Private or Group Kenya & Tanzania safari
9 Days Kenya & Tanzania: Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Arusha, Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro
The Kenyan Rift Valley, then across the border to Manyara and the crater.
- 9 days / 8 nights
- Kenya & Tanzania
- Luxury
- 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
- 9 days / 8 nights
- Country
- Kenya & Tanzania
- Destinations
- Maasai Mara · Lake Nakuru · Lake Naivasha · Nairobi · Arusha · Lake Manyara · Ngorongoro
- Safari level
- Luxury
- Travel type
- Private or Group safari
- Starts
- Nairobi
- Ends
- Arusha
- Price
- On request
Overview
The journey at a glance.
This is the shorter of the cross-border circuits. It works through Kenya's Rift Valley first — the Mara, Nakuru and Naivasha — then crosses at Namanga to Arusha and picks up the Tanzanian side at Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater.
It leaves out the Serengeti, which is what keeps it to nine days. If the Serengeti matters to you, the ten and eleven-day versions of this circuit are the ones to look at.
What you get instead is a route with very manageable driving, two countries, and both of the Rift Valley's signature set-pieces: rhino at Nakuru and the crater floor at Ngorongoro.
RouteNairobi · Maasai Mara · Lake Nakuru · Lake Naivasha · Namanga · Arusha · Lake Manyara · Ngorongoro · Arusha
Your route
9 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
- 04Lake Naivasha1 night
- 05Nairobi1 night
- 06Arusha1 night
- 07Lake Manyara1 night
- 08Ngorongoro1 night
- 09ArushaIn transit
Day by day
9 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 · andBeyond Bateleur Camp
Day 2Maasai Mara
A full day on the plains.
Out after breakfast with a picnic lunch and back as the light drops, working the grassland and the river country.
- Activities
- Full-day game drive with picnic lunch
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Maasai Mara · andBeyond Bateleur 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 · The Cliff — Lake Nakuru
- Optional
- Maasai village visit (USD 10 pp, paid locally)
Day 4Lake Nakuru → Lake Naivasha
Rhino, then fresh water.
A morning game drive at Nakuru for rhino, Rothschild's giraffe and lake-shore game, then the short transfer to Naivasha and an open afternoon on the lake.
- Activities
- Morning game drive at Lake Nakuru · Transfer to Lake Naivasha
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Lake Naivasha · Loldia House
- Optional
- Lake Naivasha boat ride, subject to current local rates
Day 5Lake Naivasha → Hell's Gate → Nairobi
Hell's Gate on foot, then a pause between halves.
After breakfast you leave Naivasha for Hell's Gate National Park, walking through the gorges on a nature walk, with cycling available as an option. Then the drive back to Nairobi with lunch on the way, and a drop-off at your Nairobi hotel. This is the pivot day: the Kenyan half of the trip closes here and the Tanzanian half begins tomorrow.
- Activities
- Nature walk in Hell's Gate National Park, with optional cycling · Road transfer to Nairobi
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Nairobi · Nairobi hotel — confirmed with your quotation
- Optional
- Bicycle hire at Hell's Gate, subject to current local rates
Day 6Nairobi → Namanga → Arusha
Across the border.
Travel south 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 · Gran Meliá Arusha, or similar
Day 7Arusha → Lake Manyara
Under the Rift wall again, on the other side.
West to Mto wa Mbu and into Lake Manyara, where groundwater forest, woodland and alkaline lake shore sit in a narrow strip below the escarpment. Baboon and blue monkey in the forest, hippo and flamingo on the lake.
- Activities
- Road transfer to Lake Manyara · Afternoon game drive
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Lake Manyara · andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
Day 8Lake Manyara → Ngorongoro
Up to the rim.
A morning in Manyara, then the climb through Karatu farmland to the Ngorongoro highlands. The rim sits above 2,200 metres, and the view across the caldera on arrival is the whole reason people stay up here.
- Activities
- Morning game drive at Lake Manyara · Road transfer to the Ngorongoro highlands
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight
- Ngorongoro · Elewana The Manor at Ngorongoro
Day 9Ngorongoro → 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. You ascend around midday and drive back to Arusha, where the trip ends.
- Activities
- Ngorongoro Crater game drive · Road transfer to Arusha
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Overnight
- The journey ends today
Accommodation · Luxury
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 · Luxury2 nights
andBeyond Bateleur Camp
- or Cottar's 1920s Camp
Either of these luxury camps may be used, depending on dates and availability.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safariLake Nakuru · Luxury1 night
The Cliff — Lake Nakuru
The Cliff is the recommended luxury option for Lake Nakuru nights.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safariLake Naivasha · Luxury1 night
Loldia House
Loldia House is the recommended luxury option for Lake Naivasha nights.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safariNairobi · Luxury1 night
Nairobi hotel — confirmed with your quotation
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safariArusha · Luxury1 night
Gran Meliá Arusha, or similar
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safariLake Manyara · Luxury1 night
andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is the recommended luxury option for Lake Manyara nights.
Accommodation confirmed with your quotation and subject to availability.
Plan this safariNgorongoro · Luxury1 night
Elewana The Manor at Ngorongoro
- or Gibb's Farm
Either of these lodges may be used for Ngorongoro nights, depending on dates and availability.
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
- Lake Naivasha
- Leisure Apex
- Nairobi
- Nairobi hotel — confirmed with your quotation
- Arusha
- Charity Hotel
- Lake Manyara
- Fanaka Campsite
- Ngorongoro
- Simba Campsite
Midrange
- Maasai Mara
- Masai Mara Sopa Lodge
- Lake Nakuru
- Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
- Lake Naivasha
- Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort
- Nairobi
- Nairobi hotel — confirmed with your quotation
- Arusha
- Arusha Planet Lodge, or similar
- Lake Manyara
- Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, or similar
- Ngorongoro
- Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, or similar
Luxury
- Maasai Mara
- andBeyond Bateleur Camp, Cottar's 1920s Camp
- Lake Nakuru
- The Cliff — Lake Nakuru
- Lake Naivasha
- Loldia House
- Nairobi
- Nairobi hotel — confirmed with your quotation
- Arusha
- Gran Meliá Arusha, or similar
- Lake Manyara
- andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
- Ngorongoro
- Elewana The Manor at Ngorongoro, Gibb's Farm
What you’ll experience
The character of this route.
- 01
A full day in the Maasai Mara
- 02
Black and white rhino at Lake Nakuru
- 03
Hippo and birdlife on Lake Naivasha
- 04
A road crossing at Namanga into Tanzania
- 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 luxury 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.
We have not loaded a contracted rate for this tier yet, and we would rather quote you accurately than estimate. Price depends on dates, occupancy, park fees, 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 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
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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.
