Safari, The Seychelles and Indian Ocean - Cruise & Land Journey: 21 days Nairobi to Mahé, Seychelles

JAMBO – Welcome to Kenya. Upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Nairobi, Kenya’s colourful capital city. Meet your experienced Driver – Guide at the hotel this evening.
Overnight Stay: Nairobi 

Your thrilling African safari begins this morning as you head north via Nanyuki to the Samburu Game Reserve. Set in the rugged, semi-arid northern region of Kenya, Samburu enchants visitors with spectacular landscapes. Within the Reserve, enjoy a two-night stay at the Saroya Shaba Game Lodge.

Set off on your first safari drive this afternoon. Samburu is visited by large herds of elephants, drawn by the promise of water. This is one of the best places to find several endemic northern species, including the reticulated giraffe, the Somali ostrich and the endangered Grévy's zebra. The Samburu culture is a truly fascinating one, sharing a great deal of ancestral and linguistic ties to the Maasai.
Two-night Stay: Samburu Game Reserve

Today, enjoy morning and afternoon game drives. The entire Samburu region is a place of breathtaking beauty, a place where the vision of a deep red sunset silhouetting the doum palms along the river brings a magical end to a memorable day on safari. Visit a Samburu Manyatta (or village) and see what daily life is like in this harsh landscape.

After breakfast, depart for Lake Nakuru National Park with a brief stop en route at Thompson’s Falls for a breathtaking view of the magnificent views.

Lake Nakuru ranks as one of Africa’s finest game-viewing parks and a natural habitat for a variety of animal species, including prides of lions, Cape buffalo, waterbucks, warthogs, the endangered Rothschild giraffe, Burchell’s zebra, impala and the elusive leopard, among many others. Lake Nakuru National Park is also one of the best places to spot the endangered black and white rhino, while more than 300 bird species have been recorded here.

Visit the Mission in Action Orphanage and hear the fascinating tale of how it was established by an Australian family. Continue to the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s most famous game reserve, which offers breathtaking landscapes and abundant wildlife. Arrive at your tented camp, your home for the next three nights. Enjoy lunch and some time at leisure before you depart on an exciting game drive. The rolling plains and grasslands, stretching into the horizon as far as the eye can see, are the habitat of the black-maned lion, the savannah elephant, the Cape buffalo, wildebeest, the elusive leopard, cheetah, the spotted and striped hyena, the rhino, topi, Burchell’s zebra and the Maasai giraffe, among many others.

Enjoy a full day in the Masai Mara with morning and afternoon game drives.

Visit a traditional Maasai Village and experience the culture of this world-famous community. The Maasai still live as they have done for centuries. This is an incredible opportunity to interact with these East African semi-nomadic people and experience their way of life, as you learn first-hand about their customs and traditions.

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Hot Air Balloon Safari (extra expense)

Today, enjoy another day of game drives with an opportunity to see more of Africa’s ‘Big Five’ that the Masai Mara is world-famous for: the lion, savannah (African) elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard and the black rhino. This evening, enjoy dining under the starry African skies.

This morning, bid farewell to your Driver-Guide and thrilling safari before your flight back to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. This afternoon, you’ll pay a visit to the Giraffe Centre, followed by the fascinating Karen Blixen Museum. Enjoy an early dinner at the Carnivore Restaurant before transferring to your hotel
Overnight Stay: Nairobi

From the Kenyan capital, you’ll fly to Mombasa, to join your cruise.  Set along the Indian Ocean and known as Kenya’s ‘White and Blue City,’ Mombasa was the first capital of British East Africa before Nairobi was elevated to its capital status in 1907. 
It’s a melting pot of cultures from all corners of Africa and the Indian Ocean. Here you’ll be transferred to your Emerald Cruises luxury yacht and embark on your discovery of the Indian Ocean and Seychelles. 

Cruise south to Zanzibar, an archipelago off the coast of Tanzania. Once known as the ‘Spice Island’, Zanzibar has a rich history in the spice trade and it's still a major producer of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and black pepper. Stone Town is the historic heart of Zanzibar and a World Heritage site – the narrow streets lined with coral-stone buildings blend African, European and Indian influences.

Continuing south, Mafia Island is one of Tanzania’s hidden gems. It has an incredibly diverse landscape, dotted with coconut and cashew nut plantations, palm trees, tidal mangroves and plump baobab trees standing in vast African savannah grasslands. The island is also famous for its population of whale sharks, attracting visitors who wish to swim alongside these gentle giants. The best time to see whale sharks is usually between October and February. 

Sitting just off the coast of Tanzania, Kilwa Kisiwani is a captivating World Heritage site. The island was a significant trade hub from the 13th to the 16th centuries with much of the gold, silver pearls, perfumes and other goods traded in the Indian Ocean passing through here. Ruins cover the island, with palaces, bathing pools and prisons excavated. The most striking site is the Great Mosque, the oldest standing mosque on the East African coast. With its 16 domed and vaulted bays, the mosque’s grand architecture reflects the city's golden age.

Relish the nautical adventure of a lifetime with a relaxing day at sea as you sail east across the Indian Ocean. Enjoy the lavish comforts of your stylish yacht – slide into the infinity-style pool where the shimmering water seems to blur with the horizon, ascend to the Sky Deck to drink in panoramic views, or simply relax in the Observation Lounge.

Arrive at the Aldabra Atoll late this morning. This remote atoll is in the most south-westerly part of the Seychelles, closer to the African coast than to Mahé. It's one of the largest atolls in the world and recognised as a World Heritage site due to its outstanding natural beauty and significant biodiversity.

Spend another day exploring the fascinating Aldabra Atoll. The marine life around Aldabra is diverse and plentiful. The atoll's lagoon provides a habitat for numerous species of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and various types of corals. Hawksbill and green turtles nest on the atoll's beaches, and the surrounding waters are frequented by manta rays, sharks, and dolphins.

The atoll comprises four large coral islands that enclose a shallow lagoon. This ecosystem supports a variety of flora and fauna, many of which are unique to the atoll. Notably, Aldabra is home to the world's largest population of giant tortoises, with an estimated 150,000 tortoises living there. One of the largest species of tortoise in the world, they can reach up to 350kg and live for more than 150 years. Today, access to Aldabra is strictly monitored to minimise human impact on the environment.

Enjoy a relaxed morning on board as you cruise to the Farquhar Atoll, made up of 10 islands and atolls covering an area of 370 square kilometres (142 square miles). You will explore the sparkling lagoon encircled by this ring-shaped atoll dotted with coconut and casuarina trees. Hawksbill and green sea turtles come to the atoll to nest, and several of the Farquhar Group’s islands are important biodiversity hotspots.

Spend another morning at sea as you cruise the Alphonse group of atolls. Whether you're an angler, diver, birdwatcher, or simply a lover of nature and tranquillity, the Alphonse Group offers a unique and unforgettable experience. It has one of the world’s healthiest climates, which creates an incredible biome of diversity.

The Amirante Islands are known for their pristine beauty, the perfect haven for nature lovers and adventurers. Their isolated location and untouched environment make them an ideal destination for diving, fishing, and wildlife observation. You could take a stroll or hike under the canopy of exotic palm trees, where various bird species can be spotted.

Praslin, the second largest island in the Seychelles, is visually stunning with tropical jungle-fringed beaches, azure waters and powdery sand. Anse Lazio beach has been voted one of the world’s best beaches several times, and there’s a dazzling reef just offshore, brimming with coral and marine life. On land, coconut palms and granite boulders create a picture-postcard landscape. In the centre of the island, discover the World Heritage-listed Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, a compact area of palm forest that has remained almost unchanged since prehistoric times. Cruise to La Digue Island after lunch.

La Digue is the smallest of the three populated inner islands. Things move slowly here, with almost no cars on the island and most transport undertaken by horse or ox cart. Like Praslin, it’s fringed by world-famous beaches such as Anse Source d’Argent, where pink-hued sands meet granite boulders and turquoise waters.

Your time aboard your Emerald Cruises luxury yacht comes to an end on Mahé Island, the largest in the Seychelles and home of the capital, Victoria. From the yacht, you will be transferred to the airport for your journey home or to continue your travels. 

Please book your flight to depart out of Mahé, Seychelles after 01:00 PM.

The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such, Emerald Cruises cannot guarantee the cruise will be operated unaltered from the itinerary stated above.