Private or Group Kenya & Tanzania safari
12 Days Kenya & Tanzania: Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli, Arusha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
The longest cross-border circuit, with a full stationary day in the Serengeti.
- 12 days / 11 nights
- Kenya & Tanzania
- Budget
- Private or Group
Choose your level
One route, three ways to travel it.
The road, the parks and the day-by-day itinerary are the same at every level. What changes is where you sleep, what you travel in and what it costs.
Trip facts
- Duration
- 12 days / 11 nights
- Country
- Kenya & Tanzania
- Destinations
- Maasai Mara · Lake Nakuru · Amboseli · Arusha · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro
- Safari level
- Budget
- Travel type
- Private or Group safari
- Starts
- Nairobi
- Ends
- Arusha
- Price
- From USD 2,000
Overview
The journey at a glance.
Twelve days is the full version of the cross-border circuit. It keeps everything the eleven-day route has and adds a complete stationary day in the Serengeti — no packing, no transfer, just the plains.
That day is what serious wildlife travellers and photographers come for. It is also the difference between passing through the Serengeti and actually spending time in it.
The catalogue flags this route as a strong premium-upgrade opportunity, and it is: every stop on it has a genuinely good high-end camp.
RouteNairobi · Maasai Mara · Lake Nakuru · Amboseli · Namanga · Arusha · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro · Arusha
Your route
10 points.
One unfolding story.
Where you stay, and for how long. The full route is listed in text below the line, so it reads the same however you are viewing this page.
- 01NairobiIn transit
- 02Maasai Mara2 nights
- 03Lake Nakuru1 night
- 04Amboseli2 nights
- 05Arusha1 night
- 06Lake Manyara1 night
- 07Serengeti2 nights
- 08Ngorongoro1 night
- 09Arusha1 night
- 10ArushaIn transit
Day by day
12 days, read as a journey.
Timings are indicative and depend on road and park conditions on the day. Meals shown are those included in the safari price.
Day 1Nairobi → Maasai Mara
Down into the Rift and across to the Mara.
Morning collection in Nairobi, west over the escarpment with a viewpoint stop, then Narok and the reserve. Lunch at camp and an afternoon game drive.
- Activities
- Rift Valley escarpment viewpoint · Afternoon game drive
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Maasai Mara · Miti Mingi Eco Camp
Day 2Maasai Mara
A full day on the plains.
Out after breakfast with a picnic lunch, working the grassland and the river country and staying out through the best of the light.
- Activities
- Full-day game drive with picnic lunch · Mara river hippo pools
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Maasai Mara · Miti Mingi Eco Camp
Day 3Maasai Mara → Lake Nakuru
North along the valley floor.
An optional early village visit, then the drive north past Longonot and Naivasha with lunch on the way, arriving at Nakuru in the afternoon.
- Activities
- Optional Maasai village visit · Road transfer to Lake Nakuru
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Lake Nakuru · Buraha Zenoni
- Optional
- Maasai village visit (USD 10 pp, paid locally)
Day 4Lake Nakuru → Amboseli
Rhino at dawn, the mountain by evening.
A morning game drive at Nakuru for rhino and lake-shore game, then the long drive south around Nairobi towards the border country.
- Activities
- Morning game drive at Lake Nakuru · Road transfer to Amboseli
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Amboseli · Nyati Safari Camp
Day 5Amboseli
A full day with the herds.
Out early while the mountain is clear, working between the dry plains and the permanent swamps. Observation Hill gives a view across the whole park.
- Activities
- Morning and afternoon game drives · Observation Hill
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Amboseli · Nyati Safari Camp
Day 6Amboseli → Namanga → Arusha
Across the border.
Travel to Namanga, cross into Tanzania and continue toward Arusha for the night. Border and vehicle arrangements are confirmed before departure.
- Activities
- Border crossing at Namanga · Road transfer to Arusha
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Arusha · Charity Hotel
Day 7Arusha → Lake Manyara
Under the Rift wall.
West to Mto wa Mbu and into the park, where groundwater forest, woodland and alkaline lake shore sit stacked in a narrow strip below the escarpment.
- Activities
- Road transfer to Lake Manyara · Afternoon game drive
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Lake Manyara · Fanaka Campsite
Day 8Lake Manyara → Serengeti
Over the highlands, onto the plains.
Up through Karatu to the Ngorongoro rim, along it, then down onto the Serengeti, with an optional stop at Olduvai Gorge. A game drive takes you in to camp.
- Activities
- Road transfer to the Serengeti · Optional Olduvai Gorge stop · Game drive en route
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Serengeti · Seronera Camp
- Optional
- Olduvai Gorge stop (USD 35 pp, paid locally)
Day 9Serengeti
A full day on the plains.
The day the whole route is built around. Out after breakfast with picnic lunches and back in the evening, with nothing to drive to. Depending on the month that means the migration herds, the kopjes and their lion, or the river lines for leopard.
- Activities
- Full-day game drive with picnic lunch
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Serengeti · Seronera Camp
Day 10Serengeti → Ngorongoro
A last morning, then the climb to the rim.
A morning game drive on the way out of the park, then east and up into the highlands, arriving on the rim in the late afternoon.
- Activities
- Morning game drive · Road transfer to the Ngorongoro highlands
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Ngorongoro · Simba Campsite
Day 11Ngorongoro → Arusha
Down into the crater.
An early descent onto the crater floor for black rhino, resident lion, big-tusked elephant and the flamingo around Lake Magadi, then up and back to Arusha.
- Activities
- Ngorongoro Crater game drive · Road transfer to Arusha
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Arusha · Charity Hotel
Day 12Arusha → departure
The trip ends.
A relaxed morning and a transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport, or onward to a Zanzibar flight if you are extending.
- Activities
- Departure transfer
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Overnight
- The journey ends today
Accommodation · Budget
A place to pause between chapters.
These are properties Ndurumo may recommend or use at this level on this route. Final accommodation is confirmed with your quotation and remains subject to availability.
Maasai Mara · Budget2 nights
Miti Mingi Eco Camp
Miti Mingi Eco Camp is the designated budget camp for the Maasai Mara.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safari
Lake Nakuru · Budget1 night
Buraha Zenoni
Buraha Zenoni is the designated budget hotel for Lake Nakuru.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safari
Amboseli · Budget2 nights
Nyati Safari Camp
Nyati Safari Camp is the designated budget camp for Amboseli.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safari
Arusha · Budget2 nights
Charity Hotel
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safari
Lake Manyara · Budget1 night
Fanaka Campsite
A good gateway night into the northern circuit at value level.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safari
Serengeti · Budget2 nights
Seronera Camp
Seronera Camp is basic camping, sold honestly as such.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safari
Ngorongoro · Budget1 night
Simba Campsite
Simba Campsite is basic camping, sold honestly as such.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safari
Compare accommodation at all three levels
Budget
- Maasai Mara
- Miti Mingi Eco Camp
- Lake Nakuru
- Buraha Zenoni
- Amboseli
- Nyati Safari Camp
- Arusha
- Charity Hotel
- Lake Manyara
- Fanaka Campsite
- Serengeti
- Seronera Camp
- Ngorongoro
- Simba Campsite
Midrange
- Maasai Mara
- Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
- Lake Nakuru
- Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
- Amboseli
- Kibo Safari Camp, Sentrim Amboseli Lodge
- Arusha
- Arusha Planet Lodge, or similar
- Lake Manyara
- Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, or similar
- Serengeti
- Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
- Ngorongoro
- Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, or similar
Luxury
- Maasai Mara
- andBeyond Bateleur Camp, Cottar's 1920s Camp
- Lake Nakuru
- The Cliff — Lake Nakuru
- Amboseli
- Elewana Tortilis Camp Amboseli
- Arusha
- Gran Meliá Arusha, or similar
- Lake Manyara
- andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
- Serengeti
- Elewana Serengeti Migration Camp
- Ngorongoro
- Elewana The Manor at Ngorongoro, Gibb's Farm
What you’ll experience
The character of this route.
- 01
A full stationary day in the Serengeti
- 02
A full day in the Maasai Mara and a full day in Amboseli
- 03
Both halves of one shared ecosystem
- 04
Black and white rhino at Lake Nakuru
- 05
Groundwater forest at Lake Manyara
- 06
A descent onto the Ngorongoro Crater floor
Package detail
What the price covers.
These lists apply to the budget version of this route. Optional extras are listed against the day they fall on.
What’s included
- Travel is arranged by 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser, with cross-border vehicle and guide arrangements confirmed according to the operating itinerary.
- Airport pick-up on arrival
- Accommodation as set out in the itinerary
- All meals while on safari (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Services of a professional Ndurumo driver-guide
- All park and reserve entrance fees
- All game drives listed in the itinerary
- Statutory taxes
Not included
- International flights
- Kenya or Tanzania visas and entry fees
- Travel and personal insurance
- Single-occupancy supplement
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Optional activities, including balloon safaris and village visits
- Items of a personal nature
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
- Border-related costs at Namanga unless included in the final quotation
Pricing
Clear before you commit.
Price depends on travel dates, group size, accommodation level, park fees at the time of travel and vehicle arrangements.
Per person sharing · low season USD 2,000, high season USD 2,250
This is our published starting rate. The final price still depends on your travel dates, group size, park fees at the time of travel, vehicle arrangements and accommodation availability.
- Travel dates
- Required for a quotation
- Group size
- Required for a quotation
- Occupancy
- Per person sharing; single supplement quoted separately
- Child rates
- Quoted where the property applies them
This route, shaped around you
Begin with the journey already chosen.
Your enquiry carries this route and level automatically, so you only add the details we genuinely need to price it.
How does the border crossing work?
The route crosses by road at Namanga and continues toward Arusha. We confirm the entry requirements, costs and vehicle arrangements for your dates before travel.
Do we change vehicles and guides at the border?
Travel is arranged by 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser, with cross-border vehicle and guide arrangements confirmed according to the operating itinerary.
Is twelve days worth it over eleven?
If the Serengeti is the reason you are coming, yes. The extra day is a stationary one in the park, which is worth more than another transfer day anywhere else on the route.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Published rates are per person sharing a twin or double room. Solo travellers pay a single-occupancy supplement, which we quote with the rest of the trip.
What does the final price depend on?
Travel dates, the number of people travelling, your accommodation tier, park fees at the time of travel and vehicle arrangements. We reprice every enquiry for the exact dates rather than working from a fixed sheet.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. The route below is the standard shape of the trip. Nights can be added or moved, and destinations can be swapped, as long as the driving distances still work.
Are park fees included?
Yes. All park and reserve entrance fees for the parks in the itinerary are included in the quoted price.
What vehicle will we use?
Road safaris use a 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser. Private departures have their own vehicle; group departures share the vehicle with fellow travellers.
Can children join this safari?
Yes. Tell us your children's ages when you enquire and we will confirm which properties on the route suit them and whether child rates apply.
Continue exploring
Other routes worth following.
11 Days Kenya & Tanzania: Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli, Arusha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
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- 11 days / 10 nights
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- From USD 1,770
10 Days Kenya & Tanzania: Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli, Arusha, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
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9 Days Kenya & Tanzania: Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Arusha, Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro
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12 Days Kenya & Tanzania: Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli, Arusha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
Let’s mark this route.
Share your dates and party, and we will come back with a quotation for this itinerary at the level you have chosen — or tell you honestly if a different route fits better.
A guided enquiry, not an instant booking. No obligation.
