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 African safari begins this morning as we head north via Nanyuki for the Samburu Game Reserve set in the rugged, semi-arid northern region of Kenya, with spectacular scenic landscape.

Your first safari drive is this afternoon. Samburu is visited by large herds of Elephants, drawn by the promise of water. It is one of the best places to find several endemic Northern species, including the reticulated giraffe, the Somali ostrich and Gravy’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

Enjoy morning and afternoon game viewing drive. The entire Samburu region is a place of breath-taking and magical beauty, a place where the vision of a deep red sunset silhouetting the doum palms along the river brings the perfect end to a day on safari. Visit a Samburu Manyatta or Village and see what life is like in this harsh landscape.

After breakfast depart for Lake Nakuru National Park with a brief stop at the Thompson’s fall for a breath-taking view of the great scenery.

The park is one of the best game viewing parks with various animal species including prides of lion, Cape buffalo, waterbucks, warthogs, the endangered Rothschild giraffe, the black & white Rhino, the Burchell’s zebra, impala, and the elusive leopard among many others. Over 300 bird species have been recorded here too. Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the best places to see the endangered black and white Rhino.

Enjoy an African sunset experience with drinks and canapes.

Overnight Stay: Lake Nakuru National Park

Visit the Mission in Action Orphanage and hear the stories of how it was started by an Australian family. Continue to the Masai Mara National Reserve – Kenya’s most renowned game reserve offering wonderful scenery and plenty of wildlife. Arrive at your tented camp for lunch and a little bit of leisure time before you depart on an exciting game viewing drive. The rolling plains and grasslands, stretching far into the horizons as far as the eye can see is home to the black-manned lion, the savannah elephant, the Cape buffalo, wildebeest, the elusive leopard, cheetah, the spotted & stripped hyena, the rhino, topi, Burchell’s zebra, the Maasai giraffe among many others.

Three Night Stay: Masai Mara Game Reserve

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Optional Hot Air Balloon Safari (extra expense, please book on tour)

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 Masai still live as they did for centuries -interact with these nomadic people and experience their way of life as you learn about their customs and traditions.

Another day of game drives with an opportunity to see more of the big five that Maasai Mara is famous for. These include the lion, savannah (African) elephant, the Cape buffalo, the leopard and the black rhino.

Dine under the stars tonight.

Fly back to Nairobi this morning. This afternoon a visit to the Giraffe Centre followed by the Karen Blixen Museum. Enjoy dinner at the Carnivore Restaurant.

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. 

Zanzibar is an archipelago off the coast of East Africa. It's part of Tanzania and consists of several islands, with Unguja (often referred to as Zanzibar) and Pemba being the largest. Known as the ‘Spice Islands’, 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 historical heart of Zanzibar and a UNESCO World Heritage site — the narrow streets lined with coral-hewn houses blend African, European and Indian influences. 

Included Excursion
Secrets of Stone Town 
Immerse yourself in the living history of Stone Town, the cultural soul of Zanzibar. A panoramic drive brings you to the bustling City Market, where tropical fruits, fresh spices, and the vibrant energy of daily life fill this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your guide will recount Stone Town’s pivotal role as a Swahili coastal trading hub, shaped by centuries of Afro-Asian exchange—and its darker past as one of East Africa’s main slave ports. A solemn visit to the former slave chambers and the Anglican Church, built atop the old Slave Market, offers powerful insight into this era. Continue on foot through Stone Town’s maze of narrow alleys, passing ornate Zanzibar doors, lively Jaw’s Corner, and the historic Hamamni Persian Baths. Pause at Forodhani Gardens for views of the House of Wonders and Palace Museum, before exploring the atmospheric Old Arab Fort, now home to artisan stalls. Conclude your journey with a refreshing stop at the Zanzibar Serena before returning to the pier. 
Activity Level: Moderate, Duration: 4 hours 

Included Excursion
Shuttle to Old Town area 

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Maruhubi Ruins and Spice Experience (extra expense, must be pre-booked)
Discover the vibrant flavours and fragrant landscapes of Zanzibar on this engaging spice tour through the island’s lush countryside. From the pier, enjoy a scenic drive past the former residence of Dr. David Livingstone before visiting the ruins of Maruhubi Palace, once built as a harem and later destroyed by fire. Continuing inland, you’ll explore verdant plantations where many spices grow in remote, off-road areas. Here, you can touch, smell, taste, and identify a remarkable range of spices and plants, while learning how they are used in local cuisine, cosmetics, dyes, and traditional medicines. Depending on the season, you may also sample fresh tropical fruits. Spice packets are available for purchase. Your tour concludes with a visit to the atmospheric Persian baths at Kidichi, built by Zanzibar’s first Sultan for his Persian wife. Afterwards, relax on the return drive to the pier, enriched by the island’s history and aromas. 
Activity Level: Moderate, Duration: 4 hours 35 minutes 

Docked: 07:00 – 18:00 

Mafia 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 tourists who wish to swim with these gentle giants. The best time to see whale sharks is usually between October and February. 

EmeraldACTIVE
Chole Island Tour 
Chole Island is one of the oldest inhabited islands in the Mafia archipelago. It has a long, varied history dating back to the 12th Century and was once the capital of Mafia. On this tour you can explore the ruins that have been overtaken by nature and see the Arabic and German influences, including a prison and customs house. Your guide will take you for a walk across the island through the small villages and varied vegetation (including baobab trees) and show you where traditional Swahili dhows are built by skilled craftsmen using hand tools. Chole also acts as a sanctuary for the Flying Foxes (Fruit Bats) which your guide will help you to see sleeping in the trees during the day. 
Activity Level: Moderate, Duration: 2-3 hours 

Anchored: 07:00 – 18:00 

Kilwa Kisiwani is a captivating UNESCO World Heritage site, off the southern coast of Tanzania. The island was a significant trade hub from the 13th to the 16th centuries, due to its control over the gold trade. One iconic structure is the Great Mosque, the oldest standing mosque on the East African coast. With its sixteen domed and vaulted bays, the mosque’s grand architecture reflects the city's golden age. 

EmeraldPLUS
Treasures of Kilwa Kisiwani 
Reach the legendary Kilwa Ruins by tender or boat, coming ashore at Kilwa Kisiwani Island, where a stone pier leads directly into the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the top of the pier, your guide will offer a brief introduction before you set off on a fascinating walking tour through one of East Africa’s most important medieval trading centres. Divided into small groups, you will explore evocative sites such as the Malindi Mosque and cemetery, the imposing Gereza fort, and Makutani, the former royal enclave with palaces, residences, and private mosques. Scattered throughout are additional mosques and the Great House, many remarkably well preserved, allowing you to vividly imagine the wealth and power of the sultans who once ruled here. 
Activity Level: Moderate, Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes 

Anchored: 07:00 – 18:00 

Relish the nautical adventure of a lifetime with some relaxing time at sea. 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. 

We will arrive to Aldabra Atoll late in the morning. Aldabra Atoll is a remarkable and remote atoll in the most south westerly part of the Seychelles, closer to African coast than to Mahé. It's one of the largest atolls in the world and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its outstanding natural beauty and significant biodiversity. 

Opportunity to spend the day swimming and snorkelling from the yacht. 

Anchored: 11:00 – Overnight 

The marine life around Aldabra is also distinct 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. 

Opportunity to spend the day swimming and snorkelling from the yacht. 

Anchored: Overnight 

The atoll comprises four large coral islands which 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 100,000 individuals living there. Today, access to Aldabra is strictly monitored to minimise human impact on the environment. 

Opportunity to spend the day swimming and snorkelling from the yacht. 

Anchored: Overnight – 12:00  

Enjoy your morning out to sea as we cruise to the Farquhar Group, made up of ten islands and atolls covering an area of 370 square kilometres. You will explore the sparkling lagoon encircled by this ringed-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 regions.  

Opportunity to spend the day swimming and snorkelling from the yacht. 

Anchored: 13:00 – 18:00  

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

Opportunity to spend the day swimming and snorkelling from the yacht. 

Anchored: 12:00 – 18:00  

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.

Opportunity to spend the day swimming and snorkelling from the yacht. 

Anchored: 07:00 – 14:00

Praslin, the second largest island in the Seychelles, is visually stunning with tropical jungle-fringed beaches, emerald 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 UNESCO World Heritage-listed Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve. 

We cruise to La Digue Island from midday. 

La Digue Island, the smallest of the three populated islands in the Seychelles. Like Praslin Island, it also possesses world-famous beaches, with one of the most recognisable being Anse Source d'Argent. It has pink-hued sands contrasting with granite boulders and aquamarine waters. 

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Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve & Anse Lazio (extra expense) 
Explore the natural treasures of Praslin Island on this captivating island escape. Departing from Baie Ste Anne Pier, your first stop is the legendary Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seychelles’ most extraordinary natural sanctuaries. Walk beneath towering palms in this primeval forest, often described as a natural cathedral, and discover the iconic Coco de Mer, producer of the largest seed in the plant kingdom. Keep watch for the rare Seychelles Black Parrot, endemic to Praslin, and listen for its distinctive high-pitched call echoing through the forest canopy. Following your forest visit, enjoy a scenic drive to the breathtaking Anse Lazio, where you will be welcomed with fresh coconut drinks and have leisure time to relax, swim, or soak in the beauty of one of Seychelles’ most celebrated beaches before returning to the pier.  
Activity Level: Easy, Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes 

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A Day of Golf on Praslin: Constance Lemuria Resort (extra expense) 
Enjoy a premier golfing experience on Praslin Island at the spectacular Lemuria Golf Course, located within the elegant Constance Lemuria Resort. Beautifully designed by Marc Antoine Farry and Rodney Wright, and inaugurated in 2000, this is the only 18-hole golf course in Seychelles. Set against a dramatic backdrop of lush hills and the Indian Ocean, the course features stunning terraced greens and the iconic 15th hole, widely regarded as one of the most breathtaking in the region. Golfers can look forward to both a scenic and rewarding challenge. This comprehensive package includes 18 holes, green fees, rental clubs, a shared club car, water per person, 10 golf balls, and return minivan transfers between Praslin Jetty and the resort.
Activity Level: Easy, Duration: 4 hours

Included Excursion
Visit La Digue Island by Camionette 
Experience the laid-back beauty of La Digue Island on a scenic island tour by traditional camionette, one of the island’s limited and charming open-sided vehicles. After tender disembarkation at the jetty, enjoy a picturesque drive through the village of La Passe, passing the magnificent La Passe Harbour, framed by dramatic granite outcrops and traditional schooners.  Visit L’Union Estate, where you will explore the historic copra kiln, traditional coconut oil mill, colonial plantation house, and vanilla plantation, offering fascinating insight into the island’s heritage. Continue by camionette to the world-famous Anse Source d’Argent, celebrated for its powdery white sands and extraordinary granite formations sculpted over centuries. Enjoy time for photos and swimming before returning to the jetty, with a brief opportunity to browse local crafts and souvenirs. 
Activity Level: Easy, Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes 

Anchored: 07:00 – 12:00 | 14:00 – 23:00 

Your time aboard your Emerald Cruises luxury yacht comes to an end in Mahè island. From the yacht, you will be transferred to the airport for your journey home or to continue your holiday. 

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

Docked 08:00 

The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Emerald Cruises cannot guarantee the cruise will operated unaltered from the itinerary states above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.