Plan your safari
Palms leaning over a wide white sand beach on an Indian Ocean island
Region

African Beach Vacations

Africa’s beaches and islands — powder-white sand and turquoise water to end your safari.

Plan your safari Where to go
Overview

The Indian Ocean islands are the perfect close to an African safari — barefoot luxury on powder-white beaches, world-class diving and snorkeling, and some of the finest resorts on earth.

From the spice island of Zanzibar to the granite coves of the Seychelles, the lagoons of Mauritius and the untouched archipelagos of Mozambique, we pair each with your safari for an easy bush-and-beach journey.

An African beach vacation is the natural second act of any safari: from the Swahili history of Zanzibar to the granite coves of the Seychelles, the reef-ringed lagoons of Mauritius and the wild Quirimbas of Mozambique, each island has its own character — and each is a short flight from the bush. We plan the two halves as one journey, so the transition feels effortless.

Countries

Where to go in Beaches & Islands

Signature experiences

Bush & beach

The classic pairing — safari first, barefoot luxury after.

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Honeymoons

Private islands and candlelit sandbanks for the trip of a lifetime.

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Family islands

Calm lagoons, kids’ clubs and easy logistics in Mauritius and the Seychelles.

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Diving & sailing

Reefs, whale sharks and dhow sails from Zanzibar to the Quirimbas.

How the pieces fit

Safari-to-island pairings that work

Four pairings we plan most often, with the nights we would suggest, the seasonal trade-off to weigh, and what the transfer between bush and beach actually involves. Each links to a sample journey you can reshape. For the reasoning behind each pairing, and the ones we do not recommend, read how we pair a safari with the coast.

01

Serengeti → Zanzibar

Suggested nightsSeven to eight nights on safari, four to five on the coast. Two Tanzanian legs, one visa, no border to cross.The trade-offJune to October is dry on both sides and the classic pairing. December to February pairs calving season with hot, humid beach days. April and May bring rain to both, so we steer away from them.Getting thereLight aircraft from your Serengeti airstrip, then a scheduled flight to Zanzibar, usually via Arusha. Most routings put you on the beach the same afternoon, around three to four hours door to door.

Serengeti to the Spice CoastThe Honeymoon: Wild Then Barefoot

02

Maasai Mara → Seychelles or the Kenyan coast

Suggested nightsSix to seven nights on safari, five to six on the islands. For a shorter beach finish, Diani or Watamu on the Kenyan coast need only four.The trade-offThe Mara peaks July to October, when the Seychelles sits in its breezier trade-wind months: still lovely, just not glassy. April to May and October to November are the calmest seas, and pair well with a green-season or early-dry Mara.Getting thereLight aircraft from the Mara to Nairobi Wilson in about an hour, then a nonstop flight of roughly four hours to Mahé; connections often mean a relaxed night in Nairobi. The Kenyan coast is a single light-aircraft hop from the Mara.

The Mara & the Indian OceanThe Family Safari

03

Okavango Delta → Mozambique

Suggested nightsSix to seven nights across the Delta and Chobe or Victoria Falls, four to five on Benguerra or Bazaruto.The trade-offMay to October is dry season in the Delta and the most reliable weather on the Mozambique coast. Late December to March carries cyclone risk on the islands, so we keep beach stays to the drier months.Getting thereMaun to Johannesburg by scheduled flight, then Johannesburg to Vilanculos and a short helicopter or boat transfer to the island. Plan for a night in Johannesburg between the two.

Delta, River & FallsMozambique

04

Sabi Sand → Mauritius or the Cape

Suggested nightsFour to five nights in the Sabi Sand or Kruger, five to seven in Mauritius, or three to four in Cape Town for a city-and-winelands finish instead.The trade-offMay to October is prime, malaria-light game viewing; Mauritius is at its most pleasant from May to December, with cyclone risk from January to March. Cape Town is best November to March, so a spring or autumn trip balances the two.Getting thereSabi Sand airstrip to Johannesburg in about an hour, then a nonstop flight of around four hours to Mauritius, usually same day. Cape Town is a two-hour flight from Johannesburg or direct from the reserve airstrips in season.

Cape, Vines & Leopard CountryMauritius

Accommodation on every pairing is selected privately for you rather than drawn from a catalog. For the thinking behind these combinations, read bush and beach pairings in the journal.

When to go

Best time for bush and beach

Jun–Oct

Dry, sunny and ideal across Zanzibar and Mozambique.

Apr–May, Oct–Nov

Calm, clear seas — the best diving in the Seychelles.

Quieter seasons, considered

In the green months rates ease at many of these camps, the plains empty of vehicles and the light turns dramatic. What each season gives, and what it trades, is set out in our Safari Planning Guide.

Good to know

Planning & cost

Safari cost

Fully tailor-made — priced privately to your camps, season and travel style. No fixed packages.

How we travel

Every journey is private and tailor-made — private guides and vehicles where specified, the finest lodges, and a specialist on call throughout.

Good to know

Practical details,
in one place

Money, health, connectivity and packing work the same way on every safari we plan, so they live in one place rather than on every page.

Good to know

Beaches & Islands FAQs

Zanzibar is the easiest add-on to an East Africa safari; the Seychelles and Mauritius suit honeymoons; Mozambique is best for diving and seclusion.

June to October is dry and sunny across Zanzibar and Mozambique, while April–May and October–November offer the calmest, clearest seas in the Seychelles.

We typically recommend three to five nights after a safari — long enough to properly unwind without rushing your wildlife days.

Let's design your Beaches & Islands journey.

An African safari and beach vacation is easiest when both halves are planned as one journey.

Tell us how you like to travel and start with a complimentary consultation. When you are ready, a $500 USD planning fee covers your personalized itinerary and revisions, and is deducted from your booking deposit when you book.

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