16 Days East Africa Safari: Tanzania & Kenya Migration with Rwanda Gorilla Trekking
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Kenya · Tanzania
12 Days Best of Kenya and Tanzania Safari Adventure
- Duration
- 12 Days
- Price
- From $6,895 pp
- Difficulty
- Easy
Overview
Twelve days covering the two countries most people mean when they say East African safari, crossing the border overland at Isebania rather than flying around it.
Kenya first: Lake Nakuru, where rhino are more reliably seen than almost anywhere else in the region, then three nights in the Maasai Mara. Then into Tanzania for the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, the collapsed caldera that holds around 25,000 large animals and the best black-rhino odds on the trip. Lake Manyara and its tree-climbing lions follow, and the trip closes at Amboseli, where the elephant herds gather under Kilimanjaro.
Being in both the Mara and the Serengeti matters if the migration is why you are coming. The herds move across the border on their own schedule, and covering both sides means your dates constrain you far less. Your planner will still be straight with you about what your particular month is likely to give you.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival at Nairobi Airport
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your dedicated safari manager, who will assist you with luggage and escort you to your private transfer vehicle. You will then proceed to your carefully selected city hotel in Nairobi. Upon arrival, assistance with check in formalities will be provided, followed by a comprehensive pre safari briefing outlining the journey ahead. The remainder of the day is at leisure for relaxation and acclimatization.
Accommodation Options
- Luxury Accommodation
- Fair Mont Norfolk or Nairobi Serena Hotel
- High-End Accommodation
- Villa Rosa Kempski Nairobi
- Meals:
- Dinner
- Day 2
Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park
After breakfast at your hotel, meet your professional safari guide at 0800 hrs and depart in a customized 4x4 safari vehicle toward Lake Nakuru National Park. En route, enjoy a brief stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint for panoramic photography. Following lunch, proceed for an afternoon game drive along the alkaline lake shores. The park hosts four of the Big Five, excluding elephants, and is renowned for white rhinos, Rothschild giraffes, and diverse birdlife including flamingos. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Accommodation Options
- Midrange Accommodation
- Lake Nakuru Lodge
- Luxury Accommodation
- Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge or Cliff Nakuru Lodge
- Meals:
- Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Day 3
Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara Game Reserve
After breakfast, check out and depart for the world renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve, driving through scenic landscapes and rural communities. Arrive at your selected lodge or camp in time for lunch and a short relaxation. At 1600 hrs, set out for your first thrilling afternoon game drive, introducing you to the rich wildlife and vast plains that define the Maasai Mara experience. Return to camp at sunset for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation Options
- Midrange Accommodation
- Base Camp Maasai Mara
- Luxury Accommodation
- Sarova Mara Camp
- High-End Accommodation
- Sand River Maasai Mara
- Meals:
- Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Days 4-5
Maasai Mara
Enjoy expertly guided early morning and late afternoon game drives across the vast plains, with the option of a near full day safari experience for enhanced wildlife viewing. Venture in search of the Big Five, including lion, buffalo, elephant, rhino, and leopard, alongside abundant plains game such as impalas, gazelles, wildebeests, hyenas, topis, zebras, giraffes, elands, jackals, and mongoose. The reserve also hosts an impressive diversity of birdlife. Between activities, relax at your lodge, where you may unwind by the pool. All meals and overnight stay included.
Accommodation Options
- Midrange Accommodation
- Base Camp Maasai Mara
- Luxury Accommodation
- Sarova Mara Camp
- High-End Accommodation
- Sand River Maasai Mara
- Meals:
- Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Day 6
Maasai Mara to Serengeti National Park
Begin with an early breakfast at your lodge and check out by 0700 hrs. With picnic lunch boxes prepared, proceed by road to the Kenya–Tanzania border at Isebania. Upon arrival, complete immigration formalities before meeting your Tanzanian professional safari guide. Continue the journey into Serengeti National Park, enjoying en route game viewing as the landscape transitions into vast open plains. You will arrive at your lodge in the late evening. The Serengeti hosts an extraordinary concentration of wildlife, from apex predators such as lion, leopard, and cheetah to the diverse herbivores that sustain this remarkable ecosystem. Overnight stay at your lodge or camp.
Accommodation Options
- Midrange Accommodation
- Mara Kati Kat Tented Camp
- Luxury Accommodation
- Mara River Camp
- High-End Accommodation
- Lemala Kuria Hill Lodge
- Meals:
- Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Day 7
Full day in Serengeti National Park
Experience early morning and late afternoon game drives across the expansive Serengeti, with the option of a near full day safari for extended wildlife viewing. Derived from the Maasai word “Siringet,” meaning endless plains, the Serengeti hosts vast savannahs where herds of wildebeest and zebra migrate annually between Ngorongoro and the Maasai Mara. The park is home to the Big Five, alongside cheetahs, hyenas, caracals, serval cats, diverse antelope species, and abundant birdlife including vultures. All meals and overnight stay included.
Accommodation Options
- Midrange Accommodation
- Serengeti Signature Luxury Camp
- Luxury Accommodation
- Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
- High-End Accommodation
- Melia Serengeti
- Meals:
- Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Day 8
Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA)
After breakfast, depart with picnic lunches for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Upon arrival, descend over 600 meters into the crater for an extensive game drive across forest, lake, and open savannah habitats. The crater floor hosts black rhino, lion, elephant, cheetah, buffalo, and large herds of antelope and wildebeest. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is globally significant for biodiversity and human history. Later, ascend to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation Options
- Midrange Accommodation
- Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp
- Luxury Accommodation
- Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
- High-End Accommodation
- Ngorongoro Lodge by Melia
- Meals:
- Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Day 9
Ngorongoro to Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast at the lodge, check out and proceed to the Lake Manyara area for check in and lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, dramatically set between the Great Rift Valley escarpment and the lake. The park is renowned for its tree climbing lions and seasonal flocks of flamingos. With over 400 bird species recorded, it offers excellent birdwatching opportunities. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Accommodation Options
- Midrange Accommodation
- Moonbow Lodge
- Luxury Accommodation
- Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
- High-End Accommodation
- Wellworth Lake Manyara Kilimanjaro Lodge
- Meals:
- Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Day 10
Lake Manyara to Arusha to Amboseli National Park
Breakfast will be served from 0630 hrs. Depart by 0730 hrs and drive to Arusha for an early lunch. Thereafter, proceed to the Namanga border to complete immigration formalities, meet your Kenyan safari guide, and change vehicles. Continue to Amboseli National Park, enjoying an evening game drive en route to your lodge. Set against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, the park offers exceptional scenery and wildlife viewing. Dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation Options
- Midrange Accommodation
- AA Lodge Amboseli
- Luxury Accommodation
- Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
- High-End Accommodation
- Elewana Toltilis Camp Amboseli
- Meals:
- Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Day 11
Amboseli National Park
Enjoy scheduled game drives at 0630 hrs and 1600 hrs, with ample time in between to relax at your lodge or enjoy a refreshing swim. Amboseli National Park offers breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro and features seasonal lakes and swamps that attract diverse wildlife and bird species. The park is globally recognized for its large elephant and buffalo herds, open savannah landscapes, and consistent wildlife sightings. All meals and overnight stay included.
Accommodation Options
- Midrange Accommodation
- AA Lodge Amboseli
- Luxury Accommodation
- Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
- High-End Accommodation
- Elewana Toltilis Camp Amboseli
- Meals:
- Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
- Day 12
Amboseli to Nairobi – Departure
After breakfast at your lodge, check out by 0730 hrs and begin your return journey to Nairobi. Upon arrival, an optional lunch can be arranged at a city restaurant or day room facility, depending on your departure schedule. Thereafter, you will be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in good time for your evening or night international flight, concluding your remarkable Kenya and Tanzania safari experience.
- Meals:
- Breakfast and Lunch
What Is Included
Included
- Return transfers from JKIA + meet and greet service
- Full board accommodation (B, L, D) while on safari, Bed and Breakfast (BB) while in city hotels
- Private transport and game drives in a customized 4 x 4WD safari customized land cruiser jeeps with a pop-up roof and sliding windows for optimized game viewing and photography
- Services of a professional, experienced English-speaking safari driver guide (French and Spanish speaking guides also available on request basis)
- Park entrance and conservancy fees to the listed parks and national reserves
- All Activities and meals as listed in the itineraries
- Quality binoculars and wildlife referral books provided in the safari vehicle (shared with safari guide and for use during game drives only)
- Enrolment on the AMREF Flying Doctor emergency medical evacuation cover (provided guests have valid travel insurance)
- Complementary bottled mineral water during the safari.
- Applicable Government taxes on tour services
Not Included
- All International and domestic flights,
- All items of personal nature such as tobacco; laundry; phone calls, drinks during meals, etc.
- Tip for driver guide, porters, and waiters while on safari.
- Drinks/beverages during the safari and at the hotels
- Any other Items not mentioned above
- Medical/Travel Insurance (Highly Recommended)
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does the 12 Days Best of Kenya and Tanzania Safari Adventure cost?
- This safari starts from $6,895 per person. The final price depends on your travel dates, lodge tier, and group size, and every quote is itemized before you commit.
- How long is this safari?
- It runs 12 days. Because every trip is private, we can lengthen, shorten, or add a Zanzibar or gorilla extension to fit your plans.
- Can I customize this itinerary?
- Yes. This itinerary is a starting point. Swap lodges, change the pace, adjust the route, or combine countries, and your planner reshapes it with you before you book.
- When is the best time for this trip?
- It depends on which part of the migration you want. The southern plains around Ndutu hold the calving season from roughly January to March. The Mara River crossings in the north usually run July to October. June through October is the reliable dry-season window for general game viewing anywhere in the park.
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