Nairobi and Zanzibar are two hours apart and could not be less alike. One is a highland city at 1,800 metres with forest inside it and giraffes on the outskirts. The other is a flat coral island where the water is the colour people assume is edited.

Doing both in one trip costs far less than two separate long-haul journeys — and you come home having had two entirely different holidays.

The shape of the trip

Four nights in Nairobi, then the internal flight to five nights in Zanzibar, based near Nungwi Beach on the north coast.

The Nairobi half is culture, wildlife and city. The Zanzibar half is beach, water and slow days. Putting the city first is deliberate — you finish on the coast rather than starting there.

Nairobi

Most South Africans have flown through Nairobi and never left the airport. It is worth leaving the airport.

The Giraffe Centre

Feeding Rothschild's giraffes by hand from a raised platform. It is the photograph everyone takes home, and the conservation story behind it is genuinely interesting — the subspecies was down to a handful of animals.

Bomas of Kenya

Traditional homesteads from across the country in one place, with live dance performances. A good, quick way into how varied Kenya actually is.

Karura Forest

A forest hike inside the city, with waterfalls and caves. Unexpected, and a reminder that Nairobi sits high and green rather than hot and flat.

Nyama choma

Kenyan grilled meat, eaten properly and at length. This is the meal our travellers talk about, and it comes with a night out attached.

Museums and the KICC

The Nairobi National Museum and the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, whose rooftop gives you the city and, on a clear day, a long way beyond it. Entry fees are at your own cost.

A free Saturday

Rest, shop, or explore at your own pace before the coast.

Is there a safari?

Not a game-park safari, and we would rather be clear about that than let anyone assume.

This trip is built around Nairobi and the Zanzibar coast. The Masai Mara needs several extra days and a considerably larger budget — adding it would change the price bracket entirely.

You do get wildlife: the Giraffe Centre, and Karura Forest. If a full safari is what you want, tell us. We can look at arranging it privately, or point you at the Chobe day on our Victoria Falls tour, which delivers serious game viewing at a fraction of the cost.

Zanzibar

We stay near Nungwi Beach on the north coast, where the tide behaves better than on the east side and you can swim through the day.

What is included

Safari Blue — the sailing, the swimming and the seafood lunch, out on a traditional dhow to sandbanks and clear water. And the sunset dhow cruise.

What you choose

We take you to Stone Town, Prison Island, Kuza Caves and the Spice Farm. Walking Stone Town is free. The guided tour, Prison Island entry, Kuza Caves entry, the Spice Farm and lunch at The Rock are each optional, paid on the day.

That is deliberate. You only pay for what you actually want to do, and nobody subsidises anyone else's preferences.

Distances

Zanzibar is bigger than it looks. From Nungwi, Stone Town is about an hour and a half; Kuza Caves and the east coast one and a half to two hours.

Come prepared for some driving between the good bits — and know that how much of a day we cover depends on how long the group lingers at each stop.

Entry requirements — three things, all before you fly

This trip has more paperwork than most of ours. None of it is difficult, but leave none of it late.

Kenya eTA. Kenya is visa-free for South African passport holders, but you must apply for an electronic travel authorisation before you fly. Free or low cost, and mandatory.

Zanzibar health insurance. Compulsory, bought from the government on arrival, even if you already have your own travel cover. Not included in the tour price.

Yellow fever certificate. Required for this routing through East Africa. The vaccination must be at least 10 days before travel to be valid, so speak to a travel clinic early — this is the one that catches people.

Passport: six months' validity beyond your return, and blank pages for stamps. You will collect several.

Money

Kenya uses the Kenyan shilling, Zanzibar the Tanzanian shilling, and US dollars are widely accepted in both.

Bring dollars in clean, undamaged notes issued after 2013 — older or torn notes are routinely refused. You can also withdraw local currency at ATMs.

Some places take card, but not everywhere. Do not rely on it, particularly on the Zanzibar coast.

Budget from R5,000, plus the health insurance and whichever optional entries you want.

Pack for two climates

This is the practical thing people get wrong.

Nairobi sits at 1,800 metres and is considerably cooler than its latitude suggests. Evenings are genuinely chilly, especially June to August. Bring a jacket, and closed shoes for the Karura Forest hike.

Zanzibar is hot and humid. Swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and water shoes for the coral. Something modest covering shoulders and knees for Stone Town, which is predominantly Muslim — the beach resorts are relaxed.

Universal adapter for both — UK-style three-pin.

When to go

September is our pick, and where our departure sits — dry in Nairobi, dry on the coast, and crowds thinning.

January and February are also excellent.

Avoid April and May. The long rains hit both, and much of Zanzibar closes for the season.

Who this trip suits

Travellers who want variety rather than a single register. It works particularly well for people who find a pure beach holiday too slow and a pure city trip too tiring — you get four days of one and five of the other.

It suits solo travellers, couples and families. Most of our group arrives alone.

Booking and paying

Pay a R3,000 deposit online to secure your spot. We invoice the balance with a card payment link, or you settle by EFT in instalments before departure. No interest, no credit check.

Start the yellow fever vaccination and the Kenya eTA as soon as you have booked. Everything else can wait.