not try Addis? For two days, the options I found were a city-tour and a day tour to Debre Libanos Monastery, the Blue Nile Gorge and the Portuguese Bridge. If that doesn’t interest you, you could instead do a two-day safari to Amboseli Park from Nairobi.

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What it's like to fly Ethiopian Airlines

On this trip, we flew with Ethiopian Airlines for the first time, and I admit I was a little apprehensive about what to expect.

That's because, when we traveled to South Africa we flew TAAG (the Angolan airline), with a connection in Luanda, and the Johannesburg – Luanda flight was the worst I’ve ever taken. I consider myself flexible and not difficult to please, and I always choose the airline with the best fare, but after that experience, I’ll never fly TAAG again.

This time, though, it was different! We had a very good experience with Ethiopian Airlines, and considering cost and convenience, it was an excellent choice. The planes weren’t brand-new, but they were in very good condition and offered the standard comfort of economy class. The meals were good, the flight attendants attentive, and boarding and disembarking went smoothly. In short, everything worked as expected.

The other options to get to Kenya/Tanzania would be flying to Johannesburg and then flying Air Kenya, South African or Air Tanzania or flying with Emirates or Qatar, but the travel time increases considerably and, as a rule, the cost as well.
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How to organize a safari in the Serengeti

The best base for safaris in Tanzania is the town of Arusha., a city with an international airport (Kilimanjaro – JRO, which is about 1-1 hours from the city) and a local airport (Arusha – ARK). Furthermore, as we have seen, it is possible to go to Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta Airport – NBO) and arrive in Arusha by bus.

There are several national parks and protected areas near ArushaWhat attracts most visitors is the Serengeti, which has a central/southern portion (usually the most visited by tourists) and a northern portion (where the great migration can be observed at certain times of the year). Ngorongoro Crater, adjacent to the Serengeti, is a must-see. Other parks in the region are Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Lake Natron. In addition, Arusha can be used as a base for trekking trips to Mount Meru (5th highest mountain in Africa) and Mount Kilimanjaro (the highest mountain in Africa), although, for Kilimanjaro, the best base is the city of Moshi.

The best way to go on safari in the Serengeti is by booking tours with local agencies (unlike, for example, South Africa, where we did Kruger safari on your own). Tours are all-inclusive, with various levels of accommodation comfort: budget (camping), mid-range (lodges or tented camps), or luxury, as well as some luxury+ options.

THIS IS NOT A SPONSORED POST. ALL TRAVEL EXPENSES WERE PAID BY US.

We booked with Serengeti Wakanda Tours and Safaris, a 6-day, 5-night safari that included one night in a budget hotel in Arusha, two nights in a tent, and two nights in a tented camp (a fixed camp with a room, a king-size bed, and a private bathroom with hot water). It was excellent, and I highly recommend it.

Where to stay in Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar

Where to stay in Nairobi

With over 4 million inhabitants, Nairobi is Africa’s fourth-largest city and has no metro system, traffic lights, or pedestrian crossings. It’s noisy, the traffic is chaotic, and poverty is visible. Go with this in mind, and you’ll leave knowing your time in the city was worthwhile.city. 

In Nairobi, we chose to stay in the central area, known as the CBD – Central Business District. It’s the city center, with all the pros and cons that metropolitan areas in “developing” countries tend to have. We picked this area because the hotels offered better value and made logistics for tours and transfers easier.
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We stayed at Best Western Plus Meridian Hotel and, although the hotel shows signs of age, it was a great choice in terms of cost-benefit.. The rooms were good size, the bathroom was very good, and the buffet breakfast was plentiful. On the first night, we had dinner at the hotel, but afterward we ventured out to a very simple local restaurant right next door (Najmi Fast Food) – so in addition to the Nutella-style option, you also have the “roots” option at hand!

A more economical alternative in the Nairobi CBD is the Jamia Central Hotel, where the other family traveling with us on this itinerary stayed. Don’t be put off by the location inside a commercial mall; if you’re looking for something affordable, it’s an excellent option.

Most of Nairobi's luxury hotels are in the Westlands area, such as Villa Rosa Kempinski, Hyatt Regency Nairobi and JW Marriot Hotel, as well as some more economical options, such as Ibis Styles Nairobi Westlands. The Arboretum area is also recommended, particularly the Radisson Blu Nairobi Arboretum.

Now, if you want to make your stay in Nairobi truly unique, the choice is Giraffe Manor, a five-star hotel adjacent to the Giraffe Center. This property became famous on social media because the Rothschild giraffes cared for at the center stick their heads through the windows to have breakfast with guests.
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Where to stay in Arusha, Tanzania

In Arusha, we stayed at Karibu Heritage House, a hotel that was already included in our safari package. The other nights we spent in camps in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, also part of the package. The last night, at the end of the safari, wasn’t included, so for convenience we booked again at the same hotel. It turned out to be practical, as we were able to leave our bags there during the safari.

THIS IS NOT A SPONSORED POST. ALL TRAVEL EXPENSES WERE PAID BY US.

As for the hotel itself, I found it to be average. The triple rooms were fine, the bathroom left something to be desired, but the double room was quite poor. The reception staff were great, very attentive and helpful, but I can’t say the same about the restaurant. The outdoor garden area was pleasant, with tables and chairs where we could watch vervet monkeys. Overall, since we didn’t want to spend much, it served its purpose.

It may be worth looking into other options in the town, and if your safari package includes a night in Arusha, check with your tour operator to see if you can switch to a different hotel. Some alternatives in the same price range are Mrimba Palm Hotel and New Njiro Legacy; for more comfort, options include Africa Safari Arusha, Kibo Palace Hotel and Gran Melia Arusha.

If you're looking for other safari destinations, check out our tips on how to go on safari in Kruger Park, part of our twenty-day itinerary through South Africa.

Where to stay in Stone Town

Stone Town, the main town on the island of Zanzibar, is definitely worth a visit. We only stayed one night there, and as I mentioned, I think it would have been much better to stay another night or two and do some tours from Stone Town (and not from Bwejuu, as we did , as I explain in this post).

We did our best to stay within budget during our time in Zanzibar, and our choice of hotel in Stone Town turned out to be excellent. For a budget-friendly option, take a look at Hotel Aurelia Zanzibar. It’s located on the edge of the old town (not the most charming area, but still very convenient) and offers simple yet comfortable rooms. Another solid choice is the Maru Maru Hotel, or the well-known Tembo House Hotel, one of the city’s classics. In my dedicated post about Zanzibar, I also share other places worth considering, such as the Zanzibar Serena Hotel and the Neela Boutique Hotel.

Check out what to do in Stone Town in our post Complete Guide to Zanzibar.

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Where to stay in Nungwi

From Stone Town we headed to the north of the island and stayed at Nungwi Beach, at the Hotel Kilimanjaro. The rooms were very basic, the bathrooms weak, and the pool small — but the kids enjoyed it. Breakfast, served individually, was excellent and changed daily. The Wi-Fi was poor, as it is almost everywhere on the island. In fact, as I mentioned in the Complete Guide to Zanzibar, if you plan to work remotely, Zanzibar is not the place.

Although Hotel Kilimanjaro is close to the beach and has a few restaurants nearby, the center of Nungwi village and the main beaches are about a 15–20 minute walk away.

Other budget options in Nungwi include Ocean View Boutique Nungwi and Chikachika Beach B&B.

If your budget allows, I highly recommend staying at a beachfront hotel. There are plenty of them, each more impressive than the last — like Turaco Nungwi Resort, Veraclub Sunset Beach, and My Blue Hotel. Just don’t stay confined to the hotel: enjoy the facilities, but also wander through Nungwi village and explore nearby beaches. Zanzibar has so much more to offer beyond the walls of an all-inclusive resort.

Where to stay in Paje & Bwejuu

We chose a very comfortable hotel in Bwejuu for our last days in Zanzibar: the Sand Beach Boutique Hotel was, without a doubt, the best hotel of our trip. If you want to spend a few days relaxing by the pool, with great room service and a delicious on-site restaurant, this is an excellent choice.

But, as I explained in the Complete Guide to Zanzibar, don’t count on swimming in the sea here. Bwejuu Beach may look pretty, but it’s littered with trash. Plastic bottles, packaging, broken glass, old shoes, and who knows what else get mixed in with the seaweed washed ashore, creating a minefield every few steps. One of our group cut his foot while walking along the beach and needed three stitches and a week of antibiotics.

In this area, we once walked along the beach to have lunch at The African Paradise Beach Hotel. Besides the great food and excellent service, the beach there was noticeably cleaner. Another restaurant we tried — and which also looked like a great lodging option — was Kijani Beach Villas, with beautiful chalets facing the sea.

A friend who visited the region at the same time told us that the beaches south of Paje are better. We didn’t go there ourselves, so I can’t say for sure, but she stayed in Jambiani at New Teddy’s on the Beach and really enjoyed it. The hotel seems simpler than the Sand Beach Boutique Hotel, but the beach looked much better — so it’s up to you to decide.

How to get around Kenya and Tanzania

When planning your trip, there are two very important points to keep in mind: (1) both in Tanzania and Kenya you drive on the left-hand side (unlike in continental Europe or the USA); (2) traffic is chaotic: traffic lights are rare, pedestrian crossings practically don’t exist, and signs or street names are almost nowhere to be seen.

It all depends on how willing you are to take on this adventure. We chose to rely on tours, taxis, and buses, and in Zanzibar, the ever-present tuk-tuks. I didn’t calculate the exact cost of car rental and fuel (from what we saw, a liter of gasoline was about US$1.15).

For us, the tours we booked were a great value. The service providers were reliable, and the peace of mind of not having to deal with chaotic traffic was worth every penny. In Zanzibar, we also noticed several police checkpoints along the roads and, from what we observed, a fair amount of corruption.

Documentation for traveling to Kenya and Tanzania

Pay close attention to the documentation required for this trip (or do what I say, not what I did, lol).
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Vaccinations required to visit Kenya and Tanzania

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The Yellow Fever vaccine may be required depending on your nationality and travel history. Both Kenya and Tanzania demand proof of vaccination if you are arriving from, or have transited through, a country where yellow fever is present. The vaccine provides lifelong protection with a single dose, and you’ll need to carry the International Certificate of Vaccination (ICVP) as proof.

In addition, it’s important to make sure your general vaccinations are up to date. Many health authorities recommend visiting a travel clinic in advance, where you can review your vaccination record and get advice specific to East Africa.
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Visa for Kenya and Tanzania

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Both Kenya and Tanzania require an eTA or visa for most travelers from outside East Africa. The exact rules and fees vary depending on your nationality, so it’s very important to check the latest requirements before your trip.

For Kenya, many nationalities must apply online for the eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization). According to the official website, it is usually processed within 72 hours, costs US$ 30, allows a single entry, and is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. You’ll need to present it at check-in and again upon arrival. In our case, we realized this visa was required only when trying to check in for our flight (yes, sometimes planning fails…) and went into a panic. Luckily, within a few hours we received confirmation by email, with the visa attached as a PDF.

For Tanzania, most visitors need a visa, which can be obtained either online in advance or on arrival at the airport or land borders. The online process may take some time, so if you choose that option it’s recommended to apply at least two to three months before travel. Fees vary depending on nationality, but for many travelers it is US$ 50 for a single-entry visa valid up to 90 days. Since we only discovered the need for a visa at the last minute (embarrassing!), we left it to apply upon arrival at the Namanga border crossing. It was slow and bureaucratic, but everything worked out.

But that’s not all! If you plan to visit Zanzibar, you also need island-specific health insurance. You can get it upon arrival, but I recommend doing it online in advance. It’s issued immediately (you pay, you receive), costs US$ 44 per adult and US$ 22 per child, and is valid for 92 consecutive days. There are reports that Tanzania may expand this requirement to the mainland, but so far it only applies to Zanzibar.

For both Kenya and Tanzania, for most nationalities, your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.

Always confirm the current requirements with the official government websites of Kenya and Tanzania, or consult the embassy/consulate in your country, as rules and costs can change.
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Map with complete itinerary of our trip to Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar

Our sixteen days in Kenya and Tanzania, with a safari in the Serengeti and a beach in Zanzibar, is detailed on the map below. Just click and save it to your Google account. When you start planning your next trip to East Africa, you’ll know exactly where to begin 😉

In this post, I explain how I use Google MyMaps to plan my trips. It’s an amazing tool for saving locations, calculating routes and distances, and organizing your entire journey. I highly recommend giving it a try!

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How to use this map: Click the menu tab in the upper left corner of the map to access different layers, including points of interest and routes. You can toggle layers on and off by checking the corresponding boxes. To see details about specific locations, click on the icons on the map.

To save this map to your Google Maps account, just click the star icon next to the map title. To access it later on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, tap the menu button, go to “Your Places”, select “Maps”, and you’ll find this map saved there.
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Here are the websites I always use to plan my trips:
– 🛌 Accommodation: Booking
– ☀️ Tours & activities: Civitatis & Get Your Guide
– 📱 eSIM for mobile data: Airalo e-SIM – use promo code DANAE2375
– 🚗 Car rental: RentCars – use promo code DANAE

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Let’s Stay Connected!

Have questions or thoughts to share? Reach out on social — I love chatting about all things travel! 😉

And before you go, don’t forget to SAVE THIS PIN to your PINTEREST account for easy access to this post with the best Kenya and Tanzania itinerary (including safari in the Serengeti and beach in Zanzibar) whenever you need it!