13-Days combined Kenya and Tanzania Safari

Overview

This 13-day Combined Kenya and Tanzania Safari is the finest way to discover Kenya and Tanzania wildlife. You will get the opportunity to see all of the Big 5 creatures as well as other wildlife that Kenya and Tanzania have to offer on an African safari. On this 13-day combined Kenya and Tanzania safari, you will have plenty of time for game viewing, bird observation, and optional village visits. This is an all-inclusive tour that will begin in Nairobi, Kenya and conclude in Arusha, Tanzania.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Drive to Aberdares National Park: Game Viewing Experience

Start your journey with a morning pickup in Nairobi, heading north through scenic landscapes to Aberdares National Park. The destination is Sweetwaters Tented Camp, set in the heart of Sweetwaters Game Reserve. Once a residence for billionaire Adnan Khashoggi’s ranch manager in the 70s, the camp now offers 30 luxurious en-suite tents with stunning views of Mount Kenya’s snow-capped peaks.
Surrounded by savannah grasslands, Acacia trees, and ‘Whistling Thorn’ shrubs, the camp features a swimming pool, top-tier tented accommodations, and personalized service. Game drives reveal a variety of wildlife, including giraffes, zebras, elephants, lions, cheetahs, rhinos, and numerous bird species.
Enjoy lunch at the camp, relax, and later visit the Chimps Orphanage within the reserve. Return to the camp for dinner and an overnight stay, completing a day of remarkable wildlife encounters.

Day 2: Aberdares to Lake Nakuru

After breakfast, embark on an en-route game drive to Lake Nakuru National Park, with a brief stop in Nairobi for lunch. The Park hosts a diverse range of wildlife, including leopards, lions, buffalos, hippos, and the endangered Rothschild’s giraffes, unique to this park in Kenya. Both white and rare black rhinos are protected here. The park’s highlight is its vast flamingo population.

Enjoy an evening game drive before dinner and an overnight stay at Flamingo Hill Camp.

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 3: Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara

After breakfast and a short briefing, travel to the iconic Masai Mara National Reserve, known for the annual wildebeest migration. Arrive in time for lunch at the camp, followed by an afternoon game drive exploring the reserve’s rich wildlife.

Return to Mara Sopa Lodge for campfire cocktails, dinner, and overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 4: Full Day in Masai Mara

Spend the entire day on game drives in Masai Mara. If lucky, witness the dramatic river crossing of wildebeest, often pursued by crocodiles. In the evening, return to Mara Sopa Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 5: Masai Mara to Lake Victoria (Musoma, Tanzania)

After breakfast, drive to Tanzania, passing through local farmlands and communities. Cross the Kenya-Tanzania border and continue to Musoma Serenity Lodge by Lake Victoria. Enjoy an evening walk and birdwatching around the lake before dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 6: Musoma to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, drive northwest to Serengeti National Park via the Ngorongoro Highlands. Enjoy an afternoon-to-sunset game drive, exploring the vast plains teeming with wildlife. Conclude the day with dinner and an overnight stay at Serengeti Sopa Lodge.

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 7: Full Day in Serengeti

Spend the day discovering Serengeti’s diverse wildlife, including cheetahs, leopards, and lions. Begin with a 6 AM sunrise game drive, followed by a bush breakfast. Continue with mid-morning and afternoon game drives, pausing for a picnic lunch. Return to Serengeti Sopa Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 8: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

After a sunrise game drive, head to Ngorongoro Crater with en-route stops at Retima Hippo Pool and, optionally, Olduvai Gorge or a Maasai village. Marvel at the archaeological sites or engage in Maasai cultural experiences. End the day with dinner and an overnight stay at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater to Tarangire National Park

Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive. Explore the diverse wildlife, including wildebeests, zebras, elephants, and hippos. Afterward, drive to Tarangire National Park for an evening game drive. Conclude the day with dinner and an overnight stay at Tarangire Sopa Lodge.

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 10: Full Day in Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, embark on a full-day game drive in Tarangire National Park, known for its diverse ecosystem of grassy plains, savannahs, forests, and swamps. The park hosts over 500 bird species and more than 30 large herbivores. Look out for termite mounds, often repurposed by dwarf mongooses as their homes. Enjoy a picnic lunch during the game drive. Return to Tarangire Sopa Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 11: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, proceed on a sunrise game drive en-route to Lake Manyara National Park, the smallest park in Tanzania but rich in wildlife. Expect to see zebras, wildebeests, bushbucks, dik-diks, and guinea fowls. Arrive in the afternoon for a short evening game drive before dinner and an overnight stay at Acacia Farm Lodge.

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 12: Full Day in Lake Manyara National Park

Spend the day exploring Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its flamingos and elephants. Drive through bush tracks, visit the lake, and observe diverse wildlife. In the late afternoon, opt for a short hike down the Great Rift Valley or a visit to the local community. Enjoy a picnic lunch before continuing the game drive until sunset. Return to Acacia Farm Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 13: Lake Manyara to Arusha – Departure

After breakfast, drive to Arusha for your flight home, marking the end of your 13-day combined Kenya and Tanzania safari.