10 Day Mara to Serengeti Crossing: Kenya and Tanzania
Amboseli's elephants under Kilimanjaro, then Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Go beyond the expected.
Ten days across two countries by road. Start in Nairobi, spend two days among the elephants of Amboseli with Kilimanjaro behind them, cross the border at Namanga into Tanzania, and continue through Tarangire's baobabs, three nights in the Serengeti and a morning in the Ngorongoro Crater.
- Amboseli's elephant herds below Mount Kilimanjaro
- Tarangire National Park and its baobab landscape
- Three nights in the Serengeti plains
- Ngorongoro Crater descent
- Border crossing at Namanga handled by your guide
What's included
Included
- All accommodation as specified
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with driver-guide
- Park and reserve entrance fees for the activities listed
- Guided activities as listed in the day-by-day itinerary
- Meals as specified in the day-by-day itinerary
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- Airport transfers
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic beverages
Confirm current park fees, permit availability, accommodation and pricing before booking, since these can change with season and demand. Access to remote areas should be confirmed before travel.
Day by day
Day 1 Arrival in Nairobi
Nairobi
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Your guide meets you for a briefing.
Day 2 Nairobi to Amboseli
Nairobi and Amboseli National Park
Drive south to Amboseli National Park, arriving for lunch and an afternoon game drive with the Kilimanjaro skyline behind the herds.
Day 3 Amboseli game drive, then to Arusha
Amboseli National Park, Namanga Border and Arusha
A morning game drive among elephants, buffalo and zebra, then drive to Namanga to cross into Tanzania. Your guide helps with the formalities, and you continue to Arusha.
Day 4 Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park
A full day in Tarangire, known for its large elephant herds and ancient baobabs, with lion, giraffe and a wide range of birds.
Day 5 To the Serengeti
Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park
A long scenic drive through the Ngorongoro highlands and Olduvai Gorge into the Serengeti, with game viewing on the way in.
Day 6 Full day in the Serengeti
Serengeti National Park
A full day of game drives across the Serengeti plains in search of lion, leopard, cheetah and the great herds.
Day 7 Serengeti morning drive, then Ngorongoro
Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area
A last morning game drive, then drive to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater for the evening.
Day 8 Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater
Descend into the crater at first light for a half-day game drive on the crater floor, home to lion, black rhino, hippo and flamingos in season.
Day 9 Lake Manyara and Arusha
Lake Manyara National Park and Arusha
A morning in Lake Manyara National Park, then drive to Arusha for a final night.
Day 10 Departure
Arusha and Kilimanjaro International Airport
Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight.
On this safari
Places you will visit
Serengeti National ParkExplore place →
NairobiExplore place →
Nairobi National ParkExplore place →
Amboseli National ParkExplore place →
Arusha National ParkExplore place →
ArushaExplore place →
Tarangire National ParkExplore place →
Ngorongoro Conservation AreaExplore place →
Lake Manyara National ParkExplore place →Travel Guide
Knowledge connected to this page
Read planning and destination stories connected to this Offmap entity.
East Africa Multi-Country Safaris Planning a Safari
Tanzania or Kenya Safari: How to Choose Fairly
A fair comparison of the migration, scenery, crowds and logistics.
Kenya Luxury & Private Safaris Luxury Safaris
Best Time to Visit Kenya: Month by Month for Safari
Dry season, rains and the migration, explained by month.
Kenya National Parks Planning a Safari
Tsavo East and West National Parks: Red Elephants and Springs
Red elephants, springs and a short road to the coast.
East Africa Gorilla Trekking Multi-Country Safaris
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda Gorilla Safari: Routes and Planning
Plains, craters and gorillas across three countries.
East Africa Gorilla Trekking Multi-Country Safaris
Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania Gorilla Safari: A 14 Day Plan
Gorillas in Rwanda, then the Mara and the Serengeti.
East Africa Adventure Planning a Safari
Masai Mara Hot Air Balloon Safari: What to Expect
The flight, the breakfast and what to ask before you book.
Ready to plan this Safari?
Start with the places and experiences that matter to you. We will shape the Safari around them.
Plan This Safari →Need to know?
Questions about 10 Day Mara to Serengeti Crossing: Kenya and Tanzania
Can I combine a Kenya safari with the coast?
Yes. Pairing a Maasai Mara or Amboseli safari with a few days on the Kenyan coast (Diani, Watamu or Lamu) is a well-established combination, giving a wildlife-then-beach structure to the safari.
Can I combine a Tanzania safari with Zanzibar?
Yes, this is one of the most popular East African combinations; a Serengeti or Ngorongoro safari followed by several days on Zanzibar’s beaches, connected by a short flight.
Do I need a visa to visit Kenya?
Most nationalities need an eTA (electronic travel authorisation) for Kenya, applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm current guidance for your passport ahead of your safari.
Do I need a visa to visit Tanzania?
Most nationalities need a visa for Tanzania, commonly available as an e-visa applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm current guidance for your passport ahead of your safari.
How many days do I need for a Kenya safari?
A focused Maasai Mara safari can work in 3–4 days, while combining the Mara with Amboseli, another park or the coast generally calls for 7–10 days. We shape the length around what you want to include.
How many national parks does Kenya have?
Kenya protects its wildlife across more than sixty national parks and reserves, an unusually extensive network for a single country: from the Maasai Mara and Amboseli in the south to Samburu and the arid northern reserves, each holding a somewhat different range of species.
How many national parks does Tanzania have?
Tanzania protects its landscapes across more than twenty national parks, alongside conservation areas and game reserves that together cover roughly a third of the country’s total area; one of the highest proportions of protected land of any country in the world.
Is climbing Kilimanjaro part of a normal safari?
Kilimanjaro is usually planned as its own multi-day trek (typically 6–9 days depending on route) either before or after a separate safari itinerary, rather than combined into the same days, since it requires its own acclimatisation schedule.