Overview

Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights
Destination: Kenya & Tanzania — Masai Mara, Amboseli, Ngorongoro, Serengeti
Level: Mid-Luxury
Group Size: 2–8 travelers
Start / End: Nairobi, Kenya — End in Arusha or Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

SHORT DESCRIPTION

This is the safari that does it all. Spanning Kenya and Tanzania in a single 12-day journey, this grand East Africa combo links the Masai Mara's dramatic predator action with Amboseli's iconic Kilimanjaro views, crosses the border into Tanzania to explore the wildlife-rich woodlands of Tarangire, descend into the extraordinary Ngorongoro Crater, and culminate in the endless plains of the Serengeti. Two countries, five ecosystems, one unforgettable journey.

Crafted for travelers who want the definitive East African safari experience — not a taster, but the full feast — this mid-luxury itinerary stays in hand-picked tented camps and lodges that combine comfort with genuine bush immersion. Private game vehicles, expert guides in both countries, and seamless cross-border logistics ensure that your only job is to absorb the wildlife and landscapes unfolding around you.

From the roar of lions echoing across the Mara to the silence of a Serengeti sunrise interrupted only by the distant bark of zebra, this Kenya and Tanzania safari delivers the complete Big Five experience against the most cinematic backdrops on the African continent. This is, quite simply, the benchmark East African safari.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Big Five game drives in Kenya's Masai Mara — the world's most famous wildlife reserve
  • Amboseli elephant herds beneath the snow-capped summit of Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Tarangire National Park — Tanzania's best-kept secret for elephant and predator concentrations
  • Full-day Ngorongoro Crater descent — the Big Five in a 260 sq km natural amphitheater
  • Serengeti Great Migration game drives — tracking herds and the lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs that follow
  • Mid-luxury tented camps throughout — private verandas, gourmet meals, and expert naturalist guides
  • Seamless Kenya–Tanzania border crossing logistics fully managed by our teams
  • Serengeti night-sky experience — the Milky Way in a landscape with zero light pollution

Duration (Days)
12 Days
Duration (Nights)
11 Nights
From
USD 7,800/person
To
On Request

Prices Inclusive Of

  • 11 nights accommodation — Nairobi hotel, Masai Mara camp (3 nights), Amboseli lodge (2 nights), Tarangire camp (2 nights), Ngorongoro rim lodge (2 nights), Serengeti camp (1 night)
  • All meals from breakfast Day 2 through packed lunch Day 12
  • Private game vehicle and guide in Kenya (Days 2–6) and Tanzania (Days 7–12)
  • All park fees — Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti
  • Kenya–Tanzania border crossing logistics and assistance
  • Bush flight Serengeti–Arusha/KIA on departure day
  • All airport and inter-hotel transfers

Prices Exclusive Of

  • International flights into Nairobi and out of Kilimanjaro/Arusha
  • Kenya and Tanzania visas (apply separately; East African Tourist Visa covers both)
  • Travel insurance (required)
  • Drinks, personal expenses, and tips
  • Hot-air balloon safaris in Kenya or Tanzania (optional at additional cost)

Tour Schedule

Day 1: Arrival Nairobi — Welcome

Arrive in Nairobi and transfer to your city hotel. Evening welcome briefing and dinner with your Kenyan guide who will travel with you for the first six days.

Overnight: Nairobi

Day 2: Nairobi to Masai Mara

Drive to the Masai Mara via the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Afternoon game drive immediately upon arrival. Expect wildebeest, giraffe, zebra, and your first lion sightings as the Mara reveals its extraordinary cast of characters.

Overnight: Masai Mara tented camp

Day 3: Full Day Masai Mara

Full day exploring the Mara ecosystem across its core circuits — the Triangle, Talek River, and the open Olare Orok plains. Morning hours offer the best predator activity; golden afternoon light transforms the landscape into a photographer's dream.

Overnight: Masai Mara tented camp

Day 4: Masai Mara — River & Culture

River crossing morning (July–October migration), followed by a Maasai cultural village visit in the afternoon. Authentic immersion in one of Africa's most iconic living cultures.

Overnight: Masai Mara tented camp

Day 5: Masai Mara to Amboseli

Morning drive in the Mara before departing south for Amboseli. Arrive in late afternoon with Kilimanjaro emerging from the clouds — your first view is a genuinely stirring travel moment.

Overnight: Amboseli lodge

Day 6: Full Day Amboseli

Full day in Amboseli with Kenya's finest elephant photography. The park's open terrain and Kilimanjaro backdrop make every frame a potential masterpiece. Stay alert for lion prides crossing the open floodplains.

Overnight: Amboseli lodge

Day 7: Amboseli — Border Crossing to Arusha & Tarangire

Morning drive then cross the border at Namanga into Tanzania, where your Tanzanian guide and vehicle take over seamlessly. Continue to Tarangire National Park for an afternoon game drive in the land of giants — both the trees and the elephants.

Overnight: Tarangire tented camp

Day 8: Full Day Tarangire

Full day in Tarangire exploring the river corridor and surrounding woodlands. The combination of elephant, lion, and extraordinarily diverse birdlife makes Tarangire a safari highlight that many visitors rank as their personal favourite.

Overnight: Tarangire tented camp

Day 9: Tarangire to Ngorongoro

Drive to the Ngorongoro Crater rim through the fertile highland farmlands and Maasai pasturelands of the Crater Highlands. Arrive at the rim for a sunset that floods the caldera floor 600 metres below in gold and crimson.

Overnight: Ngorongoro rim lodge

Day 10: Full Day Ngorongoro Crater

Full-day descent into the Ngorongoro Crater. The Big Five in one day is a realistic expectation here — including the rare black rhino. Bush picnic lunch by a hippo pool. Ascend the rim in late afternoon.

Overnight: Ngorongoro rim lodge

Day 11: Ngorongoro to Serengeti

Enter the Serengeti through the Naabi Hill Gate and spend the afternoon in the central Seronera region. Your first Serengeti game drive rarely disappoints — this is one of the most productive wildlife habitats on earth.

Overnight: Central Serengeti tented camp

Day 12: Serengeti — Morning Drive & Departure to Arusha

One final morning game drive before transferring to the Seronera airstrip for a bush flight to Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport. Depart East Africa with the complete continental safari experience under your belt.

Tour Activities

Tour activities will be arranged by out tour guides as per destination traveled.

Trip Tips

Best Time to Visit: June–October for dry season across both countries; July–August for peak migration and ideal conditions

Fitness Level: Easy — fully vehicle-based with optional walks; suited to all ages and fitness levels

Vehicle Type: Private 4WD pop-top Land Cruiser in both countries; max 6 guests

Health / Visa Notes: Yellow fever certificate if arriving from endemic country. Malaria prophylaxis for all parks. East African Tourist Visa (USD 100) covers Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Starting Price: From USD 7,800 per person (double occupancy, mid-luxury, includes bush flight and all park fees)

READY FOR THE ULTIMATE EAST AFRICA SAFARI?

Two countries, five iconic ecosystems, one seamless journey. Our cross-border safari specialists handle every logistical detail so you focus on the wildlife. Contact us to start planning — and tell us your dream highlight so we can build the perfect sequence around it.

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