12-Day Kenya & Tanzania Wildlife Safari
Safari Overview
This 12-day Kenya and Tanzania safari is the ultimate East African wildlife experience, taking you to the continent’s most legendary national parks and reserves. From the elephant herds of Amboseli with Mount Kilimanjaro’s snowy peak as a backdrop to the sweeping plains of the Masai Mara and the endless Serengeti, this journey delivers the full spectrum of Africa’s iconic wildlife. Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, Africa’s Eden, and explore the diverse ecosystems of Tarangire and Lake Manyara. Expertly designed by Serengeti Wildlife Safari, this 12-day adventure combines thrilling game drives, cultural encounters with the Maasai people, and the breathtaking landscapes that make East Africa the world’s premier safari destination.
Safari Highlights
Amboseli National Park – large elephant herds with views of Mount Kilimanjaro
Masai Mara National Reserve – Big Five safaris and Great Migration (seasonal)
Serengeti National Park – endless plains and iconic wildlife encounters
Ngorongoro Crater – descend 600 meters into a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Tarangire National Park – massive elephant herds and ancient baobab trees
Lake Manyara National Park – rare tree-climbing lions and flamingos
Cultural Experience – Maasai village visits and local community interactions
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival – Kilimanjaro Airport to Amboseli National Park
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your Serengeti Wildlife Safari driver-guide. After a short safari briefing, you will be transferred to the Namanga border where you will meet your Kenyan driver-guide and continue to Amboseli National Park. Amboseli is famous for its large elephant herds and breathtaking views of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, which stands at 5,895 meters and provides a majestic backdrop to the park’s wildlife. Arrive in time for an evening game drive in search of elephants, giraffes, lions, buffalo, and antelopes against the stunning mountain scenery. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water
Day 2: Full Day in Amboseli National Park
After breakfast, spend a full day exploring Amboseli’s diverse landscapes. The park is renowned for its large herds of elephants, with up to 1,000 individuals roaming the plains. Enjoy a morning game drive when wildlife is most active, returning to the lodge for lunch and a midday break from the heat. In the afternoon, venture out again for another game drive, keeping your camera ready for lions, cheetahs, zebras, gazelles, and giraffes. The snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro provides a stunning backdrop throughout the day. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 3: Amboseli – Nairobi
After breakfast, check out of your lodge and drive to Nairobi, Kenya’s vibrant capital. Depending on the time of day, you will have a brief city tour exploring some of Nairobi’s highlights, including the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, which offers panoramic views of the city skyline. Proceed to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 4: Nairobi – Masai Mara National Reserve
After breakfast, depart Nairobi for the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve. The drive takes approximately 5-6 hours through the Great Rift Valley’s dramatic landscapes, passing Narok town, where you’ll have the opportunity to interact with the Maasai people and learn about their rich culture and traditions. The Masai Mara is Kenya’s finest wildlife sanctuary, known for its density of animals, including the Big Five and over 450 bird species. Arrive at your camp in time for lunch, then head out for an evening game drive across the vast savannah plains. The Mara is home to lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests. Return to camp for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Days 5 & 6: Full Days in Masai Mara National Reserve
Spend two full days exploring the Masai Mara on morning and afternoon game drives. The Mara plains are filled with migrating wildebeest and zebra during the Great Migration season (July to October), but resident wildlife is abundant year-round. Herds of elephants browse among lions, buffalo, Thomson’s gazelle, zebra, and topi. The Mara River is home to hippos and large Nile crocodiles. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wilderness, and in the evening, you may choose to visit a Maasai village for an optional cultural experience. Return to camp for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 7: Masai Mara – Isebania Border – Serengeti National Park
After an early breakfast and a final morning game drive, check out of your lodge and drive to the Isebania border. Clear immigration formalities and meet your Tanzanian driver-guide. Continue into the legendary Serengeti National Park, one of the most wildlife-rich areas on Earth. The Serengeti covers 14,763 square kilometers of rolling plains, acacia woodlands, and riverine forests, supporting Africa’s highest density of wildlife. Enjoy game viewing en route as you enter the park, arriving at your camp in time for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 8: Full Day in Serengeti National Park
Spend a full day exploring the Serengeti on morning and afternoon game drives. The park is home to the Big Five and over 500 bird species. Depending on the season, witness the Great Migration – over 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras moving in search of fresh grazing. The Central Serengeti offers year-round wildlife viewing, with kopjes providing excellent vantage points for spotting lions, leopards, and other predators. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the heart of the wilderness. Return to camp for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 9: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, depart the Serengeti for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest unbroken volcanic caldera, often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Descend approximately 600 meters into the crater for a full-day game drive. The crater is home to an estimated 30,000 animals, including some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhino. The crater’s diverse habitats support vast herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor. Ascend to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 10: Ngorongoro – Lake Manyara National Park – Walking Safari
After breakfast, drive to Lake Manyara National Park. En route, stop in Mto wa Mbu town to visit craft shops and interact with locals. Lake Manyara is one of Tanzania’s most dramatically located wildlife areas, consisting of a massive but shallow soda lake at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment. The park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, along with large elephant herds, buffalo, giraffes, hippos, troops of baboons, and flamingos attracted by the lake’s algae. Enjoy a guided walking safari in the afternoon for an up-close encounter with nature and wildlife. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 11: Lake Manyara – Tarangire National Park – Arusha
After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park – a hidden gem of Tanzania’s northern safari circuit. Tarangire is famous for its massive elephant herds, with up to 3,000 elephants concentrated along the Tarangire River during the dry season. The park’s baobab and acacia trees create a stunning landscape. Enjoy a game drive searching for elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and over 500 bird species. After a leisurely picnic lunch, drive to Arusha and check into your hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Meals: All meals included, Drinking water
Day 12: Arusha – Kilimanjaro Hike – Departure
After breakfast, you will be met by your guide and transferred to the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world and the highest peak in Africa. Embark on a hike on the Marangu Route, which will take approximately 6 hours to ascend and descend. The trek offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes and the opportunity to experience the mountain’s diverse vegetation zones. After the hike, you will be driven to Moshi town for lunch. Later, transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight, bringing your 12-day East African adventure with Serengeti Wildlife Safari to an end.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Drinking water
Package Includes
Airport transfers
All accommodation as per itinerary
Meals as indicated (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Private 4×4 safari vehicle with experienced English-speaking driver-guide
Park entrance fees and conservation levies
Game drives as per itinerary
Ngorongoro Crater fees
Lake Manyara walking safari
Kilimanjaro hiking fees
All applicable taxes and VAT
Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
Package Excludes
International flights
Entry visas
Travel and medical insurance
Tips and gratuities for guides and staff
Personal expenses (drinks, souvenirs, laundry, etc.)
Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Hot air balloon safaris
Maasai village visits (additional cost)
