- Kenya Escorted Tours
- Kenya Safari: Samburu with Zanzibar Beach Stay
Experience the extraordinary diversity of Kenya on a journey that combines iconic wildlife encounters with inspiring conservation stories and spectacular scenery. From the rugged landscapes of Samburu National Reserve to the wetlands of Lake Nakuru, this tour offers the chance to witness some of Africa’s most remarkable animals in their natural habitat and learn about the vital efforts protecting them for future generations. Enjoy the warmth of local hospitality, admire dramatic Rift Valley views, and discover the timeless magic of Kenyan safaris that has captivated visitors for generations.
Dotted with small fishing villages, deserted islands and home to historic Stone town, the Zanzibar archipelago evokes tales of myth and romance filled with Swahili princes, Omani Sultans and Shirazi merchants - the paradisal 'Spice Islands' offer the perfect relaxing end to your adventure.
Depart the UK for flight to Nairobi
Dinner
On arrival in Nairobi, you’ll be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax after your flight and settle in for the adventure ahead.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning, depart Nairobi and drive to Aberdare, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided nature walk in Aberdare National Park, offering a peaceful introduction to the region’s rich biodiversity.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, continue to Samburu National Reserve, one of Kenya’s most ecologically unique and culturally rich wildlife areas. Home to a variety of rare species and a thriving elephant population, Samburu offers an authentic safari experience amid striking semi-arid landscapes. Following lunch, head out on an afternoon safari in search of the ‘Samburu Special Five’ – the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Beisa oryx, gerenuk, and Somali ostrich. Return to your lodge for dinner this evening.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today, enjoy morning and afternoon safaris in Samburu National Reserve, with time to relax at your lodge between drives. Alongside the ‘Samburu Special Five’, you may spot lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and an array of colourful birdlife. Take in Kenya’s dramatic landscapes as you travel through rugged hills dotted with acacia trees and watch wildlife gather along the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, travel to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a not-for-profit wildlife conservancy set between the Aberdare Range and Mount Kenya. Ol Pejeta is home to the largest population of eastern black rhinos in East Africa and is the only place in Kenya where chimpanzees can be seen. The conservancy is also home to the world’s last two remaining northern white rhinos, offering a unique opportunity to learn about ongoing conservation efforts to protect the species from extinction. After lunch, enjoy an afternoon safari through Ol Pejeta’s diverse landscapes, ranging from open plains to dense woodland. In addition to rhinos and chimpanzees, keep an eye out for elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs, hippos, and Grevy’s zebra.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today is dedicated to a full-day safari in Ol Pejeta. With an entire day to explore, venture into the conservancy’s varied habitats, seeking out species that may have been missed during the previous afternoon’s safaris. Gain further insight into the delicate balance between wildlife conservation, livestock management, and community development that makes Ol Pejeta a model for sustainable conservation in East Africa. As the day unfolds, admire the ever-changing scenery and the chance to encounter some of the conservancy’s most iconic wildlife before returning to camp for dinner and an evening at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Following breakfast, drive to Lake Nakuru National Park and enjoy an afternoon safari through its wetlands and woodland areas. Located within the Great Rift Valley, this bird-lover’s paradise is one of Kenya’s most celebrated safari destinations. The park is home to white rhinos, endangered Rothschild’s giraffes, lions, and its best-known residents – flocks of pink flamingos gathered around the lake shores.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Rise early for a morning safari and watch the park’s wildlife begin to stir. After breakfast, return to Nairobi and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the Giraffe Centre, established to help protect the vulnerable Rothschild’s giraffe. Here, you’ll have the chance to feed the giraffes from an elevated platform while learning more about the centre’s important conservation work and Kenya’s native wildlife.
Today you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival check in to your hotel.
Enjoy your time at leisure to relax or explore the island at your own pace. Zanzibar, known for its stunning beaches and rich cultural heritage, offers a variety of experiences. You can unwind on the pristine sands, swim in the turquoise waters, or take a leisurely stroll along the shore.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
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The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local driver guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
To enter Kenya, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least two blank pages. You will require a tourist visa to enter Kenya, apply for an “eTA” online before you travel. The only legitimate website to apply for the eTA is www.etakenya.go.ke/en. The visa takes approximately 5 working days to issue and it is only valid for a 90 day single entry stay from the date of arrival.
We work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. When calling the Travel Visa Company they will advise you of any changes to the fees or the procedure, they will also advise you of all information they will require in order to apply for the visa. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding these.
Zanzibar visa requirements
To enter Tanzania/Zanzibar, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least one blank page. You will require a tourist visa to enter Tanzania, and apply for an “e-visa” online before you travel. The cost of the visa is approximately £80 per person. The visa takes approximately 15 working days to issue and it is only valid for a 90 day single entry stay from the date of arrival. Upon arrival, you will also be asked to fill in a declaration form before going through customs. We work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. When calling the Travel Visa Company they will advise you of any changes to the fees or the procedure, they will also advise you of all information they will require in order to apply for the visa. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding these.
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure.
If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313. IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
All visitors to Zanzibar (excluding residents) must have mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) for the duration of their stay (up to 92 days), with no exemptions for visitors who already have insurance coverage from their home countries. This fee is reported to cover various potential challenges that visitors might encounter while in Zanzibar, including health issues, loss of baggage, accidents, emergency evacuation, loss of passports, and even repatriation in the unfortunate event of death.
You can only buy this insurance from ZIC. Other international travel insurance policies will not be accepted. Go to the Visit Zanzibar website for more information.
You may be refused entry if you do not have the correct insurance.
If you have any questions that are not covered on the website, contact ZIC by emailing inbound@zic.co.tz.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, or your General Practitioner.
This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves full days of sightseeing, early mornings, long days of driving, some days with lots of walking and includes some climbing of stairs and getting on and off coaches and boats. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
The local currency in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling but USD ($) is also widely accepted. You can exchange money before you leave the UK and there will be access to ATMs in most major cities (not available in the reserves) where you will be able to withdraw money in the local currency. It is a good idea to try and maintain a supply of small notes and change in the local currency for tipping or small purchases.
The currency in Tanzania/Zanzibar is the Tanzanian Shilling (Tsh) but USD ($) is also widely accepted. Credit cards are not widely accepted and some establishments only accept Tanzanian Shillings, so it is advisable to have cash in both currencies. You can exchange money before you leave the UK and there will be access to ATMs in most major cities where you will be able to withdraw money in the local currency.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £300-£400 per person should be sufficient for the duration of your tour. Please bear in mind that there will be several shopping opportunities throughout your tour.
Tipping
It is at your discretion to tip your driver/guide, waiters, porters, and housekeepers. We recommend to tip approximately $2 per person per day for waiters, porters and housekeepers and $6 per person per day for your driver/guide. This is a total of $56 per person to budget for tips on your trip for the driver/guide plus extra for the other staff. Tips are accepted U.S dollars ($).
All visitors to Zanzibar (excluding residents) must have mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) for the duration of their stay (up to 92 days), with no exemptions for visitors who already have insurance coverage from their home countries. This fee is reported to cover various potential challenges that visitors might encounter while in Zanzibar, including health issues, loss of baggage, accidents, emergency evacuation, loss of passports, and even repatriation in the unfortunate event of death.
You can only buy this insurance from ZIC. Other international travel insurance policies will not be accepted. Go to the Visit Zanzibar website for more information.
You may be refused entry if you do not have the correct insurance.
If you have any questions that are not covered on the website, contact ZIC by emailing inbound@zic.co.tz.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 6, and the maximum is 20. In the unlikely event there are less than 6 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
There is no minimum number of travellers for your extension however the main tour passenger numbers will apply for the main part of the tour. If in the unlikely event there are less than the required number of people booked on your main tour date then you may be asked to change to a different date. A full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
In Kenya, guests will be met by drivers who are fully trained as driver guides with a wide knowledge of each destination.
Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.
Your beach stay in Zanzibar is not escorted by a tour guide. Your time here will be free to do as you wish. Details of your departure transfer will be confirmed by your guide at the end of your tour at Kilimanjaro airport, before you begin your extension stay in Zanzibar.
Throughout your tour, you will travel in a 7 seater vehicle that is adapted for both open road driving as well as safaris. It is mandatory that your suitcase must be soft-sided (no hard shell suitcases) and should not exceed 60cm x 40cm x 33cm due to limited space on safari vehicles in East Africa.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to lodges and camps. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Kenya. All group tour hotel have private bathroom facilities, other facilities differ depending on the accommodation. The safari lodges may also have restrictions on electricity accessibility at certain times of the day. If you have booked a triple share please note that your room will be a twin room with a rollaway bed or sofa bed added. This may limit the floor space in the room. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and dinner during your tour will be taken in local Kenyan restaurants or at the lodge/ hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.
Vegetarian and vegan meals can be catered for. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way, so to ensure your comfort and well-being, one large bottle of drinking water will be provided during your safari drives.
Zanzibar is a predominantly Muslim island and very conservative. Beach wear is acceptable at the beach or the pool, but modest dress is encouraged elsewhere. Woman – cover shoulders, midriff and legs to below the knees. Men – shorts are acceptable but working around shirtless is not. During Ramadan, both men and woman need to keep legs completely covered while in public. Due to the weather in Zanzibar, lightweight clothing is essential.
On your arrival in Nairobi you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Sense of Africa, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Sense of Africa representative will show you to your transfer vehicle.
If you need to contact your representative during your stay the details are:
Sense of Africa: Mkungu Close, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya Telephone Number 00254 20 760 6000 E-mail eur@senseofafrica.co.ke
Emergency contact information: Please find below the emergency contact details Sense of Africa 24 hours Telephone: 00254 710 524 086 Email Address: csr@senseofafrica.co.ke
