Essential East Africa
Deal number: 26476890
INTREPID
This deal expires 30 June 2026
Valid for select departures between 1 Aug - 13 Feb 2027
Africa
11-day tour
Price from
£2,309*
per person
Deal number: 26476890
Packed with value:
Return economy class flights
10 day small group tour with Intrepid Travel for 18-35 year olds, plus one night pre-tour accommodationExplore the top sights of East Africa with new friends who you just haven't met yet! Designed for 18-35 year olds, experience the best of Kenya and Tanzania under the guidance of a local trip guide, with plenty of free time for you to also do your own thing.
Flight Centre Exclusive: £1pp* deposit - book by 30th of June 2026Secure your flights + tour with our exclusive £1 per person deposit, giving you plenty of time to budget for your next adventure. When you book flights + tour together, you're also given extra peace of mind from booking a package holiday - speak with your travel expert to find out the benefits.*£1pp deposit is only valid with certain airlines and airfares
Day tours including safari in Maasai Mara National Reserve, game drive in Serengeti National Park, and four wheel drive safari in Ngorongoro CraterMake your trip even more special by adding on a hot air balloon over either the Maasai Mara or the Serengeti, for incredible views of the wildlife as they roam across the African savannah. Prices start from USD500pp. Speak to your travel expert if you wish to add this on.
This is a scheduled tour which departs on select travel dates. Speak to your travel expert to find out which dates are available. Price based on February 2026 departure.
Itinerary
Got 10 days, an adventurous spirit and a desire to see as much of East Africa as you can? Whether you're a solo traveller looking for new friends or some new friends looking for a solo to join the pack, this is for you! Head out on multiple 4WD safaris in the Maasai Mara National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park for the best opportunities to spot the Big Five and all your bucket list wildlife! Stop at remote market towns, spend a night in a Maasai village and another night by the largest tropical lake in the world and soak up all the chances to chat with the locals and learn about their culture. This trip is like a crash course in what East Africa is all about. In Loita Hills, you'll be staying in a secure bush camp with basic facilities, hot bucket showers are available in the morning. Wi-fi is not available and only minimal upgrades are on offer at tonight's bush camp. , Camping in the Serengeti means, well, camping in the Serengeti. No barriers between you and mother nature means there's no fence between you and the animals. We take safety seriously and your leader will brief you in detail on how to set up camp so as to deter animals from entering the camp. , This is an overland trip. That means you'll be travelling with a group in a purpose-built vehicle, visiting remote communities, setting up your own tent, occasionally roughing it in the bush with no facilities, waking up before sunrise and getting the best possible views of the 'Big Five'. While the trucks don't have air conditioning, they do have sliding windows which let in the breeze and make it even easier to take spectacular snaps of the local wildlife. The drive days can be long, but it's as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie. For more info on this style of travel, see our Africa overland page at https://www. intrepidtravel. com/au/africa/overland. , This trip is a great way to see a lot in a short period of time and it can be part of a longer itinerary if you have more time to explore. You might like to check out Epic East Africa: Gorillas, Chimps and Game Parks or Real East Africa & Zanzibar
Arrive into Nairobi the night before your tour begins, and enjoy one night pre-tour accommodation to get settled into the African heat.
Jambo! Welcome to Kenya. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight in Nairobi. If you arrive early, why not check out the National Museum of Kenya, the Karen Blixen Museum or the highly recommended Bomas of Kenya where traditional homesteads of some Kenyan tribes are displayed at an outdoor village. After your meeting tonight, maybe head out for an optional welcome dinner with your new fellow travellers.
Depart Nairobi this morning, stopping in Narok along the way for some food shopping. Today's drive crosses the Great Rift Valley - Africa's huge divide - to the remote region of Loita Hills. This is the home of the Maasai people and when you arrive, you'll grab some lunch then visit the Maasai, known for their dazzling red dress and elaborate jewellery. Gain an insight into the culture and ancient ways of this proud East African community. A local elder will deliver a fascinating talk about the Maasai and what they're about. You'll also be shown around a traditional Maasai home and see where the resident cattle are kept.
Travel from Loita Hilla to Maasai Mara today. The Maasai Mara is one of those classic African experiences - wide open plains, perfect blue skies and some of the world's great wild animals. After setting up camp, sit down to some lunch. Then, it's time to jump aboard your 4WD and go for a game drive through the wilderness of the Mara.
Adventure into the reserve for a full day's 4WD game drive. You'll explore this diverse environment and most likely see a lots of different wildlife. An optional balloon ride over the Mara at sunrise is well worth considering. If you have pre-booked this activity, you'll be picked up before sunrise and driven to the launch site for a safety briefing from your pilot. Then, glide through the dawn, sometimes at tree height, which provides amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you'll ascend, getting an overview of the enormity of the plains and the early morning movements of the teeming herds. After landing, you'll be treated to a bush breakfast, then return to your campsite to meet up with your group.
Travel towards the Kenya-Tanzania border and to the shores of Lake Victoria. This is not only Africa's biggest lake - it's the largest tropical lake in the world. It shares its shores with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. You'll arrive in the late afternoon, with time to chill out lakeside with a cold drink at sunset. Make the most of the ATM and local market to stock up for your next three days of wilderness adventures. You'll be camping on the shores of the lake tonight, at one of its least visited campgrounds on the outskirts of a small town called Musoma, far from the tourist track.
Today, you'll travel from Lake Victoria to the gate of Serengeti National Park on a smooth road. Stop for a picnic lunch on the way, then enter the Serengeti and start your overland vehicle game drive on the way to your campsite. These plains - green after rain and brown and burnt in the dry season - are home to thousands of hoofed animals and fierce predators, so see how many you can spot! Your campsite is right in the action, within the park itself, so listen out for the sounds of nocturnal animals as you drift off to sleep tonight.
Start the day with a game drive in your overland truck at dawn. You'll head out while the animals are at their most active, then head back to camp for brunch. After spending the warmer part of the day relaxing as the animals do, depart again in the afternoon for another adventure through the wild. You'll return in time for dinner. There's the option of an early-morning balloon ride here too, so if you didn't take one in the Mara, today's your chance!
Rise and shine for a final chance to spot Serengeti wildlife as you make your way out of the park this morning. At Nabi gate, hop aboard a jeep and descend into Ngorongoro Crater. This gigantic, perfectly intact volcanic crater is home to some 30,000 animals. Among these are endangered black rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, impalas, zebras and hippos. The crater floor is great for game viewing all year round and the photo-opportunities here are next level. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater before heading back out on safari all afternoon. After, travel on to Karatu town and arrive at camp for a freshly prepared dinner with your group.
Take it easy this morning with a relaxed breakfast at camp. Maybe set off for Mto Wa Mbu for an optional guided village walk or take a bike ride around the farming areas, spotting milling machines, local homes and farmlands. Mto Wa Mbu offers a snapshot of small-town East African life. Then, hit the road to Arusha where you'll spend your final night together.
Your adventure comes to an end this morning, but that doesn't mean you can't continue to explore East Africa. A departure transfer can be booked at an additional expense, to either Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK). Alternatively, you can join the overland truck and travel back to Kenya to finish your trip in Nairobi around 5pm. If you need to organise additional accommodation, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
Enquire to book this trip
Deal number: 26476890Essential East Africa
INTREPID
Valid for select departures between 1 Aug - 13 Feb 2027
Africa
11-day tour
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