A Well Detailed Kenya And Tanzania Safari Itinerary Guide (Updated 2024)
A budget-friendly safari to Kenya and Tanzania, including visits to the Masai Mara and Serengeti national parks as well as other major game reserves and cultural landmarks.
In and near various safari spots in Kenya and Tanzania, the accommodations on this private African safari are comfortable but not luxurious. From Nairobi head to Masai Mara, Hell’s Gate (Lake Naivasha), and Amboseli National Park in Kenya. Then you can travel across the border into Tanzania to see sights like Materuni (Moshi), Olpopongi Maasai Cultural Village, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater. Kenya and Tanzania safari offer an affordable opportunity to experience a wide range of cultural and wildlife activities.
Kenya + Tanzania Safari
Detailed Itinerary: Kenya And Tanzania Safari
Day 1: Nairobi, Kenya
We’ll pick you up at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and start your Kenya and Tanzania safari adventure from there. Your guide will pick you up at the airport and drive you to the hotel in the city. The rest of the day is at your leisure, so you may take advantage of the hotel’s pool and complimentary WiFi or go out and about in Nairobi, Kenya’s vibrant metropolis.
Accommodation: Nairobi hotel
Day 2: Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
We’ll be leaving Nairobi for Kenya’s premier safari site, Masai Mara National Reserve, in the western part of the country first thing in the morning. We take in the breathtaking views of the Great Rift Valley as we go across it. Upon arrival at our tented camp in Masai Mara, lunch is served. The safari camp is near the Oloirigynyisho River, a popular hangout for zebras, elephants, and wildebeests. Siana’s Conservancy, a private concession area within Masai Mara, serves as the location for the action.
Our first thrilling game drive in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve will begin later in the afternoon. Masai Mara, one of Africa’s top wildlife reserves, is home to a wide variety of animals all through the year. You might expect to encounter a wide variety of animals this afternoon, possibly including the “Big 5” of Africa: lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, elephants, and buffalo. As the sun sets over the Oloolotikoshi Hills, we make our way back to the tented camp where we spent the night after our first thrilling game drive.
Accommodation: Tented Camp in Masai Mara Conservancy
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities Included: Afternoon game drive in Masai Mara
Day 3 & 4: Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Masai Mara | The Safari of a LIFETIME!
Our Kenya and Tanzania safari will continue with two days in the Masai Mara National Reserve. In an open 4×4 safari vehicle, your knowledgeable guide will show you the abundant wildlife and birds of Masai Mara.
Every morning, we begin with a game drive. The hottest portion of the day is when we return to our tents for lunch and a nap. As the sun begins to set, we head out for afternoon wildlife drives. Many animals are most active in the early mornings and late afternoons, making those times ideal for game viewing. Every night, we head back to the tented camp to relax in the lodge and take in the natural surroundings.
The Great Migration is a seasonal movement of wildlife that passes through Masai Mara. You might see thousands of migrating wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles if your safari is timed well. However, game watching is excellent year-round in Masai Mara. It’s famous for its great opportunities to see large cats like lions and cheetahs. In addition to rhinos and leopards, this Kenyan national reserve is home to a wide variety of other wildlife, including elephants, buffalos, giraffes, migrating wildebeest, and other antelope species.
On one of our days in Masai Mara, we can also go on a hot-air balloon safari for an additional fee. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see wildlife up close and personal, and it is a highlight of every safari in the Masai Mara.
Accommodation: Tented Camp in Masai Mara Conservancy
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities Included: Afternoon game drive in Masai Mara
Day 5: Masai Mara to Hells Gate National Park, Kenya
Day five of our Kenya and Tanzania Safari begins with breakfast at the lodge before we hit the road. The next stop after we leave Masai Mara is Hell’s Gate National Park, which is located to the south of Lake Naivasha. Despite its scary moniker, this small national park is a great place to go on safari with your family. It was named after a narrow entrance in its cliffs. Hells Gate is well-known for its abundance of wildlife, unique landscape, and thrilling variety of activities.
Due to the lack of huge predators, visitors can walk freely around the park, or for an additional fee, rent bicycles and ride them throughout the park. After a day of seeing Hell’s Gate National Park, we’ll be making the trip to Lake Naivasha for the night.
Accommodation: Hotel at Lake Naivasha
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities Included: Visit Hell’s Gate National Park
Day 6: Lake Naivasha to Amboseli National Park, Kenya
The ULTIMATE Kenya Safari Tour – Exploring Lake Naivasha by Boat!
The next stop on our Kenyan safari was Amboseli National Park, and we left shortly after breakfast to make our way there. We’ll be traveling through Nairobi, and we’ll eat our meals in the car. This afternoon we begin on a picturesque wildlife drive in Amboseli, Kenya’s second most popular national park. The park is well-known for its intimate encounters with elephants, which are often accompanied by views of Mount Kilimanjaro. After our game drive, we’ll return to our tent lodge outside the park for dinner and a relaxing evening.
Accommodation: Tented Camp at Amboseli National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities Included: Afternoon Game Drive in Amboseli National Park
Day 7: Amboseli National Park, Kenya
We’ll be in Amboseli National Park all day today, hoping to spot some wild animals. Morning and afternoon game drives in the national park are included on our Kenya and Tanzania safari, with meals and free time back at the tented resort in between.
One of the greatest sites to watch elephants in Africa is Amboseli National Park, which is famous for its huge tusked old bull elephants. The area is also home to a wide variety of other creatures, such as cheetahs, wild dogs, leopards, buffalo, lions, crocodiles, hippos, giraffes, and more. Look out for grazing animals like wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, and more. Because of its different habitats and proximity to the Kenyan and Tanzanian borders, Amboseli is an especially beautiful wildlife area. The peak of Africa’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, will be seen on a clear day. Over 420 bird species have been documented in Amboseli, and they include pelicans, bee-eaters, kingfishers, African fish eagles, and pygmy falcons, all of which will excite birdwatchers.
Accommodation: Tented Camp at Amboseli National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities Included: Morning & Afternoon Game Drives in Amboseli National Park
Day 8: Amboseli, Kenya to Moshi, Tanzania
Amboseli National Park – Kenya Photo Safari
Our safari across Kenya and Tanzania continues today as we visit Tanzania. We break camp for breakfast and then continue on our way. The next step involves loading up on sandwiches and heading south to the Tarakea border. Your safari guide in Tanzania will pick up the reins from here on out.
Visit Materuni Waterfalls in Tanzania’s Moshi region on your first day there. On the way to the waterfall, we take in the sights of this scenic region. The waters and pools at Materuni Waterfall are incredibly clean and make for a spectacular sight. The 30-minute hike through coffee and banana plantations, fruit orchards, and vegetable gardens to reach this breathtaking waterfall is more than worthwhile. The waterfall itself is roughly 150 meters in height. Along with the gorgeous native flora and fauna, we’ll be able to witness smaller waterfalls and the canals that irrigate the local farmers on our journey. We’ll take a break for lunch at the waterfall, where you can swim in the pools or just take in the breathtaking scenery.
Then, we’ll have our first taste of Tanzanian culture at the nearby community of Materuni. The town sits at an elevation of 1300 meters (4,300 feet), surrounded by forested mountains and cliffs. We take a stroll through the quaint town and chat with the residents to learn more about the Chagga people of Tanzania.
Our day in Materuni comes to a close, and we head back to our hotel in Moshi for some much-needed rest, dinner, and overnight accommodations. Moshi is the city where most climbers begin their Kilimanjaro expeditions, lying close to the iconic mountain.
Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities Included: Visit Materuni waterfalls & village
Day 9: Olpopongi Cultural Village Tour, Tanzania
We leave for the Olpopongi Maasai Cultural Village after breakfast. The Maasai culture and history can be studied here to great effect. The village leader and Maasai people will serve you cold beverages as soon as you arrive. Olpopongi is a reconstructed Maasai boma (a fenced household) designed to look like the traditional bomas seen in the area. There is a tiny museum in the village where visitors can learn more about the history of this noble African people.
Our native Maasai guide leads us on a stroll through the hamlet as he explains the culture and history of the Maasai people in Tanzania. Learn about the Maasai of Tanzania through their food and try some chai, a traditional drink made over an open fire. Then we have a delicious lunch when we try a wide range of regional specialties. This afternoon we begin on an interesting walking safari in the bush around the settlement. Maasa warriors will lead you on a guided stroll while explaining the area flora and fauna, including medicinal herbs, unique trees, and animal trails. While you’re in the wilderness, your guides will teach you how to make a fire using traditional methods and how to use Maasai tools and spears for hunting.
As we make our way back to the village on foot, we pause for a cup of coffee and a slice of cake. The Maasai men and women then put on a performance of traditional song and dance as the sun goes down. As part of our immersion into Masai culture, we’re going to spend the night in the town of Olpopongi.
Accommodation: Olpopongi Cultural Village
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities Included: Olpopongi Maasai Cultural Village Tour
Day 10: Olpopongi to Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania
After breakfast in the cultural village on day 10, we head to Lake Manyara National Park. The first stop on the world-famous Northern Tanzania Safari Circuit is Lake Manyara National Park, one of Tanzania’s best.
We take our first game drive in Tanzania upon our arrival at Lake Manyara. Located in the Great Rift Valley, this small yet beautiful national park in Tanzania is centered on Lake Manyara. Our game drive offers a chance to observe tree-climbing lions, elephants, giraffes, and many other animals. We’re having lunch in Lake Manyara National Park as part of our wildlife drive. After settling into our local accommodation, we’ll head out for dinner while admiring Mount Meru.
Accommodation: Lodge near Lake Manyara National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities Included: Afternoon Game Drive in Lake Manyara National Park
Day 11: Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
On day 11 of our safari in Kenya and Tanzania, we leave for Serengeti National Park after breakfast. Serengeti Park is one of the best game parks in Africa and the most popular safari destination in Tanzania. It is frequently considered, along with Kenya’s Masai Mara, to be Africa’s finest wildlife preserve.
After arriving at the park’s entrance, we set off on a game drive to our camp in the Seronera section of Serengeti. As soon as we approach this world-famous African park, our safari adventure will begin. The Seronera section of Serengeti National Park is where you’ll find the greatest number of big cats (lions, cheetahs, and leopards), as well as a wide variety of other wildlife. Relax and eat dinner in our tent camp in the Serengeti, keeping an eye out for wildlife as you take in the scenery.
Accommodation: Tented Camp inside Serengeti National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities Included: Game Drive to Tented Camp in Serengeti National Park
Day 12: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Time to go on a Serengeti safari for the day! We leave bright and early to begin our exploration of the illustrious Seronera area. The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is the country’s largest wildlife preserve, at 14,736 square kilometers (5,690 square miles). It has unfenced boundaries with Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, allowing animals (but not humans) to freely roam back and forth between the two parks.
Every season in Serengeti is a highlight for wildlife enthusiasts. It is home to enormous numbers of various wildlife species that can be spotted throughout the year. It is possible to see enormous herds of wildebeests stampeding or grazing in the Serengeti on your safari if it occurs during the Great Migration. Many animals give birth during the calving season, which typically occurs between January and March. About 2 million wildebeests and other herbivores make the annual journey between Masai Mara and Serengeti in search of new grazing areas, an event known as the Great Migration. Zebras, Thomson’s gazelles, impalas, topi, Grant’s gazelles, eland, Kirk’s dik-dik, klipspringer, roan, oryx, oribi, waterbuck, buffalo, giraffe, and even warthogs can be found among the herds. Predators including lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, and bat-eared foxes congregate here to feast on the herbivores.
Ostriches, kori bustards, lilac-breasted rollers, larks, finches, and raptors are just few of the birds that can be seen at Serengeti National Park.
Accommodation: Tented Camp inside Serengeti National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities Included: Full-Day Serengeti National Park Safari
Day 13: Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
Insane Tanzania Safari (You Won’t Believe What We Saw!) – Serengeti
Enjoy an early breakfast in the tented camp as you watch the sun rise over the untamed bush in the middle of Serengeti National Park. We next leave Serengeti Park, stopping to see wildlife on the way out, and go south to the Ngorongoro Crater. On day 13 of our Kenya and Tanzania safari, we will spend most of our time in the crater looking for animals. In the morning, we bring our sandwiches and descend to the crater floor.
Ngorongoro Crater has one of the largest concentrations of animals in Africa, earning it the nickname “Garden of Eden.” The world’s largest unflooded volcano chamber (volcanic caldera). Both the landscape and the wildlife are breathtaking. The caldera is home to nearly all of Tanzania’s large animal species. One of the best spots to watch elephants and lions in Kenya and Tanzania, as well as rhinos. As you explore Ngorongoro, you’ll begin to see why it’s considered one of the world’s seven natural wonders.
After spending time in awe at the treasures of Ngorongoro Crater, we will go to our cozy private resort in the area.
Accommodation: Lodge near Ngorongoro Crater
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities Included: Full-Day Ngorongoro Crater Safari
Day 14: Ngorongoro Crater to Tarangire National Park, Tanzania
On day 14, we left right after breakfast to drive to Tarangire National Park. Once we get to Tarangire, the last wildlife location on our Kenya and Tanzania Safari, we’ll go on a game drive.
We enter the park and make our way to the Tarangire River, a popular gathering spot for elephants, antelopes, and other wildlife. The Tarangire River is the only reliable source of water in the park, hence it is where most of the animal activity takes place. The largest concentration of elephants in all of Tanzania may be found in Tarangire National Park.
We return to our tented camp on the banks of the Tarangire River after an exciting wildlife drive in Tarangire National Park.
Accommodation: Tented lodge near Tarangire National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities Included: Game Drive in Tarangire National Park
Day 15: Tarangire National Park to Arusha and Nairobi, Kenya
At leisure, we eat breakfast at the tented lodge on our last morning of safari in Kenya and Tanzania. Then, we take a private transfer to Nairobi from Arusha. Return to Nairobi is expected about 18:00. Here, your driver will take you to your city accommodation after the safari is over, or to the airport so you can catch your trip home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
End of the 15 Days Kenya And Tanzania Safari
