8-Day Combined Kenya & Tanzania - Maasai Mara · Lake Nakuru · Arusha · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater Safari

Day by day

8 days in East Africa.

1. Day 1

   Nairobi – Maasai Mara

   Pick-up from your hotel between 7:30 and 8am, then depart for the Maasai Mara National Reserve via the Great Rift Valley viewpoint and Narok town for refuelling, arriving at camp in time for lunch. After a short siesta, set out in the 4x4 Land Cruiser for an introductory game drive in the reserve as the afternoon cools and the animals move out to graze; giraffe, zebra and elephant are usually the first sightings. Return after the day's game viewing for dinner and your overnight stay.

   Overnight

   Miti Mingi Camp, Maasai MaraZebra Plains Mara Camp

   Meals

   Lunch and dinner

2. Day 2

   Maasai Mara National Reserve

   After breakfast, a full day of game viewing in the reserve. The scenery is savanna grassland over rolling hills, and the extensive track network lets the 4x4 Land Cruiser get close for viewing and photography, which is why the Mara is considered Kenya's best park for game. Stop for a picnic lunch at the hippo pool and watch for hippo and crocodile, then continue game viewing through the afternoon. The day ends with dinner and time to unwind.

   Overnight

   Miti Mingi Camp, Maasai MaraZebra Plains Mara Camp

   Meals

   Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner

3. Day 3

   Maasai Mara – Nakuru

   Start with an early pre-breakfast game drive while the light is soft and the cats are still on the move. After breakfast, leave the Mara for Nakuru with lunch en route, with Mount Longonot and Lake Naivasha visible in the distance from the main highway as it climbs out of the Rift Valley. Arrive in the afternoon and check in at Nakuru town for dinner and the night, with the evening free.

   Overnight

   Buraha Zenoni, Lake NakuruLake Nakuru Sopa Lodge

   Meals

   Breakfast, lunch and dinner

   

4. Day 4

   Lake Nakuru – Arusha

   After breakfast, a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, known for its prolific birdlife including flamingo and for its white rhino sanctuary, with buffalo and waterbuck along the shoreline. Then drive to Nairobi with lunch en route, arriving at about 1:30pm to catch the shuttle bus to Arusha. The four-hour drive crosses the Namanga border; on arrival you are met and transferred to your Arusha accommodation on a bed-and-breakfast basis, with dinner on your own account.

   Overnight

   Charity Hotel, ArushaKibo Palace Hotel Arusha

   Meals

   Breakfast and lunch

5. Day 5

   Arusha – Manyara

   After breakfast, meet the group in Arusha and drive west to Lake Manyara National Park for an afternoon game drive. The park's groundwater forest, hot springs and soda lake sit beneath the Rift Valley wall and hold elephant, hippo, giraffe, buffalo and large baboon troops, with flamingo on the lake in season and a chance of the tree-climbing lions it is known for. Return for dinner and settle in for the evening.

   Overnight

   Fanaka Campsite, Lake ManyaraLake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge

   Meals

   Breakfast and dinner

6. Day 6

   Manyara – Serengeti National Park

   After breakfast, depart for the Serengeti over the Ngorongoro highlands, passing Olduvai Gorge, where the Leakey family found fossils of human and animal ancestors dating back almost two million years. Descend onto the plains with game viewing from the 4x4 Land Cruiser as you go, looking for lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe and the great herds of zebra and wildebeest. All meals are included, with the evening free before the night.

   Overnight

   Seronera Camp, SerengetiSerengeti Serena Safari Lodge

   Meals

   Breakfast, lunch and dinner

7. Day 7

   Serengeti Np – Ngorongoro Crater

   An early morning game drive in the Serengeti, then return to camp for breakfast and pack up before the drive back across the short-grass plains to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Arrive on the crater rim in the afternoon and take an evening nature walk along the rim with a ranger, looking down into the caldera as the light fades and the mist settles. Dinner follows, and the night is cool at this altitude, so bring warm layers.

   Overnight

   Simba Campsite, NgorongoroNgorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

   Meals

   Breakfast, lunch and dinner

   

8. Day 8

   Ngorongoro – Arusha

   After breakfast the 4x4 Land Cruiser descends 2,000 feet into the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning on the floor among lion, elephant, buffalo, hyena, zebra, wildebeest and, with luck, black rhino. Picnic lunch is taken in the crater, then ascend to the rim and drive back to Arusha, where you are transferred to the airport for your flight. Tell us your flight time when booking so the crater tour and transfer are timed to suit it.

   Meals

   Breakfast and picnic lunch

Your questions, answered.