The best of Kenya and Tanzania

Reference # 12SSBKT(A)

Included: transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle (change of vehicle at the border) | professional, English-speaking guide (change of guide at the border) | 12 nights’ stay in lodges and tented camps (depending on availability, accommodation of a similar standard will be booked) | meals according to the itinerary | mineral water | activities as per itinerary | all national park fees | Flying Doctors insurance (AMREF) during the safari
Excluded: Flights (international and domestic) | meals not indicated in the itinerary | alcoholic and soft drinks | optional activities | tips | personal expenses | visa fees | travel insurance.

Day 1 | Arusha – Tarangire National Park

Distance approx. 150 km; driving time approx. 2-3 hours

After a short briefing in the morning, your safari will set off towards the Tarangire National Park. This park with its savannah, seasonal swamps and the life-giving Tarangire River is home to huge elephant herds – literally hundreds of animals. Animals gather at the river and besides elephants you should see mongoose, giraffes, bushbucks, hartebeests, dik-diks, waterbucks, warthogs and reedbucks all year round. After an extensive game drive, you will leave the park in the late afternoon and head to the Lake Burunge Tented Lodge, where you will spend the night.  

Day 2 | Tarangire Area – Lake Manyara National Park – Karatu

Distance approx. 120 km; driving time approx. 2 hours

You will enjoy breakfast before you leave the Tarangire Area to continue your journey to the Lake Manyara National Park. The park with its shallow alkaline lake is known for its over 400 bird species, primate-filled forests and grassy plains. Apart from elephants, you might also spot giraffes, hippos, wildebeests and impalas while the forests near the lake are teeming with noisy groups of monkeys. After an extensive game drive, you will travel to Karatu in the Ngorongoro highlands. After your arrival, there might be time for an optional walk in the coffee plantations. You will spend the night at one of the three beautifully located Tanganyika Wilderness Adventure Lodges.

Day 3 | Karatu – Ngorongoro Crater – Serengeti National Park

Distance approx. 170 km; driving time approx. 4-6 hours

You will have breakfast at dawn before the 4×4 safari vehicle takes you to the crater rim from where you descend into the crater on an adventurous and steep trail. Down here in the crater you have the possibility of seeing all the animals that can be found in the East African savannah including the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard. The Ngorongoro Crater is also one of the best places to see the magnificent but almost extinct black rhino. After an extensive game drive, you will exit the crater in the early afternoon. The journey then continues to the plains of the Serengeti National Park – the most famous park in Tanzania and where the biggest animal migration in the world takes place. Hundred thousands of wildebeests and zebras cross the border from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara in Kenya in search of fresh grass and water, with hungry predators following close behind. You will spend the night at the Kati Kati Tented Camp in the central Serengeti.

Day 4 | Serengeti National Park

Rise and shine! Up at the crack of dawn, you will be able to see the sunrise over the Serengeti before you join an early morning game drive. Upon your return to the camp, a hearty breakfast awaits. Adventurous guests may choose to experience the Serengeti from the sky and join a hot-air balloon ride followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush. This activity is not included in the tour price and needs to be booked in advance. Guests interested in visiting the visitor centre, are also able to do so. In the afternoon you will enjoy another game drive before returning to the Kati Kati Tented Camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 | Serengeti National Park – Lake Victoria

Distance approx. 180 km; driving time approx. 4-5 hours

After an early start, you will travel through the Serengeti National Park and on your way out of the park you might spot animals you haven’t seen yet. After leaving the park, the safari continues to Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa and the second largest in the world. The area around Lake Victoria is the most fertile and densely populated region in Tanzania. Here at Lake Victoria, you will have the chance to see another side of Tanzania. Away from the tourists and the masses, you will experience the lives of the local people. You can take a walk along the lake shore and watch fishermen at work – an experience unavailable on the usual tourist routes. The night will be spent at the Speke Bay Lodge. 

Day 6 | Lake Victoria – Masai Mara Area

Distance approx. 270 km; driving time approx. 8-9 hours

After breakfast you will join the local fishermen and a guide on a canoe trip on Lake Victoria. You will see how the locals catch fish and admire the previous night’s catch. After your fishing excursion you will set off on the longest journey of your safari – the trip to the Masai Mara. The road towards the Kenyan border is a long an adventurous one, but it should be worth it as the Mara is reputed to have the highest lion population of all reserves in Africa. Other large cats like leopards and cheetahs also live here and can be spotted all year round, as their sightings are not dependent upon the seasons or the migration. You will overnight in luxury tents at the Mara West Camp on the outskirts of the Masai Mara Game Reserve.

Day 7 | Masai Mara Game Reserve

You can look forward to a day dedicated to safari and game viewing. On extensive game drives in your 4×4 safari vehicle you will explore the Mara Triangle, located in the north-western part of the Masai Mara. Far stretching grassland plains, dotted by acacia forests, dominate the landscape. You will take a trip to the Mara River, the greatest hurdle for the wildebeests and zebras on their yearly trek. At the end of October and the beginning of November, an incredible scene is set when the river swells to almost bursting levels and tens of thousands of animals prepare to cross it, knowing that possible death awaits them – as crocodiles are hiding just below the water’s surface. It can be a gruesome sight. At other times of the year, hippos, hungry crocodiles and other animals can also be seen near the river. In the late afternoon, as the shadows start to grow longer, you return to your accommodation and spend another night at the Mara West Camp.

Day 8 – 9 | Masai Mara Game Reserve

The following two days will be spent on game drives in the Masai Mara Game Reserve.  Together with your guide you can search for the Big Five. You are in no rush, so you have enough time to enjoy all the wonderful moments which can make your safari a magical experience. The Mara is home to many other interesting animals too, such as Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, elands and Coke’s hartebeests. Not often seen outside Kenya are the Masai giraffe, roan antelope and the nocturnal bat-eared fox. The reserve also has over 470 bird species including about 60 raptor species. You will spend two nights at the Mara Legends Camp inside the Masai Mara Game Reserve.  

Day 10 | Masai Mara Game Reserve – Nairobi

Distance approx. 270 km; driving time approx. 6-7 hours

After breakfast you will leave the bush for the bustling capital of Nairobi. Reaching the city in the late afternoon, there will be enough time to relax at your accommodation. Dust-off from your previous adventures, take a refreshing dip in the pool or simply lean back and rest ahead of your next safari experiences. In the evening, you enjoy dinner together with your fellow travellers at the famous nearby Carnivore restaurant (own expense). You spend the night at the Tamarind Tree Hotel.  

Day 11 – 12 | Nairobi – Amboseli National Park

Distance approx. 250 km; driving time approx. 4-5 hours

Leaving the busy city, your journey takes you to the Amboseli National Park close to the Tanzanian border. This park is famous for iconic images of elephant herds on the plains with the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro in the background. We hope for good weather so you can see this scene for yourself. Apart from herds of elephants (sometimes as many as 500 animals), you might also see lions, leopards and the rest of the Big Five. Looking out from Observation Hill, you will see buffaloes, hippos and water birds frolicking in the swamps below. You have the remainder of the day as well as the whole next day to explore the Amboseli National Parks on game drives. You are in no rush and can look forward to many exciting wildlife encounters. You will be surprised about how much you have learned from your guide in the past few days about flora and fauna. The Ol Tukai Lodge with its lovely carvings and African art is your home for two nights.

Day 13 | Amboseli National Park – Nairobi

Distance approx. 250 km; driving time approx. 4-5 hours

On route to the park gate, you go on one last game drive. Then slowly but surely, your wonderful safari comes to an end. With many fantastic memories and experiences, you return to Nairobi. Your guide will bring you to the airport or your hotel in the city to say good-bye and hopefully, until next time.

 On all safaris in Tanzania, we use converted 4×4 Toyota Land Cruisers with a pop-up roof for optimal game viewing conditions. A window-seat is always guaranteed. Our group tours are set-up as small group departures with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 7 guests per vehicle. 

• FAQs & More Information

Before and after the tour services

To help with the planning of your trip, you are more than welcome to book these hotels before and/ or after your tour through us. These hotels are either the starting or end point of your tour, or it will be conveniently close to it. These hotels also offer airport transfers. For information on prices, just click “Hotels and Transfers“.