10 Days Kenya and Tanzania Big Five Safari

Maasai Mara

Day 1: Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve

Your adventure begins with an early morning pickup from your Nairobi hotel or the airport. Travel through Kenya's scenic Great Rift Valley with a stop at a viewpoint to admire the dramatic escarpment and surrounding countryside. Continue to the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve, arriving in time for lunch at your lodge or tented camp. After some time to relax, head out for your first afternoon game drive across the open plains. Look out for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, antelopes and the predators that make the Mara famous. Return to camp in the evening for dinner and a relaxing night surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness. Overnight: Masai Mara Meals: Lunch and dinner

Maasai Mara

Day 2: Full-day Big Five safari in the Masai Mara

Enjoy a full day exploring the remarkable wildlife habitats of the Masai Mara. After an early breakfast, set off with your guide to search for lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and, with luck, the elusive black rhino. Follow wildlife trails across the rolling grasslands and along seasonal rivers where hippos and crocodiles may be spotted. The Mara is also known for its cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes and large herds of plains game. A picnic lunch in the reserve allows you to make the most of your day in the wilderness. Continue with afternoon wildlife viewing before returning to your camp for dinner. During the Great Migration season, usually around July to October, the plains may host enormous herds of wildebeest and zebra. Actual sightings and river crossings depend on seasonal movements and weather. Overnight: Masai Mara | Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Serengeti

Day 3: Masai Mara to Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

After breakfast, depart for the Isebania border crossing between Kenya and Tanzania. Your safari team will coordinate the transfer and guide you through the planned cross-border arrangements. After immigration formalities, meet your Tanzanian safari guide and continue in a Tanzania-registered safari vehicle towards Serengeti National Park. The journey is long and includes border procedures, so the timing of your arrival will depend on road conditions and processing time. Depending on your arrival time and camp location, enjoy wildlife viewing on the way into the park. The Serengeti is famous for its expansive grasslands, rocky kopjes, big cats and seasonal wildebeest movements. Arrive at your lodge or tented camp for dinner and overnight. This is a key transition day, linking Kenya's Masai Mara with Tanzania's legendary Serengeti. Cross-border vehicle and guide arrangements should be confirmed before travel Overnight: Serengeti | Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Serengeti

Day 4: Full-day wildlife safari in the Serengeti

Wake up to the sounds of the African bush before heading out for a full day of wildlife exploration in the Serengeti. With its vast plains and diverse habitats, the park offers excellent opportunities to search for the Big Five and other iconic African animals. Explore wildlife-rich areas with your guide, looking for lion prides, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and large herds of grazing animals. Rocky outcrops known as kopjes provide resting places for lions and vantage points for other predators. Depending on the season and the location of the herds, your guide will focus on the most promising wildlife areas. Enjoy a picnic lunch during the day's game drives before continuing your adventure into the afternoon. Return to camp for dinner and an evening beneath the African sky. Overnight: Serengeti | Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Serengeti

Day 5: Serengeti wildlife and Great Migration experience

Spend another memorable day exploring the Serengeti and following the wildlife patterns of this vast ecosystem. An early morning game drive offers a chance to see predators when they are most active and to enjoy the plains in the soft morning light. Depending on the time of year, your guide may focus on the central Serengeti for resident wildlife or travel towards the northern or southern regions to look for migrating herds. The location of the Great Migration changes throughout the year, so the route should be planned around your travel dates. Return to camp for lunch or enjoy a picnic during an extended game drive. The afternoon brings more opportunities for wildlife photography and sightings of giraffes, hyenas, antelopes, ostriches and many other species. In the evening, relax at camp and share stories from the day's safari. Overnight: Serengeti | Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Ngorongoro

Day 6: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Enjoy breakfast before departing for a morning game drive through the Serengeti. Continue towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, enjoying the changing landscapes as the open plains give way to the cooler highlands. The route offers further chances to spot wildlife along the way. Depending on your schedule and the chosen route, you may arrange a stop at Olduvai Gorge, an important archaeological site associated with research into early human history. This visit may require an additional fee. Arrive at your lodge in the Ngorongoro highlands or near the crater rim. Take time to relax and enjoy the sweeping views before dinner. An overnight stay nearby prepares you for an early descent into the crater the following morning. Overnight: Ngorongoro highlands or crater rim | Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater safari and transfer to Arusha

Rise early for breakfast before descending into the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. Surrounded by steep crater walls, this remarkable wildlife area supports a variety of animals within a relatively compact landscape. Search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest and hippos. The crater is also one of Tanzania's important places to look for the endangered black rhino, although sightings are never guaranteed. Enjoy a picnic lunch during your time in the crater, followed by more wildlife viewing before ascending to the crater rim. Later, drive to Arusha for dinner and overnight. This is one of the safari's most memorable days, combining dramatic scenery with excellent opportunities for wildlife photography Overnight: Arusha | Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

Amboseli

Day 8: Arusha to Amboseli National Park, Kenya

After breakfast, depart Arusha and travel towards the Namanga border between Tanzania and Kenya. Complete the immigration formalities before continuing with your Kenyan safari team towards Amboseli National Park. This is another substantial transfer day, so an early departure is recommended. Depending on the border crossing and arrival time, you may enjoy a short afternoon game drive if park access and your schedule allow. Amboseli is famous for its large elephant herds and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro on clear days. Check in at your lodge or camp, enjoy dinner and settle in for the night. Overnight: Amboseli | Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Amboseli

Day 9: Full-day safari in Amboseli National Park

Set out after breakfast for a full day of wildlife viewing in Amboseli. The park's open plains, swamps and seasonal wetlands attract elephants and a wide variety of wildlife throughout the year. Spend the morning searching for elephant families, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes and predators. Amboseli is particularly rewarding for photography, with opportunities to capture elephants against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro when the mountain is visible. Enjoy a picnic lunch or return to your lodge, depending on the day's arrangements. Continue with an afternoon game drive to explore more of the park's habitats and look for additional wildlife. Return to camp in the evening for dinner and your final night in the African wilderness.

Day 10: Amboseli to Nairobi and departure

Enjoy breakfast at your lodge before checking out and beginning the journey back to Nairobi. As you leave Amboseli behind, take in the last views of the plains and surrounding landscapes. On arrival in Nairobi, you will be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight or dropped off at your Nairobi hotel. For international departures, we recommend choosing a flight time that allows sufficient time for the road transfer. A private flight from Amboseli may be arranged at an additional cost where available. Meals: Breakfast