10 Days Masai Mara Zanzibar Safari: The Honest 2026 Guide
A 10 Days Masai Mara Zanzibar Safari is the version where Zanzibar stops being an add-on and becomes its own holiday. Four Mara nights give you 8 game drives, a balloon morning, a walking safari, and a night drive. Six Zanzibar nights give you 2 nights in Stone Town for the culture and 4 nights at the beach for Mnemba Atoll, Safari Blue, a cooking class, and a rest day. For the 2026/2027 season, all-inclusive rates for two people sharing range from KES 785,000 ($6,040) to KES 2,450,000 ($18,850) per person. This covers a private 4×4 Land Cruiser, all flights, the mandatory $44 Zanzibar insurance, and island accommodation.
10 Days Masai Mara Zanzibar Safari Costs (2026/2027)
This is the 10-day version of our Masai Mara and Zanzibar Safari. For shorter versions, see the 7-day or 8-day trip. See the main page for the full two-country paperwork guide covering visas, yellow fever certificates, and the mandatory ZIC insurance.
Pricing reflects the updated Masai Mara park fee, the mandatory 4×4 Land Cruiser rates, all flights, and the $44 Zanzibar insurance. These are all-inclusive prices for two people traveling together.
10-Day All-Inclusive Rates (Per Person Sharing)
Package Tier | Suggested Hotels | Regular (KES) | Peak (KES) |
Budget | Talek Bush Camp + Amaan Beach | KES 785,000 | KES 1,150,000 |
Mid-Range | Ashnil Mara + White Sands Zanzibar | KES 1,080,000 | KES 1,650,000 |
Luxury | Mara Serena + Zuri Zanzibar | KES 1,850,000 | KES 2,150,000 |
Luxury Plus | Angama Mara + Baraza Resort | KES 2,180,000 | KES 2,450,000 |
Book Now | Current Rates |
Note: Peak season is July–October during the wildebeest migration. Children 3–12 pay 75% of the adult rate. For a luxury safari upgrade, request a custom quote.
What’s Covered in the Price?
- Vehicle. Private 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof for the Mara leg.
- Flights. Mara to Nairobi, Nairobi to Zanzibar via Masai Mara flying packages.
- Guide. TRA-licensed guide for the safari leg.
- Park Fees. All Kenya entries via eCitizen.
- Zanzibar Insurance. The mandatory $44 ZIC policy is included.
- Accommodation. Full board during safari. Half-board or all-inclusive on the island.
Excluded. Kenya eTA ($30–$50), Tanzania eVisa ($50–$100), tips (KES 3,500/day), Infrastructure Tax ($5/night collected by hotel), hot air balloon ($450–$500), Zanzibar tours and excursions, Masai village visit (KES 4,500), international flights.
I’ve been guiding for ten years. A 10 Days Masai Mara Zanzibar Safari is the trip where you stop making compromises. On the 7-day version, you choose between Mnemba and Safari Blue. On 8 days, you fit both but skip the rest day. On 10 days, you get everything: the full Mara with night drives and a balloon morning, 2 days in Stone Town for the culture, Mnemba Atoll, Safari Blue, a cooking class, and still have a day where you do nothing but sit on the beach.
Four Nights in the Mara, Six in Zanzibar
Four nights in the Mara is one more than the standard 3-night trips. That extra night gives you 8 game drives instead of 6, and it means you can do a hot air balloon, a walking safari with a Maasai warrior, and a night drive in a conservancy without any of them replacing a game drive.
Six nights in Zanzibar splits naturally into 2 nights in Stone Town and 4 at the beach. Stone Town hotels are atmospheric but have no beach. Beach resorts have sand but no culture. On shorter trips you pick one location. On 10 days, you stay at both.
The 10-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi
Arrive and stay near Wilson Airport. Rest after the international flight.
Day 2: Nairobi to Masai Mara
Morning flight from Wilson. Arrive for lunch and an afternoon game drive. I time your first entry so the permit doesn’t expire before your last morning drive.
Day 3: Full Day in the Mara
Morning and afternoon game drives. If the migration is happening (July–October), we position near the Mara River crossing points.
Day 4: Balloon Morning
Hot air balloon at sunrise with champagne breakfast in the bush. Afternoon game drive. Evening night drive in the conservancy for servals, aardvarks, and bush babies.
Day 5: Walking Safari
Morning walking safari with a Maasai warrior. You learn to read tracks, identify dung, and understand how the Maasai live alongside predators. Afternoon game drive. This is the day that doesn’t exist on shorter trips.
Day 6: Mara to Zanzibar
Morning game drive. Fly to Wilson Airport in Nairobi, swap your safari bag for your Zanzibar bag at the terminal lockers, transfer to JKIA, and catch the afternoon flight to Zanzibar. Have your yellow fever card and ZIC insurance QR code ready for immigration. Check into your Stone Town hotel. Sunset cocktails at the Africa House Hotel terrace.
Day 7: Stone Town
Full day exploring. Start at Darajani Market early for spices and fish. Walk to the Old Slave Market at the Anglican Cathedral. Lunch at Lukmaan Restaurant. Afternoon in the alleys: carved doors, Freddie Mercury’s birthplace, the Old Fort. Coffee at Jaws Corner. Evening at Forodhani Gardens night market for Zanzibar pizza, urojo soup, and grilled seafood.
Day 8: Stone Town to Beach
Morning spice tour through the plantations, or a cooking class where you shop at Darajani and learn to make octopus curry and Zanzibari biryani. Afternoon transfer to your beach hotel in Nungwi, Matemwe, or Paje. Stop at Jozani Forest on the way for the endemic red colobus monkeys and the mangrove boardwalk.
Day 9: Mnemba Atoll or Safari Blue
Snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll from Matemwe or Nungwi. Or the Safari Blue full-day dhow excursion through Menai Bay with sandbank lunch and island snorkelling. On 10 days, you can do one today and the other on Day 10.
Day 10: Beach, Fishing, or The Rock
Rest day at the beach. Or deep sea fishing from Nungwi (November–March for marlin and sailfish). Or lunch at The Rock Restaurant at Pingwe, built on a stone outcrop in the ocean. At low tide you walk to it. At high tide you take a boat. Reserve in advance.
Day 11: Departure
Morning at the beach or the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre near Jozani on the way to the airport. Flight to Nairobi or Dar es Salaam for your connection. If departing from Dar, the fast ferry from Stone Town takes 2 hours.
What You Can Do With 6 Zanzibar Nights
Experience | Activity Type | Quick Highlights |
The Rock Restaurant | Iconic Dining | Famous ocean outcrop; access via walking at low tide or boat at high tide. |
Local Cooking Class | Cultural / Food | Shop for fresh ingredients at Darajani Market; cook authentic octopus curry. |
Pungume Island | Dhow Cruise | Secluded alternative to Nakupenda sandbank; pristine reef snorkeling. |
Bicycle Tours | Exploration | Half-day guided rides through remote spice farms and local villages. |
Cheetah’s Rock | Wildlife Rescue | Highly rated, ethical animal sanctuary located 45 minutes from Stone Town. |
Deep Sea Fishing | Adventure | Target marlin and sailfish off Nungwi coast (best from November to March). |
On shorter trips, you’re always cutting something. Here’s what 6 nights makes possible that 3 or 4 nights don’t.
The Rock Restaurant. See Day 10 in the itinerary. Books out days in advance. Reserve on Day 1 of your trip.
A cooking class. See Day 8 in the itinerary. Most reviewers say the market shopping is as good as the cooking itself.
Pungume Island. A quiet alternative to the crowded Nakupenda sandbank. Reached by traditional dhow from Fumba. Reviewers describe having the island nearly to themselves.
Matemwe. The quietest east coast beach and the closest to Mnemba Atoll. Boat rides take 20 minutes versus 30+ from Nungwi. Couples seeking a secluded boutique resort should consider Matemwe over busier options.
Village cycling. Operators like Bluebikes Zanzibar run guided bicycle tours through rural villages and spice farms. Half-day. You see daily life that tourists in taxis never encounter.
Cheetah’s Rock. A private animal sanctuary inland from Stone Town. Rescued cheetahs, lemurs, and other species. Multiple reviewers rank it in Zanzibar’s top 5 activities. About 45 minutes from Stone Town.
Deep sea fishing. See Day 10 in the itinerary. On shorter trips, this competes with everything else. On 10 days, it replaces one beach day without affecting anything.
Two Days in Stone Town
On shorter trips, you squeeze Stone Town into a single afternoon and it always feels rushed. With 2 full days, you can take your time. See Day 7 in the itinerary for the cultural walk. Use the second morning for a spice tour or cooking class before transferring to your beach hotel.
For a rooftop dinner, Emerson Spice Hotel or Emerson on Hurumzi have the best views over the old city at night. Reserve in advance.
Advice for This Route
Category | Official Requirement & Rule (2026) |
Zanzibar Insurance | Mandatory $44 ZIC policy; must be purchased online and QR code printed. |
Health Entry | Physical Yellow Fever vaccination card required at immigration (no digital copies). |
Currency Rule | Crisp, unmarred USD cash notes printed after 2013 only. |
Local Custom | Modest dress code (cover shoulders and knees) when exploring Stone Town. |
Baggage Policy | Strict 15 kg limit in soft duffel bags for all Mara safari bush planes. |
Booking Verification | Verify operators on the official KATO (Kenya) and TATO (Tanzania) directories. |
- Print Everything. Kenya eTA, Tanzania eVisa, yellow fever card, ZIC insurance QR code, hotel confirmations. Zanzibar airport Wi-Fi fails regularly.
- USD Notes After 2013. Zanzibar businesses refuse old or damaged notes. Bring crisp bills in small denominations.
- Dress Modestly in Stone Town. Cover shoulders and knees. Zanzibar is more conservative than Kenya’s coast.
- Language Shift. In the Mara, the Maasai are direct. In Zanzibar, the culture is polite and indirect. Learn “Samahani” for excuse me and “Shikamoo” as a respectful greeting for elders.
- Stonefish at Jambiani and Paje. Never walk barefoot on the east coast reef. Wear stiff-soled reef shoes.
- Kendwa Full Moon Party. If your trip overlaps with a full moon, one evening at Kendwa Rocks is the closest thing Zanzibar has to nightlife. Bonfires, DJs, and dancing on the sand.
- Siana Gate. Sekenani and Talek are bottlenecks for eCitizen validation. I use the Siana Gate for faster entry.
- Haggling Starts at 60%. In Stone Town curio shops, start at 60% of the first price. For spices, buy at Darajani Market where prices are fixed.
- Masai Mara booking Operator Check. Verify your Kenya operator on the KATO directory and your Zanzibar operator on the TATO directory before paying any deposit.
Packing for Two Countries
Bush planes to the Mara have a strict 15 kg soft-bag limit. Pack a soft duffel for the Mara with your layers, binoculars, and camera. Pack a separate bag for Zanzibar with swimwear, reef shoes, and modest clothing for Stone Town. Leave the Zanzibar bag at Wilson Airport lockers, your Nairobi hotel, or our office. See Day 6 in the itinerary for how the swap works.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from the 7 or 8-day trip?
More time at both ends. See the split section above for what the extra Mara night and extra Zanzibar nights change.
Do I need separate visas?
Yes. Kenya eTA and Tanzania eVisa. See the main page for the full paperwork guide.
What is the best month?
August to October for the migration and calm seas. January for leopard sightings and warm water. November to March for deep sea fishing. Check our best time to visit Masai Mara guide.
Is a 4×4 mandatory?
Yes. Mara tracks flood regularly. Every private safari we run uses a 4×4.
Is this trip safe?
Yes. The Mara has rangers and your guide carries a radio. Zanzibar is generally safe for tourists. Stick to established areas at night. More in our Masai Mara safety guide.
What 10 Days Feels Like When You Get Home
Guests who’ve done the 7-day version and then come back for 10 days say the same thing. It felt like two separate holidays. The Mara portion had room for everything without skipping game drives. The Zanzibar portion had enough days that they actually relaxed instead of rushing between activities. Nobody came back saying they wished it had been shorter.
If a Kenyan coast trip suits you better, see the Masai Mara and Diani Beach Safari or the Masai Mara and Mombasa Safari. Want a safari-only trip? Try the 5 days Masai Mara safari or 4 days Masai Mara safari. Want a different circuit? See the Masai Mara Amboseli Nakuru Safari or the 6 days Masai Mara Amboseli safari. Browse everything on our Masai Mara packages page.
Ready to start? Fill out our booking form at Masaimara.co.ke here and I’ll get the Land Cruiser and your Zanzibar transfer ready.
Related Reading:
- Masai Mara and Zanzibar Safari
- 7 Days Masai Mara Zanzibar Safari
- Masai Mara and Diani Beach Safari
- Masai Mara and Mombasa Safari
- Masai Mara Amboseli Nakuru Safari
- 6 Days Masai Mara Amboseli Safari
- 5 Days Masai Mara Safari
- 4 Days Masai Mara Safari
- Masai Mara Packages
- Luxury Safari Masai Mara
- Masai Mara Flying Packages
- Masai Mara Migration
- Masai Mara Booking
- Wildebeest Migration Kenya
- Masai Mara vs Serengeti
- Masai Mara Entrance Gates
- Official KWS Park Fee Portal
- Kenya Wildlife Service
This guide was authored by David Njunge, a TRA-licensed safari guide with over 10 years of experience, and edited by Cecilia Wambui, a travel consultant with a degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management.
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