12 Days Kenya and Tanzania Combined safari to Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater Lodge Safari

Day 1: Nairobi – Masai Mara

Pick up from your Nairobi hotel/residence early in the morning and drive via the scenic Great Rift Valley, to the Mara Reserve arriving in good time for lunch. Afternoon game drive is taken. Dinner and overnight at a safari camp or lodge in Masai Mara.

Day 2 and Day 3: Masai Mara

Full day spent exploring the park in search of the Big 5. Dinner and overnight at a safari camp or lodge in Masai Mara.

The Masai Mara Game Reserve is Kenya’s most popular game sanctuary. Virtually every type of wildlife can be seen at the Mara. A spectacle worth seeing is the annual migration of millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle from Serengeti plains across the Tanzania border and the Mara River to reach Masai Mara grazing fields from late June. The dramatic crossing of the river and the preying on the migrants by predators can be viewed from early July to August. Masai Mara abounds with birdlife since close to about 452 species have been recorded.

Day 5: Masai Mara – Lake Nakuru

After breakfast proceed northwards to arrive in Lake Nakuru National park in time for lunch. Afternoon game drive in the park where you will have a chance to visit a unique sanctuary catering for a sizeable number of the endangered rhinoceros and the Rothschild giraffe. Waterbucks as well as the predators such as the lion and leopard are common at the park. Also to be seen is a myriad different variety of birdlife in and around the lake. Flamingoes are also plenty at the lake. Dinner and overnight at the Sarova Lion Hill Lodge or Lake Nakuru Lodge.

Day 6: Lake Nakuru – Nairobi - Amboseli National park

Game is viewed as we exit the park and drive to Amboseli National Park at the foot of snowcapped Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak via Nairobi. Packed lunches en-route. Afternoon game drive in Amboseli. Dinner and overnight at an Amboseli Safari Camp or Lodge.

Day 7: Amboseli

Full day in will be spent in Amboseli National Park with morning and afternoon game drives. Meals and overnight at an Amboseli Safari Camp or Lodge.

Amboseli National park is one of the most popular wildlife sanctuaries in Kenya. It is situated close to the Kenya- Tanzania border at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa (5,896m) whose snow-capped summit presents a splendid view on clear days. Amboseli National Park is often referred to as “The home of Elephants’ some of the largest Elephant herds are found here. The Game Park also contains vast groups of Zebras, Wildebeests, Giraffes, Buffalos, Hippos and Antelopes. Also to be found in Amboseli are lions, leopards, Cheetahs, Rhinos and many species of plain game

Day 8: Amboseli - Lake Manyara

After breakfast, we drive into Tanzania via the Namanga border then drive to Arusha for lunch and proceed to Lake Manyara National park. Dinner and overnight at Lake Manyara Serena lodge or similar..

Lake Manyara is a shallow, alkaline lake that is part of the Rift Valley wall; the lake is at the base of this dramatic western escarpment giving it a beautiful and serene setting. In addition to this peaceful setting, Lake Manyara’s main attractions are its rich bird life, tree climbing lions and its hippos, which you can see at a closer range than many other places. Lake Manyara also hosts thousands of flamingos at certain times of the year and has diverse vegetation ranging from savannah, to marshes and acacia woodland, enabling a variety of wildlife habitats including butterflies.

Day 9: Lake Manyara - Serengeti

Morning game drives at Lake Manyara national park before proceeding to Serengeti national park with packed lunches. Game is viewed as we proceed to Serengeti Sopa lodge for overnight stay at a Serengeti Safari Lodge or Camp.

Day 10: Serengeti

Full day spent exploring Serengeti National park in search of the big 5. Morning and afternoon game drives are offered. Dinner and overnight stay at a Serengeti Safari Lodge or Camp.

Serengeti is Africa’s most famous and Tanzania’s largest park covering 14,736 sq km and is adjoining with the Masai Mara National reserve in Kenya. With a wildebeest population of about 2 million and several other hoofed species (which include zebra, Thomson’s gazelle, impala, topi, Grants gazelle, Kongoni, Eland, Kirk’s dik dik, klipspringer, roan, Oryx, oribi, waterbuck, buffalo, giraffe and warthog), the Serengeti 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.
Serengeti also offers rewarding bird viewing with ostrich and kori bustard being common, a variety of larks, finches, and raptors can be seen but the most distinctive small bird is the lilac breasted roller.

Day 11: Serengeti - Ngorongoro via Olduvai Gorge

After an early breakfast, rive south to the magnificent Ngorongoro crater via the historical Olduvai Gorge whilst game watching. Dinner and overnight at a Ngorongoro crater lodge

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.

The Olduvai Gorge cuts through rock beds layered in time sequence from 2 million years ago to the present. It is here where humanoid bones have been found dating back to over 1.75 million years 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. There is an excellent site museum where you can explore the diggings with a guide and it is also a great place to view birds.

Day 12: - Ngorongoro- Arusha

Morning crater tour then proceed to Arusha with packed lunches. Dinner and overnight at Kibo Palace Hotel

Day 13 Arusha- Nairobi

Board a Nairobi bound shuttle bus and drive to Nairobi and end your Kenya and Tanzania combined safari.