Family Safari Mara Bush Houses & Matemwe Itinerary
9 Days: Masai Mara & Zanzibar
Combining 4 nights Mara Bush House and 4 nights Matemwe Beach House
Day 1: Overnight at Mara House, Masai Mara
On arrival at JKIA you will be met by a Penwell representative and transferred to Wilson Airport. Once at Wilson Airport you will catch your connecting SafariLink flight to Masai Mara Airstrip. You will then have the opportunity to meet your private safari guide and head to Mara House for the start of your safari adventure. A welcome table will be waiting for you at Masai Mara Airstrip, holding various beverage and snack items. Your guide will also brief you on the surrounding area en-route to Mara Bush Houses.
Mara Bush Houses
The private houses are located in the very best locations of the Masai Mara eco-system and benefit from three generations of safari experience in this area. This ensures that guests experience some of the richest game viewing and most genuine cultural insights available in Africa today. The exclusivity of the bush houses enables guests to enjoy the seclusion of their own lodgings and have the flexibility and freedom to personally design their safari itineraries in the Masai Mara. With a specially adapted safari vehicle, and a guide’s lifetime of knowledge at hand, the plains, rivers and hills of the Masai Mara are there to be explored.
Day 2 – 4: Overnight at Mara House, Masai Mara
Depending on your preference, there are a couple of options with regards to how your day is structured. One option is to break camp early and head out with a picnic breakfast on a morning game drive, returning to camp in time for lunch. Alternatively, you can eat breakfast in camp and head out with a picnic lunch on an afternoon game drive, returning in the mid-afternoon. Either way, it’s good to have options on a family-oriented African Safari.
Day 5: Overnight at Matemwe Beach House, Zanzibar
After breakfast, depart camp and make your way to Masai Mara Airstrip with your personal guide. You will then catch your connecting SafariLink return flight to Wilson Airport. Once at Wilson Airport you will be transferred with one of our representatives to JKIA. Once at JKIA you will bid farewell to your guide and catch your connecting flight to ZNZ Airport via Precision Air.
On arrival at Zanzibar Airport you will be met by a Zanzibar safari travel guide and transferred by road to Matemwe Beach Hose in the north east coast of Zanzibar island. The Beach House is perfectly situated opposite the spectacular diving and snorkelling reefs of the Mnemba Atoll and surrounded by some of the best beaches in Zanzibar.
Matemwe Beach House is an exclusive use private house and is made up of two double rooms on the ground floor and has a mezzanine level with twin beds, butler service and private swimming pool. This private residence allows small groups and families to write a schedule for their tropical escape. An enchanting experience for kids of all ages!
Day 6 – 8: Overnight at Matemwe Beach House, Zanzibar
There are a variety of activities available either at Matemwe Beach House, or that can be arranged through reception. Activities outside of the resort can usually be booked at 24 hours’ notice so it is best to arrange these on arrival at the Beach House. Your days are therefore open to be structured as you choose, with either as much relaxing by the private pool, or as many activities as you wish. Did we mention hot air balloon rides?
Day 9: Departure
After breakfast, pack your bags and depart for Zanzibar Airport. You will then catch your connecting flight and bid farewell to your guide for your onward journey back home.
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What people say
“The trip itinerary that Penwell Safaris put together for me was the perfect balance of cultural and environmental explorations. Each camp I stayed in, from the Ngorongoro Crater to Central and Southern Serengeti, to the island of Rubondo, had a team of knowledgeable and friendly staff who celebrated the natural beauty of their surroundings. Their love and respect for their country inspired me to take in every moment with complete awe and appreciation for the diverse, intelligent ecosystems and majestic wildlife that thrived in the Bowl of Plenty and endless plains of the bush. Driving through thousands of wildebeests and zebras while they fed on grass and instinctively migrated through the great Serengeti was an overwhelming sight to behold with muffled sounds of hoofs and grunts, yet deeply peaceful at the same time. It sometimes took my breath away. Even the industrious dung beetles rolling their dung balls were as exciting to observe as the the big five and scavenging hyenas. But the strikingly beautiful faces and welcoming attitude of the Tanzanian people were the icing on the cake. Pure joy and a sense of belonging came through every “Mambo” greeting they shared with each other and with us as we wandered through their vast, abundant land. My trip was a life-affirming adventure that I would recommend to anyone. And I plan to go back for more!”
— Sue Baile
“We traveled to Africa in August 2018 and visited Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania. The tours were very well organized and could not have asked for a better experience or accommodations. Every guide and driver we had were knowledgeable, personable, and funny. They really wanted you to have the best Safari experience possible. In Uganda, it was such a great experience to see the gorillas in the rain forest. It was a hard trek but totally worth the experience. We got to see so much wildlife in Tanzania (lions, zebra, cape buffalo, hyena, jackals, cheetah, elephant and so much more), but most importantly we were lucky to see 5 Wildebeest migrations across the river!
We were really impressed with the food offerings and the chef at each camp was sensitive to the dietary needs of our party (vegetarian for one traveler and lactose sensitivity to another). From the early morning game drives and morning tea in the bush, to afternoon lunches at the camps, to beautiful sundowners in the evening, and delicious dinners we felt catered to at every stop. The staff at each camp was amazing! We look forward to our next trip over to Africa!”
— Marc Foreman
“I could not describe how magnificent my experience was on a 10 day safari through the Serengeti with Kathy. Of all of my world travels, this was the most memorable trip. From sundowners on top of beautiful rock structures, to an extraordinary lakeside breakfast watching the sunrise to the thrill of watching a cheetah hunt and kill. Every moment of the trip was memorable. Kathy brings a breadth of experience and opportunity that few other African safari companies can provide. I cannot plan my next trip soon enough! Happy Travels! Asante.”
— Michael Wilcox
“I met Kathy back in the late 1980s. One day 5 friends began talking about taking a trip together and Kathy mentioned Africa. How could anyone say “no” to tagging along with Kathy, since she was/is a world traveler and traveled to Africa tons of times. Kathy said she loved planning the trip and managed it all, from phone calls and tons of emails. She asked us if we wanted to rough it, go glamping or a bit of both. She arranged the entire trip and Oh Em Gee, WOW!! That was THE trip of a lifetime! We traveled to Arusha, where we met up with THE BEST safari guide (father, brother & uncle) there is, Jadim George Luangila. This was an amazing trip filled with wonderful people, 100% white glove customer care, the most beautiful animal kingdom you will ever witness, along with the most gorgeous night skies.
When you get that desire to travel to Africa, it’s a MUST you call Kathy Harvey!”
— Lisa Goldman