Land & Sea: Zanzibar to the Seychelles
This once-in-a-lifetime adventure offers stunning landscapes, fascinating history and abundant bird, marine and wildlife. Beginning with a luxury safari to see the incredible Serengeti Great Migration, the trip takes in a 12-night Indian Ocean Cruise from the Spice Island of Zanzibar to the dreamy islands of the Seychelles, as well as two exclusive and indulgent private island stays on luxurious Mnemba Island and the tropical haven of North Island in the crystalline waters of the Seychelles.
Journey highlights
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Safari in style at Nyasi Migration Camp with a private guide and vehicle to ensure the best views of the Great Migration and coveted sightings of the Big Five.
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Embrace the barefoot luxury of &Beyond’s Mnemba Island Lodge enjoying exceptional service, superb cuisine, and fabulous swimming, snorkelling and diving opportunities.
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Embark on a 12-night Indian Ocean cruise sailing from Zanzibar to Mahé, on Ponant’s luxurious Le Dumont-d’Urville, discovering paradise islands, UNESCO-listed attractions, and plentiful bird, marine and wildlife.
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Immerse yourself in the natural splendour of the Seychelles’ North Island Lodge, enjoying an exclusive private island experience with Michelin-starred food and plenty of leisure activities to indulge in.
Why book a Journey by Land & Sea
- Our cruise experts will combine the best of ‘On Land’ and ‘At Sea’ to create a bespoke itinerary just for you
- On Land: Enjoy the best in Scott Dunn tailor-made travel, designed completely unique to you, before and/or after your cruise
- At Sea: Our all-inclusive* small-ship cruise partners are handpicked for their exceptional service, space, and design
- Our suggested itineraries are ideal for ‘cruise curious’ travellers who are traditionally land-based but are interested in giving luxury cruising a try
- Check with your consultant for a full list of the inclusions onboard
When to visit
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Itinerary
On Land Tanzania
Your trip stars with the thrill of an exclusive four-night safari experience in the Serengeti. After arriving at Kilimanjaro Airport, a private charter will fly you to one of the Serengeti’s small airstrips for the transfer to Nyasi Migration Camp. With just eight ensuite tents, this stylish and comfortable camp has a personal and friendly vibe and is a great place to relax between game drives. Each booking enjoys the benefits of a private ranger and vehicle for expertly guided game drives tailored to your requirements and requests. During your stay you’ll enjoy bush dining, picnics and sundowners, unwinding in the comfortable lounge and sharing adventures around the firepit.
Inspired by the early East African explorers, Nyasi Migration Camp moves twice a year, following the herds on the path of the Great Migration. This provides prime viewing of the wildebeest, zebra and gazelles crossing the grassy plains and navigating the river crossings. The herds attract a whole host of predators, so look out for crocodiles patrolling the rivers and lions, leopards and cheetahs hunting along the riverbanks. Other resident wildlife includes elephants, rhinos, buffalos and hyenas, so it’s a chance to see the Big Five, while the birding is wonderful with waterbirds, raptors and songbirds to be both seen and heard.
On land Zanzibar
After the excitement of your Serengeti safari, the pace slows giving you a chance to unwind on the exclusive private island of Mnemba. For three-nights you’ll enjoy the barefoot luxury of &Beyond’s Mnemba Island Lodge staying in one of just 12 beachside Bandas. With a maximum of 26 guests at any one time and an emphasis on privacy and exceptional service levels, you’ll feel like you’re staying on your own paradise island. The food is superb, and you’ll enjoy fresh seafood, Zanzibari and Italian specialities, as well as relaxed beach barbeques.
Surrounded by turquoise waters, powder white sands and stunning coral reef, this romantic haven is the perfect place to relax. While you may just wish to soak up the laidback vibe as you watch the traditional dhows sail across the horizon, there is plenty to do for the more active. Swimming, snorkelling, and world-class diving are all great ways to discover the underwater world of giant turtles, ghost crabs and tropical fish.
At Sea
Day 8: Zanzibar
This morning you’ll be transferred back to Zanzibar’s main island to board Ponant Cruise’s Le Dumont-d’Urville, for a luxury 12-night expedition cruise discovering the remote and idyllic islands of Tanzania and the Seychelles. With just 184 guests, this chic and stylish ship has a relaxed and personal vibe, along with exceptional service. During the cruise you’ll enjoy first-class food and drink, entertainment and enrichment opportunities and can enjoy a drink in the ship’s innovative Blue Eye, underwater lounge. Along the way, there are plenty of shore and Zodiac excursions, with easy access via Le Dumont’s adjustable hydraulic water sports platform. For divers and those wishing to try scuba diving, the ship offers diving excursions for all experience levels, including PADI certification classes for beginners.
Sailing into the stunning Zanzibar Archipelago, your first port of call is the coral island of Misali, where you can discover the underwater world while swimming and snorkelling in crystal clear waters.
Also known as the Green Island, Pemba’s fertile hills are covered in banana, coconut, clove and nutmeg plantations, and is known for spice production. Hear the songs of the island women as they gather on the beaches to collect and farm the seaweed.
Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the island was once a powerful Swahili trading city, prospering from the trade of gold and ivory. Now covered in atmospheric ruins from the 11th to the 18th centuries, Kilwa’s highlights include the Great Mosque, the oldest on the East African coast.
A day at sea is a great chance to enjoy Le Dumont’s facilities, including a swim in the resistance pool, a workout in the gym, spa treatment, and enrichment activity.
Located in the southwest corner of the Seychelles, Assumption Island is an important egg laying and breeding site for sea turtles. It’s a wonderful spot for snorkelling amid the marine life and beautiful coral gardens.
The UNESCO-listed Aldabra Atoll is one of the largest and remotest atolls in the world. A refuge for Hawksbill and green turtles, you’ll overnight here to ensure you get to fully explore this tract of land formed of four small coral reef islands, which enclose the emerald waters of a shallow lagoon. Rich in biodiversity, the lagoon is lined with mangrove and powder sand beaches and home to a variety of marine life.
The southernmost island in the Seychelles, the uninhabited coral island of Astove is covered in coconut trees. It’s a popular destination for snorkelling and diving owing to the richness of the seabed and the Astove Wall. While the sea floor drops by 40-metres, the Wall is covered in coral and a prime location for encountering the tropical fish and sea turtles of the region.
A day at sea is a chance to relax and catch up on your reading, watch the ever-changing vistas and enjoy the ship’s facilities. Whether that’s having a spa treatment, a workout, browsing the ship’s onboard boutique or enjoying a talk or show.
A picture-postcard island, St François showcases a stunning spectrum of blues, boasts a crescent-shaped beach, and plentiful coconut trees. Protected by coral reef, it is home to sea turtles and many species of bird and fish and is great for hiking and snorkelling.
Today you’ll arrive at La Digne’s legendary beach, La Anse Source d’Argent. Often proclaimed as one of the world’s finest beaches, you’ll enjoy turquoise Indian Ocean waters, powdery white sands, large granite rocks with pink highlights, coconut trees and spectacular underwater corals and marine life.
Your final port of call is Mahé, the main island of the Seychelles and home to the capital, Victoria. Dominated by the mountain peaks of Morne Seychellois National Park, you can enjoy fabulous viewpoint hikes, soaking up the history of this island, where colonial properties sit alongside traditional creole houses.
On Land: Seychelles
Today, you’ll be flown back to Mahé for the return flight home, refreshed and reenergised by your wonderful Indian Ocean adventure.
Call us on 020 8682 5020 to start planning your holiday.
Why Book a Cruise with Scott Dunn?
Unique to You
- We listen to you, and tailor your cruise to your travel style, pairing you with the right ship and the right destinations.
- We can make your itinerary as relaxing, active or cultural as you like. There is no one size fits all when it comes to cruising with Scott Dunn – it’s all about you.
Seamless Service
- We take care of all the logistics, including your cruise, flights, transfers, and luxury hotels, ensuring a smooth journey from start to finish.
- You are always in safe hands with us and our trusted worldwide partners. As with any Scott Dunn trip, we are just a phone call away 24/7.
Carefully Curated Collection
- Whether before, after or during your luxury cruise, we curate the best experiences on land to compliment your journey by sea, accompanied by our expert local guides.
- We only partner with small-ship luxury cruise lines with high staff to guest ratios – designed to never feel crowded.
Luxury in Every Sense
- Our cruises are carefully chosen for their five-star offering: fine dining, luxe facilities, attentive staff, and personal in-cabin butler service.
- We have personally experienced these ships and will only suggest those that meet the level of service and luxury that our guests expect.