A Popular Kenya and Tanzania Itinerary Guide

A popular Kenya and Tanzania itinerary combines the wildlife-rich Masai Mara in Kenya with the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. This route allows for game drives in both locations, including viewing the Great Migration in the Serengeti, and offers a chance to explore the Ngorongoro Crater.

Explore the heart of East Africa’s most iconic wildlife areas. Track the awe-inspiring Great Migration in the Serengeti, encounter the legendary Big Five in the Maasai Mara, and immerse yourself in cultural experiences with the Maasai people. This thrilling 6-day safari offers unforgettable game drives across stunning savannahs, dramatic landscapes, and some of the richest wildlife viewing on the continent.

Highlights

• Wildebeest Migration (seasonal)
  
• Big Five Safaris
  
• Maasai Cultural Village Visit
  
• Scenic game drives across Mara and Serengeti

Day-by-Day Kenya And Tanzania Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi – Transfer to Maasai Mara

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, you’ll be met by our representative who will brief you on your safari. You will then begin your journey toward the iconic Maasai Mara National Reserve. The scenic drive takes approximately 5 to 6 hours in a 4×4 safari Land Cruiser, passing through the Rift Valley with a stop for lunch en route. After arriving at your lodge or tented camp, you will have time to freshen up before heading out for an afternoon game drive, where you’ll get your first encounter with Africa’s incredible wildlife. Return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2: Full Day Game Drive in Maasai Mara

Masai Mara Game Drive

Today is dedicated to a full-day safari experience in the Maasai Mara. After an early breakfast, you’ll set out on a morning game drive to explore the rolling plains and search for lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, and more. If you’re visiting between July and October, you may witness the famous wildebeest river crossings. After a picnic lunch under an acacia tree or by a riverbank, the afternoon continues with more game viewing. A cultural visit to a traditional Maasai village will provide insight into the customs, dances, and way of life of the Maasai people. You’ll return to your lodge in the evening. Optional hot air balloon safari can be arranged at dawn for an extra cost.

Day 3: Maasai Mara to Serengeti via Isebania Border

After breakfast, you’ll depart the Maasai Mara and head south toward the Isebania border, which separates Kenya and Tanzania. The journey takes 7–8 hours, including border formalities. Upon entering Tanzania, a new driver-guide will welcome you and continue the transfer into the northern Serengeti. Enjoy a scenic afternoon game drive on the way to your lodge or luxury tented camp, where the wildlife density remains high year-round. Settle in and enjoy a delicious dinner under the stars.

Day 4: Full Day Serengeti National Park Safari

Your day begins early with a sunrise game drive across the open Serengeti plains. This park is renowned for its endless grasslands, rocky kopjes, and immense herds of migratory animals. Today’s focus will be on tracking the wildebeest migration (depending on the season), as well as spotting predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas. Take a break for a bush picnic lunch before continuing your exploration in different sections of the park. Later, return to your camp for a relaxing evening and overnight.

Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area – UNESCO World Heritage Site

After breakfast, enjoy a final game drive in the Serengeti as you make your way toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. En route, you may opt to visit the Olduvai Gorge, a famous archaeological site often referred to as the “Cradle of Mankind.” The drive offers beautiful landscapes, from flat plains to rolling highlands. Arrive at your lodge on the crater rim in the late afternoon, where you’ll enjoy dinner with spectacular views into the crater floor below.

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater Tour – Transfer to Arusha/Departure

Today begins with an early descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that hosts over 25,000 animals within its 20-kilometer-wide caldera. You’ll spend up to six hours game viewing on the crater floor, spotting elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, and large prides of lions. After a picnic lunch by a hippo pool, ascend the crater and start your return journey to Arusha (approximately 3.5–4 hours). You will be dropped at your hotel or transferred to the airport for your onward flight.

End of the Kenya And Tanzania Itinerary 

Inclusions

• All airport and ground transfers in a 4×4 safari vehicle
  
• Full board accommodation throughout the safari
  
• Park entrance fees and government taxes
  
• All guided game drives and cultural visits
  
• Services of professional English-speaking driver/guides
• Bottled drinking water during safaris

Exclusions

• International and regional flights
  
• Visa fees for Kenya and Tanzania
  
• Optional activities (e.g., hot air balloon safari)
  
• Travel insurance
  
• Tips and gratuities
  
• Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, souvenirs, etc.)