Tanzania or Kenya? Which is best for African safari? Choose both on this exciting 10-Day Kenya Tanzania Safari Vacation to the best national parks on both sides of the border. You’ll visit gems like Lake Manyara and Lake Nakuru with its population of rare Rothschild’s giraffes.
How to describe the world-famous Masai Mara Reserve and its neighboring Serengeti National Park? Be prepared to witness the spectacle of the greatest animal migration on Earth. And Ngorongoro Crater – a natural wonder will present you with a dense volcano floor alive with its own world of highly concentrated wildlife including all the Big 5. You will also have an opportunity for cultural interaction with the famous Maasai People. And you will be able to say you have seen and experienced the best of Kenya and Tanzania.
This 10-Day Kenya Tanzania Safari will start in Nairobi (Kenya) and end in Arusha (Tanzania). At the end of the tour, you may opt to transfer to Amboseli for one or two nights and then finish the tour in Nairobi (as opposed to ending the tour in Arusha). This tour can also be done in the opposite order (starting in Arusha).
Highlights
- Discover the famous Masai Mara and Serengeti national parks
- See the Great Wildebeest Migration
- Full-day Ngorongoro Crater Big 5 safari in Tanzania
- Excellent opportunities to see predators in action
- Cultural excursions and experiences with the Maasai
- Private tour guide in English and other languages
- All-inclusive tours including lodging, entrance fees, meals, and transport
- Game drives in comfortable, open-top safari vehicles
- Unique accommodations including safari lodges and tented camps
- Optional activity add-ons including hot air balloon safaris
Summary
Day 1: Visit Lake Nakuru National Park
Day 2: Travel Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 3: Unlimited Game Drives in Masai Mara, Optional Hot Air Balloon
Day 4: Game Drive in Masai Mara & Masai Village Cultural Tour.
Day 5: Drive to Tanzania’s Serengeti via the Isebania border
Day 6: Full-day game drive in Serengeti National Park
Day 7: Full Day Game Drive In Central Serengeti – Seronera Valley
Day 8: Transfer to Ngorongoro via Olduvai Gorge
Day 9: Full-day game drive in Ngorongoro Crater
Day 10: Visit Lake Manyara National Park & drive to Arusha city
Details
Day 1: Visit Lake Nakuru
Today your 10-Day Kenya Tanzania Safari begins! We will pick you up at the airport or your hotel in Nairobi in our comfortable 4 x 4 safari vehicle. As we leave, enjoy the sights and sounds of Nairobi, a very interesting East African city that is sometimes referred to as the ‘green city in the sun’.
As soon as you exit Nairobi, the scenery will change and you’ll start seeing why people that come for Kenya safaris always return; it really is a beautiful place.
We will travel towards Kenya’s fertile highlands and head down the Rift Valley escarpment and its dramatic landforms on the road built during World War II by Italian prisoners. We’ll stop along the way to admire the towering ridges and cliff formations, before reaching Lake Nakuru.
Nakuru, meaning ‘dusty place’ in the Maasai language is one of the rift valley’s soda lakes and is part of the 188 square kilometer Lake Nakuru National Park. The lake is surrounded by high ridges and the views promise to wow. Once in the park, watch the game en route to the lodge. Following lunch and a siesta, there is an afternoon game drive returning to the lodge as the sun sets.
This scenic park is an important sanctuary for both black and white rhinos. The present rhino population is over 50 and continuing to multiply. The endangered Rothschild giraffe is another rarity and the park has its fair share of African buffalo, leopard, zebra, eland, waterbuck, and lion.
While exploring the park you will also discover many different bird species including the spectacular pink flamingoes. The park is also home to large flocks of pelicans.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: The Cliff/Sarova Woodlands
Midrange: Lake Nakuru Lodge/Flamingo Hill Camp/Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Driving Time: Approx. 2 hours
Day 2: Travel Masai Mara
After an early morning breakfast, we drive to Narok town via Mai-Mahiu with a brief rest stop and proceed on to Masai Mara. We will arrive at the lodge in time for lunch.
After lunch, we take some time to rest and then go on our first game drive in the Mara. As the sunset, we will return to the lodge to freshen up and enjoy dinner, and a good night’s sleep.
Affectionately known as the Mara, Masai Mara National Reserve is a safari destination that is hard to beat. Indeed, if you have been dreaming of an African safari, the image you have in mind is probably very close to the Masai Mara. This is quintessential Africa: wide open savannah, with herds of grazers moving along the horizon, stopping in the shade of isolated acacia trees in the heat of the day.
And nowhere in Africa is wildlife more abundant, and you are almost guaranteed to see the Big Five (buffalo, elephant, Leopard, Lion, and rhino).
Masai Mara is also one of the best places to see Cheetahs in Africa. And from around July and October every year, one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles takes place here. This is when almost 2.5 million Wildebeests, Zebras and Gazelles gather their young and trek across the crocodile-infested Mara River. Their migratory nature takes them in search of fresh grass to graze and rainfall.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Mara Serena Lodge/Ashnil Mara Camp/Mara Leisure Camp
Midrange: Mara Sopa Lodge/Jambo Mara Lodge/Basecamp Masai Mara
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: Approx. 237km/4 hours
Day 3: Unlimited Game Drives In The Mara
Masai Mara is a classic savannah reserve with golden grass, blue skies, towering escarpments, occasional trees, and rocky hills. The Masai word ‘Mara’, meaning spotted refers to these dots in the landscape.
Today you’ll embark at first light on a game drive as you travel around the Maasai Mara in a 4×4. Dawn is the best time to go wildlife spotting because the animals are at their most active as they search for food. You can see the wildebeests grazing on the savanna as the big cats hunt for prey.
After a morning drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch and maybe a siesta in the heat of the day. In the afternoon, you will enjoy another game drive and follow these animals as they search for shade and water.
Optional Hot Air Balloon Ride
One optional activity is a sunrise hot-air balloon safari. Hop in a balloon basket and enjoy a one-hour ride above the great savanna plains for birds-eye views of the Maasai Mara. Topping the thrilling experience will be a sumptuous champagne breakfast on the plains of the Mara. You’ll then spend the remainder of the morning in the lodge, have lunch, and embark on the afternoon game drive. Afterward, enjoy another meal on the plains before returning to camp, where you can spend the evening relaxing.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Mara Serena Lodge/Ashnil Mara Camp/Mara Leisure Camp
Midrange: Mara Sopa Lodge/Jambo Mara Lodge/Basecamp Masai Mara
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Game Drive & Masai Village Tour
Due to the thriving wildlife activity, a second full day in the park will offer you the opportunity to witness more of the wildlife’s natural behavior. This can include a lion killing a zebra, a cheetah chasing an impala, or the serene activities of elephants grazing and birds building nests. We will be back at the lodge in time for lunch. After lunch and maybe a siesta, we set off on another game drive.
After a game drive, we visit a Maasai village to learn about the culture of the famous Maasai People. Your guide will lead you through the village as you discover their traditions and beliefs, and daily practices like demonstrations of how to make fire using sticks. At the end of the tour, you can buy some gift items/curios made by the villagers – a chance to give back to the local community.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Mara Serena Lodge/Ashnil Mara Camp/Mara Leisure Camp
Midrange: Mara Sopa Lodge/Jambo Mara Lodge/Basecamp Masai Mara
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Drive To Serengeti Via The Isebania Border
After an early breakfast today, depart Masai Mara and embark on a drive of about 370km (6-7 hours) to the immense Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The drive is via the Isebania Kenya/Tanzania border town. The Serengeti shares the same ecosystem with the Masai Mara. Ideally, Masai Mara is the smaller extension of the Serengeti. The park is also a legendary wildlife reserve, the archetypal safari destination.
In the Maasai language, the name Serengeti means “endless plains,” or ‘the land that goes on forever – and this protected area’s 1.5 million hectares deliver on that promise. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that supports over 3 million beautiful African animals, including the largest population of lions in Africa -reportedly more than 3,000 in this ecosystem alone. On arrival, you’ll enjoy an introductory game drive as you transfer to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Andbeyond Serengeti Under Canvas/Lamai Serengeti
Midrange: Kati Kati Tented Camp/Serengeti Wilderness Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Full Day Game Drive Serengeti
In the morning, head onto the plains and discover the Serengeti on a full-day tour. You will see a lot to see here, as the Serengeti National Park ecosystem is one of the oldest on the planet. It is a great place to see the iconic African Big Five animals in their natural habitat. The Serengeti also hosts the annual Great Migration, the “greatest wildlife show on earth.
This mammal migration sees over a million wildebeest, plus hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, undertaking the long trek to new grazing grounds. Today you’ll traverse the northern region of the park, near the Masai Mara, as this is the main route of the migration. The area also offers a chance to escape the crowds, as it’s remote and relatively inaccessible.
Those who make it here are rewarded with breathtaking views of rolling green hills, granite outcrops, and acacia woodlands dotting the open savanna. Then, there is all that incredible wildlife – most famously the massive herds of zebras and wildebeests making the dangerous crossing of the croc-infested Mara River during the Great Migration from June to November.
This section of the park is also home to the greatest elephant concentrations in Serengeti and has good numbers of leopards, lions, and cheetahs – plus hippos and giraffes.
You have a choice to head out early for a morning game drive and return to camp in time for lunch. Later in the afternoon, you can set out on another wildlife game drive or opt to relax at the lodge with a good book. Alternatively, you can enjoy a relaxed breakfast in lodge/camp, and then head out on your game drive a bit later, returning mid-afternoon.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Andbeyond Serengeti Under Canvas/Lamai Serengeti
Midrange: Kati Kati Tented Camp/Serengeti Wilderness Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7: Full Day Game Drive In Serengeti
Located in the south-central region of Serengeti, Seronera Valley is one of the most popular areas in the entire park. Also Known as the “big cat capital of Africa”, it is home to many lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
And it is not unusual to encounter all four of Africa’s large predators (lion, hyena, leopard, and cheetah) during the course of a day along with a multitude of smaller predators like mongoose, jackals, Servals, caracals, and bat-eared foxes.
The scenic landscape of this pristine valley is truly magnificent. Endless savannas stretch beyond the horizon. Meandering rivers wind through a sundry mosaic of swamps, trees, pools, and open fields. Rising above the plains are dark silhouettes of umbrella-shaped acacia trees. And colossal mounds of granite kopjes loom in the distance, forming a classic image of quintessential Africa.
Seronera also plays host to the greatest wildlife show on earth from May to June (northward migration) and November-December (southward migration) as over a million wildebeest and zebra pour through the valley in a thunder of echoing hooves and a haze of red dust.
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Serengeti Sopa Lodge/Serengeti Serena Lodge/Dunia Camp
Midrange: Serengeti Kati Kati Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8: Transfer To Ngorongoro
In the morning, you will enjoy a game drive in Serengeti as you transfer to Ngorongoro. You’ll have a stop on the way at Olduvai Gorge. This vast gorge (about 48 km long and 300 feet deep) contains paleoanthropological sites that have been crucial in furthering our understanding of human evolution.
It’s famous for the evolutionary discoveries of some of the earliest signs of human development. Hundreds of fossilized bones and stone tools have been found in the area dating back millions of years, concluding that humans evolved in Africa.
After Olduvai Gorge, we continue our drive in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, up to the rim of the crater. From this vantage point, you can look down upon the verdant caldera stretched out before you. Ngorongoro Crater is the worldÔÇÖs largest intact volcanic caldera and one of the seven natural wonders of Africa.
The 2000 feet high walls of the approximately 264 km2 wide crater form a natural amphitheater for the densest population of large animals anywhere. About 30,000 large mammals reside inside the crater. The crater is truly awe-inspiring and game viewing here is among the very best in Africa.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge/The Highlands
Midrange: Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive
We will spend the full day inside the crater, enjoying a picnic lunch on the crater floor and returning late afternoon to our lodge on the rim of the crater for dinner. Get ready to see some spectacular fauna and flora!
The Ngorongoro Crater sometimes referred to as – the eighth wonder of the world-, is best known for its natural beauty and abundance of diverse wildlife. Surrounded by Tanzania’s highlands, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is truly something every naturalist and wildlife lover should witness.
On a full-day game drive, it is possible to see a staggering array of African wildlife including leopards, the rare black rhinos, massive bull elephants, Buffalos, and the famed black-maned lions. At the center of Ngorongoro Crater is the idyllic Lake Magadi, which plays a host to thousands of migratory pink flamingos. We will again return to the lodge for an authentic Tanzanian dinner and a good night’s sleep.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge/The Highlands
Midrange: Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 10: Visit Lake Manyara & Drive To Arusha
You will depart after a good breakfast and travel across the Great Rift Valley to Lake Manyara for a full-day game drive. This enchanting park is noted for its beauty and incredibly lush acacia forest of giant fig and mahogany trees, which are home to blue monkeys and the highest concentration of baboons (Olive Baboon) anywhere in the world!
It is also famous for its stunning bird variety. Lake Manyara National Park is home to a large number of buffalos, giraffes, elephants, impalas, and hippos. This park is also known for its tree-climbing lions and the pink flamingos along the shore of the lake. Game drives are done along the lakeshore, providing exciting views of animals in the foreground while the lake, flamingos, and flat plains stretch out over the horizon.
In the afternoon you will transfer to Arusha city. You have the option to schedule a cycling tour. Alternatively, instead of going to Arusha, you can continue to Amboseli National Park in Kenya and do a wildlife safari for one or two nights. Africa’s huge elephants with big tusks are found here but also get ready for lion, cheetah, wildebeest, gazelle, monkeys, and lots of birdlife.
Amboseli National Park also offers Africa’s best views of Mount Kilimanjaro. In the mornings and early evenings when the clouds clear, you may get postcard views of the snow-capped summit of the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. You will finish the tour in Nairobi if you opt to visit Amboseli.
End of the Safari Vacation
Inclusions
- Ground transport in a 4X4 Safari Land cruiser/Van
- Crater fees
- Full board accommodation on Safari
- Full-time English-speaking professional driver/guide
- Complimentary bottled water while in the vehicle
- All Park/Reserve Entry fees
- Concession fees – Serengeti
- Extra lunches as indicated in the program
- Tourism Development Levy -In Tanzania hotels
- Board crossing fees
- All tour activities as detailed in the itinerary
Exclusions
- Tips
- Laundry services
- Other Beverages/ drinks
- International flights
- Visas
- Optional activities and any other extras not mentioned in the above itinerary.
- Extra meals not mentioned in the program
- Inoculations and personal insurance
- Items of personal nature such as beverages not mentioned, telephone, postage, laundry, etc.
- International/local airfares not indicated in the program
