Kenya and Tanzania Safaris

Which One Do You Pick: Kenya or Tanzania?
Kenya and Tanzania are two of the most popular countries among ardent wildlife fans, but Kenya seems to receive more affection. It boasts not only lower costs but also the chance to admire animals at a short distance, leaving Tanzania behind. Besides, better road conditions and shorter transfer times make Kenya even more beloved among tourists. But compared to the hustle and bustle of savanna in Kenya, Tanzania's grasslands offer a more tranquil environment for watching animals, which is a good choice for visitors who have enough budget and desire to gain a quiet experience.

When you arrive in Nairobi, our local safari representative will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel downtown. You will be assisted to check into the hotel. The rest of the day is free on your own.

Useful Information for You:
1. Yellow Fever Vaccination: We suggest all travelers get vaccinated as there is a risk of transmission in Kenya. What’s more, remember to obtain the certificate of Yellow Fever Vaccination which is mandatory for all visitors when crossing the border to Tanzania.
2. Visa: Kenya has abolished visa requirements and implemented Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for visitors since January 2024. We suggest you apply for an ETA online at least 3 days before departure, which costs USD 34. You need to present an e-visa or apply for a visa on arrival when entering Tanzania. American travelers can only cross the border holding multiple-entry visas (USD 100) while ordinary visas (USD 50) are acceptable for other visitors.
3. Currency & Tipping: Although both the US dollar (USD) issued after 2013 and the Kenyan shilling (Ksh) can circulate in Kenya, it is still advised to exchange some Ksh. The exchange rate at banks is better than that at the airport. Besides, please remember to prepare some Tanzania Shillings (Tsh) in cash before heading to Serengeti. Local shillings are suggested if you want to tip your driver and guide. As a general rule, USD 10 (Ksh 1,300, Tsh 26,000) is about right per person per day. 
4. Book the Homebound Flight Departing from Tanzania: We will not return to Nairobi at the end of the itinerary, so please book the return flight that will take off from Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airport in Tanzania.

Free Time Suggestion:
If you happen to arrive on Saturday or Sunday and want to experience the local life on your own, Maasai Market, a 15-minute drive from your hotel, is a good choice. The locals always sell their traditional handicrafts such as wooden carvings and colorful beads on weekends. If you want to buy some souvenirs, remember to bargain as the peddlers may overcharge. Sometimes, there are traditional dancing and singing performances in the market. Please keep an eye on your valuables when enjoying the shows.
► Tip: As the market sees hundreds of visitors, it is better not to take a lot of cash with you. Put your valuables inside a zippered pocket in your coat and keep your bag in front of you. 
Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Hurlingham (4 stars)

After breakfast, you will meet our English-speaking driver guide, who will then drive for 2 hours to Lake Nakuru National Park and you will enjoy a bird-watching game drive upon arrival.

Home to more than 400 species of birds, Lake Nakuru is regarded as a bird lovers’ hub. This soda lake once hosted over 2 million flamingos. However, due to the deterioration of the environment, it couldn’t provide enough food for so many pink birds. Although most flamingos have migrated to more inhabitable Lake Bogoria, the remaining small flocks still create a stunning scenery of a pink-hued lake with the green savanna and blue sky as the backdrop. Besides flamingos, you can encounter herds of pelicans, woolly-necked storks, and African fish eagles by the lake without effort. Apart from that, Lake Nakuru is a heaven for 56 kinds of mammals, like Rothschild giraffes, black and white rhinoceros, hyenas, and leopards. After the delightful game viewing, we will return to the lodge at sunset.

★ Our Vehicle Strength: 4×4 Pop-up Roof Land Cruiser
With a fully enclosed body, our vehicle can provide you with private and safe safaris. Its windows and pop-up roof are not only dustproof but also offer a vantage point for admiring landscapes and animals. In addition, the great wheels bring a better performance than those of minivans, which means that our land cruiser is more capable of navigating through tough terrains.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Lake Nakuru Lodge - one of the best lodges in Lake Nakuru

Today, we will first arrive at Longonot Volcano, a dormant volcano in the Great Rift Valley. The flat bottom of this crater forms a fantastic ecosystem with lush vegetation and abundant water resources, becoming a harbor for many animals. You can try your luck to spot the rare black-maned lions and Abbott’s duikers which are hardly seen elsewhere. When driving on the edge of the crater, you will enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree view of the surroundings and overlook Lake Naivasha nearby. Next, we will continue to drive to Masai Mara National Reserve which is known for the Great Migration and Masai tribes, and enjoy a game drive in the late afternoon. You may encounter a pride of lions or elephants strolling back to their residences when the sun goes down. It is also a good time to track leopards and porcupines since these nocturnal animals gradually become active at that time.

Tips for Safaris:
1. It is better not to wave arms or yell at wild animals during the safari. In addition, please stay in the car unless the guide permits you to get off.
2. The guide will stop the car for you to take photos, but for your safety, please avoid leaning out of the window or groveling on the car top.
3. To protect you from the scorching sun, please prepare a sun hat and sunglasses. The temperature drops significantly at night so packing thick clothes is also very necessary.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ashnil Mara Camp (4 stars)

Today, you will follow our English-speaking driver guide to enjoy a full-day game drive in Masai Mara tracking the African Big Five: lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, buffalo, and other rare animals.

★ Witness the Thrilling Moment of Wildebeest Migration
Masai Mara attracts numerous visitors for the spectacular scenes of the Great Migration. From July to September, millions of wildebeest, zebras, and antelopes migrate from Serengeti in Tanzania to Masai Mara. More than 70% of wildebeests will die during this 3,000-kilometer-long migration. As the main participants, they do not only have to look out for predators such as lions, leopards, and crocodiles but also need to fight hunger and thirst. Throughout the migration, the wildebeest crossing the Mara River is considered the climax, during which many herbivores will be trapped in the mud due to exhaustion or killed by crocodiles lurking underwater.
► Note: It is impossible to predict the time and position of wildebeest passing through the river as it depends a lot on the seasons and the animals themselves. But Masai Mara guides will share messages if there is any crossing and our guide will then drive you to the spot immediately, which can increase the chance for you to see the thrilling scenes.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ashnil Mara Camp (4 stars)

Today we will leave Kenya and head to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. We need to drive to Isebania first, situated on the border between the two countries. After the customs and immigration formalities, your Tanzanian guide will pick you up and escort you to Serengeti National Park.
► Tip: You can apply for a Tanzania e-visa ahead of time and present it to the customs. If you plan to apply for a visa on arrival at the border crossing, please make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months.

As the entire journey may take 6-7 hours, we will arrive at Serengeti National Park in the late afternoon. Upon arrival, you will check into the lodge we handpicked for you. Located in Serengeti National Park, it is very close to the zone where animals are always active, so you will have more chances to admire wild animals. The houses are built separately, highly similar to the residences of the local Masai people, and are covered by thatches and hidden in the lush acacia. Thanks to the unparalleled surroundings, you can encounter various birds, monkeys, and antelopes around your room. You can also join the party where local dances and songs are performed at 19:00, which will leave you with an unforgettable memory. Nevertheless, it is better not to hang out alone at night, because some wildlife may stray into the lodge area. If you need to go outside, please find the hotel staff for accompaniment.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge (4 stars)

★ Serengeti: Tracking the Greatest Migration on Earth
Escorted by our local English-speaking driver guide, you will take the game safari with a packed lunch in Serengeti National Park all day long. The documentary Serengeti Shall Not Die made Serengeti National Park one of the best-known wildlife reserves globally. As the starting place of the Great Migration, it is home to countless wildlife such as wildebeests, zebras, buffalo, elephants, and more than 500 varieties of birds, especially the enormous ostriches. 8-10 times bigger than Masai Mara, Serengeti has a lower tourist density which offers you more chances to admire animals closer up. If lucky, you may encounter the lion pride and watch the thrilling scenes of hunting. However, it may be difficult to spot solitary animals such as leopards, rhinos, and cheetahs due to the vast size of Serengeti. We will explore the savanna until sunset and return to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Lodge (4 stars)

Today, we will drive for 4 hours to Ngorongoro Crater National Park, the world’s largest caldera, which is called the “8th Wonder of the Natural World.” The diverse landscapes such as savannas, woodlands, and rivers provide perfect habitats for more than 25,000 animals, including the rare huge black rhinoceros, wildebeests, and antelopes. They don’t need to migrate like those on Masai Mara to find new grassland because the park itself is a complete ecosystem with plenty of supplies and it is thus regarded as the “Africa’s Garden of Eden.”  We will go down the crater floor for a game-viewing drive until sunset. Then go back to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge (4 stars)

We will enjoy a full-day game-viewing drive to explore Ngorongoro Crater. Covering a massive area of 264 km² (102 mi²), it is much smaller than Serengeti but the animal density is even higher, which makes it easier for you to encounter solitary animals such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs. In addition, it is home to 20 black rhinoceros, herds of Thomson’s gazelles, wildebeests, and buffalo. If lucky, you will witness the dynamic duel between the African Big Five animals. Ngorongoro is also home to more than 4,000 Masai people who have lived in harmony with wildlife for hundreds of years. You may encounter villagers herding on the grassland. At dusk, we will get back to the lodge for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge (4 stars)

★ Admire Flocks of Flamingos and the Pink-hued Lake
Today, we will go on to Lake Manyara National Park after breakfast and take a game-viewing safari around the lake with a packed lunch. Hosting more than 400 bird species, Lake Manyara is one of the best places for bird watching, especially for watching flamingos. The alkaline water feeds more than 1.9 million of these pink birds with algae, which can be easily spotted at the shore in the migration season (November - May). During this period, you can not only admire the pink-hued lake but also see flocks of long-tailed fiscal and the rare Pangani Longclaw. It also offers habitats to various mammals, such as baboons and antelopes who will welcome you at the entrance of the park. Continue driving, you may encounter herds of buffalo and zebras roaming on the grassland. Sometimes you may see lions that dart up trees in the acacia forest bordered by the savanna. Until sunset, we’ll return to the lodge in the park for dinner and have a rest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge (4 stars)

After a great breakfast at the lodge, we will drive you to Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha Airport for your flight to the next destination or go home. Your Kenya Tanzania tour meets an end here. May you have a smooth journey!

If you want to explore more about Tanzania, for instance, trekking to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, the ‘Roof of Africa’ to enjoy the snow peak and admire the equatorial sunrise, please feel free to contact us!

Meal: Breakfast