If you’re going to do an African safari, go big! Combining the legendary plains of Kenya and Tanzania is the ultimate East African dream, and my personal itinerary is designed to maximize your time in three of the world’s most spectacular national parks. Planning your trip for September or October is a brilliant move- it’s just past peak tourism, you’ll hit the sweet spot for great weather, and potentially catch the thrilling finale of the Great Migration. These 12 days blend peace and relaxation with raw, unforgettable wildlife experiences.
Day 1: An Intimate Welcome in Nairobi
Your trip officially kicks off when you land in Nairobi, Kenya. You’ll skip the city center rush and check straight into the iconic Giraffe Manor. It’s more than just a hotel, the best part? Tea-Time starts shortly after you arrive, meaning you get to enjoy complimentary snacks and pastries while feeding the free-roaming giraffes. It’s the coolest, most enchanting welcome to Africa you could ever imagine!
Day 2: Mara Bound
You’ll start your morning with one last unforgettable memory at Giraffe Manor. As you sit down for breakfast, giraffes will poke their heads through the tall windows, gently taking pellets right from your hands, or off your plate! After taking the essential breakfast-with-giraffe pictures, it’s time to trade the city’s green suburbs for the vast savanna. You’ll take a scenic bush flight directly into the Maasai Mara National Reserve, where you will be met at the airstrip for a ride back to camp. This magnificent, sprawling wilderness is celebrated as Kenya’s premier game-viewing area. Check into a classic, quality lodge like Kichwa Tembo, or the more exclusive and intimate Saruni Mara. After settling in and having some lunch, jump straight into your first game drive (AKA a Safari!). As the African sun starts to set, you’ll feel the thrill of seeing your first wild safari animals, putting an enthralling end to your first day in the bush.
Day 3: The Land and Its People
Wake up early for the best light and the most active animals during your morning game drive. Lions are often on the prowl this time of day! The Mara is renowned for having some of the highest concentrations of big cats anywhere in Africa. In the afternoon, you get the beautiful opportunity to meet the people of this land with a visit to a local Maasai village. This cultural visit shows valuable insight into the traditions and nomadic lifestyle of the Maasai people, whose existence is intertwined with the wildlife around them.
Day 4: Sunrise to Sunset in the Bush
You’ll wake up before dawn to float silently over the plains on a hot air balloon safari. Seeing the sunrise paint the savanna gold while herds of animals graze below is breathtaking. It concludes with a celebratory champagne breakfast, ensuring you soak up every last minute of the Mara. An evening game drive caps off your last night in Kenya.
Day 5: Welcome to the Pride Lands
Logistics time! You’ll fly from the Mara to the Tanzanian border, take a short car ride across the border, then hop onto a second flight that takes you right into the Serengeti National Park, where you will be met with a ride to camp. After five action-packed days, use the night to settle in and relax. Staying at a phenomenal spot like Mila Tented Camp or Dunia Camp puts you right in the middle of the action.
Days 6-7: The Endless Plains
These two days are all about the sheer, epic scale of the Serengeti. The name itself means “endless plains” in Maasai, and you’ll understand why when you look out over the horizon! Here, you’ll be on the lookout for the Big Five—lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo—plus zebras, cheetahs, hyenas, massive crocodiles, and everything in between. The Serengeti is a true example of nature’s grand design, where you’ll appreciate the utter magnitude of the African wilderness.
Day 8: Crater Rim Views
Time for a change of scenery. You’ll drive toward the Ngorongoro Crater, stunned by the elevation change as you ascend the crater highlands. Check in to Melia Ngorongoro Lodge for prime views and location. You get to spend the evening relaxing and soaking in that panoramic view before the big descent tomorrow.
Day 9: Descent into Eden
A true bucket-list item: driving down onto the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater! This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and it’s basically a fully-stocked “Garden of Eden” for wildlife. Because its walls act as an enclosure, it offers the single best chance in the region to spot the critically endangered Black Rhino, along with huge elephant bulls, black-maned lions, and hippo pools. After a morning of epic game viewing, you’ll head back up to the lodge to chill by the pool—you earned it!
Day 10: A Big View with Bigger Experiences
Today you leave the highlands and drive toward the highest free-standing mountain in the world, the dormant volcano, Mount Kilimanjaro. Your destination is Serval Wildlife, a unique facility dedicated to animal welfare and conservation awareness. After checking in, you’ll get a unique opportunity for up-close, meaningful animal visits. You’ll be able to spend intimate time with the same animals you had only just seen in the wild, offering a great full circle moment, all with Kilimanjaro looming majestically in the background.
Day 11: Animals and Hot Springs
After many days in the jeep, today is for pure, rejuvenating relaxation. Take the morning to chill and get up-close with some more wildlife. Then, in the afternoon, it’s time for a hidden gem: the Kikuletwa Hot Springs. Tucked away beneath towering fig trees, this natural spring boasts warm, crystal-clear turquoise water. It’s the perfect, unexpected stop to swim, relax your muscles, and wash away the safari dust before flying home.
Day 12: Farewell Kilimanjaro
Your final morning in Africa! After breakfast, your hotel will transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport. You’ll be heading home with the best photos and the most amazing memories of the great African safari.
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