Ultimate Kenya and Tanzania Big 5 and Migration Safari Tour

4.8 (4 Reviews)

3 Agents for Masai Mara

Quick Itinerary: Aberdare National Park(1N) → Samburu National Reserve(2N) → Ol Pejeta Conservancy(1N) → Lake Naivasha(1N) → Masai Mara National Reserve(2N) → Serengeti National Park(2N) → Ngorongoro Crater(1N) → Tarangire National Park(1N) → Amboseli National Park(2N)

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Nairobi to Aberdare at The Ark Lodge

Embark on a safari adventure with a delightful drive from Nairobi to the Ark Lodge in Aberdare National Park. Your journey will be guided by a warm and knowledgeable driver who will take you through the breathtaking landscapes from the airport or your hotel in Nairobi to Aberdare National Park in the north. Traverse the lush, green highlands of Kenya, renowned for its vibrant tea and coffee plantations.

On arrival, have lunch at the Base Hotel in Aberdares Country Club before proceeding to the lodge. Nestled in the heart of the Aberdare National Park, The Ark offers stunning views of a floodlit waterhole and salt lick, drawing a diverse array of wildlife. Modeled after and named after Noah’s Ark, The Ark features 3 decks with numerous balconies and lounges, providing an unparalleled vantage point for observing wildlife. To ensure you don’t miss a single animal sighting, the night guard will promptly notify your room when special animals visit the waterhole.

Driving time: 3 hours

Day 2 The Ark to Samburu National Reserve

After savoring a delightful breakfast at The Ark, you'll depart for Aberdare, the base hotel, to join your amiable driver guide. From there, you'll journey north to Samburu National Reserve. En route, you'll pause at the equator for an intriguing demonstration and a quick restroom break before continuing on to Samburu, where a sumptuous lunch awaits. In the afternoon, prepare for your inaugural game drive and bask in the enchanting wildlife of Samburu. As the sun sets, you'll return to the lodge.

Samburu's rugged and secluded ambiance sets it apart from other parks, offering a more intimate wildlife encounter. It is the exclusive habitat of unique species such as Grevy’s zebra and the reticulated giraffe. Despite the lengthy journey, the ever-changing landscapes and the prospect of encountering these rare animals make it an adventure well worth undertaking.

Driving time: 2 hours

Day 3 Full Day in Samburu National Reserve

Samburu National Reserve is a gem in Kenya’s northern region, known for its arid landscapes and rare wildlife. Today, you’ll explore this unique reserve on morning and afternoon game drives. The Ewaso Nyiro River, which flows through Samburu, attracts a variety of animals, including elephants, crocodiles, and over 450 bird species. The day’s activities allow plenty of time to relax at your lodge or camp, and the lack of crowds in Samburu means you’ll enjoy peaceful game viewing. It’s a perfect balance of adventure and relaxation in a truly wild setting.

Day 4 Samburu National Reserve to Ol Pejeta Conservancy

After enjoying a relaxed breakfast, you'll drive south of Samburu to arrive at Serena Sweet Waters Camp in time for a delicious lunch. Afterward, take some time to explore the camp and its beautiful surroundings, including a waterhole next to the bar where animals come to drink the water and mudbath. Then, it's time for an exciting afternoon game drive! You'll start with a visit to the chimpanzee sanctuary and then head out to explore the park, which is home to a fantastic variety of wildlife, including white and black rhinos, giraffes, gazelles, elephants, lions, cheetahs, and more.

Ol Pejeta is also known for being the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa and is the precious home of two of the world's last remaining northern white rhinos. It's also the only place in Kenya where you can see chimpanzees, as the sanctuary was established to rehabilitate animals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.

Day 5 Ol Pejeta via Elementaita to Lake Naivasha

Today's journey will take you from Ol Pejeta to Lake Naivasha, passing by the stunning Lake Elementaita, known for its large population of flamingos. The 4.5-hour drive will offer scenic views of the Rift Valley and its diverse birdlife, including the beautiful flamingos. Upon arrival, you can enjoy a delightful lunch, relax at the lodge, or partake in exciting activities such as a boat ride or a walking safari at Crescent Island.

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater paradise home to hippos, fish eagles, and other fascinating wildlife. After the drive, you can treat yourself to a peaceful boat ride on the lake, perfect for bird watching. The drive is easy, and the change of scenery from the savannah to the lush lakeside is truly refreshing, offering a soothing contrast to the bush.

Driving time: 4.5 hours

Day 6 Lake Naivasha via Hell's Gate to Masai Mara

After breakfast, start your day with a visit to Hell's Gate National Park, a short drive from Lake Naivasha. Known for its striking cliffs and geothermal activity, Hell's Gate is one of the few parks where you can walk or cycle among wildlife. After exploring, continue to the Masai Mara, about a 5-hour drive away. The Mara is renowned for its vast plains and the annual great migration. You can ease any concerns about the length of the drive by stopping at a curio shop on the way to freshen up and buy souvenirs. The excitement of reaching the Mara is palpable, and an evening game drive offers your first glimpse of this world-famous reserve.

Day 7 Full day in Masai Mara National Reserve

Spend a full day in the Masai Mara, where the vast savannahs are teeming with wildlife. The Mara is home to the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino - as well as cheetahs, zebras, and wildebeests. If you’re visiting during the great migration, you might witness the dramatic river crossings. While the idea of an entire day in the park might seem tiring, the thrill of spotting wildlife around every corner makes it exhilarating. The day includes game drives and time to relax at your lodge, ensuring you’re comfortable while experiencing the best of the Mara.

A balloon safari can be arranged for you to truly grasp why the Mara is the world's most famous game reserve.

Day 8 Masai Mara to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, get ready for a long but visually stunning drive to the Isebania border post, separating Kenya and Tanzania. Once you complete the border immigration process, you will switch vehicles and meet your Tanzanian driver/guide. They will welcome you and take you to the vast Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, which means "endless plains." Lunch will be served on route.

You will arrive at the camp late in the afternoon. Keep an eye out for the millions of animals that call this place their home during the drive. Tonight, you will have an authentic African safari experience. The lodge is situated within the national park, right in the middle of all the animal action, and is an unfenced site. Once you arrive, your driver/guide and the camp manager will provide you with a comprehensive safety briefing.

Please note that the drive from Masai Mara to Serengeti, including the border crossing, can take up to 8 -9 hours. Alternatively, we can arrange a 3-hour Air transfer.

Day 9 Full day in Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti is one of Africa’s most famous parks, known for its vast plains and incredible wildlife. Today, you’ll have the chance to explore different areas of the park on morning and afternoon game drives. The Serengeti is home to the Big Five, as well as cheetahs, hyenas, and large herds of wildebeests and zebras. The day’s drives are complemented by time to relax at your lodge, with views of the sweeping plains. Despite the park’s size, your experienced guides know where to find the best wildlife sightings, ensuring you make the most of your day.

Day 10 Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Crater

After a morning game drive in the Serengeti, you’ll travel to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a journey of about 3 hours. Ngorongoro is famous for its crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, teeming with wildlife. The crater’s steep walls create a natural enclosure, making it one of the best places to see a wide variety of animals in a relatively small area. Visitors often worry about missing out on game viewing during travel days, but a descent into the crater ensures this day is as thrilling as any other.

Day 11 Ngorongoro Crater to Tarangire National Park

Depart Ngorongoro and head to Tarangire National Park, known for its large elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. The drive is about 2.5 hours, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the park’s unique landscapes. The Tarangire River, which runs through the park, attracts a variety of wildlife, especially during the Dry season. Some travelers worry about the park being less famous than others, but its uncrowded nature and rich wildlife make it a hidden gem. An afternoon game drive reveals the beauty of this lesser-known park, offering a tranquil escape.

Driving time: 3 hours

Day 12 Tarangire National Park to Amboseli National Park

Depart at 7:30 am and head towards the Kenya border via Arusha, leaving Tarangire National Park behind. Once you reach the border, proceed to the immigration office, which is a one-stop border post. After completing the clearance process, you will meet your Kenyan driver-guide, who will take you to Amboseli National Park, located approximately 2 hours away from the border. You will arrive in time for lunch.

At 4:00 pm, embark on your first-afternoon game drive, exploring the acacia woodland, freshwater swamps, scrub brush, and open plains in search of wildlife. Part of the park comprises a dried-up lake bed, where mirages rise from the shimmering heat. Return to the lodge at sunset for dinner and an overnight stay.

Please note: You have the option to continue your wildlife holiday in Amboseli today, or fly to Zanzibar island via Arusha airport for a 3-day beach safari.

Driving time: 4.5 hours

Day 13 Amboseli National Park Guided game drive (Full day)

Leave the camp after breakfast, carrying your packed lunch to be enjoyed in the wild. Spend the whole day exploring the marshlands and swamps of Amboseli which are fed by subterranean water channels. Water is abundant throughout the year, and so is the pasture. Elephants and various other herbivores are found here. You will retreat to the lodge late in the afternoon after exploring this 392 sq km park.

Day 14 Amboseli National Park - Nairobi

Your safari adventure comes to an end with a drive back to Nairobi, which takes approximately 4.5 hours. After enjoying breakfast, you will leave Amboseli and head to Kenya’s vibrant capital. As you travel, take a moment to reflect on the incredible experiences from the past two weeks. You'll return home with memories of stunning landscapes, close encounters with wildlife, and the warmth of the people you've met along the way. Whether you are heading to the airport or continuing your exploration of Nairobi, this safari will leave a lasting impression.

Please note that we can arrange additional accommodation after your tour or extend your stay to visit the beautiful coastal beaches of Diani in Kenya or the island of Zanzibar.

Driving time: 4.5 hours to Nairobi

Latest Reviews for Masai Mara

Agent: Wild Portraits Safaris

[email protected] • 3 days ago

Just went for 8 day safari with James and Wild Portraits Safaris...it was spot o (Read More)n perfect. Reasons 1.Clear communication and replies always comes very quickly on WhatsApp. 2. Very genuine with suggestions and doesn't do things as a job or formality. 3. James is very knowledgeable. 4. The enthusiasm and passion shown by James was just so infectious. 5. The planning of itinerary takes care of all the finer details. 6. They really take care of your focus and they don't try to sell anything you are not interested in. For example we skipped the village visit because we didn't see value in it. 7. Quite flexible and adjusts as things progress.

Agent: Scope Safaris

Abhishek • 5 days ago

Justus and his team made all arrangements for us. We are a family of 4 with 2 yo (Read More)ung children. He was always by our side and made sure we enjoyed our vacation. Highly recommended for families who need extra care.

Agent: Javiva Adventures

Mamta • a week ago

The entire trip was handled with extreme professionalism by both Janet and our g (Read More)uide Bonnie. We got to see the Big5 within 3 days of our itenary and more on the next days. Janet was very thorough with our itenary and helped us throughout and Bonnie knew all the best spots on all of our game drives. We didn't feel rushed throughout our tour, because it is designed very well to accomodate enough rest. 10/10 recommend

We didn't expect Kenya to be so cold, so at some places we missed warm water for (Read More) wash

Agent: Donwel Tours

Madhumita • 4 weeks ago

From the very beginning, Christine and Judith from Donwel Tours were highly atte (Read More)ntive to what we were looking to get from our first ever trip to Kenya, and Africa, for that matter. We wanted to cover a lot of ground, and were going from one agency to another before we found Donwel as most agents couldn't quite squeeze everything we wanted into our itinerary. Judith and Christine however made it all possible. Good quality stays everywhere, regular communication through the trip to ensure we were ok and were getting what we wanted. Special shoutout to Teeman, our driver who absolutely fantastic, drove safely and ensured our safety and comfort throughout the trip, regularly coordinating with Christine. This is an excellent team and we would highly recommend their services.

Everything was perfect.

Agent: Virgin Explorers Ltd

Krishna • a month ago

Overall good solo trip

Agent: Wild Portraits Safaris

Anirudh • 2 months ago

I reached out to Wild Portraits via a safari service website that featured numer (Read More)ous tour operators. Among the competition, James stood out due to his exceptional patience, politeness, and genuine curiosity displayed during our initial phone calls. James swiftly emerged as the singular operator I wished to proceed with, and here’s why: - Having substantial on-ground experience from spending extensive time on the safaris himself, he adeptly crafted a honeymoon package that perfectly suited my wife and me. - He adeptly navigated our budget flexibilities and constraints to arrange an impressive array of delightful lodges and activities, focusing on maximising our day-to-day adventures, ensuring each day on safari and at the lodges offered a unique experience. - A skilled photographer himself, James's comprehensive knowledge of various reserves and animal behaviours provided him with a distinct advantage in predicting animal locations and optimal times for photography, whether capturing sunrises, sunsets, or other moments. - Our priority was to maximise game time and reserve experiences. James made certain our vehicle was ready, complete with packed hot breakfast boxes, for a prompt 6 AM departure every morning of the trip. - Remarkably patient, he addressed all my queries, irrespective of whether they seemed 'silly' or insightful—from 'what to wear' at safaris, potential places to explore, to the animals we might encounter. In summary, my wife and I enjoyed an extraordinary experience in Kenya, with Wild Portraits Safaris significantly enhancing the quality of that journey. We are eagerly anticipating more safaris and look forward to embarking on them with James and his team!

Ultimate Kenya and Tanzania Big 5 and Migration Safari Tour

Detailed Itinerary

Similar Packages