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Safari in Kenya & Tanzania

14 days, Nairobi to Arusha

Elephants grazing in the Serengeti in Tanzania
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The itinerary on this trip has been improved! View the new itinerary.

On this epic journey, explore some of the finest national parks in East Africa, from Kenya’s Masai Mara to the incomparable Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. Keep your binoculars at hand on a trip to Lake Nakuru, a birder’s paradise; and seek out lions, leopards, and elephants in the wilds of the Serengeti. In between safaris, learn about local customs on a visit to a Maasai community and share a meal with a family in the vibrant Mto wa Mbu village.

This specific trip is no longer running.

Trip Code: DKANG

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On this epic journey, explore some of the finest national parks in East Africa, from Kenya’s Masai Mara to the incomparable Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. Keep your binoculars at hand on a trip to Lake Nakuru, a birder’s paradise; and seek out lions, leopards, and elephants in the wilds of the Serengeti. In between safaris, learn about local customs on a visit to a Maasai community and share a meal with a family in the vibrant Mto wa Mbu village.

Is this tour for me?

Travel Style: National Geographic Journeys

Greater exploration, insider access, and the freedom to roam – all without sacrificing comfort.

Service Level: Upgraded

Quality accommodations and more inclusions than on other G Adventures tours, like meals, private transport, and activities.

Physical Rating: 2 - Light

Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Max 6, Avg 5.

Age requirement: 12+

All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Check Your Visa Requirements

Before booking, use our handy entry requirements tool so you know which documents you need to enter and travel through the countries on your trip.

View our Entry Requirements tool

This specific trip is no longer running.

Trip Code: DKANG

Need a flight? We can help.

Call us to book your flights! We'll find you the best option!

See how your trip uplifts communities

In a number of impactful ways, your adventure directly benefits the local people and places we visit.

Trees for Days

Help us spread love around the world — with trees! Together with Planeterra, we'll plant one tree in your name for every travel day.

Trees planted for this trip: 14

Ripple Score

Want to create ripples that change lives? The higher the Ripple Score percentage, the more money stays in the local communities you visit.

Ripple Score for this trip: 99

They surge across the Serengeti-Mara like the force of nature that they are. More than a million wildebeests, careering around the endless open plains and acacia savannas of Kenya and Tanzania.—K. M. Kostyal, Great Migrations, National Geographic Society, 2012

Map of the route for Safari in Kenya & Tanzania

Places visited

Itinerary Notes

There are new Health & Safety Protocols for National Geographic Journeys tours. Please see here for full details and up-to-date requirements as they may change.

Itinerary

Day 1Nairobi

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.

Day 2Nairobi/Lake Nakuru National Park

Depart early for Lake Nakuru, known for harbouring flocks of pink flamingos and a rich variety of bird species. Arrive at our safari lodge inside Lake Nakuru National Park in time for lunch, and seek out the resident rhinos on a late afternoon wildlife drive.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 3Lake Nakuru National Park

Set out on morning and afternoon safaris through the picturesque park, searching for buffalo, impalas, lions, and more; and drive along the salty shores of Lake Nakuru to discover a mind-boggling variety of birds.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 4Lake Nakuru National Park/Lake Naivasha

This morning attend a talk given by a representative of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)—a government institution dedicated to managing the country’s wildlife—about the issues surrounding poaching and wildlife conservation. Later head south through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha, a large freshwater lake surrounded by grassy banks and olive trees. Cruise the lake on a boat, watching for hippos and buffalo; and peer through your binoculars to spot lovebirds, ibis, and the African fish eagle. Step ashore at Crescent Island—a peaceful wildlife sanctuary located in the middle of the lake— and enjoy a guided stroll in search of wildebeest, zebras, and giraffes.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Journeys Highlight Moment Kenya Wildlife Service Conservation Talk

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 5Lake Naivasha/Masai Mara

Travel to the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve and settle into our comfortable tented camp, located in the heart of the reserve. Head out for an afternoon safari through vast, acacia-dotted plains, driving past throngs of wildebeest, zebra, and giraffes; and keep an eye out for lions, elephants, and the rest of the African “big five.” In the evening, relax at the camp and enjoy scenic views of the rolling plains.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 6Masai Mara

Venture out on an early morning safari to track the animals that traversed the savanna during the night. View ungulates like Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, topi and eland antelopes—as well as their stealthy predators—at one of their most active times of the day. Continue your exploration on a late afternoon safari, discovering the timeless landscapes of Masai Mara.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 7Masai Mara/Nairobi

Witness a breathtaking sunrise over the savanna during your final safari in Masai Mara, and head back to Nairobi. Stop en route at Café Ubuntu, a G Adventures–supported Planeterra project that trains and employs local women and mothers of children with disabilities. Café Ubuntu is an oasis with delicious organic food, hospitable staff, and a relaxing atmosphere based in Maai Mahiu. It is a beacon for tourists who drive through the area each year on their way to the famous Maasai Mara conservancy. Learn about how the initiative empowers the community, visit the craft centre to meet some of the women who create the wares sold there, and then sit down for a delicious farm-to-table lunch. Options range from breakfast tacos, soups, and salads, to freshly made pizzas, curry dishes, and burritos.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Journeys Highlight Moment Café Ubuntu and Ubuntu Made

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 8Nairobi/Arusha

Fly to Arusha, gateway to the Serengeti and the northern parks of Tanzania, and settle into your lodge.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 9Arusha/Lake Manyara National Park

This morning, make your way to Mto wa Mbu village, a vibrant settlement of Tanzania’s diverse tribal groups. Take a guided walk through the village, visiting the local market and meeting artisans in their workshops; then sit down for a traditional lunch with a local family. Continue to the Rift Valley escarpment and settle into our safari camp, located at the edge of Lake Manyara National Park. Set out on our first safari drive to discover East Africa’s legendary wildlife, searching for lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, and more.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your G for Good Moment Mto wa Mbu Village Visit and Lunch

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 10Lake Manyara National Park/Serengeti National Park

Travel through the breathtaking Rift Valley to a Maasai village. Here, we learn about the G Adventures–supported Clean Cookstoves Project, dedicated to providing clean-burning cookstoves to Maasai communities throughout Tanzania. Enjoy a presentation by a Masaai woman on the impact of the project, and take a guided tour of the village, visiting traditional homes or bomas and helping build a new stove. Continue to our safari camp in Serengeti National Park, stopping en route at the Olduvai Gorge Museum and Visitor’s Centre—located near the site where National Geographic archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered early hominid fossils and stone tools in 1960.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your G for Good Moment Clean Cookstove Project Visit| Your Journeys Highlight Moment Clean Cookstove Project Talk

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 11Serengeti National Park

Immerse yourself in the splendor of the Serengeti, one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife reserves. Discover the park’s iconic creatures when you set out in a 4x4 on morning and afternoon safaris through the golden grasslands. With luck, spot all of Africa’s “big five”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. Later, visit the Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre, and enjoy a talk by one of the visiting researchers.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Journeys Highlight Moment Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre Lecture

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 12Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro

Depart the Serengeti this morning, looking out for the park’s wild denizens along the drive. Check in to our comfortable tented camp near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and enjoy a fiery African sunset from the deck.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 13Ngorongoro/Arusha

Spanning more than 20 kilometres in diameter, the Ngorongoro Crater is the largest non-flooded caldera in the world and is inhabited by some 25,000 animals. Descend into this green-walled paradise early in the morning on safari. As you ride past herds of zebra and flocks of flamingo, keep your eyes peeled for a pride of lions or a lone leopard. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the floor of the crater; then drive to Arusha.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 14Arusha

Depart at any time.

Meals included:

Breakfast
View full itinerary

What's Included

  • Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Kenya Wildlife Service Conservation Talk, Lake Nakuru National Park
  • Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Café Ubuntu and Ubuntu Made, Maai Mahiu
  • Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Clean Cookstove Project Talk, Mto wa Mbu
  • Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre Lecture, Serengeti National Park
  • Your G for Good Moment: Mto wa Mbu Village Visit and Lunch, Mto wa Mbu
  • Your G for Good Moment: Clean Cookstove Project Visit, Mto wa Mbu
  • Arrival transfer
  • Wildlife safari drives in Masai Mara National Reserve, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Nakuru, Lake Manyara, and the Serengeti
  • Boat trip on Lake Naivasha and wildlife walk on Crescent Island
  • Entrance to Olduvai Gorge Museum
  • Internal flight
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodations

Hotels (4 nts), safari lodge (4 nts), comfortable tented camps (5 nts).

Meals

13 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 9 dinners
Allow USD195-255 for meals not included.

Transportation

7-seat 4x4 safari vehicle, plane, boat, walking.

Staff & experts

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, certified driver/guide.

Available extras (Add these to your tour when you book)

My Own Room - From $1639.00

If you're travelling solo and would prefer to have your own private room throughout your trip, select this option during the online booking process.

Make it a private tour

Book this tour as a private departure, with your own CEO and all the benefits of a G Adventures group tour.

Safari in Kenya & Tanzania

| 14 days - Nairobi to Arusha - from $9009 USD