12 Day East African Classics: Kenya and Tanzania
The Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Tarangire, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, all in one journey.
Go beyond the expected.
Twelve days across the two greatest safari countries in East Africa. Three nights in the Maasai Mara, a night in Amboseli, then Tanzania's Tarangire, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.
- Three nights in the Maasai Mara
- Amboseli below Kilimanjaro
- Tarangire's elephants and baobabs
- Two nights in the Serengeti
- Ngorongoro Crater descent
- Namanga border crossing 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 the Maasai Mara
Nairobi, Great Rift Valley and Maasai Mara National Reserve
Drive west with a stop at the Rift Valley viewpoint, and arrive in the Maasai Mara in time for an afternoon game drive.
Day 3 Full day in the Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Morning and afternoon game drives in search of lion, leopard, cheetah and elephant. In the migration season, the Mara River crossings are a highlight.
Day 4 Maasai Mara and a Maasai village
Maasai Mara National Reserve
A last morning game drive, then a visit to a Maasai village to learn about daily life and traditions.
Day 5 To Amboseli
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Nairobi and Amboseli National Park
A long drive back to Nairobi and south to Amboseli National Park, where the elephants walk against the backdrop of Kilimanjaro.
Day 6 Amboseli to Arusha
Amboseli National Park, Namanga Border and Arusha
An early game drive, then cross at Namanga into Tanzania and continue to Arusha.
Day 7 Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park
A full day among Tarangire's elephants, baobabs and birdlife.
Day 8 To the Serengeti
Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park
A long scenic drive over the Ngorongoro highlands and Olduvai Gorge into the Serengeti.
Day 9 Full day in the Serengeti
Serengeti National Park
A full day of game drives on the Serengeti plains in search of the Big Five and, in season, the great herds.
Day 10 Serengeti to Ngorongoro
Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area
A last Serengeti morning, then drive to the Ngorongoro rim for the evening.
Day 11 Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Arusha
Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park and Arusha
A morning descent into the crater, then drive past Lake Manyara to Arusha.
Day 12 Departure
Arusha and Kilimanjaro International Airport
Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight.
On this safari
Places you will visit
NairobiExplore place →
Nairobi National ParkExplore place →
Maasai Mara National ReserveExplore place →
Amboseli National ParkExplore place →
Arusha National ParkExplore place →ArushaExplore place →
Tarangire National ParkExplore place →
Serengeti 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.
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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 12 Day East African Classics: 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.