11-Day Kenya and Tanzania Safari with Mara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro

From the Airport to the Northern Frontier
Arrival Nairobi - Meet & Greet - Road Transfer to Samburu

The African sun warms the tarmac as your flight touches down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. You are greeted by our local representatives, who welcome you with broad smiles and introduce you to your driver-guide. There is no overnight stay in Nairobi - your safari begins immediately.

Depart the city and journey north through the dramatic landscapes of Kenya's highlands. You pass through the town of Nanyuki, crossing the equator, and continue into the arid, rugged beauty of Samburu National Reserve. The landscape transforms before your eyes - from lush farmland to dry riverbeds, doum palms, and acacia scrub.

Arrive at Samburu Sopa Lodge in time for lunch. The lodge is perched on a hill with panoramic views over the reserve and the Ewaso Ng'iro River, which attracts wildlife in abundance. Enjoy a delicious lunch, then settle in and freshen up. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to relax and take in the surroundings before dinner under the star-filled sky.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Samburu Sopa Lodge - Samburu National Reserve

Land of the Northern Frontier
Morning & Afternoon Game Drives

Rise early to the golden dawn over Samburu, when the savannah awakens and wildlife is most active. Enjoy an early breakfast at the lodge before departing on a morning game drive along the Ewaso Ng'iro River, where elephants, buffalo, and antelope gather to drink.

Samburu's rugged landscape is a photographer's dream - the river lined with doum palms, the rocky outcrops, and the vast, open plains. Look for the rare gerenuk standing on its hind legs to browse, and the elegant Beisa oryx with its long, straight horns. The reserve is also a stronghold for lions, leopards, and cheetahs.

Return to the lodge for lunch and time at leisure. Perhaps take a refreshing swim in the pool or simply unwind as the savannah stretches endlessly before you. In the late afternoon, set out for another game drive as the sun begins to descend, capturing the magic of Samburu's golden hour. Return to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Samburu Sopa Lodge - Samburu National Reserve

From Arid Plains to Rift Valley Waters
(Approx. 300km, 5-6 hrs by road)

After breakfast, bid farewell to Samburu and journey south through the dramatic landscapes of the Great Rift Valley. The scenery shifts from arid plains to lush highlands, with glimpses of Mount Kenya in the distance. Arrive at Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge in time for lunch.

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater oasis surrounded by forests of yellow-barked acacia, home to hippos, fish eagles, and over 400 species of birds. In the afternoon, take a boat safari on the lake, gliding past hippos and watching fish eagles swoop down to catch their prey. Visit Crescent Island, a private sanctuary where you can walk among giraffes, zebras, and wildebeest - a unique experience that brings you face to face with wildlife on foot.

Return to the lodge for dinner as the sun sets over the lake, casting a golden glow across the water.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge - Lake Naivasha

The Great Plains
(Approx. 250km, 5-6 hrs by road)

After breakfast, depart Lake Naivasha and journey west towards the Maasai Mara National Reserve. The road climbs through the dramatic landscapes of the Rift Valley, passing through Narok town and into the vast, open plains of the Mara. The scenery is breathtaking - endless grasslands, acacia trees, and the distant outline of the Mara River.

Arrive at Maasai Mara Sopa Lodge in time for lunch. The lodge is beautifully positioned on a hill with panoramic views over the surrounding plains, where wildlife roams freely. After lunch, settle in and relax before your first afternoon game drive.

The Maasai Mara is home to the greatest concentration of wildlife on earth - lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and the great herds of the annual migration. As the sun begins to descend, explore the plains in search of predators and their prey. Return to the lodge for dinner under the star-filled African sky.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Maasai Mara Sopa Lodge - Maasai Mara

The Great Plains
Morning & Afternoon Game Drives

Rise early to the golden dawn over the Mara, when the savannah awakens and wildlife is most active. Enjoy an early breakfast at the lodge before departing on a morning game drive. The Mara is renowned for its big cats - lions laze in the shade, cheetahs scan the plains from termite mounds, and leopards rest in the branches of acacia trees.

Explore the diverse habitats of the reserve - from the open plains to the riverine forests along the Mara River, where hippos and crocodiles lurk. Look for elephants, giraffes, zebras, and the great herds of wildebeest and zebra that migrate through the ecosystem. Return to the lodge for lunch and time at leisure.

In the late afternoon, set out for another game drive as the sun begins to descend. This is the perfect time to witness the savannah come alive with golden light and to spot nocturnal species emerging as dusk falls. Return to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Maasai Mara Sopa Lodge - Maasai Mara

The Great Plains
Morning & Afternoon Game Drives

Another full day in the Maasai Mara, with morning and afternoon game drives. You may wish to take an optional hot air balloon safari at dawn (at additional cost), floating silently over the plains as the sun rises - a truly unforgettable experience.

Throughout the day, your expert guide will help you track the wildlife that makes the Mara famous. Look for the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino - as well as cheetahs, hyenas, and the myriad of antelope species that roam the plains. The Mara is also a birdwatcher's paradise, with over 500 species recorded.

Return to the lodge for dinner, reflecting on the incredible wildlife encounters of the past days.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Maasai Mara Sopa Lodge - Maasai Mara

Crossing Borders - Into the Endless Plains
(Approx. 300km, 6-7 hrs including border formalities)

After an early breakfast, depart the Maasai Mara and journey south towards the Tanzanian border. Cross at Isebania, completing border formalities, and continue into the legendary Serengeti National Park. The landscape is vast and open - endless plains, kopjes, and the great herds that make this ecosystem famous.

Due to the long drive and border formalities, a packed lunch is provided en route, allowing you to enjoy your meal amidst the breathtaking scenery as you travel deeper into the Serengeti. Rather than checking in first, you continue directly on a game drive through the Serengeti, following the herds and searching for predators as the afternoon light begins to soften.

The Serengeti is home to the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth - the Great Migration - as well as lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, and an abundance of plains game. As the sun sets over the endless plains, you make your way to Kontiki Serengeti, arriving in the evening to check in, freshen up, and enjoy dinner under the stars.

Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Kontiki Serengeti - Serengeti National Park

The Endless Plains
Morning & Afternoon Game Drives

Rise early to the golden dawn over the Serengeti, when the savannah awakens and wildlife is most active. Enjoy an early breakfast at camp before departing on a morning game drive. The Serengeti is legendary for its predators - lions, cheetahs, and leopards - as well as the great herds of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle that migrate through the ecosystem.

Explore the diverse habitats of the park - from the open plains to the riverine forests and the rocky kopjes where lions often rest. Look for elephants, giraffes, hippos, and crocodiles along the rivers. Return to camp for lunch and time at leisure.

In the late afternoon, set out for another game drive as the sun begins to descend. This is the perfect time to witness the savannah come alive with golden light. Return to camp for dinner under the star-filled sky.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Kontiki Serengeti - Serengeti National Park

From Plains to Crater Highlands
(Approx. 200km, 4-5 hrs by road, plus game viewing)

After breakfast, depart the Serengeti with a packed lunch and journey towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. En route, visit the fascinating Olduvai Gorge, where some of the earliest human fossils have been discovered - a site of immense archaeological importance. Continue through the dramatic highlands, enjoying a game drive en route through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, exploring the rolling highlands and fertile plains that border the crater.

Look for lions, cheetahs, elephants, and the great herds that roam this remarkable landscape as you make your way towards Tloma Lodge Adventure Karatu. Arrive at the lodge late in the afternoon to check in, settle in, rest, and enjoy the lodge's warm hospitality and scenic surroundings.

As the sun sets over the crater highlands, casting a golden glow across the escarpment, enjoy dinner at the lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Tloma Lodge Adventure Karatu - Karatu / Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

From Crater to Kilimanjaro
(Approx. 500km, 8-9 hrs by road including game drive and border formalities)

After an early breakfast, depart Tloma Lodge Adventure Karatu and journey towards the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive. Descend into this UNESCO World Heritage Site - a geological wonder teeming with wildlife. Look for the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and the rare black rhino - as well as hippos, flamingos, and an abundance of birdlife on the crater floor.

Enjoy your packed lunch within the crater, surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of this natural amphitheatre. After lunch, ascend the crater rim and continue your journey north towards the Kenyan border.

Arrive at the Namanga border in the afternoon. From here, continue with an en-route game drive through the vast plains towards Amboseli National Park, with Mount Kilimanjaro emerging on the horizon - a breathtaking sight.

Arrive at Amboseli Sopa Lodge late in the afternoon to check in and settle in. The lodge is beautifully positioned with views of Kilimanjaro and the surrounding savannah. As the sun sets, enjoy dinner at the lodge, reflecting on an incredible day of wildlife and landscapes.

Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Amboseli Sopa Lodge - Amboseli National Park

Farewell to the Wild
Morning Game Drive - Transfer to Nairobi - Departure

Rise early for a final morning game drive in Amboseli, when the light is soft and the animals are most active. Look for elephants, lions, and the abundant birdlife that makes this park so special. With Kilimanjaro as a backdrop, capture your final memories of the African savannah.

Return to the lodge for breakfast, then check out and depart for Nairobi. The journey takes you through the dramatic landscapes of southern Kenya, arriving in Nairobi in the late afternoon. Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight, carrying with you memories of an incredible journey through the wild heart of East Africa.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: None - end of program