10 Day Kenya and Tanzania Safari – Masai Mara, Serengeti and Big Five Adventure

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, you will be warmly welcomed by your professional safari guide before setting off on a scenic drive through Kenya’s dramatic Great Rift Valley. A stop along the escarpment allows time to admire and photograph the sweeping landscapes before continuing toward Lake Nakuru National Park.

After lunch, enjoy your first game drive in this compact yet wildlife-rich park, famous for its successful rhino conservation program. You will search for both black and white rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, lions, buffalo, and plains game, while the soda lake often attracts flamingos and other waterbirds. As the afternoon light softens, the park offers excellent photography opportunities. You will spend the night at a lodge inside or near the park, surrounded by nature.

After breakfast, depart Lake Nakuru and journey westward across the rolling highlands and fertile farmlands of rural Kenya. The drive to the Masai Mara is scenic and culturally rich, offering glimpses of local villages and everyday life along the way.

Arriving in the Masai Mara around lunchtime, you will settle into your lodge before heading out for an afternoon game drive across the reserve’s vast golden plains. This iconic landscape is home to abundant wildlife, including zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, and large herds of elephants grazing beneath classic acacia trees. Predators are often spotted resting or hunting, with lions lounging in the grass, cheetahs scanning the plains, and leopards hiding in tree branches. As the sun sets, the Mara transforms into a painter’s canvas of warm light and long shadows, creating a magical safari atmosphere.

Spend two full days immersed in the extraordinary wildlife of the Masai Mara, one of Africa’s greatest safari destinations. Morning and afternoon game drives maximize wildlife viewing, bringing you close to the Big Five and countless other species. Lions are frequently encountered, elephants roam in family groups, buffalo graze across the plains, and elusive leopards may be spotted resting in trees.

Between July and October, the Masai Mara becomes the stage for the Great Migration, as vast herds of wildebeests and zebras cross the Mara River in dramatic scenes filled with tension and predator action. Cheetahs sprint across the open savannah, hyenas patrol their territories, and hippos and crocodiles dominate the rivers. The reserve is also a paradise for birdlife, with more than 450 species including ostriches, secretary birds, vultures, and the colourful lilac-breasted roller.

For those seeking something extra special, an optional hot-air balloon safari at sunrise offers a breathtaking aerial perspective of the plains, followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush. Evenings may include bush picnics or sundowners as the African sky glows with sunset colors and the sounds of the wild surround you.

After an early breakfast and a final game drive in the Masai Mara, you will travel south toward the Isebania border to cross into Tanzania. After completing immigration formalities, continue into the northern reaches of the Serengeti National Park.

This scenic journey offers opportunities for game viewing en route, as wildlife moves freely across the open plains. Upon arrival at your tented lodge, settle in and enjoy the remote wilderness atmosphere of the Serengeti.

Over the next two days, explore the endless plains of the Serengeti, one of the world’s most celebrated wildlife ecosystems. Morning and afternoon game drives reveal extraordinary predator activity, with lions stalking prey, cheetahs racing across open grasslands, and leopards draped over acacia branches.

Depending on the season, you may encounter vast herds of wildebeests and zebras moving across the plains during the Great Migration, accompanied by dramatic river crossings and newborn calves that attract predators. Elephants, giraffes, gazelles, bat-eared foxes, and hyenas are frequently seen, while hippos and crocodiles dominate the rivers and pools.

Birdlife is abundant and diverse, featuring kori bustards, secretary birds, bee-eaters, and vibrant rollers. Each evening concludes with a peaceful sundowner as the Serengeti sky glows in shades of red and gold, followed by the distant calls of wildlife echoing through the night.

After a morning game drive in the Serengeti, continue toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, ascending into cooler highland scenery. An optional visit to Olduvai Gorge, often referred to as the “Cradle of Mankind,” provides fascinating insight into early human history.

Later in the day, descend approximately 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife arenas. The crater floor supports a remarkable concentration of animals, including black rhinos, lions, elephants, buffalo, hippos, and large flocks of flamingos around the soda lake. After your crater safari, ascend to the lush farmlands of Karatu for overnight rest.

After breakfast, depart Karatu for a cultural visit to Mto wa Mbu, a vibrant town known for its ethnic diversity. A guided walk introduces you to local farms, banana plantations, markets, and traditional lifestyles, offering meaningful interaction with the communities of the area.

Continue onward to Tarangire National Park, a landscape defined by ancient baobab trees, open savannahs, and the life-giving Tarangire River. During your afternoon game drive, you will search for the park’s famous large elephant herds, along with lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, and a wide variety of antelope species. Tarangire is also one of Tanzania’s top birding destinations, boasting more than 550 bird species, making it a delight for bird enthusiasts.