Maasai Mara
Mara & Serengeti
Kenya and Tanzania Migration Safari
The Mara and the Serengeti are one ecosystem divided by a border the wildebeest ignore. This trip follows them across it.
Plan this trip Overview
About this trip
The Mara and the Serengeti are one ecosystem divided by a border the wildebeest ignore. This trip follows them across it.
Between roughly July and October the herds are on the Kenyan side and in the northern Serengeti, which is the window this itinerary is built for. Three nights in the Mara, three in the Serengeti, and a night on the Ngorongoro rim before the crater.
Outside those months the herds are further south and the trip should be reshaped. Tell us your dates and we will tell you honestly whether this is the right trip for them.
Highlights
- The migration from both sides of the border
- Mara River crossing country in season
- Three nights in the Serengeti
- The Ngorongoro Crater, with its resident black rhino
- Big cats in two of the highest-density areas in Africa
- One operator and one point of contact across both countries
Itinerary
Day by day
- 1Day 1
Arrival in Nairobi
Arrive and transfer to your hotel. Briefing on the days ahead.
- 2Day 2
Nairobi to the Maasai Mara
Travel to the Mara. Arrive for lunch, then an evening game drive.
- 3Day 3
Maasai Mara
A full day in the Mara, focused on the herds and the predators following them. Picnic lunch in the field.
- 4Day 4
Maasai Mara
A second full day, with time at the river crossing points. Crossings happen without a schedule, so this day is about patience rather than a timetable.
- 5Day 5
Mara to the Serengeti
Cross into Tanzania and continue to the northern Serengeti. Arrive in time for an evening game drive.
- 6Day 6
Serengeti
A full day in the northern Serengeti, where the herds move through at this time of year.
- 7Day 7
Serengeti to Ngorongoro
Morning game drive, then travel south towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Overnight on the crater rim.
- 8Day 8
Ngorongoro Crater
Descend into the crater for the day. Black rhino, large lion prides and a concentration of wildlife you will not see elsewhere. Continue to Arusha in the afternoon.
- 9Day 9
Departure
Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight.
What is included
- ✓Accommodation and all meals
- ✓Park and conservation fees in both countries
- ✓Crater service fee
- ✓4x4 vehicle and driver-guide
- ✓Transfers and border assistance
- ✓Drinking water on game drives
Not included
- ×International flights
- ×Internal flights, if chosen over road
- ×Visas and entry documentation
- ×Travel insurance
- ×Drinks, tips and personal expenses
- ×Balloon safari and other optional activities
Questions
Frequently asked
Do we drive or fly between the Mara and the Serengeti?
Both are possible. Road is cheaper and lets you see the country; flying saves most of a day. We will tell you which makes sense for your dates and budget.
Will we see a river crossing?
We cannot promise one. Herds gather at a crossing point, wait, sometimes for hours, and then either go or turn back. Being there in the right weeks and allowing enough days is the most any operator can do.
What about visas?
This is worth knowing before you book. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda only. Entering Tanzania ends its validity, even within the period, so a route that returns to Kenya afterwards needs new documentation. We build the paperwork sequence into your itinerary.
Is nine days necessary?
It can be shortened, but fewer than eight days means either dropping Ngorongoro or spending too much of the trip in transit.
Can we finish at the coast instead?
Yes. Zanzibar is a short flight from Arusha and is the usual way to end this trip.
Pairs well with
Other safaris to consider
Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara
Samburu & Maasai Mara
Plan my safari
Tell us what you have in mind
You do not need a complete itinerary before getting in touch. Your travel dates, the number of people travelling, and a rough idea of what you would like to see are enough for us to begin.