7-Day Wild Kenya and Tanzania Safari (Masai Mara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Conservation Area)

Today, you will spend the entire day exploring the vast Masai Mara plains. With its golden savannah, rolling hills, and diverse wildlife, Masai Mara offers incredible sightings of the Big Five including lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, and the elusive leopard. The park is also home to impressive cheetah populations, as well as giraffes, impalas, hartebeests, and numerous bird species, including the famous Kori Bustard. If you visit between July and October, expect the opportunity to witness the spectacular Great Migration as millions of wildebeest and zebras cross the Mara River, while being hunted down by hungry crocodiles and lions. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wilderness before continuing your game-viewing adventure. Your full-day game drive ends at around 6:00 pm, after which you return to your lodge and relax. Overnight stay in Masai Mara National Reserve.

Travel Time: About 7 – 8 hours After an early breakfast, depart for the Serengeti National Park, crossing into northern Tanzania via the Isebania border. Upon arrival in the Serengeti, enjoy an en-route game drive as you head to your lodge or tented camp. The Serengeti is famous for its endless plains and large concentrations of wildlife, making it a prime East African safari destination.

After breakfast, set out on a thrilling game drive in the Kogatende region of northern Serengeti, an area known for its rugged kopjes and high predator activity. Here, you will track the movements of the Great Migration as vast herds of wildebeest and zebras gather near the Mara River, preparing for their dramatic crossing into Kenya’s Masai Mara. The Mara River is the final and most dangerous challenge during the migration teeming with powerful Nile crocodiles, large pods of hippos, and lions waiting on the riverbanks. With patience and good timing, you may witness the breathtaking spectacle of thousands of wildebeest plunging into the river, braving strong currents and lurking predators in a desperate bid for survival. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wild before continuing your game drive. As the sun sets over the Serengeti, head back to your lodge or tented camp for a well-deserved dinner and overnight stay.

Travel Time: About 3 – 4 hours Enjoy an early morning game drive in Serengeti before heading to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arrive in the afternoon and settle into your lodge, situated at the breathtaking crater rim. Often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” Ngorongoro Crater is a natural marvel, with towering 2,000-foot-high walls enclosing an expansive 260-square-kilometer caldera. This unique ecosystem supports an astonishing concentration of wildlife, including the rare and endangered black rhino. The crater floor features a mix of habitats—lush forests, open grasslands, swamps, and a soda lake shimmering with thousands of flamingos. Overnight stay in Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

After breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a thrilling game drive. The crater floor is home to an incredible concentration of wildlife, including rhinos, lions, elephants, cheetahs, jackals, hippos, and large herds of zebras and wildebeest. Ngorongoro is known as one of Africa’s premier game viewing areas, home to over 25,000 mammals. Enjoy a picnic lunch beside the hippo pool before continuing your safari. In the afternoon, visit a local Maasai village located on the outskirts of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Maasai are one of East Africa’s most iconic indigenous communities, known for their semi-nomadic lifestyle, distinctive red shukas (robes), and deep-rooted warrior traditions. Upon arrival, you will be warmly welcomed with a vibrant “adumu” (jumping dance), performed by Maasai warriors as they chant rhythmic songs. Spend some time interacting and learning about these people’s various traditions and way of life, before heading back to the crater for relaxation. Overnight stay in Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Travel time: About 2 to 3 Hours After breakfast, depart for Arusha and upon arrival, transfer to your hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward journey, concluding your unforgettable 7-day Wild Kenya and Tanzania Safari adventure.