9 Day Budget Masai Mara & Serengeti Safari – Tanzania Tour
Overview
An exciting 9-day lodge safari, this Tanzania & Kenya adventure takes you through the breathtaking landscapes of Masai Mara, Serengeti, and other premier African wildlife parks.
Embark on a journey from Nairobi, the vibrant capital of Kenya, to the renowned Masai Mara Game Reserve, passing through the breathtaking landscapes of the Great Rift Valley. Discover the wonders of Kenya’s Masai Mara, where you can encounter a rich variety of African wildlife and witness the breathtaking spectacle of the Great Migration during its season! Embark on a journey from Masai Mara, heading north to the captivating Hells Gate National Park and the serene Lake Naivasha, then venture south to the breathtaking Amboseli National Park of Kenya.
Departing from Kenya, journey into Tanzania for exhilarating game drives in Lake Manyara National Park, followed by an unforgettable safari in the Serengeti. Serengeti, Tanzania’s premier safari destination, stands out as one of the finest in Africa, alongside Masai Mara. Finally, journey to Africa’s “Garden of Eden” – the Ngorongoro Crater, home to an incredible abundance of wildlife. From the stunning drive through the Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha and then Nairobi, where this exclusive Kenya & Tanzania Safari concludes.
Trip Itinerary ( Detailed Safari )
Day 1: Journey from Nairobi to the breathtaking Masai Mara – Kenya
This 9-Day Budget Kenya & Tanzania Safari begins with a pickup from your pre-tour hotel or the airport in the vibrant capital of Kenya, Nairobi. As we journey to Masai Mara, we descend the escarpment, traversing the breathtaking landscape of the Great Rift Valley.
We reach our tented camp just in time for a delightful lunch in the afternoon, before setting off on our exhilarating first game drive in Masai Mara Game Reserve.
After our exhilarating game drive, we head back to the safari camp near Masai Mara National Reserve, ready for a delightful dinner and a night of unwinding under the stars. We reside in cozy walk-in tents equipped with mosquito nets, comfortable beds, and private bathrooms.
Features: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Masai Mara Game Reserve – Kenya
Today we embark on an exhilarating day of game-viewing in Kenya’s premier wildlife park, the Masai Mara National Reserve. A standout moment from our thrilling journey through Tanzania and Kenya!
Our morning and afternoon game drives lead us on an exhilarating quest for Africa’s Big Five and the myriad of other wildlife that call this expansive Kenyan game reserve home. On clear days, the Mara showcases breathtaking orange-tinged sunsets that are truly a sight to behold.
The Mara reserve spans 1510 km² of breathtaking, expansive landscapes and lush riverine woodlands that trace the winding paths of the Mara and Talek rivers in Kenya. Just a single look reveals its charm – it is the quintessential open savannah, teeming with incredible wildlife.
In the expansive Masai Mara, every corner reveals a rich tapestry of wildlife, including Masai giraffes, baboons, warthogs, bat-eared foxes, grey jackals, spotted hyenas, topis, impalas, hartebeests, and wildebeests. Elephants, buffaloes, zebras, and hippos roam in impressive numbers. It is also common to see lions either basking after a hearty feast or scanning the vast plains for their next opportunity. Cheetahs and leopards may be elusive, but they are still fairly prevalent in the wild.
The pinnacle of excitement unfolds during the annual wildebeest exodus, known as the Great Migration, in July and August. During this time, millions of these grazers embark on a journey north from the Serengeti, driven by the quest for greener pastures, before making their way south again in October. The Great Migration of hoofed animals draws in a host of hungry predators, including lions, hyenas, and cheetahs, among others.
Hot-air balloon trips offer a remarkable perspective of the savannah plains alive with wildlife. Exciting balloon trips in the Masai Mara can be arranged for an additional fee.
Features: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Journey from Masai Mara to Hells Gate National Park – Kenya
On the third day of this Tanzania & Kenya Safari, the excitement begins with a thrilling game drive in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, followed by a delightful breakfast back at camp.
From Masai Mara, we journey north to Lake Naivasha, exploring the nearby Hells Gate National Park along the way. This African game park is a treasure trove of geological wonders, showcasing a variety of landscapes teeming with an incredible assortment of wildlife and vibrant bird species.
This game park offers a distinctive experience, allowing exploration on foot or by bicycle, thanks to the lack of large predators. Bikes are available for hire at an additional cost, allowing you to explore the game park on two wheels. We suggest exploring the wildlife park through hiking and cycling, offering an exhilarating way to immerse yourself in the bush, along with a unique chance to engage with the beauty of Kenyan national parks.
Evening meal and a night spent at a charming resort by the shores of Lake Naivasha.
Features: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Journey from Lake Naivasha to Amboseli National Park – Tanzania
Begin your day with an exhilarating boat ride on Lake Naivasha (optional extra), where you can observe vibrant birds and watch for wildlife along the scenic shores of the lake.
Next, we journey back south, soaking in the stunning rural landscapes as we head towards the breathtaking Amboseli National Park in the Rift Valley Province. Amboseli, Kenya’s second most popular safari destination, is nestled in the southern part of the country, close to the border with Tanzania. We enjoy a delightful lunch as we journey onward, setting off on an exhilarating afternoon game drive upon our arrival.
Amboseli National Park sprawls across the expansive plains beneath the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest free-standing mountain on the planet, nestled in nearby Tanzania. This picturesque setting features Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, as a stunning backdrop for wildlife viewing in Amboseli, creating breathtaking photographic moments.
Encountering wildlife here is a thrilling experience, with a variety of large herbivores like buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest roaming the land, alongside the ever-watchful predators such as lions, hyenas, and cheetahs that are often seen in action. Amboseli is renowned for its magnificent elephant herds, particularly the majestic old bulls adorned with impressive tusks. This national park is renowned for offering an incredible opportunity to encounter free-roaming elephants in Africa. Amboseli’s main highlight is the opportunity to capture stunning close-up images of these magnificent giants, all set against the majestic backdrop of Kilimanjaro. The park boasts a vibrant array of birdlife, including majestic raptors and graceful waterbirds, making it a fantastic spot for bird watching.
We enjoy dinner and spend the night at a safari lodge in Amboseli.
Features: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Journey from Amboseli National Park to the enchanting Lake Manyara – Tanzania
Setting off from Amboseli National Park in the morning, we journey south into Tanzania. Our journey through Tanzania and Kenya leads us to the captivating Northern Safari Circuit. Tanzania’s renowned game parks come together in the captivating Northern Safari Circuit, featuring the iconic Serengeti, the breathtaking Ngorongoro, the stunning Lake Manyara, and the enchanting Tarangire national parks.
First, we embark on our journey into the stunning Lake Manyara, equipped with packed lunches. This afternoon we embark on an exhilarating journey through this picturesque wilderness, seeking out wildlife and birds on an exciting game drive.
Lake Manyara National Park is a treasure trove of diverse ecosystems, brimming with some of Tanzania’s most vibrant birdlife. The game park surrounding Lake Manyara is renowned for its extraordinary tree-climbing lions, a remarkable species, along with its vast populations of baboons. The park boasts an incredible number of baboons, making it one of the top spots in the world to encounter these fascinating creatures.
Features: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Journey from Lake Manyara to the vast expanse of Serengeti National Park – Tanzania
We embark on an exhilarating morning game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, followed by a journey to the renowned Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti stands as a premier safari destination globally, showcasing iconic African wildlife moments that have graced countless films and documentaries.
As we journey to our overnight tented camp, we revel in the thrill of spotting wildlife in the vibrant Serengeti ecosystem. Conclude the day with a meal and some leisure time at our overnight camp.
Features: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7: Serengeti National Park – Tanzania
Today we embark on an exhilarating journey across the expansive Serengeti plains during our budget Tanzania & Kenya Safari. Our game drives lead us on thrilling quests to discover the astonishing array of wildlife that inhabits this area. The Serengeti stands out as one of Africa’s iconic game parks, featuring expansive open savannahs and a vibrant array of wildlife.
This is Tanzania’s largest game park, sprawling across an impressive 14,736 km² of the wild African bushveld. The Serengeti is an exhilarating destination for game viewing, providing exceptional experiences all year long. Serengeti Park and the adjacent Masai Mara National Park in Kenya are renowned for the spectacular annual Wildebeest Migration. Often referred to as the Great Migration, this wildlife spectacle unfolds as a vast multitude of grazers journeys across the plains, driven by the quest for fresh grazing grounds.
This thrilling wildlife migration showcases a staggering herd of over a million wildebeests charging across vast grasslands and rushing through rivers. The remarkable wildlife migration features a variety of hoofed animals, including zebra, Thomson’s gazelle, impala, topi, Grant’s gazelle, Kongoni, Eland, Kirk’s dik-dik, oryx, oribi, waterbuck, buffalo, giraffe, and many others! This remarkable group of grazers, in turn, draws in the fierce predators of the Serengeti, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs, as well as hyenas, jackals, and bat-eared foxes.
The bird watching on Serengeti Safaris is truly remarkable, featuring common sightings such as ostriches and kori bustards, along with larks, finches, raptors, and the striking lilac-breasted roller.
Features: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8: Journey from Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater – Tanzania
On the final full day of our Tanzania & Kenya Safari, we journey to the stunning Ngorongoro Crater. We journey southeast into the breathtaking Ngorongoro Conservation Area, eagerly watching for wildlife as we go. Here we spend the night at a safari lodge near the Ngorongoro Crater, surrounded by the thrill of the wild.
In the afternoon, we embark on a thrilling drive down to the crater floor for an exhilarating experience of game viewing. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, spanning 8,300 square kilometers and teeming with diverse wildlife.
Often hailed as a marvel of the world, it captivates with its stunning geological features and stands as an incredible natural haven for some of Africa’s most impressive large mammal populations. Ngorongoro and other freestanding mountains boast a volcanic origin, shaped during the dramatic fracturing that gave rise to the Rift Valley 15 to 20 million years ago. At its grandest, 3 million years ago, it reached heights comparable to the majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro we see today!
Features: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9: Ngorongoro & Arusha to Nairobi – Kenya
After breakfast, we set off from the Ngorongoro Crater, journeying towards Arusha in Tanzania. We reach Arusha by noon, perfectly timed to catch the transfer back to Nairobi. Alternatively, you can conclude your Tanzania & Kenya Safari in Arusha.
Our Budget Masai Mara & Serengeti Safari concludes in the vibrant city of Nairobi, Kenya, with a drop-off at the airport around 18h30.
Features: Breakfast
Tour Includes
- Safari Park fees
- All Tour activities
- All Tour accommodation
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation ( To & From )
- All Taxes/VAT
- Everyday Meals ( As specified )
- Drinking water ( On all days )
Tour Excludes
- International flights ( From / to home )
- Additional Accommodation
- Tips
- Personal items(Souvenirs, etc.)
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Gov increase of taxes and/or park fees