Mara → Nairobi Wilson by light aircraft, then Nairobi → Zanzibar by scheduled flight
Stay
Mara camp or lodge, then a Zanzibar beach hotel
Best for
The Masai Mara in migration season plus a beach week
Typical values from the listings and operators’ itineraries, checked 3 November 2026. Each listing’s own page is what counts.
In short
Do the Kenya safari first from Nairobi, then fly to Zanzibar: non-stop flights leave Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta airport, and Safarilink flies from Nairobi's Wilson airport via Mombasa in the afternoon, so a morning flight out of the Masai Mara can still reach Zanzibar the same day. Carry your yellow fever certificate, because Tanzania asks for it from travellers arriving from Kenya.
Three routes from the Mara to Zanzibar
Route
How it works
Time on the move
Suits
Fly via Nairobi
Mara airstrip → Nairobi Wilson by light aircraft, then Wilson → Mombasa → Zanzibar (Safarilink, 14:00 → 16:45)
≈ one day
Most people: no extra night in Nairobi
Overnight in Nairobi
Road or air back to Nairobi, one night, then a non-stop flight from Jomo Kenyatta airport to Zanzibar
1 day + 1 night
Road safaris, late arrivals from the Mara
Mara + Serengeti
Light aircraft to the Kenya side of the border, road crossing at Isebania, a flight from Tarime into the Serengeti, then Serengeti → Zanzibar
1 day for the crossing, then a morning flight to Zanzibar
Seeing both sides of the migration
The first route depends on your Mara flight reaching Wilson in time for the 14:00 departure. Check both timetables when you book, and keep your bags within the lower allowance (see below), because the same bag goes on both planes.
The border route is a Coastal Aviation and Safarilink connection: Coastal's timetable lists flights from Tarime, on the Tanzanian side, into the Serengeti, with a road transfer across the Isibania (Isebania) border included in some fares. It runs only with a minimum of two passengers, so it is usually arranged by a safari operator rather than booked alone.
How to split the nights
Trip
Kenya
Zanzibar
8 days
3 nights Masai Mara
4 nights
10 days
1 night Nairobi + 3–4 nights Mara
5 nights
12–14 days
4 nights Mara + 2–3 nights Serengeti
5–6 nights
Put the safari first. You arrive with energy for early game drives, finish with rest, and fly home from Zanzibar. Book the international tickets open-jaw: into Nairobi, home from Zanzibar.
Paperwork for two countries
Kenya: an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) is needed before departure for all visitors, infants and children included, except the nationalities and permit holders the Kenyan government lists as exempt.
Tanzania: a separate visa, valid for both the mainland and Zanzibar, plus Zanzibar's mandatory inbound travel insurance. Amounts are on the fee card.
Yellow fever: Tanzania's Ministry of Health requires a valid yellow fever certificate from travellers arriving from countries on its list, and Kenya is on that list. It also applies after a transit of 12 hours or more in a listed country. Without one you can be refused entry or vaccinated on arrival and kept under observation. The vaccine must be given at least 10 days before you arrive, so get it before the whole trip. The notice is written for mainland entry points; carry the original card for Zanzibar too.
Luggage on the small planes
Safarilink allows 15 kg per person on its safari routes and 20 kg on the Zanzibar route, in both cases including hand baggage and in soft bags. Leave anything else in Nairobi: Safarilink has a free secure store at its Wilson airport office.
Booking the two parts
Kenya safaris start from Nairobi; the button above lists Nairobi safaris on GetYourGuide. For the Zanzibar part, our island pages cover airport transfers and day trips. If you are still choosing between countries, compare with a Tanzania safari and Zanzibar trip, where the safari is one short flight from the island, or a Serengeti fly-in from Zanzibar.
Paid on top
Official fees and rules
What the park, conservation area or venue charges. Check whether your tour price already includes it.
Zanzibar entry: mandatory travel insurance and Tanzania visa
Zanzibar inbound travel insurance, adultforeign visitor, per person, per trip (max 92 days)
Tanzania visa (Zanzibar), Multiple entry for US citizensUSA passport holders visiting for tourism (they cannot get the Ordinary visa); valid 1 year, max 90 days per stay
Who must buy the insurance. Compulsory for every foreign visitor entering Zanzibar, even if you already hold your own travel or medical insurance. Only a Zanzibar Insurance Corporation policy counts.4
What the insurance covers. Emergency medical expenses, medical and body repatriation, personal accident, baggage delay, theft and loss, legal expenses and personal liability. The basic plan excludes terrorism.5
How long the insurance lasts. Valid inside Tanzania for up to 92 consecutive days, per the dates on the policy certificate. It cannot be renewed: stay longer and you buy a new policy.6
Since when. Mandatory for all foreign visitors to Zanzibar since 1 October 2024.7
Where to buy the insurance. Online at inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz, which the insurer calls the only official website for it.8
Arriving via Dar es Salaam or the mainland. Mainland Tanzania also requires inbound travel insurance from 1 October 2026. Your first point of entry decides the insurer: Zanzibar first means ZIC (inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz); the mainland first means the National Insurance Corporation (inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz). One valid policy covers both, so you don't pay twice.9
Visa: online or on arrival. Get the visa online through Tanzania Immigration Services (visa.immigration.go.tz, linked from immigration.go.tz) or on arrival at an official entry point. Immigration recommends applying online.10
Visa: one visa for mainland and Zanzibar. Pick your first destination on the form; the same visa lets you visit both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.11
Who needs no visa. Citizens of EAC countries, SADC countries (except Comoros) and Commonwealth countries, except the UK, Canada, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand.12
Zanzibar airport. Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA), run by the Zanzibar Airports Authority.13
Not non-stop. You fly from a Mara airstrip to Nairobi Wilson, then on to Zanzibar; Safarilink's afternoon Nairobi–Zanzibar flight stops in Mombasa.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Zanzibar after Kenya?
Plan on it. Tanzania's Ministry of Health lists Kenya among the countries whose travellers must show a valid yellow fever certificate, and the rule also covers transits of 12 hours or more there. The vaccine must be given at least 10 days before arrival.
Which visas do I need for Kenya and Zanzibar?
Kenya requires an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for most visitors, including children, before departure. Tanzania needs its own visa, and Zanzibar requires its own travel insurance; both are on the fee card.
How much luggage can I take on the safari flights?
Safarilink allows 15 kg per person in soft bags on safari routes and 20 kg on its Zanzibar route, both including hand baggage. Pack for the lower limit.
Kenya or Tanzania for a safari before Zanzibar?
Tanzania is closer: Zanzibar is in Tanzania, flights from the Serengeti take a morning and you need one visa. Kenya makes sense if the Masai Mara is the goal or you want to start in Nairobi.
When is the best time?
The Mara's migration months are usually July–October. On Zanzibar, avoid the long rains, ≈ March–May; the short rains fall ≈ October–December.
zic.co.tz — “Cost USD 44 per adult USD 22 per child USD 22 for travelers from SADC and EAC member states” (checked 3 November 2026)
visa.immigration.go.tz — “The fee for Ordinary Visa is 50 USD and has a validity of up to 90 days;” (checked 3 November 2026)
visa.immigration.go.tz — “The fee for Multiple Visa is 100 USD and has a validity of 1 year.” (checked 3 November 2026)
zic.co.tz — “Even if a traveler already holds valid travel or medical insurance from another provider, this insurance remains mandatory as part of the official entry requirements.” (checked 3 November 2026)
inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz — “The basic covers provided are the cost of emergency medical expenses and repatriation expenses (body and medical) personal accident baggage delay theft and lost legal expenses personal liabilities etc.” (checked 3 November 2026)
inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz — “Policy covers are valid inside of Tanzania for a maximum of 92 consecutive days.” (checked 3 November 2026)
jp.tzembassy.go.tz — “The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar has issued a travel notification noting, that from 1st October 2024, it will be mandatory for all foreign visitors to acquire inbound travel insurance” (checked 3 November 2026)
inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz — “Important: This is the only official website to apply for your Zanzibar travel insurance.” (checked 3 November 2026)
zic.co.tz — “The applicable Mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance shall be determined according to the visitor's first point of entry into the United Republic of Tanzania.” (checked 3 November 2026)
visa.immigration.go.tz — “There are two options available for obtaining Tanzania Visa. The first option is obtaining Visa by applying online through Tanzania Immigration Services official website (www.immigration.go.tz) ; and the second option is obtaining Visa on arrival at official entry point.” (checked 3 November 2026)
visa.immigration.go.tz — “If an applicant wishes to visit both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, he/she is advised to select his first destination while filling the form. But he will be allowed to visit both places without a need for a new Visa;” (checked 3 November 2026)
visa.immigration.go.tz — “These are EAC Member State countries, SADC member countries except Comoro and Commonwealth countries except United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand.” (checked 3 November 2026)
zaa.go.tz — “Major Airpors operated by Zanzibar Airports Authority are Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA) and Pemba Airport.” (checked 3 November 2026)
