10-day Kenya Tanzania wildlife safari is a fast-paced, high-impact East Africa adventure guided by our knowledgeable Guides: the rare desert-adapted wildlife of Samburu National Reserve, the flamingo-lined shores of Lake Nakuru, the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve, Tanzania’s iconic Serengeti National Park, the wildlife-dense Ngorongoro Crater, and elephant-rich Tarangire National Park.

Itinerary

Cost

Practical Notes

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

Practical Notes

10-Day Kenya Tanzania Wildlife Safari - Overview

This 10-day Kenya Tanzania wildlife safari spans two countries and six national parks and reserves, this safari covers Kenya’s classic northern circuit, crosses into Tanzania’s northern safari circuit via the Isebania border, and returns directly to Nairobi. Along the way you’ll track the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino), witness (season permitting) the Great Wildebeest Migration between the Masai Mara and Serengeti, and stay in a curated mix of lodges and tented camps chosen for comfort, location, and authentic safari atmosphere.

Best time to travel: This route can be done year-round, but July–October offers the best odds of witnessing the wildebeest migration crossing between the Masai Mara and Serengeti, while January–February is calving season in the southern Serengeti and Ndutu area. Dry seasons (June–October and December–March) generally offer the easiest game viewing across all parks.

Highlights

Northern Kenya's rare Samburu Special Five species
Flamingo-famous, rhino-sanctuary Lake Nakuru National Park
Big Five game drives in the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve
Cross-border safari into Tanzania's Serengeti National Park
Great Wildebeest Migration river crossings (seasonal, roughly July–October)
Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and rhino stronghold
Tarangire National Park's ancient baobabs and dense elephant herds

Day 01 :

Nairobi – Samburu National Reserve

Your 10-day Kenya Tanzania wildlife safari begins in Nairobi with an early morning departure north to Samburu National Reserve, driving through the fertile highlands and past Mount Kenya's foothills before descending into the semi-arid landscape of northern Kenya. Samburu is famed for its "Samburu Special Five": Grevy's Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Somali Ostrich, Gerenuk, and Beisa Oryx — species found almost nowhere else on a standard Kenya safari itinerary. Arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive along the Ewaso Nyiro River, home to healthy populations of elephant, lion, and leopard.

Overnight: Samburu Simba Lodge

Day 02 :

Samburu National Reserve

A full day dedicated to game drives in Samburu National Reserve. Morning and afternoon drives give you the best chance to spot the reserve's resident lion prides, leopards resting in riverine acacia trees, and large elephant herds coming to drink at the river. Birdlife is exceptional here too, with over 350 recorded species.

Overnight: Samburu Simba Lodge

Day 03 :

Samburu National Reserve – Lake Nakuru National Park

Depart Samburu National Reserve after breakfast and drive south through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park, one of Kenya's most celebrated birding destinations and historically famous for its dense flamingo flocks. The park is also a designated rhino sanctuary, home to both Black Rhino and White Rhino, along with healthy populations of lion, leopard, giraffe (including the special Rothschild's Giraffe), and Cape Buffalo. Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive around the lake shore and surrounding acacia woodland.

Overnight: Lake Nakuru Lodge

Day 04 :

Lake Nakuru National Park – Masai Mara National Reserve

Journey across the Rift Valley escarpment and rolling Loita Hills to reach the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya's most famous safari destination and the northern extension of Tanzania's Serengeti ecosystem. Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive across the open savannah grasslands, home to massive lion prides, cheetah, and — depending on season — the Great Wildebeest Migration.

Overnight: Zebra Plains Mara Camp

Day 05 :

Masai Mara National Reserve

A full day of game drives across the Masai Mara's varied habitats, from open plains to the riverine forest along the Mara and Talek Rivers. Look for the "Big Five," along with Cheetah, Spotted Hyena, and — during migration season (roughly July to October) — the dramatic river crossings as Western White-bearded Wildebeest and Common Zebra cross the crocodile-infested Mara River. An optional early-morning hot air balloon safari over the plains can be arranged.

Overnight: Zebra Plains Mara Camp

Day 06 :

Masai Mara National Reserve – Isebania – Serengeti National Park

10-Day Kenya Tanzania Wildlife Safari Crosses from Kenya into Tanzania via the Isebania border post, then continue south into the Serengeti National Park, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and the setting for the Great Migration. The Serengeti's endless plains support the largest concentration of plains game on Earth, including over 1.5 million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, and healthy predator populations. Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive.

Overnight: Arukore Simba Camp

Day 07 :

Serengeti National Park

A full day exploring the Serengeti's central Seronera Valley and surrounding plains, renowned for year-round resident wildlife and some of the best leopard and lion sightings in Africa. Depending on the season, you may encounter the migration herds moving through the park, along with resident giraffe, topi, hartebeest, and elephant.

Overnight: Arukore Simba Camp

Day 08 :

Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro

Depart the Serengeti and climb up out of the plains to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, driving along the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater with sweeping views into the caldera below. Check in at Marera Valley Lodge, set amid the coffee farms and forests of the Karatu highlands, for a relaxed evening before tomorrow's crater descent.

Overnight: Marera Valley Lodge

Day 09 :

Ngorongoro Crater – Tarangire National Park

An early descent into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, packed with an estimated 25,000 large mammals within its 260-square-kilometer floor. This is one of the most reliable places in Africa to see the endangered black rhino alongside lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo, and flamingo-lined soda lakes. After the crater game drive, continue to Tarangire National Park, famous for its ancient baobab trees and Africa's highest concentration of elephants outside the Serengeti ecosystem.

Overnight: Tarangire Safari Camp

Day 10 :

Tarangire National Park – Nairobi

After a final morning game drive in Tarangire National Park, depart for the border crossing back into Kenya and drive on to Nairobi, arriving in the afternoon/evening in time for onward international flights. This marks the end of your 10-day Kenya Tanzania wildlife safari.