12-Day Kenya & Tanzania Safari | East Africa Tour
Quick Facts
| Duration | 12 days / 11 nights |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Group size | 1–12 guests |
| Destinations | Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, Tarangire National Park, Arusha National Park |
Tour Overview
Two countries, one safari
Kenya's Maasai Mara and Tanzania's Serengeti are the same ecosystem, split by a border. This safari lets you see both sides, and most of what lies between and beyond: the Rift Valley, the Mara River country in the north, the Seronera area, Ngorongoro Crater and the elephants of Tarangire.
You start in Nairobi, spend two nights in the Maasai Mara, cross the border into the Serengeti and stay four nights there, in the north and the centre. Then you go down into Ngorongoro Crater, finish in Tarangire, and end with a cultural visit in the foothills of Kilimanjaro. Depending on your dates, you may also see part of the Great Migration.
It is a private safari, so the pace and the focus of each game drive can change with what you want to see and what the animals are doing. Between drives you rest in comfortable lodges and tented camps, with freshly prepared meals.
Highlights
Two countries, one journey
The Maasai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania, split by a border and joined by one ecosystem.
Budget -Luxury stays: Lodges and tented camps chosen for comfort, location, and service.
A cultural visit: A respectful meeting with local hosts in the Kilimanjaro foothills.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Your 12-day journey through Tanzania, crafted for unforgettable moments at every stop.
Day 1
Arrival in Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) → Nairobi
Arrival in Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) → Nairobi
Welcome to Kenya. Our representative meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel in Nairobi. The rest of the day is yours to rest, use the hotel facilities or have a drink by the pool.
If you arrive early and have energy, we can arrange a short city visit. Your safari specialist can also go through the plan with you and answer any last questions.
Airport meeting and transfer
Optional city visit if you arrive early
Safari briefing
Meals
Depends on your arrival time and the hotel package
Day 2
Nairobi to Lake Naivasha in the Rift Valley
Nairobi to Lake Naivasha in the Rift Valley
Nairobi → Lake Naivasha
After breakfast you drive out of Nairobi and into the Great Rift Valley, with views across the escarpment and rolling hills. You reach Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake with acacia woodland, papyrus shores and a lot of birds.
You check in, have lunch and relax in the afternoon. If you want to do something, you can take a guided boat trip on the lake to see hippos and waterbirds, or a guided walk in a suitable area. Dinner is quiet, in the lodge.
Breakfast, then drive into the Rift Valley
Lunch at the lodge
Optional boat trip or guided walk
Dinner and overnight at the lodge
🦛 Hippos and birdlife on the lake
Day 3
Lake Naivasha to the Maasai Mara
Lake Naivasha to the Maasai Mara
Lake Naivasha → Maasai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast you drive south-west to the Maasai Mara. The road goes through villages and farmland, and then the open savannah begins. You check in to your luxury tented camp, have lunch, and go out on your first afternoon game drive.
The Mara is known for its wildlife. You may see elephants crossing the plains, giraffes at the acacia trees, large herds of grazers and predators resting in the shade or starting their evening hunt. You return to camp as the light softens, and have dinner.
Breakfast, then drive to the Mara
Lunch at camp
First afternoon game drive
Dinner and overnight at camp
🦁 First game drive in the Mara
Day 4
A Full Day in the Maasai Mara
A Full Day in the Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara National Reserve
You start early, when the animals are most active. Your guide knows the animals and the ground, and that makes the difference between seeing a lion and understanding what it is doing. You look for lions after the night hunt, cheetahs scanning the grass, elephants, leopards if you are lucky, and buffalo, hyenas, jackals, hippos and crocodiles. The birdlife is excellent too.
You take a picnic lunch, so you can stay out and spend more time with the animals. In the migration season, large herds of wildebeest and zebra may be in the Mara. River crossings cannot be predicted, and we cannot promise one.
You return to camp in the late afternoon, with time to freshen up before dinner.
Full-day game drive
Picnic lunch in the reserve
Optional sunrise hot air balloon safari, with a bush breakfast (extra cost)
Dinner and overnight at camp
🎈 Optional balloon safari at sunrise
Day 5
Maasai Mara to the Northern Serengeti
Maasai Mara to the Northern Serengeti
Maasai Mara → Isebania–Sirari border → Northern Serengeti
After an early breakfast you leave the Mara and cross into Tanzania. We arrange the border formalities and the transfers, and your team tells you the expected travel time before you leave. The overland route via the Isebania–Sirari border is long, so the day is planned around a comfortable start, the border procedures and the drive into the Serengeti.
Once you are in Tanzania, the landscape opens into big grasslands and remote country. If time allows, you have a short game drive on the way to camp. The Northern Serengeti is known for the Mara River and the migration in season, and for its predators. You check in to your tented suite and have dinner in the quiet of the wilderness.
Early breakfast and departure from the Mara
Border formalities and change of vehicle and guide
Drive into the Northern Serengeti, with an introductory game drive
Dinner and overnight at camp
🌍 From Kenya into Tanzania
Good to know: This is a long day. We can look at a fly-in connection to cut the road time, depending on the border arrangements, flight times and availability. Anything not listed in your final proposal needs to be confirmed before you book.
Day 6
Northern Serengeti: Following the Herds
Northern Serengeti: Following the Herds
Northern Serengeti
A full day in the north, at an easy but rewarding pace. After an early breakfast you go out with your guide across open plains, wooded river banks and rocky outcrops. Depending on recent sightings you may look for lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, giraffes, topi, gazelles and large herds of wildebeest and zebra.
If you are travelling in the migration season, your guide focuses on the areas where the herds were last seen. Their position changes through the year, so each day is planned from the seasonal pattern and the latest reports. You can take a picnic lunch, or come back to camp for lunch if the distances allow. The afternoon is for more game viewing, or time at camp.
Full-day game drive
Focus on where the herds have been seen
Picnic lunch or lunch at camp
Dinner and overnight at camp
🦓 Wildebeest and zebra near the Mara River
Day 7
Northern to Central Serengeti
Northern to Central Serengeti
Northern Serengeti → Central Serengeti (Seronera)
After breakfast you drive south through the park, with game viewing on the way, and this is more than a transfer. You pass through changing habitats and wildlife areas. The Seronera area in the Central Serengeti has wildlife all year round, with rivers and rocky kopjes that shelter lions and other animals, and open grassland with resident herbivores and the predators that hunt them.
You stop for sightings, and have a picnic lunch on the way or lunch at camp, depending on your route. You reach your lodge later in the day, with time to relax if there is light left, and the Serengeti turns golden as evening comes.
Breakfast, then drive south through the park
Game viewing on the way
Picnic lunch or lunch at camp
Dinner and overnight
🌅 Golden evening light in Seronera
Day 8
A Full Day in the Central Serengeti
A Full Day in the Central Serengeti
Central Serengeti (Seronera Valley)
Another full day in the Serengeti, so you do not pack up and move. You start early and drive the Seronera Valley and the plains around it, looking for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes and large herds of plains game. The rivers and kopjes keep wildlife here all year, and the birdlife is good, from big raptors to colourful birds in the woodland.
You can take a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch, so you can follow promising sightings and go further. If you prefer a slower pace, you can have a morning drive, lunch at camp and a shorter afternoon drive. An optional sunrise balloon safari, with a bush breakfast, can be added if you book in advance. It depends on availability and the weather.
Full-day game drive, or a slower morning-and-afternoon plan
Optional sunrise balloon safari (extra cost)
Dinner and your last evening in the Serengeti
🎈 Optional balloon safari at sunrise
Day 9
Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Highlands
Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Highlands
Central Serengeti → Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast you can take a last morning game drive, or leave early, depending on your pace and the distance to your lodge. The plains give way to highland forest and cooler mountain air, and the scenery changes completely.
If you are interested, we can stop at Olduvai Gorge, where researchers study the origins of humans. Any entry fees or guided visits are confirmed in advance. You reach your lodge in the highlands in the afternoon, and can relax by the fire or get ready for the crater.
Breakfast and an optional last game drive
Drive to the Ngorongoro highlands
Optional stop at Olduvai Gorge
Dinner and overnight
🌲 Highland forest and cooler air
Day 10
Ngorongoro Crater, then Tarangire
Ngorongoro Crater, then Tarangire
Ngorongoro Crater → Tarangire National Park
You start early for one of Tanzania's best wildlife mornings. After breakfast you go down into the crater for a game drive. The crater is a closed ecosystem with a very high concentration of animals. You may see elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and lions, and with luck your guide can find the endangered black rhino.
You spend the morning on the crater floor, with a picnic lunch so you do not have to stop. In the afternoon you climb out and drive to Tarangire. It is a big travel day, and the timing depends on the roads, the wildlife and the location of your camp. You arrive at your tented camp for dinner and a quiet evening.
Early breakfast, then descent into the crater
Morning game drive on the crater floor
Picnic lunch
Afternoon drive to Tarangire
🦏 Black rhino, with luck
Day 11
Tarangire and a Kilimanjaro Foothills Visit
Tarangire and a Kilimanjaro Foothills Visit
Tarangire National Park → Arusha
You start with an early game drive in Tarangire, known for its ancient baobab trees, seasonal swamps and big elephant herds. The Tarangire River is a vital water source in the dry season, so you may see elephants gathering near the river, giraffes in the woodland, zebras and wildebeest grazing, and predators looking for a chance.
After a picnic lunch or lunch at camp, you drive toward Arusha and the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro for a cultural visit. Depending on your interests it can be a visit with a local community, a look at traditional ways of life or a coffee farm. We arrange it so you meet and learn from local hosts, and it is not a performance. Then you go on to your lodge near Arusha, freshen up, have dinner and get ready to leave.
Early game drive in Tarangire
Picnic lunch or lunch at camp
Cultural visit in the Kilimanjaro foothills
Dinner and overnight near Arusha
☕ Meeting local hosts near Kilimanjaro
Good to know: Combining Tarangire with a cultural visit makes this a full day. If you want a more relaxed visit, we can change the timing or move it to another day.
Day 12
Departure from Kilimanjaro
Departure from Kilimanjaro
Arusha → Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
You have breakfast at your lodge, and then we take you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight. We time the transfer around your flight, the road conditions and the distance.
Take home the memories of the wildlife, the landscapes and the people you met in two countries.
Opt: Arusha National Park - Half Day
Breakfast
Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport
What's Included
- 11 nights of accommodation at the properties in your final itinerary
- Meals as set out in your final plan
- Airport transfers on arrival in Nairobi and on departure from Kilimanjaro International Airport
- Private guiding and game drives for each country
- Safari transport and the scheduled transfers in the confirmed programme
- National park and reserve entry fees for the places in your final itinerary
- Ngorongoro Crater service and vehicle fees, where they apply
- The cultural visit in the Kilimanjaro foothills, as described in your quote
- Government taxes and levies included in the agreed price
- Planning and coordination by Explore Jambo Maasai before you travel
What's Not Included
- International flights to Nairobi and from Kilimanjaro
- Kenya eTA, Tanzanian visa fees and other entry documents
- Travel insurance, including medical, evacuation and cancellation cover
- Optional hot air balloon safaris
- Optional boat trips, walking activities and other excursions not listed as included
- Alcoholic and premium drinks, and meals or drinks outside the meal plan
- Tips for guides, drivers and lodge staff
- Personal items such as laundry, souvenirs and phone calls
- Extra nights or transfers caused by changes to your international flights
- Any flight, border transfer or activity not listed as included in your quote
Destinations on This Tour
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you cross from Kenya into Tanzania?
On Day 5 you travel overland via the Isebania–Sirari border. We arrange the formalities and the transfers, and your team tells you the expected travel time before you leave. If you prefer to cut the road time, we can look at a fly-in connection, subject to flights and availability.
Which entry documents do I need?
Kenya and Tanzania have different entry requirements. You need the Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) and a Tanzanian visa. We tell you what to arrange when you book.
What standard are the lodges and camps?
We confirm the exact properties and room types in your quote, and if your first choice is full we offer an alternative of the same standard.
Can I change the length of my stay in the Serengeti or the Mara?
Yes. We can tailor this safari: add nights, upgrade selected camps, add fly-in options or private experiences, or change the order.
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