Kenya & Tanzania Combined Safari: Maasai Mara to Serengeti
Two countries, one safari
Kenya & Tanzania in one private journey
The Maasai Mara and the Serengeti are one ecosystem split by a border. We run both sides – Amboseli under Kilimanjaro, the Mara, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti – and finish on the beach at Zanzibar or Diani if you wish.
How the combination works
There are two classic ways to link the countries. Overland: Nairobi – Amboseli – Namanga border – Arusha – Tarangire – Lake Manyara – Ngorongoro – Serengeti, 9–12 days, with a change to our Tanzanian partner vehicle and guide at the border so you always have a locally licensed team. By air: Nairobi – Maasai Mara – (flight via Nairobi/Kilimanjaro) – Serengeti – Ngorongoro – Arusha, 8–10 days, less driving and more game time. Both can end with a flight to Zanzibar or Diani Beach.
- Length
- 8–14 days, including 2–4 beach nights if wanted.
- Best months
- Jul–Oct for the Mara river crossings; Dec–Mar for Serengeti calving; Jun and Nov for value.
- Entry
- Kenya eTA plus Tanzania e-visa or visa on arrival at Namanga / Kilimanjaro. Yellow-fever certificate recommended for the border.
- Price guide
- From about US$3,500 per person mid-range (10 days, excluding international flights); luxury from US$7,000.
Suggested 10-day route
- Arrive Nairobi; airport meet-and-greet, overnight Nairobi.
- Drive to Amboseli National Park; afternoon game drive with Kilimanjaro views.
- Amboseli full day: elephant herds, swamps, Observation Hill.
- Namanga border crossing; onward to Arusha or Tarangire National Park.
- Tarangire: baobabs, elephants, the Tarangire River.
- Ngorongoro Crater floor game drive; overnight on the rim.
- Into the Serengeti: central Seronera or the seasonal migration area.
- Serengeti full day; optional balloon safari at dawn.
- Fly Serengeti – Zanzibar (or Serengeti – Nairobi – Diani).
- Beach day; depart or extend.
Related safari packages
10-Day Kenya & Tanzania Safarifrom US$3,200 per person
10-Day Luxury Kenya & Tanzania Safarifrom US$4,840 per person
11-Day Spirit and Soul of Africa (Kenya/Tanzania), High Endfrom US$7,781 per person
12-Day Bush to Beach Luxury Escapefrom US$4,147 per person
12-Day Kenya & Tanzania Grand Safarifrom US$13,800 per person
12-Day Luxury Best of Kenya & Tanzania with Beach Escapefrom US$8,099 per personKenya and Tanzania safari questions
Can I use one vehicle for both countries?
Kenyan-registered safari vehicles cannot operate inside Tanzanian parks, so you change to a licensed Tanzanian vehicle and guide at the border or airport. We coordinate both teams so the handover is seamless and the standard identical.
Which is better, the Maasai Mara or the Serengeti?
They are the same ecosystem. The Mara is compact with very high game density and hosts the river crossings July–October; the Serengeti is vast, with the calving season (January–March) and the long migration trek. Doing both in one trip shows you the whole cycle.
Do I need two visas?
Yes: a Kenya eTA and a Tanzania visa (e-visa or on arrival). If you re-enter Kenya for your flight home, your eTA covers re-entry within its validity.
How far in advance should I book?
Six to nine months for July–October and the Christmas period, because the best Serengeti and Mara camps sell out; three months is usually enough for the green season.