Lands Unknown: Off the Beaten Path East Africa Safari

Maasai guide in Chyulu Hills, Kenya

What to expect on this itinerary

East Africa remains a region with parts unknown. Including Naboisho and Ruaha, this adventurous, two-week safari will take you off the beaten path in East Africa. Begin with five nights on Zanzibar island before going on safari in Tanzania and Kenya. Vast wildernesses are accessible thanks to light aircraft, but these safari destinations are only really known by animals and local tribes. They provide you with adventure and a sense of lands that remain untouched by modernity.

Countries Visited

Kenya, Tanzania

Places Visited

Zanzibar, Paje, Stone Town, Selous Game Reserve Ruaha National Park, Mara Naboisho Conservancy, Chyulu Hills

Suggested Duration

14 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Paje - Zanzibar Beach Escapism

These three days in Paje will be lazy. Zanzibar is a laid-back island that basks in its Indian Ocean location. The island’s Eastern coastline is undeveloped with only a handful of resorts and a couple of small fishing villages. The first thing you will notice is the space. Small resorts are separated by swathes of indigenous forest. The beach is broad, and at low tide, you can wade out for a mile in turquoise-toned waters. People are rare here as well. Elsewhere on Zanzibar, it is only Stone Town and Nungwe that allow you to really enjoy the incredible sense of Indian Ocean space.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Paje - Wallowing in Paradise

Day 3

Paje - Experience the Ocean

Day 4

Stone Town - Authentic Swahili Experiences

Day 5

Stone Town - Uncover More Swahili Stories

Day 6

Selous Game Reserve - Settle Into the Selous Wilds

Day 7

Selous Game Reserve - Safari Activities in Africa’s Largest Reserve

Day 8

Ruaha National Park - Off the Beaten Path

Day 9

Ruaha National Park - Lost in the Beauty of It All

Day 10

Mara Naboisho Conservancy - Exploring the Masai Mara

Day 11

Mara Naboisho Conservancy - Walking About the Mara

Day 12

Chyulu Hills - Unknown Kenyan Safari Destination

Day 13

Chyulu Hills - Relax and Unwind in Nature

Day 14

Nairobi - Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Safari on the water and on foot during two exhilarating days in Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve
  • Discover the Masai Mara with Masai guides, which is part of an exclusive, two-night safari in Mara Naboisho Conservancy
  • Uncover Swahili heritage and meet the locals for two days in Zanzibar’s Stone Town
  • Venture far off the beaten path with a three-day, wilderness safari in Ruaha, which is one of Africa’s last great unknowns
  • Luxuriate in comfort at your final safari destination with two nights in the bucolic Chyulu Hills
  • Escape Zanzibar’s crowds and ease into the vacation with three nights in Paje, which is located on the island’s undeveloped, eastern coast

Starting Price

$11,400 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 587 reviews

Dennis S.
Kenya Safari Review: Mara North Conservancy, Night Safari, 13 Nights

This was a trip of a lifetime. Every single aspect was beyond my expectations. Zicasso's travel expert from the tour company helped to create an adventure beyond adventures. She was meticulous and once we arrived in Africa, all plans and executions were impeccable. I will definitely utilize her for all future trips and refer her to others. She really gets to know her clients and specializes in creating an environment based upon her clients' personalities and ambitions.

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James S.
United Arab Emirates, Kenya Vacation Review: 11 Nights

The trip lived up to all of our expectations. Having never been to the UAE and Kenya, we relied very heavily on Zicasso's trip coordinator to develop our itinerary, scheduling, accommodations, etc. She worked very hard to understand our expectations and put together a plan that I would rate five stars!

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Mary-Ellen M.
Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya Safari Review: Hot-Air Ballooning, Nature, 12-Day Trip

Zicasso’s travel professional helped us plan a fabulous two-week safari, which was a bucket-list trip for my husband and me! He is very knowledgeable about Africa and safaris, so once we told him what we were looking for, he helped us plan every aspect of the trip, from where to stay, visas, what to bring/wear, tipping, etc. He also had several recommendations for extras that we had not thought about, like hot-air ballooning!

We traveled to Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya, and the travel between each country was seamless. When we had questions during the trip, he was responsive and always followed up to make sure everything was good. We highly recommend this travel professional for your African safari or journey.

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Christine S.
Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda Grandparent-Grandson Trip Review: Gorilla Sightings, Nature, Wildlife, 10 Nights

My grandson and I had an amazing trip to Uganda and Zicasso’s travel partner made it easy, handling every detail. No matter the circumstance, we felt supported and had easy access to assistance if it was needed. Zicasso has always provided the best agents for our travels.

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Kenneth W.
Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya Vacation Review: 2 Weeks

The trip was wonderful! Zicasso's tour company did a magnificent job planning the trip and helping with visas, etc. We have no complaints. It was a first-class job!

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Frederique C.
Kenya Trip Review: Amboseli, Laikipia, North Mara, Manda Bay, Lamu, Safari, Private Guide, Cuisine, Wildlife, 2 Weeks

We began planning our trip to Kenya with Zicasso nearly two years ago—and every moment was worth the wait. This was a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience and it had to be perfect. Thanks to the team at the travel agency, it was.

From the very beginning, the team listened attentively to our priorities: exceptional service, seamless logistics, and, most importantly, privacy. We did not want to follow crowds of Jeeps just to glimpse wildlife. The agency understood this perfectly and delivered an itinerary that exceeded every expectation.

Each lodge, from the one in Amboseli to the one in Laikipia, the one in North Mara and, finally, the one in Lamu, was of a consistently high caliber. We were welcomed with warm hospitality, outstanding cuisine, and extraordinary accommodations throughout.

At every destination, we had a private guide and vehicle, which made each game drive feel intimate and deeply personal. Our guides were not only highly knowledgeable, but also a true pleasure to spend time with. Every transfer, domestic flight, and internal connection unfolded without a single hitch.

This was our fourth trip planned with Zicasso and it will not be our last. Their ability to transform complex travel into flawless, enriching experiences is unmatched—and we are already dreaming of where they will take us next.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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