11-Day Kenya and Tanzania Migration Safari with Masai Mara

11 Days Round trip from Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta Airport) Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Search for white and black rhinos in Lake Nakuru National Park
  • 02 Spend two safari days in the Masai Mara looking for big cats, elephants, zebra, and wildebeest
  • 03 Look for migration herds and possible Mara River crossings from July to October
  • 04 Explore Lake Manyara National Park for elephants, hippos, baboons, giraffes, and flamingos
  • 05 Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day game drive and picnic by the hippo pool

This 11-day, 10-night safari takes you across Kenya and Tanzania, starting in Nairobi and continuing through Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara before crossing into Tanzania for Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. From July to October, you may witness the great wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara, including herds gathering near the Mara River and possible river crossings. The tour includes stays in mid-range lodges and hotels throughout. The herds move through the year, so migration sightings are never guaranteed.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 11 Days
Tour type Shared
Activity level Moderate
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access Yes
Cities Arusha, Nairobi, Namanga, Masai Mara, Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Nakuru National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arrival in Nairobi and Welcome Briefing

  • Arrival: You arrive at Jomo Kenyatta Airport, where your driver meets you.
  • Transfer: You drive to your hotel in Nairobi.
  • Briefing: Your guide gives you a short tour briefing.
  • Rest: You rest and enjoy a welcome drink.
  • Dinner & overnight: Dinner and overnight in Nairobi.
2
Day 02

Drive to Lake Nakuru and Afternoon Game Drive

  • Breakfast: After breakfast, you drive about 3 to 4 hours to Lake Nakuru National Park.
  • Game drive: You spend the afternoon on a game drive, looking for white and black rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, lions, and many birds.
  • Wildlife: You may see flamingos on the lake, depending on the water level.
  • Lunch: You have lunch at your lodge.
  • Dinner & overnight: Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
3
Day 03

Morning in Nakuru and Onward to the Masai Mara

  • Breakfast: After an early breakfast, you have a short morning game drive in Nakuru.
  • Drive: Then you drive about 5 to 6 hours to the Masai Mara, with a stop for lunch on the way.
  • Arrival: You arrive in the late afternoon and enjoy a short game drive.
  • Dinner & overnight: Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
4
Day 04

Full-Day Safari in the Masai Mara

  • Breakfast: After an early breakfast, you spend the full day on a game drive with a packed lunch.
  • Wildlife: You look for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and large herds of zebra and wildebeest.
  • Dinner & overnight: Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
5
Day 05

Mara River and Migration Safari

  • Breakfast: After breakfast, you drive to the Mara River to look for the migration herds and river crossings, in the right months.
  • Lunch: You have a picnic lunch.
  • Game drive: In the afternoon, you continue the game drive.
  • Optional: You can add an optional Maasai village visit (extra cost).
  • Dinner & overnight: Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
6
Day 06

Return from the Masai Mara to Nairobi

  • Breakfast: After breakfast, you have a short morning game drive.
  • Drive: Then you drive about 5 to 6 hours back to Nairobi, with a stop for lunch.
  • Arrival: You arrive in the evening.
  • Dinner & overnight: Dinner and overnight in Nairobi.
7
Day 07

Cross the Namanga Border to Arusha

  • Breakfast: After breakfast, you drive about 5 to 6 hours south to the Namanga border.
  • Border: You complete the border formalities with your guide's help.
  • Drive: Then you drive on to Arusha in Tanzania, where you change to your Tanzanian driver-guide.
  • Lunch: You stop for lunch on the way.
  • Dinner & overnight: Dinner and overnight in Arusha.
8
Day 08

Lake Manyara Game Drive and Transfer to Karatu

  • Breakfast: After breakfast, you drive about 2 hours to Lake Manyara National Park.
  • Game drive: You spend the afternoon on a game drive, looking for elephants, giraffes, hippos, baboons, and flamingos.
  • Lunch: You have a picnic lunch.
  • Drive: In the late afternoon, you drive to Karatu.
  • Dinner & overnight: Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
9
Day 09

Ngorongoro Crater Safari

  • Breakfast: After an early breakfast, you drive up to the crater rim for views.
  • Crater descent: You go down into the crater (about 600 m deep) for a half-day game drive.
  • Wildlife: You can see lions, rhinos, hippos, hyenas, flamingos, and large herds of wildebeest and zebra.
  • Lunch: You have a picnic lunch at the hippo pool.
  • Return: In the afternoon, you return to Karatu.
  • Dinner & overnight: Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
10
Day 10

Return to Arusha

  • Breakfast: After breakfast, you drive back to Arusha (3 to 4 hours).
  • Optional visit: You can visit the Arusha cultural market for souvenirs.
  • Rest: You rest at your hotel.
  • Dinner & overnight: Dinner and overnight in Arusha.
11
Day 11

Departure from Kilimanjaro Airport

  • Breakfast: After breakfast, you check out.
  • Transfer: Your driver takes you to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight home.
  • End: The tour ends.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta Airport) 8 cities · 11 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Airport pick-up and drop-off
  • Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof (in Kenya and Tanzania)
  • English-speaking professional driver-guides
  • Park entrance fees (Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro)
  • Crater service fee and vehicle fees
  • Accommodation for 10 nights
  • Meals as listed
  • Drinking water during the safari
  • Government taxes and VAT

What's Not Included

  • International flights
  • Kenya eTA and Tanzania visa
  • Travel and medical insurance
  • Drinks (soft and alcoholic)
  • Tips for drivers and staff
  • Hot air balloon safari in the Masai Mara
  • Maasai village visit
  • Personal items (laundry, phone, souvenirs)
  • Optional activities not listed

What to bring

  • Documents and money: Passport and visas (Kenya eTA and Tanzania visa), insurance papers, flight tickets, yellow fever certificate if needed, and small US dollar notes for tips.
  • Clothes: Light long-sleeve shirts and trousers in neutral colours (khaki, green, brown), a warm jacket or fleece for cold mornings and the crater rim, a light rain jacket, closed shoes, a sun hat, and sunglasses.
  • Safari gear: Binoculars, a camera with extra batteries, a power bank, sunscreen, insect repellent, a reusable water bottle, and a small day bag.
  • Health: Personal medicine, anti-malaria tablets (ask your doctor), motion sickness tablets (the roads are long and bumpy), hand sanitiser, and wet wipes.

Know before you go

Note: The herds move through the year. Migration is best seen from July to October. Sightings are never guaranteed.

  • Use soft bags, not hard suitcases.
  • Bring a universal plug adaptor.
  • Plastic bags are not allowed in Kenya or Tanzania.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Jomo Kenyatta Airport
Tour start
Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta Airport)
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 11 days finish where they began, in Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta Airport).

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Estimated room rates

Single Room $3,100.00 — $4,000.00
Double Sharing $2,500.00 — $3,300.00
Triple Sharing $2,400.00 — $3,200.00

When

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