Kenya, Tanzania · Safari

12-Day Kenya and Tanzania Safari from Nairobi with Big 5 Game Drives

12 Days Round trip from Nairobi Easy pace
A hot air balloon trip
wildebeest migration
A family at play in the national park

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 See over 400 bird species and hippos at Lake Naivasha
  • 02 Take a boat ride to Crescent Island Sanctuary and walk among giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, and waterbuck
  • 03 Search for the Big 5 on game drives in Maasai Mara
  • 04 Explore Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater on safari
  • 05 Look out for rich birdlife and seasonal flamingos at Lake Manyara
  • 06 See large herds of elephants in Amboseli National Park
  • 07 Stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint for magnificent views over the plains

Enjoy a wildlife experience across Kenya and Tanzania as you visit famous national parks in search of the Big 5 and other wild animals. Go on exciting game drives in Maasai Mara, Serengeti National Park, the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Amboseli National Park, known for its large herds of elephants. At Lake Naivasha, take a boat ride to Crescent Island Sanctuary and look out for over 400 bird species and hippos. This safari also includes scenic moments at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint and rich birdlife around Lake Manyara.

Take a boat ride past the hippos and visit the stunning Crescent Island Sanctuary.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 12 Days
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access Not applicable
Cities Naivasha, Nairobi, Masai Mara, Amboseli National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Nairobi to Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island

  • Get picked up from your hotel and depart for the famous Rift Valley lakes as you head to Lake Naivasha.

  • Check in and enjoy refreshments.

  • Head to the freshwater lake, home to over 400 bird species and a large population of hippos.

  • Take a boat ride past the hippos and visit the stunning Crescent Island Sanctuary. With your tourist guides, walk among giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, and waterbuck.

  • Head back to Naivasha Sawela Lodge for dinner and a good night's rest.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

2
Day 02

Lake Naivasha to Maasai Mara

  • Head to Africa's premier game reserve, the Maasai Mara, after breakfast.

  • Stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint en route to the Mara and take in the magnificent views over the plains.

  • Check in and enjoy your lunch.

  • Head out for your first game drive in Maasai Mara, searching for the big cats and plenty of wildebeest.

  • Head back for dinner and an overnight stay at the Mara Sentrim Tented Camp or similar.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

3
Day 03

Full-Day Game Viewing in Maasai Mara

  • Enjoy your breakfast and depart with packed lunches for a full day of exploring the park in search of the Big 5 and other wild game.

  • An optional hot air balloon safari can be arranged at an extra cost, or you may visit the Masai Village to learn about their culture and way of life.

  • See lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, buffalo, warthogs, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, buffalo, leopard, many kinds of antelopes, and elephants.

  • Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at the Sentrim Tented Camp or similar.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

4
Day 04

Maasai Mara Wildlife and Seasonal Migration

  • Have your breakfast and depart with packed lunches for a full day exploring the park in search of the Big 5 and other wild game.

  • Witness the migration (seasonal). This spectacular annual event occurs in the Mara, when millions of wildebeest and zebra migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania in search of water and pasture.

  • Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at the Sentrim Tented Camp or similar.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

5
Day 05

Maasai Mara to Serengeti National Park

  • Leave the lodge soon after breakfast and drive through the southern part of the reserve, viewing game as you proceed to the Tanzanian border at Isebania/Sirari.

  • Complete the immigration procedures, meet the Tanzania representative, and proceed to Serengeti National Park.

  • View game as you proceed to Shuhudia Adventure Camp or similar for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

6
Day 06

Full-Day Safari in Serengeti National Park

  • Depart after breakfast with packed lunches for a full-day game drive exploring the park.

  • Keep an eye out for the tree-climbing lions and their big cat compatriots.

  • Return in the evening for a deserved rest.

Dinner and overnight stay at Shuhudia Adventure Camp or similar.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

7
Day 07

Serengeti to Ngorongoro via Olduvai Gorge

  • After breakfast, proceed to the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater via the historical Olduvai Gorge. Olduvai Gorge cuts through rock beds layered in time sequence from 2 million years ago to the present. It is here that humanoid bones have been found, including a direct ancestor of modern man. Fossil footprints, over three million years old, have also been found here and are the most ancient footprints yet discovered.

  • Engage in intensive game watching, interrupted only by a picnic lunch.

Dinner and overnight stay at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge or similar.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

8
Day 08

Ngorongoro Crater Game Watching

  • Savour an early breakfast.

  • Drive south to the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater via the historical Olduvai Gorge while game watching, interrupted only by a packed lunch.

  • Keep an eye out for the diversity of mammals found there.

Dinner and overnight stay at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge or similar.

9
Day 09

Ngorongoro to Lake Manyara

  • Depart after breakfast for Lake Manyara National Park, arriving in time for lunch.

  • Check in and later proceed for an afternoon game drive to enjoy its rich birdlife until evening.

Dinner and overnight at Burudika Manyara Lodge or similar.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

10
Day 10

Lake Manyara to Amboseli National Park

  • Enjoy an early breakfast before driving into Kenya via the Namanga border.

  • Complete the immigration process and leave for Amboseli National Park.

  • Arrive in time for lunch at Sentrim Tented Camp.

  • Check in, relax, and later depart for an afternoon game drive until sunset.

  • Return to camp for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

11
Day 11

Full Day in Amboseli National Park

  • Spend a full day in this amazing park, the home of elephants.

  • Keep a lookout for herds of elephants lolling around.

  • Head out for morning and afternoon game drives.

Meals and overnight at Sentrim Tented Camp.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

12
Day 12

Return to Nairobi and Departure

  • Pack your bags after breakfast and head back to Nairobi.

  • Get dropped off at the airport for your flight back home.

Masai Mara, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Naivasha

Where this trip takes you

Masai Mara, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Naivasha

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Nairobi 7 cities · 12 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Transport in a 4x4 Land Cruiser, ideal for game viewing and photography

  • Full-board accommodation while on safari

  • Accommodation in a double room

  • All park entrance fees in Kenya and Tanzania, including government taxes

  • Services of an English-speaking professional African safari driver/guide

  • All game drives as detailed in the itinerary

  • Complimentary return airport transfers

  • Bottled water while on safari

  • Start and end in Nairobi

  • Personalised service

What's Not Included

  • Tips

  • Laundry

  • Beverages and drinks

  • International flights

  • Visas

  • Items of a personal nature

  • Any other extras not detailed in the itinerary

  • Hotel accommodation in Nairobi after the safari

What to bring

  • Travel documents for the Kenya-Tanzania border crossings

  • Comfortable clothing suitable for safari game drives

  • Comfortable walking shoes

  • Sun protection

  • Camera or binoculars for wildlife viewing

Know before you go

  • The Mara offers wildlife in variety. You will see lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, buffalo, warthogs, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, buffalo, leopards, many kinds of antelopes, and elephants. The spectacular annual event occurs in the Mara: the migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra from the Serengeti (Tanzania) in search of water and pasture.

  • Serengeti is Africa's most famous and Tanzania's largest park, adjoining the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. With a wildebeest population of about 2 million and several other hoofed species, including zebra, Thomson's gazelle, impala, topi, Grants gazelle, Kongoni, eland, Kirk's dik-dik, klipspringer, roan, oryx, oribi, waterbuck, buffalo, giraffe, and warthog, it is sure to attract a string of prey such as lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, golden jackals, and bat-eared foxes. Elephants are relatively scarce, and the few remaining black rhinoceros are restricted to the Moru Koppies area.

  • The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's biggest whole volcanic caldera at 8300 sq km and is arguably the most stunning arena. It is frequently described as one of the wonders of the world, not only because of its geological magnificence but also because it serves as an extraordinary natural sanctuary for some of Africa's largest populations of large mammals. Ngorongoro and other freestanding mountains are volcanic in origin, formed during the fracturing process that created the Rift Valley 15 to 20 million years ago. When it peaked in size 3 million years ago, it was a similar height to Mt. Kilimanjaro today.

  • Lake Manyara is a shallow, alkaline lake that is part of the Rift Valley wall. Lake Manyara's main attractions are its rich birdlife, tree-climbing lions, and hippos, which you can see at closer range than in many other places. Lake Manyara also hosts thousands of flamingos at certain times of the year.

  • Amboseli National Park is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries in Kenya. It is located close to the Kenya-Tanzania border, and the park lies at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa (5,896 m), whose snow-capped summit presents a splendid view on clear days. Amboseli National Park is often called "The home of Elephants," with some of the largest elephants found here.

  • Accommodation can be customised to suit your needs.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Nairobi, Kenya
Tour start
Nairobi, Kenya
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 12 days finish where they began, in Nairobi.

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