About this journey
This is the shortest practical route in this collection joining the Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro. It suits travellers who accept long transfer days in exchange for seeing three important wildlife landscapes within one week. The programme provides two nights in the Maasai Mara, a planned border transfer, two Serengeti nights and a Ngorongoro Crater drive before ending in Arusha. Border procedures, road conditions and immigration queues can affect timing. A longer route is recommended for travellers who prefer a slower pace.
Experiences
Travel style
Transport and guiding
Private four wheel drive safari vehicles with professional guides in Kenya and Tanzania, including planned border assistance and an operational vehicle or guide handover where required.
Suggested itinerary
Nairobi to Maasai Mara
Leave Nairobi early, cross the Great Rift Valley and continue through Narok to the Maasai Mara. Arrive for lunch and take an afternoon wildlife drive across savannah and riverine habitats.
Full Day Maasai Mara
Explore different Mara habitats with a picnic lunch or split drives. Search for big cats, elephants, buffalo, giraffes and plains animals. Migration and river events depend on natural movement.
Maasai Mara to Central Serengeti
Depart early for the planned border transfer. Complete immigration and customs procedures and meet the Tanzanian guide where an operational handover is required. Continue to central Serengeti, using remaining daylight for wildlife viewing.
Full Day Central Serengeti
Explore plains, river valleys and rocky outcrops for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, hippopotamuses, wildebeest and zebra.
Serengeti to Ngorongoro Highlands
Take an early Serengeti drive and travel toward the Ngorongoro highlands. Stop for wildlife and landscapes where regulations permit, then settle into the cooler highland accommodation.
Ngorongoro Crater and Arusha
Descend to the crater floor for a regulated wildlife drive. Search grassland, wetland and woodland areas for herbivores, predators, birds and possible rhinoceroses. After a picnic lunch, ascend and continue to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Included
- Accommodation for the stated number of nights in selected lodges, tented camps or hotels
- Meals stated in the daily itinerary
- Safari transport in suitable four wheel drive vehicles
- Professional English speaking guides in Kenya and Tanzania
- Scheduled reserve, national park and conservation area fees
- Planned border transfer and operational handover where required
- Bottled drinking water during road travel and wildlife drives
- All scheduled wildlife drives
- Collection and final transfer stated in the confirmed route
Not included
- International and domestic flights unless specifically included
- Passports, visas, travel authorisations, vaccination records and other border documents
- Travel insurance and medical expenses
- Optional balloon flights, cultural visits, walking activities and night drives
- Premium drinks, laundry, telephone charges and personal purchases
- Tips and gratuities
- Changes caused by missed flights, border delays, road closures or traveller requests
- Any service not specifically included in the final quotation
