What does this tour cover and why is it a good fit for families?
This 15-day overland adventure runs from Nairobi to Zanzibar, combining world-class safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater with a village stay near Kilimanjaro and a relaxed beach finish on Zanzibar. It is a dedicated family departure, so the pace, activities, and group dynamic are all built around travelling with children.
What ages is this trip suitable for?
Discounted child prices apply for ages 6 to 15. Children under 6 are not catered for on this itinerary. Teens and older children who can manage long driving days and basic camping conditions will get the most from the experience.
What is the group size and who runs the trip?
The minimum group size is 8 and the maximum is 18 passengers, plus the Oasis Overland crew. The trip is operated by Oasis Overland, a specialist overland operator, with a driver and a tour leader on board throughout.
What wildlife can we expect to see on the Serengeti and Ngorongoro safaris?
The Serengeti is home to lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, dik dik, topi, mongoose, and dung beetles. Depending on season you may witness vast wildebeest herds. Ngorongoro Crater may have the highest concentration of game in Africa, including zebra, wildebeest, hyena, elephant, leopard, and rare black rhino.
What cultural and historical highlights does the itinerary include beyond the safaris?
You visit Olduvai Gorge (UNESCO), where fossils of early humans were unearthed and a museum explains our evolutionary history. You also walk through a traditional Masai Boma village, spend two nights in Marangu at the foot of Kilimanjaro with a village walk through coffee plantations, and explore Stone Town plus a working spice farm on Zanzibar.
Can we combine this trip with another family adventure?
Yes. The Deserts and Delta Family Overland (Victoria Falls to Windhoek, 15 days) starts immediately after this trip finishes in Zanzibar, and the two are designed to be combined for a longer family Africa adventure.
What is included in the tour price?
Included are: the Oasis Overland truck from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam, specialist safari vehicles in the Serengeti, the Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar ferry, minibus on Zanzibar, arrival transfer in Nairobi and departure transfer from Zanzibar, camping equipment and cooking gear, services of driver, tour leader, Serengeti safari guides, and a Zanzibar rep, approximately 70 percent of meals, all accommodation (about 40 percent hotels and camps, 60 percent camping), Nairobi Giraffe Centre entry, Olduvai Gorge Museum entry, the 3-night Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari with all fees, a Marangu village walk, and the Zanzibar Spice and Stone Town tour with lunch.
What is not included and what extra costs should we budget for?
Not included are international flights, visa fees, sleeping bags and camping mats (bring your own), optional activities, compulsory travel insurance, meals not listed in the itinerary, drinks and snacks, tips for guides and drivers, and any other personal expenses. Budget separately for visas (Kenya eTA and Tanzania border visa), tips, and optional activities such as the Serengeti hot air balloon.
Is there a child discount and how does it work?
Yes, a discounted price applies for all children aged 6 to 15 at the date of travel. Contact the team for specific pricing and rooming arrangements for your family, as these depend on your family composition.
Is there a local payment on this trip?
No, there is no local payment on this trip. The full cost is paid before you travel, unlike some Oasis overland tours. You will still need personal spending money for meals out, drinks, souvenirs, and tips.
What should we budget for personal spending?
Past travellers have found that roughly the equivalent of 100 to 145 per week covers meals out, soft drinks, souvenirs, and general spending. Budget visa costs and optional activity costs separately. Bring at least 50 percent of your money as cash.
How physically demanding is the overland truck experience?
Expect long driving days, sometimes over bumpy and dusty roads. You will need to be comfortable sitting for extended periods and able to help pitch tents, set up camp, and assist with cooking duties on a rota. Anyone with a serious back condition should contact us before booking.
What is expected of passengers on a daily basis?
Active participation is part of the Oasis overland experience. You join a cook group rota (cooking roughly once or twice on the trip), help pitch and strike tents, keep the truck tidy, and look after yourselves at campsites. Crew are on hand to guide and assist, but this is a shared adventure rather than a passive tour.
Is the Marangu Kilimanjaro base-camp trek optional or mandatory?
The Kilimanjaro base camp trek is an optional activity on Day 9. The included activity is a village walk through Marangu, taking in the lush environment, coffee plantations, caves, and waterfalls. Children and families who prefer the village walk are not required to trek.
Is travel insurance compulsory and what should it cover?
Travel insurance is compulsory on all Encounters Travel tours. Cover must include personal accident and liability, medical expenses, emergency evacuation and repatriation, and travel delay. We strongly recommend cover for cancellation and lost baggage too. You must provide your policy details before departure and carry a paper copy. World Nomads Travel Insurance covers more than 150 adventure activities and is worth considering.
What vaccinations and health precautions do we need for Kenya and Tanzania?
Recommended additional vaccinations for Kenya include Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Poliomyelitis, Tetanus, and Typhoid. For Tanzania the recommendations include Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, and Typhoid. A Yellow Fever certificate may be required if you have transited through an infected area. Malaria is present in both countries, so anti-malarial medication is strongly advised. Consult your GP or a travel clinic well before departure.
How safe is the truck and are seatbelts fitted?
All Oasis Overland trucks are fitted with seatbelts, and we recommend wearing them whenever the vehicle is moving. The truck also has a beach area (a chill-out zone) which is available when the vehicle is stationary.
What financial protection do we have if Encounters Travel ceases trading?
Encounters Travel is a UK-registered company partnered with Trust My Travel, which holds an insurance policy protecting all customer funds. If Encounters Travel were to become insolvent, you would be refunded for unfulfilled services or repatriated to the UK where applicable.
Is there special Zanzibar insurance we need to arrange?
Yes. The Zanzibar Government requires all foreign visitors to purchase a mandatory Zanzibar travel insurance policy from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation, regardless of whether they already hold separate travel insurance. The policy must be purchased online at visitzanzibar.go.tz before arrival. On completion you receive a QR code and policy document, both of which must be presented on entry to Zanzibar.
What types of accommodation are used on the trip?
Accommodation is a mix: approximately 60 percent is basic camping in organised campsites beside the truck, and approximately 40 percent is hotels, lodges, or permanent camps. In Nairobi you stay at Wildebeest Eco Camp (garden tents), in Marangu at Marangu Hotel (camping, with room upgrades sometimes available), and in Zanzibar at Baraka Beach Bungalows or similar rooms at Nungwi beach.
What are the tents like and what do we need to bring?
Oasis uses roomy three-person tents, used for two people on adult trips. They have mosquito netting sewn into doors and windows. Families can split across one or more tents depending on size. You must bring your own sleeping bag and camping mat, as these are not provided.
Can we upgrade to rooms instead of camping at some stops?
At some campsites there is an opportunity to upgrade to a private room at your own expense, subject to availability on arrival. This cannot be reliably pre-booked at all stops. Marangu Hotel in particular sometimes has room upgrades available.
What are the Zanzibar beach bungalows like?
Baraka Beach Bungalows are located directly on the beach at Nungwi, the northern tip of Zanzibar. Rooms are spacious, clean, and simply furnished, with ocean views and good beach access. The property has a beachfront restaurant, complimentary Wi-Fi, and water sports options including snorkelling and kayaking.
How are meals handled on the overland truck?
When camping or on the road, the crew and passengers cook together using gas or over open fires on a rota system. Breakfasts are simple: cereal, toast, hot drinks, and occasionally a cooked breakfast. Lunches are quick, cold, and eaten at a picnic stop: sandwiches, salads, and tinned supplies. Dinners are the main effort, with crew preparing a substantial meal of protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates.
How many meals are included in the price?
The trip includes 14 breakfasts, 12 lunches, and 10 dinners. This is approximately 70 percent of all meals. The remaining meals (mainly some lunches and dinners when in towns or on Zanzibar) are at your own expense.
Can vegetarians and vegans be catered for on the overland truck?
Tour leaders do their best to accommodate dietary requirements, but variety may be more limited than for meat eaters. Local restaurants in Kenya and Tanzania may not fully understand vegetarianism or veganism, and may offer fish or chicken in error. If you have specific dietary needs, consider bringing some supplies from home, as specialised or imported foods are often unavailable within the cooking budget.
Is the water safe to drink and how can we avoid plastic waste?
Tap water is not safe to drink in Kenya and Tanzania. We recommend a Water-to-Go filter bottle, which removes over 99.9 percent of contaminants from any non-salt water source. Use code ENCOUNTERS25 for 25 percent off at the Water-to-Go website (valid in the UK, USA, and Canada). This avoids the need for single-use plastic bottles throughout the trip.
Is this trip suitable for solo travellers or do we need to come as a family?
The trip is designed primarily for families, but solo travellers and couples are welcome. Minimum group size is 8, so you will be joining other families and individuals. Solo travellers will be paired with another same-sex traveller for tent sharing if available. Single room supplements apply if a share is not arranged.
What is the atmosphere like on board the truck?
Overland trucks are social environments by nature. You share cooking, camping duties, and long drives with your fellow passengers. Families with children find it a great environment for kids to make friends. The crew work hard to build a positive group dynamic from Day 2 onwards.
How should the first night work if we are arriving at different times?
The trip starts from Wildebeest Eco Camp in Nairobi, and arrivals are possible at any time on Day 1. We strongly recommend arriving at least one night before the trip starts. The welcome meeting with the tour leader is held on the morning of Day 2.
What visas do we need for Kenya and Tanzania?
You must obtain a Kenyan eTA in advance from the Kenyan government website (allow a couple of weeks). Tanzania visas are obtained at the border for most nationalities and do not need to be arranged in advance. You do not need a separate visa for Zanzibar. Visa fees are payable in US dollars cash only at borders.
What luggage should we bring on the overland truck?
Only a soft bag or backpack will fit in the truck lockers (approximately 37.5 cm high, 32 cm wide, 80 cm deep). Hard suitcases are not suitable. Limit yourself to one backpack and one daypack weighing no more than 20 kg in total. For Zanzibar, where you switch to a minibus, luggage is less restricted.
What should we wear on safari days?
Wear dull, muted colours for game drives: olive, khaki, stone, mushroom, or brown. Avoid white (too visible to animals), blue or black (attracts tsetse flies), and camouflage (illegal for civilians in many countries). Cover arms and legs in the evenings to protect against mosquitoes.
What currency should we bring and is cash necessary?
Bring at least 50 percent of your budget in US dollar cash. US dollars are the preferred currency for East Africa and can be exchanged in Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar. Visa fees must be paid in US dollar cash at the border. ATMs are available in major cities but may not always work with foreign cards, so do not rely on them as your sole source of funds. MasterCard has very limited ATM access in Africa, so Visa or Maestro is preferred.
Are airport transfers included?
The Nairobi arrival transfer and the Zanzibar departure transfer are both included in the tour price. The Nairobi transfer can be pre-booked through us with a local representative (Smiley), or you can arrange a taxi from the airport info desk independently.
What should families know about the Zanzibar section of the trip?
After the overland truck section ends in Dar es Salaam, you board a ferry to Zanzibar, where a local Oasis representative meets you and transfers the group to Nungwi. You have four nights on the island, with the Spice Tour and Stone Town included on Day 12. Days 13 and 14 are free time at the beach. The tour ends with a departure transfer from Zanzibar airport.
What optional activities are available on the safari portion?
The main optional activity during the Serengeti section is a hot air balloon safari over the plains (morning, at additional cost, must be booked in advance). On Day 9 in Marangu, an optional trek to one of the Kilimanjaro base camps is available. Water sports at Nungwi include snorkelling, scuba diving, jet skis, and kite surfing.
Can we add extra nights in Nairobi or Zanzibar?
Pre-trip accommodation at Wildebeest Eco Camp in Nairobi can be booked through us. Extra nights in Zanzibar can also be arranged at the end of the tour. Contact us at least 6 weeks before departure to confirm availability, as rooms can become limited closer to travel.
Is there a companion family overland trip we can combine this with?
Yes. The Deserts and Delta Family Overland (15 days, Victoria Falls to Windhoek) starts immediately after this trip ends in Zanzibar and is designed to be combined with it for a longer Africa overland journey.
How do I book and what deposit is required?
Complete the online reservation form via the Dates and Prices tab on the tour page. You can pay a deposit or the full amount online, or hold a reservation. Full payment is due 8 weeks before departure. Payment can be made by debit or credit card (subject to a processing fee), bank transfer, or cheque.
What is the cancellation policy?
Full booking conditions are available on the Encounters Travel website. As a UK-registered company protected by Trust My Travel, your funds are covered against insolvency. For cancellation charges and amendment fees, please refer to our full booking conditions or contact the team.
Can this trip be run as a private family departure?
Yes. Most Oasis Overland trips can be booked privately, giving you more flexibility over start dates and the ability to customise aspects of the itinerary. Contact the sales team for pricing and availability on private departures.
Do children under 6 need to be declared at the time of booking?
Children under 6 are not catered for on this itinerary, so all passengers should be at least 6 years old by the date of travel. When booking, you will be asked to confirm the ages of all travellers so the appropriate child discount and rooming can be arranged.
