Overview
BOOKED Trips Nairobi, Kenya and Zanzibar, Tanzania Experience
- Days: 12
- Group Size: 12
- Nights: 11
- Price: TBD
Spots open January 2026! Join us for an exciting 12-day, 11-night journey through Nairobi, Kenya and Zanzibar, Tanzania inspired by Kenyan writer Troy Onyango’s short story collection “For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings.“
We begin in Nairobi, the sprawling city that sets the stage for a deep dive into East African culture. Your first few days are an active, literary exploration of the city from a matatu tour and book crawl to panel discussions and readings from some of Africa’s greatest writers at the annual African Book Fair. We even explore Kenya’s wildlife with a nature escape to Lake Naivaisha. Our evenings are spent with local creatives and cultural bearers enjoying curated storytelling dinners.
The second half of our journey takes us to the shores of Zanzibar. Here, the rhythm slows, allowing you to absorb the island’s richness and deep history from the labyrinthine alleys of Stone Town to the white sand beaches of Nungwi. Savor Zanzibar’s culinary gems and spices, learn more about Zanzibar women’s beauty rituals, and spend leisurely days snorkeling, sailing and enjoying the beach.
Trip Highlights
- Single occupancy rooms at 5-star hotels throughout the trip. No sharing rooms!
- Flexible payment options are available. Secure your spot with a $1,000 deposit. Monthly payment plans available.
- Welcome dinner and book discussion. Embark on a culinary journey through Kenya with an exclusive 7-course dining experience and book discussion where each course takes you on a flavorful adventure across the diverse landscapes of Kenya.
- Experience Nairobi’s energy and literary scene with a matatu tour, library and bookstore crawl, and participation in the African book fair.
- Escape the city for a day of nature, spotting hippos, giraffes, and zebras at Lake Naivasha.
- Dive into Zanzibar’s culinary scene from a rooftop multi-course dinner with Taarab music to street food, and spice markets.
- Set sail for an unforgettable day on the water during a special West Coast Sailing Experience with snorkeling and a sandbank picnic.
- Indulge in an exclusive Zanzibar Beauty Experience, featuring a secret garden lunch and a traditional spice scrub and massage.
- And so much more!
Tentative Itinerary
Day 1: Arrivals & Welcome Dinner
“his dreams slept, breathed and lived in big cities…the way he spoke about Nairobi, I could see fire—rather stars—in his eyes” - Troy Onyango, For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings
Welcome to Nairobi, Kenya. Fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (“NBO” airport code)and you'll be met by our driver and taken to our 5-star hotel. We've got you covered with included airport transportation.
After settling in and refreshing yourself, prepare a delicious welcome dinner and book discussion. Our dinner will be an exclusive 7-course culinary journey through Kenya, where each course takes you on a flavorful adventure across the diverse landscapes of this beautiful country. From the fresh coastal flavors of Swahili cuisine to the hearty dishes inspired by the highlands, every plate tells a story of Kenya’s rich heritage and vibrant culture. Expertly crafted with locally sourced ingredients, this unique family-owned restaurant is the perfect introduction to Kenya.
This intimate gathering is also a chance to discuss our featured book, Troy Onyango’s For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings.
Dinner
Day 2: The Language of the City
“The hooting of the buses rises above the human noises and drowns them… I make my way from the back of the matatu, and walk past rows of empty seats with chapped old covers. An afro-beat song, with the words ‘prokoto’ and ‘chocolate city’ being repeated over and over again, blares from the large black speakers mounted on the roof of the bus.” - Troy Onyango, For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings
Enjoy an included breakfast at the hotel.
This morning we will dive into Nairobi's literary scene with a matatu bus tour led by a local storyeller. Matatus are privately-owned, brightly decorated minibuses that serves as a popular form of public transport in Kenya. These buses are adorned with custom designs, and pop culture references, and are often equipped with sound systems, lights, and entertainment to attract riders.
We'll visit some of the locals entepreneurs behind the city's Black-owned and managed bookstores and library spaces.
In the afternoon we'll enjoy an included lunch at a restaurant on an organic farm that curates a seasonal menu of artfully plated dishes made using freshly harvested vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers.
The late aftenoon is dedicated to shopping with local makers.
Dinner is on you own and you have the evening to explore or rest up. Use our included city guide for recommendatiolns.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 3: The Untamed
"You who stood out in a crowd, like the woman who once wore a Technicolour coat to a funeral. It wasn’t possible to lose you...No Rajula wuod Mariko, son of my mother, the lake is too small to swallow you." - Troy Onyango, For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we’ll depart to Lake Naivasha which is about 2 to 2.5 hours drive.
Discover the beauty of Lake Naivasha with a 1-hour boat ride that showcases the natural wonders of this freshwater lake located in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. Enjoy picturesque landscapes, from papyrus swamps to distant mountain views, and watch for hippos in the water. Enjoy the variety of bird species, including pelicans and the African fish eagle, and the fascinating insights about the lake’s ecosystem provided by the knowledgeable guides, as well as its history and wildlife. Enjoy a nature walk next to zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, waterbucks, antelopes and many types of birds.
In the afternoon, we'll take you to a restaurant for lunch and then we head back to Nairobi
The evening is yours to attend optional book festival sessions, explore the city, or rest back at the hotel. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: The Gathering of Voices
“stories are beautiful things with colorful wings that flutter when they are told. They are how some of us see the world we exist in... I am eternally grateful for the stories that shape me, the ones that made me believe I was possible, and the ones that made me look at the world in a different way.” - Troy Onyango, For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings
After breakfast at the hotel we'll spend the day at Soma Nami Books' African Book Festival. The day will be filled with author chats, book readings, performancs, and panels from writers from across the African continent. There will also be the chance to explore over 13,000 books from all 54 African countries and the diaspora.
Tonight we'll enjoy a curated dinner with local literary luminaries.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 5: The Last Line
"Tell me that mother calling you to go and sit with her in the kitchen did not shake your memory loose of these stories…For deep within you, amidst the layers of hate, lived the boy whose laughter made the sun fall on my face with a softer and radiant glow.” - Troy Onyango, For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and in the late morning we will head back to the African Book Festival for more book chats, panels, and perfomances.
Later tonight we'll enjoy a Local Creatives candlelight salon dinner hosted by journalist and storyteller, Sharon Machira.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 6: From Nairobi to Stone Town
“When I tell her to open, she responds that Mzamodo is away on a trip to Zanzibar” - Troy Onyango, For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings
Enjoy breakfast before we take our included morning flight to Zanzibar.
Check in to our 5-star boutique hotel in Stone Town and enjoy free time to relax at the hotel and lunch on your own.
This evening we'll enjoy a sundowner and Dinner at Emerson on Hurumzi. During the dinner musicians from the Dhow Countries Music Academy play traditional taarab music and a 3-course family style dinner with a variety of dishes from Zanzibar. The night ends with Zanzibar ginger tea and dessert.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7: Stone Town Cultural Walk & Food Tour
“Are there no doors where they gave birth to you?” She would say to her. And she would squeal and retort, there are so many. Even doors that lead nowhere…A place with many doors meant that one was free to come and leave at will.” - Troy Onyango, For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and we'll meet for a cultural walk and food tour around Stone Town.
A place as vibrant and diverse as Zanzibar is an adventure for all senses. Absorb the colors of the city – the men in their white kanzus, women in black buibuis and colourful khanga wraps, the abundance of fruit and vegetables in the market, the play of shadow and light in the narrow streets. Listen to the sounds of Stone Town - reggae, Indian and Western music, and the melodious recitation of the Quran. Five times a day, you will hear the Muslim call to prayer in Arabic from numerous small mosques all over the town; at other times, it’s bells from Hindu temples or Christian churches.
As we explore the city we'll taste street food and spices from local markets and small vendors.
The evening is yours to rest or continue to explore. Use our included city guide for recommendations.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 8: Rejuvenation Rituals
“Her skin glows in the sun…her beauty casts all his doubts away and makes him forget the disappointment of not meeting her previously.” - Troy Onyango, For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings
Breakfast at the hotel and free morning. We will meet in the lobby and be taken to our Secret Garden Lunch Experience (at your own expense).
Afte we'll enjoy a Zanzibar Beauty Experience.
You will blend fresh spices that are grown organically in Zanzibar with precious oils like moringa, baobab and coconut into an aromatic scrub that will refresh, rejuvenate and relax you. Enjoy freshly brewed herbal tea, local baobab sweets and a chat with the friendly therapists. If you wish, you will also be introduced to the art of henna and adorned with a motif of your choice. Then choose from a range of 1-hour aromatic massages.
Feeling relaxed the evening is yours.
Breakfast
Day 9: Seaside Escape: Snorkeling & Nungwi Transfer
“My brain is becoming a sieve, my memories slipping through like fine particles of sand, but the love I have for you remains” - Troy Onyango, For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings
After breakfast we'll depart for a West Coast Sailing Experience with snorkelling and a sandbank picnic lunch. We'll snorkeling at the coral reef of Bawe Island, a deserted sandbank, visit the Bargash Ruins in Chuini and sail onwards along the West Coast with it’s green palm tree fringed beaches.
After we'll transfer to our 5-star beachfront hotel in Nungwi.
The remainder of the day is yours and dinner is on you own tonight.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 10: The Art of Leisure
“It was as if time were elastic and it had stretched, slowed down, and was waiting for them.” - Troy Onyango, For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wing
Today is a free day to rest, read, or explore. Utilize our city guide for recommendations.
Breakfast
Day 11: Final Reflections: Sunset at Sea
Enjoy a free morning and early afternoon with optional add-on activities including horseback riding o transpaent kayaking.
In the late afternoon we'll depart for our luxury sunset dhow cruise and 3- course dinner. This final sail will be a last chance to discuss anything you've read during your free time and to reflect on the trip.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 12: Departures
“Between your coming and leaving, you were mine.” - Troy Onyango, For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings
It's time to say goodbye to an amazing 12 days together. Airport transportation is included and you will be taken to the hotel at least 3 hours before your flight.
Breakfast
Our Featured Book: For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings
“For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings”
Troy Onyango’s For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings is a collection of twelve short stories that have a quickening pulse and pages crackling with sharp observations and gentle revelations about love, loneliness, loss, longing, and the infinite intricacies of daily human life.
In the opening story, The Transfiguration a trans woman tries to find herself and a sense of belonging in the unkind streets of Nairobi. A sister relives two decades of sibling rivalry when the brother disappears in a lake in the titular story For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings. Two friends grow apart as they grow older and realise their paths diverge in Goodbye, So Long.
In these beautiful stories that straddle the breadth of Kenya, Troy’s characters navigate the daily lived experiences that shape them, as they learn to cobble together an existence alongside a society with rules that do not quite fit.
Book your spot and join us on this storybook journey!
What Is Included?
- A copy of our trip book "Troy Onyango’s "For What Are Butterflies Without Their Wings" and onsite welcome gifts.
- Single occupancy, 5-star accommodations throughout the trip.
- All breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 5 dinners.
- agsdix-smt2-flight-takeoffFlight from Nairobi, Kenya to Zanzibar, Tanzania
- All activities listed in the itinerary
- Ground transportation to included activities, including airport transfers on designated trip arrival and departure dates.
- Local guides throughout the trip.
What Is not Included?
- International Flights to and from destination.
- Pre/post trip accommodations.
- Travel insurance (required)
- Visa and passport fees (if required)
- Gratuities and incidental expenses.
Our Trip Hotels
In Nairobi, Kenya we’ll stay in single occupancy rooms in a peaceful, 5-star hotel located five minutes from Karura Forest, the largest urban forest in the country. The hotel offers free entry and opportunities for a nature walk, horse riding, birdwatching, jogging, or cycling. Enjoy one of the multiple onsite restaurants or indulge in the steam room or visit the gym to unwind. The hotel offers a peaceful retreat while remaining close to attractions like Westlands, Nairobi’s retail and entertainment hub.
In Stone Town in Zanzibar we’ll stay at an intimate, 5-star boutique hotel right in the middle of Stone Town. Enjoy the onsite restaurant or grab drinks at the rooftop bar.
In Nungwi in Zanzibar we will stay at a 4-star stylish 40-room boutique hotel located on the northern tip of Zanzibar. It offers a blend of modern design and classic Zanzibari touches, nestled in tropical gardens and directly on a stunning white-sand beach.
Additional Info
Pricing
The total cost of the trip is $ per person. Trip prices are based on single occupancy and do not include flights or visas. Interest free monthly payment plans are available!
Entry and Visa requirements
A valid passport with at least 6 months of validity beyond the trip dates and at least one blank page in your passport for endorsements.
A visa is required for both Kenya and Zanzibar.
In Kenya most travelers will require a visa to enter Kenya. The application is straightforward and must be completed online via the official Kenya eVisa portal. We recommend applying at least two weeks before departure. If you hold a passport from an East African Community (EAC) country, visa exemptions may apply.
In Zanzibar single and multiple entry visas are available on arrival. Check here for up to date information. A yellow fever vaccination is also required for entry.
Activity Level
Participants should be comfortable walking up to 2 miles over the course of a day for walking tours. Please contact us directly if you have further questions about health and fitness level for this trip.
Arrival & Departure
Note that you will be arriving and flying out of different airports on this trip. You will arrive in Nairobi, Kenya (“NBO” airport code) on August 5, 2026 and depart from Zanzibar, Tanzania (“ZNZ” airport code) on August 16, 2026.
Flights from the U.S. should depart on August 4, 2026 (one day prior to the trip start date) to arrive in Nairobi, Kenya on August 5, 2026 in time for the opening dinner and book discussion. If possible, book flights that arrive no later than 3:00 p.m. local time.
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