NAIROBI, SAMBURU, LAKE NAKURU, MASAI MARA, LAKE MANYARA, SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, NGORONGORO CRATER
Take a walk on the wild side with this small-group Kenya and Tanzania tour! Begin your adventure in Nairobi, before venturing out to explore captivating scenery and spot exotic animals. Visit the home of Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa, and have the amazing opportunity to feed and admire giraffes. Then, witness exciting wildlife on safari in the Samburu National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, and Masai Mara National Reserve. Game drives flourish with animals, both fierce and docile—from noble lions and fleet-footed cheetahs to strong, but peaceful elephants. At Lake Nakuru National Park, you’ll also find a rhino sanctuary and pink flamingos huddling around the lake. In Tanzania, you will have the chance to spot the tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara, visit Serengeti National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the Great Migration takes place, and the extraordinary Ngorongoro Crater. Enjoy the chance to unwind with tranquil surroundings after adventurous game drives during the day.
Shorten Your Trip! Enjoy our 12-day Kenya Wildlife Safari tour visiting Kenya’s highlights from Nairobi to Lake Nakuru.
Itinerary at a Glance
2025 Tour Itinerary:
2 nights in Nairobi
2 nights in Samburu
2 nights in Lake Nakuru
3 nights in Masai Mara
1 night in Nairobi
1 night in Lake Manyara
2 nights in the Serengeti
1 night in Ngorongoro
Tour Highlights
Safari game drives at all National Parks
Afew Giraffe Centre to feed rare Rothschild's giraffes
Sandstorm Kenya, family-owned leather goods maker
Visit home of Karen Blixen, famed author of "Out of Africa"
Welcome to Nairobi, Kenya's vibrant capital city. This evening, a safari briefer will host an orientation followed by a welcome dinner.
Accommodations: 2.5.4 Ole Sereni or similar Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Nairobi
This morning, we'll visit the Afew Giraffe Centre where we can admire and feed the gentle and rare Rothschild’s giraffes. Next, we'll enjoy lunch at Karen Blixen Coffee Garden followed by a visit to the home of Karen Blixen, coffee farmer and famed author of “Out of Africa”. Before our day comes to an end, we'll visit Sandstorm Kenya, a family-owned company that started with making safari tents and expanded into other leather bags. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Nairobi – Mt. Kenya – Samburu-Buffalo Springs
Over the next week, we'll venture into Kenya's most captivating wildlife sanctuaries, set amid the beauty of the surrounding wilderness. This morning we'll travel northward to the Central Highlands where we'll cross the Equator as we approach majestic Mt. Kenya, a dormant volcano with a glittering cap of snow and ice. After a stop for lunch, we'll continue our drive to Samburu National Reserve - Buffalo Springs in Kenya's semi-desert, rugged northern frontier. En route to our lodge, we'll enjoy your first game-viewing drive. We'll arrive at our comfortable lodge late this afternoon.
Accommodations: Samburu Sopa Lodge or similar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Samburu-Buffalo Springs
Set in an extraordinary region along the Ewaso Ngiro River, Samburu–Buffalo Springs is home to some of Africa's rarest game species. The river's permanent waters abound with crocodiles and hippos, and attract plenty of wildlife including the Grevy's zebra, the long-necked gerenuk antelope, the shy oryx beisa, and the Somali ostrich. Leopards, cheetahs, and lions are also found in the reserve. Our full day of game viewing starts with an early morning safari when the animals are most active. We'll need to keep our cameras ready, our game spotter will lead us in search of the animals and we'll have plenty of opportunities to photograph our sightings. We'll return to the lodge for breakfast and relax by the pool. This afternoon, we'll venture out on additional game viewing.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Samburu-Buffalo Springs – Lake Nakuru
Today we'll travel southwest towards the central highlands. Along the way, we'll visit Nanyuki Weavers & Spinners, a women's self-help project. This project was started to train poor, widowed and single women living near the Nanyuki the craft of spinning, knitting, and weaving in order to be self-reliant. We'll stop for lunch before continuing to Lake Nakuru National Park, one of Kenya's finest rhino sanctuaries. Here, we'll admire the flamingos and other abundant birds dancing along the lake's shoreline. We'll experience a short game drive en route to our lodge this afternoon.
Accommodations: Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge or similar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Lake Nakuru
Today, we'll enjoy two game drives to explore Lake Nakuru National Park's extraordinary beauty and uniqueness. We may manage to spot some cape buffalo, rhino, Rothschild giraffe, waterbuck, lions, and zebra along the way!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Lake Nakuru – Masai Mara
Today we'll drive to the fabled Masai Mara National Reserve, rich with wildlife, birds, natural flora, and stunning scenic beauty. The Masai Mara is the northern extension of Tanzania's famous Serengeti Plains and is Kenya's premier location for wildlife viewing as it's home to a thriving population of lion, cheetah, hippo, crocodile, zebra, giraffe, elephant, wildebeest, and impala. This afternoon we'll enjoy a thrilling game-viewing drive in this photographer's paradise.
Accommodations: Mara Sopa Lodge or similar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Masai Mara
Early this morning, we may join an exhilarating optional hot-air balloon safari above the Masai Mara's plains. Included in today's program are additional morning and late afternoon safaris led by our game spotter who will take us in search of the Big Five: elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard, and the much rarer rhino. In between game drives, we can relax at our comfortable lodge, take a dip in the pool, and enjoy the delicious food served.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Masai Mara
Today is our last full day to bask in our beautiful surroundings with two game drives plus a visit to a Masai village. One of the most iconic tribal groups in all of Africa, the Maasai are the dominant ethnic group surrounding the Masai Mara. This nomadic warrior tribe once held vast swathes of pre-colonial Kenya and still retains many of their traditions as they live largely untouched by modern-day civilizations in areas surrounding Masai Mara. This evening, we'll enjoy a farewell dinner together.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Masai Mara – Nairobi
After breakfast, we'll drive back to Nairobi arriving in the mid-afternoon. The balance of the day is at leisure.
Accommodations: Ole Sereni or similar Meals: Breakfast
Day 11: Nairobi – Arusha (Tanzania) – Lake Manyara
We'll fly this morning to Kilimanjaro Airport near Arusha, Tanzania. Upon arrival, we'll meet our Tanzania guide and drive through Tanzania's countryside to Lake Manyara. After checking into our lodge, the evening is at leisure.
Accommodations: Lake Manyara Kilimamoja or similar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: Lake Manyara – Serengeti
This morning, head to Lake Manyara National Park for a morning game drive. The park offers a rich diversity of scenery and wildlife including the famous tree-climbing lions. After lunch at the lodge, leaving Lake Manyara behind, the journey continues North West across the stunning hilly countryside of the highlands which is filled with wheat and coffee plantations, and then into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. From here lie the vast plains of the UNESCO-listed Serengeti National Park where you begin spotting wildlife as you approach the entrance gate. Complete the formalities and enter the park with game viewing en route to the lodge arriving for dinner.
Accommodations: Ole Serai Luxury Camp - Moru Kopjes or similar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13: Serengeti National Park
Today is filled with morning and afternoon game drives in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania's largest and most famous park. Serengeti is home to the Great Migration, the highest concentration of wildlife, and the opportunity to see the Big 5! The endless plains are a feast for your eyes as you will track big cats like lions, cheetahs, leopards, and other wildlife.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14: Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Crater
After an early breakfast, we'll depart for Ngorongoro with a picnic lunch. On arrival, we'll descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for an afternoon of game viewing. Ngorongoro Crater is a remnant of an ancient volcano peak and the world's largest unbroken caldera. On today’s excursion, our expert game driver/spotter will lead us on thrilling game-viewing drives by land rover to explore this unique phenomenon. It is sure to be one of the highlights of our trip to East Africa.
Accommodations: Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge or similar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15: Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha – Depart Nairobi
Our tour comes to an end later today. Following breakfast, we'll travel by road to Arusha for lunch followed by a transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport. Here, we'll board our evening flight back to Nairobi.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Guided Tour Pricing
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Rates are per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
For more information on this tour, please contact us here or call us during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Eastern) at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments Reservations can be made online or by phone (1.800.337.7773) and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable, non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the time of reservation. Deposits are $300 per person. Full payment is due 125 days prior to departure. Space and prices subject to availability. Please see the smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete booking information.
Featured Accommodations
2.5.4 Ole Sereni
2.5.4 Ole Sereni - Airport Hotel, Nairobi, Mombasa Road, Nairobi, Kenya
Slow the pace of your tour with a pre- and/or post-night stay so you can arrive refreshed, acclimate to the time zone if needed, and depart leisurely, ensuring a seamless transition into and out of your journey.
Pre-Night in Nairobi
From $99 per person based on double occupancy
Start our tour off on the right foot! Arrive a day early and enjoy more time to recover from travel, adjust to any time differences, and feel well-rested and relaxed on our first day of touring.
Post-Night in Nairobi
From $99 per person based on double occupancy
Extend your stay by one night at the end of our tour to make the most of additional free time for exploring our final city, shopping for last-minute souvenirs, or dining at that restaurant you’ve been wanting to try. Or, use this extra day to relax before beginning the journey home or to your next destination.
Optional Tours
Enhance your trip with these optional tours. Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book when you reserve your trip and can be added to your reservation up to final payment. This is the best option to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour! Optional tours require a minimum number of participants. Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and may cost extra. The payment methods and currency information to purchase tours in-destination will be provided on final documentation.
Hot Air Balloon Safari & Champagne Breakfast
$480 per person
Take to the sky over herds of wildlife in the Masai Mara game reserve, flying in a hot air balloon. The balloon can soar over the most inaccessible and undisturbed parts of the reserve and offers a bird’s eye view of the plains below. At the conclusion of your incredible flight, you’ll be treated to a champagne breakfast in the bush. Before returning to your lodge, your balloon pilot will present you with a Balloon Flight Certificate. This is certain to become a once-in-a-lifetime experience you will remember long after returning from Kenya! (Please be advised that flight may not operate if weather conditions are not suitable for balloon flying).
Note: Participants must be of reasonable fitness and not appropriate for women who are pregnant or people with osteoporosis, etc. You must be at least 4'6' in height and passengers over 265 lbs must book 2 seats.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
What to Expect
Max Group Size: 17 travelers
Activity Level: Level 1
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 3 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day) on easy terrain with some light stairs. Learn More
Pacing Level: Moderate
Expect full-day tours most days with some limited free time at specific sites, for meals, and/or in the evenings. You can expect several early mornings and/or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 2+ nights (with limited 1-night stays). Learn More
Additional Entry Requirements for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. There are entry requirements for U.S. passport holders. Please visit our Passports & Visas page to learn more about any required actions, next steps, and additional costs.
Travel point to point in safari vehicles and on bumpy and uneven roads. Safari vehicles have high ground clearance and require agility to embark and disembark. As this is a driving program, the average safari drives are 4-5 hours long per day. Generally, the drives depart in the morning and arrive at the next destination for lunch, before continuing on the afternoon game drive. The Driver-Guides may suggest switching to full-day game drives to maximize game viewing.
On safari, many lodges are powered by generators or solar panels. These are often turned off during parts of the day and night to reduce noise and fuel consumption.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit our Before You Depart section.
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