14-Day East Africa Adventure: Kenya & Tanzania

Land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and meet your driver for the transfer to your hotel near the city centre. If you arrive before midday, there is time to visit the David Sheldrick Elephant Trust for the 11am feeding or the Giraffe Centre in Lang'ata. A briefing dinner with your guide covers the route ahead.

Depart Nairobi early and drive southeast along the Mombasa highway before turning off toward Amboseli. The 240km drive takes around four hours, with the final stretch offering your first glimpses of Kilimanjaro. After checking in and a quick lunch, head out for an afternoon game drive through the park's swamps and open plains, where Amboseli's famous elephant herds gather.

Wake before dawn for a sunrise game drive, when the light on Kilimanjaro is at its best and the elephants are most active. Return to the lodge for brunch, then visit Observation Hill for a panoramic view of the park, the swamps, and the mountain. An afternoon drive focuses on predator activity around the dried lake bed, where lions and hyenas hunt.

A long but scenic transfer day heading west. You drive back through Nairobi's southern bypass and continue toward Narok, the gateway town to the Masai Mara. The 350km drive takes about six hours with a lunch stop in Narok town. This transit day breaks up the journey and gives your body a rest from early mornings.

A short two-hour morning drive from Narok brings you to the Sekenani Gate of the Masai Mara. You enter the reserve and begin game driving immediately on the way to your camp. The Mara's open grasslands are astonishingly rich in wildlife year-round, and by lunch you may have already ticked off several of the Big Five.

A full day devoted to the Mara with morning and afternoon game drives. Your guide will focus on the Mara River area, where crocodiles lurk and, during migration season (July to October), wildebeest attempt dramatic crossings. Between drives, visit a local Maasai village to learn about pastoralist life and traditional beadwork.

Another full day in the reserve, this time exploring the Mara Triangle on the western side. The Triangle is managed separately and tends to be less crowded, with rolling hills and superb cheetah territory. You can add an optional sunrise hot air balloon safari (booked in advance, roughly $450 per person) for a once-in-a-lifetime aerial perspective.

Depart the Mara early and drive south toward the Kenya-Tanzania border at Isebania/Sirari. The drive is approximately five hours on mixed tarmac and dirt roads. At the border, your Kenyan guide hands you over to your Tanzanian guide and vehicle. Border formalities typically take one to two hours; make sure your Tanzania e-visa or visa fee ($50 USD) is ready. Continue a short distance to Mugumu for the night.

Drive from Mugumu through the Ikoma Gate into the northern Serengeti. The landscape opens up into an endless golden plain that dwarfs even the Masai Mara. Game drive through the Grumeti area, known for big cat sightings and, in season, the western corridor migration route. Your camp sits in the central Seronera area, the park's wildlife crossroads.

Spend the entire day exploring the Serengeti's central plains. Seronera is famous for leopards lounging in sausage trees and prides of lions hunting along the river. A packed lunch lets you stay out all day without returning to camp. In the late afternoon, the golden hour light over the plains creates some of the finest photographic conditions in Africa.

After a final early morning Serengeti drive, head east toward the Ngorongoro highlands. The road climbs through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, passing Maasai bomas and highland forests. Stop at the crater rim for your first look into the caldera, a 260-square-kilometre natural amphitheatre teeming with roughly 25,000 animals. Check in and enjoy sunset from the rim.

Descend 600 metres into the crater at dawn for a half-day game drive on the floor. The crater is one of the best places in Tanzania to spot black rhino, and the resident lion population is remarkably habituated. Lake Magadi in the centre attracts flamingos, and hippo pools line the Munge River. You are required to exit the crater by early afternoon, so enjoy a picnic lunch on the floor before ascending.

Drive down from the highlands through Karatu and the lush coffee-growing region around Mto wa Mbu. The road to Arusha passes Lake Manyara's escarpment and takes around three to four hours. In the afternoon, visit a local coffee plantation to learn about Tanzanian arabica from seedling to cup, or simply rest at the hotel after nearly two weeks on safari.

Enjoy a final breakfast with views of Mount Meru before your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (45 minutes) or Arusha Airport for your onward journey. If your flight is in the evening, you can spend the morning at the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre or pick up last-minute souvenirs at the Maasai Market.

How does the Kenya-Tanzania border crossing work?

You cross at the Isebania (Kenya side) and Sirari (Tanzania side) border post. Your Kenyan guide drops you off, and your Tanzanian guide meets you on the other side. The process involves exiting Kenya immigration, walking a short distance, and entering Tanzania immigration. It typically takes one to two hours. You need a valid Tanzania visa or e-visa, and the $50 USD visa-on-arrival fee if you haven't applied online.

Do I need separate visas for Kenya and Tanzania?

Yes. Most nationalities need both a Kenya e-visa (applied online before travel) and a Tanzania visa. You can get a Tanzania e-visa in advance or pay $50 USD at the Sirari border. An East Africa Tourist Visa ($100 USD) covering Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda is also available but does not include Tanzania, so you will still need a separate Tanzania visa.

Is the Serengeti really different from the Masai Mara?

They share the same ecosystem, but the Serengeti is roughly ten times larger, which means lower vehicle density and a greater feeling of wilderness. The Mara tends to offer more concentrated predator sightings, while the Serengeti rewards patience with more varied terrain, including kopje rock formations and the vast southern plains.

What vehicles are used on this trip?

In Kenya, you travel in a Toyota Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof for game viewing. In Tanzania, you switch to a different vehicle (also a Land Cruiser or extended safari vehicle) with your Tanzanian guide. Both vehicles have charging points and cool boxes for water.

How cold does it get at Ngorongoro?

The Ngorongoro Crater rim sits at about 2,200 metres above sea level. Nighttime temperatures can drop to 5-10C (40-50F), and mornings are chilly. Pack a warm jacket or fleece, especially for the early morning crater descent.