Best of Kenya & Tanzania

7 days—A private two-country safari from the Maasai Mara to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, crossing by fly-drive with no return to Nairobi.

$3900-10000 USD

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Safari summary

This 7-day, 6-night private safari takes you across two countries and through East Africa’s three most famous wildlife areas: Kenya’s Maasai Mara, Tanzania’s Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. You spend three nights in the Mara, two in the Serengeti and one on the Ngorongoro Crater rim, finishing in Arusha with no backtracking through Nairobi.

The Maasai Mara and the Serengeti form one vast ecosystem, home to the Great Wildebeest Migration. In the Mara, you’ll enjoy a full day of game driving with a picnic lunch, plus extra sunrise and sunset drives, with lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe and leopard all possible. From about July to October, your guide will head towards the Mara River for a chance to see the herds crossing.

The old road crossing between the two parks has been closed to tourists since 1977, so we use a smooth fly-drive route. A short flight from the Mara takes you to Migori, followed by a road transfer through the Isebania–Sirari border and a flight from Tarime into the Serengeti. You arrive in time for an afternoon game drive. Your Tanzanian guide and vehicle meet you at the border.

In the Serengeti, you’ll explore the Seronera River valley for lion and leopard, the kopjes and the open plains for cheetah. In migration season, northern camps put you close to the herds. The trip ends with a dawn descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the best places in Africa to see the Big Five in a single morning, including the rare black rhino.

You travel in a private 4x4 safari vehicle with your own professional guide in each country. Park fees in both countries and the fly-drive border crossing are included.

Optional extras include flying to the Mara on Day 1, a hot-air balloon flight over the Mara or the Serengeti, an extra Serengeti night, Mara conservancy stays, a flight back to Nairobi, or a Zanzibar beach extension from Arusha.

About this tour

	Tour type	Custom, tailor-made, private
	Main focus	Game drives
	Activity level	Easy activity
	Best months	All months
	Countries	Kenya Tanzania
	Parks	Masai Mara Ngorongoro Crater Serengeti

What’s included?

Accommodation
Airport transfers
Internal flights
Meals
Park fees
Private vehicle and driver

What’s not included?

Alcoholic beverages
All drinks
Hot air balloons
International flights
Laundry
Premium alcoholic beverages
Spa treatments
Tips and gratuities
Visas

Itinerary

Nairobi to the Maasai Mara

Masai Mara

Your driver-guide picks you up in Nairobi in the morning for the drive through the Great Rift Valley to the Maasai Mara (about 5–6 hours, with a viewpoint stop). Or fly from Wilson Airport in about 45–75 minutes. Lunch at camp, then set out on a late-afternoon game drive. Meals: Lunch and dinner.

Mara camp in or near the reserve

Full Day in the Maasai Mara

Masai Mara

Spend a full day exploring the Mara with a picnic lunch, searching for lion, cheetah, leopard and elephant. From about July to October, your guide may head towards the Mara River for a chance to see the migration herds (crossings can’t be predicted). Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner.

Same Mara camp

Balloon Option and Mara Drives

Masai Mara

Start with an optional sunrise hot-air balloon flight with bush breakfast (extra cost), or a dawn game drive. Optional: visit a nearby Maasai community. In the afternoon, set out on another game drive, ending with a farewell sundowner on the plains. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Same Mara camp

Cross into Tanzania, the Serengeti

Serengeti

After an early breakfast, fly from the Mara airstrip to Migori, then transfer by road through the Isebania–Sirari border. Your Tanzanian guide and vehicle take over here. Drive to Tarime airstrip and fly into the Serengeti, with a game drive on the way to camp. Meals: Breakfast, lunch (packed or at a stop) and dinner.

Serengeti lodge or tented camp

Full Day in the Serengeti

Serengeti

Spend a full day exploring the Serengeti with a picnic lunch. In the central Serengeti, search the Seronera River valley for leopard and lion, and the kopjes and open plains for cheetah. From about July to October, northern camps put you close to the migration herds and the Tanzanian side of the Mara River. Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner.

Same Serengeti camp

Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater Rim

Ngorongoro Crater

Enjoy an early morning game drive, then drive about 2.5–3 hours from the central Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (from northern camps, a short flight may be recommended). Optional: stop at Olduvai Gorge. Arrive at your crater rim lodge in the late afternoon, in time for sunset. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Lodge on the Ngorongoro Crater rim

Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

Descend to the crater floor early, as soon as the gates open, looking for lion, buffalo, hippo, flamingos and black rhino. Enjoy a picnic brunch at a designated site, then climb out and drive about 3–4 hours to Arusha. Drop-off at your hotel, Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or an onward flight. Meals: Breakfast and picnic lunch.

End of safari

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