12 Day Kenya and Tanzania Great Migration Safari
From Lake Nakuru's rhinos and the great herds of the Maasai Mara to Amboseli's elephants, the Serengeti plains and the extraordinary wildlife of Ngorongoro Crater.
Plan This Safari ↗12 days · 11 nights · Kenya and Tanzania
The Great Migration / East Africa
Five remarkable wildlife landscapes. One East African journey.
Start in Nairobi, explore Kenya's Rift Valley, Mara and Kilimanjaro region, then cross into Tanzania for the Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
Lake Nakuru
One night, rhinos, lake scenery and Rift Valley wildlife.
Maasai Mara
Three nights, full-day game drives and seasonal migration herds.
Amboseli
Two nights, elephant herds and Kilimanjaro views.
Serengeti
Two nights, predator-rich plains and seasonal wildlife movements.
Ngorongoro
Karatu overnight and a spectacular crater-floor safari.
Two countries. Africa's great wildlife stories.
This 12 Day Kenya and Tanzania Safari begins in Nairobi and takes you through some of East Africa's finest wildlife landscapes. Your first destination is Lake Nakuru National Park , where black and white rhinos inhabit grasslands and woodland surrounding the Rift Valley lake. Continue to the Maasai Mara National Reserve for three nights and two full days of game drives in one of Africa's most rewarding wildlife areas.
The Maasai Mara is famous for its lions, leopards, cheetahs and the seasonal Great Wildebeest Migration . Between roughly July and October, large herds may move into the Mara from the Serengeti in search of fresh grazing. River crossings are possible when the animals approach suitable crossing points, although the exact timing can never be guaranteed.
From the Mara, the journey continues across Kenya to Amboseli National Park , where elephant families roam beneath Mount Kilimanjaro. After two nights exploring the open plains and wetlands, cross into Tanzania through the Namanga region and travel to Arusha. From there, continue to Serengeti National Park for game drives across vast savannahs, rocky kopjes and predator-rich grasslands.
Your final safari destination is Ngorongoro Crater , where you descend into an ancient volcanic caldera in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest and endangered black rhinos. The safari finishes in Arusha after eleven nights in selected hotels, lodges and tented camps. With dedicated time in both the Mara and Serengeti, the experience is suitable for travellers seeking a broad Kenya and Tanzania wildlife journey rather than a single-park safari.
Safari Highlights
Search for black and white rhinos in Lake Nakuru National Park.
Spend three nights in the Maasai Mara with two full days of wildlife viewing.
Follow seasonal wildebeest and zebra herds during the Great Migration.
Look for lions, cheetahs and leopards across Kenya and Tanzania's savannahs.
Watch elephant families in Amboseli with Mount Kilimanjaro behind them.
Cross from Kenya into northern Tanzania for a second safari experience.
Explore the Serengeti's open plains, river valleys and granite kopjes.
Experience the changing landscapes of the Ngorongoro Highlands.
Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a memorable final wildlife game drive.
Kenya and Tanzania, day by day.
A carefully planned wildlife journey from Nairobi through the Rift Valley and Maasai Mara, across Kenya to Amboseli, and into Tanzania for the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
Arrival in Nairobi and Welcome to Kenya
Your Kenya and Tanzania safari begins at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, where your safari representative will welcome you after immigration and customs. Transfer to your selected hotel and settle in after your journey.
The remainder of the day is kept relaxed. If your flight arrives early enough, you may have some time to explore Nairobi or enjoy a meal before returning to the hotel. Your guide will explain the route through Kenya and Tanzania and confirm the following morning's departure.
Enjoy dinner and overnight in Nairobi.
Nairobi to Lake Nakuru, Afternoon Game Drive
After breakfast, leave Nairobi and travel towards Lake Nakuru National Park . The journey takes you through Kenya's Great Rift Valley, with changing scenery as the busy capital gives way to open countryside and escarpment views.
Arrive in the Lake Nakuru area around lunchtime and enjoy your meal before heading into the park for an afternoon game drive. Explore the woodland, grassland and lakeshore areas where black and white rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and other animals may be encountered.
The lake and its surrounding habitats also attract many bird species, adding another interesting dimension to the drive. Your guide will explore productive wildlife routes before returning to your lodge in the evening.
Lake Nakuru Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Maasai Mara
Wake early for breakfast before returning to Lake Nakuru National Park for another game drive. The cooler morning hours give you another opportunity to search for rhinos, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras and other wildlife before leaving the Rift Valley.
After the game drive, continue southwest towards the Maasai Mara National Reserve . Enjoy lunch along the way as the scenery changes from Rift Valley highlands to rolling hills and open savannah.
Arrive in the Maasai Mara region later in the day and continue to your selected camp for check-in and dinner. The next two days are dedicated to full-day wildlife viewing, giving you time to explore the reserve rather than rushing between destinations.
Full-Day Maasai Mara Wildlife and Migration Safari
After breakfast, head into the Maasai Mara with your safari guide for a full day exploring the reserve's open plains, river valleys and woodland. Carrying a packed lunch allows you to spend more time in the field without having to return to camp at midday.
Look for lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes and grazing antelopes. The Maasai Mara supports excellent resident wildlife throughout the year, while the seasonal migration brings additional movement and predator activity.
If you visit when wildebeest and zebra herds are moving through the Mara, your guide may follow their movement across the grasslands. River crossings can occur when the animals approach the water, but their timing remains unpredictable.
Enjoy your packed lunch in a permitted picnic area before continuing the afternoon game drive. Return to your camp for dinner and overnight.
Another Full Day in the Maasai Mara
Wake early and head back into the Maasai Mara for another complete day of wildlife viewing. A second full day gives your guide the flexibility to explore different parts of the reserve, revisit promising sightings and follow wildlife movements.
During the migration season, the Great Wildebeest Migration may bring large concentrations of animals into the Mara. Your guide will look for the herds while also searching for resident lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants and other wildlife.
Depending on where the animals are feeding or travelling, you may spend time around open grazing areas or suitable river habitats. Even when no crossing takes place, watching the interaction between predators and herbivores can be one of the most rewarding parts of the safari.
Enjoy a packed lunch during the game drive, then continue exploring through the afternoon before returning to camp for dinner and your third overnight in the Maasai Mara.
Maasai Mara to Amboseli, Crossing Kenya's Safari Landscapes
After an early breakfast, check out and begin the long journey from the Maasai Mara towards Amboseli National Park . The drive takes you away from the Mara grasslands and through Kenya's countryside towards the Kilimanjaro region in southern Kenya.
This is one of the longest road transfers of your safari, so an early departure is essential. Enjoy lunch along the way and make suitable comfort stops before continuing towards Amboseli.
As you approach the park, the landscape opens into broad plains with Mount Kilimanjaro rising in the distance when visibility allows. Depending on your arrival time, there may be an opportunity for a short introductory wildlife drive before continuing to your accommodation.
Check in and enjoy a relaxed evening after the journey. Tomorrow is reserved for a full-day exploration of Amboseli.
Full-Day Amboseli Safari, Elephants and Mount Kilimanjaro
After an early breakfast, head into Amboseli National Park for a full day exploring its open grasslands, wetlands and woodland. The park is especially famous for its elephant families, which may be seen feeding around the marshes or crossing the plains in groups.
Your safari guide will search for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, lions and other animals as you move through different habitats. On clear days, Mount Kilimanjaro provides one of Africa's most recognisable wildlife photography backdrops.
Carry a packed lunch so you can stay in the park throughout the day. Continue exploring during the afternoon, with opportunities to watch animal behaviour and enjoy the changing light.
Return to your accommodation in the evening for dinner and your second overnight in Amboseli.
Amboseli to Arusha, Kenya to Tanzania Border Crossing
After breakfast, leave Amboseli and begin the transfer towards Tanzania. The practical overland connection generally passes through the Namanga border region, with immigration formalities on the Kenya and Tanzania sides.
Your guide will help coordinate the crossing and onward transfer, including any required change of safari vehicle or driver. Once in Tanzania, continue towards Arusha, the main departure point for northern Tanzania's safari circuit.
Depending on the crossing formalities and travel time, enjoy lunch during the journey or after arrival in Arusha. Continue to your selected hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing.
Enjoy dinner and overnight, ready for the journey to Serengeti National Park the following morning.
Arusha to Serengeti National Park, Into the Great Plains
After breakfast, leave Arusha and begin the journey towards Serengeti National Park . The road takes you through northern Tanzania's changing landscapes, passing highland countryside and sections of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before reaching the Serengeti plains.
Enjoy lunch during the journey. As you approach the park, the scenery opens into broad grasslands where grazing animals and predators move across large distances. Your guide will begin looking for wildlife as you travel towards your accommodation.
The amount of game viewing possible today depends on your arrival time, road conditions and lodge location. Central Serengeti is a rewarding area for resident lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants and other wildlife, even when the main migration herds are elsewhere.
Arrive at your selected lodge or tented camp for dinner and overnight.
Full-Day Serengeti Wildlife and Seasonal Migration Safari
After an early breakfast, set out for a full-day game drive in the Serengeti, carrying a packed lunch to allow more time in the field.
Explore the plains, woodland and rocky outcrops as your guide searches for lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and other animals. The central Serengeti is especially rewarding for predator sightings around grasslands and kopjes.
During periods when migration herds are moving through accessible parts of the Serengeti, your guide may follow the wildebeest and zebras. Their location depends on rainfall, grazing and the season, so a particular herd concentration or river crossing cannot be promised.
Enjoy lunch at a designated picnic location and continue wildlife viewing throughout the afternoon, giving yourself time to observe animals rather than rushing from one sighting to another.
Return to your accommodation for dinner and a second overnight in Serengeti National Park.
Serengeti to Karatu Through the Ngorongoro Highlands
After breakfast, check out and begin the journey southeast from the Serengeti towards the Ngorongoro Highlands.
Depending on your departure time and location, enjoy some game viewing as you travel through the Serengeti. This gives you another opportunity to search for wildlife before leaving the plains.
Continue through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where the landscape gradually changes from open savannah into cooler highland countryside and volcanic scenery. Enjoy lunch en route before continuing towards Karatu.
Arrive at your accommodation and spend the remainder of the afternoon relaxing. An early dinner and rest are recommended because tomorrow begins with the journey to Ngorongoro Crater.
Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive and Return to Arusha
Wake early for breakfast before travelling from Karatu to Ngorongoro Crater . Descend approximately 600 metres from the crater rim into the volcanic caldera for your final wildlife experience.
Explore the crater floor with your safari guide, searching for lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, spotted hyenas and other wildlife. Ngorongoro is also one of Tanzania's important black rhino habitats, although sightings cannot be guaranteed.
The crater's combination of grassland, woodland, marshes and shallow lakes creates a striking contrast with the wide open Serengeti plains. Enjoy the morning game drive before ascending the crater wall and beginning the journey towards Arusha.
Stop for lunch en route, then continue to your confirmed hotel, airport or agreed drop-off location in Arusha.
Your twelve-day Kenya and Tanzania safari finishes here, after exploring five remarkable wildlife areas across two countries.
Safari Inclusions and Exclusions
What's Included
- Eleven nights of accommodation in the selected lodges, camps and hotels.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner as specified in the daily itinerary.
- Packed lunches during scheduled full-day game drives.
- Comfortable 4x4 safari transportation throughout the scheduled journey.
- Professional English-speaking safari driver-guide services.
- National park and reserve entrance fees for the destinations in the itinerary.
- Scheduled Lake Nakuru National Park game drives.
- Two full days of Maasai Mara game drives and the scheduled game-viewing programme.
- Amboseli National Park game drives and wildlife viewing.
- Serengeti National Park game drives.
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area entrance and scheduled crater game-drive fees.
- Airport and agreed transfers in Nairobi and Arusha.
- All scheduled inter-destination road transfers between Kenya and Tanzania safari locations.
- Bottled drinking water during the safari.
- All experiences expressly included in the confirmed itinerary.
What's Not Included
- International flights to Kenya and from Tanzania.
- Kenya and Tanzania visa or entry authorisation fees where applicable.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Personal expenses, including shopping and souvenirs.
- Premium and alcoholic beverages.
- Drinks and personal refreshments not included in the confirmed meal plan.
- Tips and gratuities for safari guides, lodge staff and other service providers.
- Laundry services.
- Optional safari activities, additional excursions or experiences not specifically included.
- Additional accommodation before or after the scheduled safari.
- Any other service not expressly stated as included in the final quotation.
Two countries. Extraordinary wildlife. A journey worth remembering.
Share your preferred dates, group size and accommodation preferences with BLS Safaris. We will help arrange your Kenya and Tanzania journey around the best available lodges, your interests and the seasonal movement of the Great Migration.