This safari is the ultimate combination of world renowned Big 5 game parks and shimmering Indian Ocean beaches - perfect for a short break discovery holiday! If the wildebeest migration of the Masai Mara and Serengeti were not enough, combine top class game viewing with the mystique of the magical spice island, Zanzibar.

DAYS 1 - 3, Nairobi, Masai Mara
From Kenya's capital Nairobi, we cross into the wide horizons and open plains of the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The park's 320sq km is home to a wide range of wildlife and provides some of the most evocative landscapes in Africa. From your camp on the edge of the Mara, explore the park in search of Africa's finest wildlife. Lion is often seen stalking its traditional prey - antelope, wildebeest and zebra. There are large populations of elephant, cheetah, buffalo and hippo and if you are here between July and September, you may be lucky to witness the annual migration of grazing animals - one of the most incredible movements of animals on earth.

From the Mara we travel south across the border to Tanzania.

DAYS 4 - 8, Tanzania, Serengeti Plains
The first stop in Tanzania is the bustling city of Arusha, situated exactly mid-way between Cape Town and Cairo. The city nestles in the shadow of Mount Meru (4556m), and the nearby Mount Kilimanjaro (5895m). Exploring Arusha's local markets is a fabulous 'African' experience - bargain hard for those curios! From our base just outside town there is opportunity to visit a snake park (beside the camp) and a local Masai village to learn a little of their proud and ancient culture.

Swapping from the overland truck to more suitable smaller 4x4s we travel west to the Olduvai Gorge, site of important archaeological diggings, before continuing to the Serengeti. This world renowned park covers over 15,000 sq. km of plains and contains millions of grazing animals.

Camping on the African plains is an exhilarating experience, as much for the sounds at night as for the sights of the day! After the Serengeti, descend the inner walls of Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage Site. Now a game reserve this magnificent park contains one of the most concentrated areas of wildlife anywhere in Africa. At 326 sq. km in area this is Africa's largest intact caldera - the view from Crater rim (at 2,400m) to Crater floor, 700m below, is staggering.

DAYS 9 - 13, Tanzania, Zanzibar
We return to Arusha and continue towards the balmy ocean coast and Tanzania's main commercial city, Dar es Salaam ('haven of peace'). A sprawling city with its colonial past apparent in the tree lined boulevards, 'Dar' is a good place to shop for makonde (ebony carvings) and while exploring the local markets. We take the ferry to exotic Zanzibar (the 'spice island').

We spend three nights on the island with its idyllic, sandy palm fringed beaches, romantic winding cobbled alleys and lush tropical forest. This was once the most important places on the East African coast, a centre for the spice trade, slaves and base for 19th century explorers. The influence of both African and Arab cultures is visible in the architecture and atmosphere of the island. Visit the old slave markets, 'Prison Island', mosques, palaces, courtyards and bazaars of Stone Town and buy anything from bright sarongs to seafood snacks. Save time for the white sands of the northern beaches where snorkelling and diving are excellent around Nungwi.

Returning to the mainland, our tour ends on return to Dar es Salaam. This safari is the ultimate combination of world renowned Big 5 game parks and shimmering Indian Ocean beaches - perfect for a short break discovery holiday! If the wildebeest migration of the Masai Mara and Serengeti were not enough, combine top class game viewing with the mystique of the magical spice island, Zanzibar.