7 Days 6 Nights Best of Kenya and Tanzania Combined Safari

If your primary goal on safari is to encounter lions, leopards, and cheetahs, then the Masai Mara is the ideal destination. With its rolling green hills, picturesque acacia trees, and abundant big cats, the Masai Mara offers a captivating experience. Additionally, this popular park in Kenya is home to jackals, hyenas, and various smaller predators.

Although located across the border in Tanzania, the Serengeti can be considered the Mara's counterpart. Part of the same diverse ecosystem, the expansive plains of the Serengeti boast a lion population exceeding 3,000. This vast terrain is also the starting point for the Great Migration, where countless wildebeest and zebras begin their annual trek into the Masai Mara.

The Ngorongoro Crater, a marvel of the natural world, presents a uniquely self-contained environment. This extensive volcanic caldera houses a rich array of wildlife, showcasing a profound diversity in numbers, species, and colors. Expect to witness a spectrum of animals, from lions to buffalo, gazelles, zebras, hippos, and an array of water birds.

In contrast to the expansive landscapes of the aforementioned parks, Lake Manyara is a compact gem where wildlife is easily accessible. The lake is alive with vibrant water birds, and the trees provide a surprising sight of lions resting in their branches! Are you prepared for the adventure of the 7-Day Best of Safari?

Day 1: Nairobi – Masai Mara

Duration: 4 hours Meals: Lunch, Dinner. At 7:30 am, your exhilarating week-long Africa safari begins! Be prepared to board the private 4 x 4 Land Cruiser Jeep as your Grayton Expeditions driver/guide arrives to pick you up from your hotel, residence, the airport, or another location of your choice.

Embark on a journey southward to the Masai Mara National Reserve, traversing Kenya’s central highlands and taking in views of local homesteads and communities. As we break up the drive, a pause will allow you to rest and appreciate dramatic views of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. As we enter Maasai country, keep a lookout for local herders adorned in colorful shukas, tending to their cattle. Arriving at the park around lunchtime, freshen up at your accommodation, enjoy lunch, and commence our first game drive in this exciting week.

The Masai Mara's green rolling hills, adorned with iconic acacia trees, make for a visually pleasing landscape. Wildlife is abundant in the park, teeming with both predators and grazers. As the late afternoon approaches, you might witness one of the park’s breathtaking sunsets, offering the quintessential African experience. Head to our Masai Mara safari lodge or tented camp to unwind, relish dinner, and share tales of our initial day on safari.

Day 2: Full Day Masai Mara

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Today is dedicated to unlimited game drives – safari at your own pace. Discuss your preferences with your driver/guide to plan your day as you wish. To maximize your Masai Mara experience, an early rise is recommended to witness the soft morning sun illuminating the park and its myriad creatures. Your first sightings of the day may include gazelles, zebras, or a lion on the hunt. Journey down to the Mara River for a picnic lunch, observing hippos and crocs in their natural habitat. If visiting during the Great Migration (July – October), witness thousands of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles crossing into the park from the neighboring Serengeti. Consider the optional hot air balloon safari over the Masai Mara for a different perspective. Rise at dawn to float gently over the rolling hills and savannahs, creating an unforgettable experience. As evening approaches, savor another splendid sunset on our way back to your accommodation for a leisurely dinner.

Day 3: Masai Mara – Serengeti

Duration: 6 – 7 hours. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Conclude your Masai Mara adventure with a final game drive as we exit the park and journey to Tanzania and the Serengeti. At the border town of Isebania, complete formalities, switch vehicles, and meet your new driver, who will be your guide for the upcoming days. Upon arrival in the vast Serengeti, you'll notice the contrast with the Masai Mara, featuring vast, almost treeless plains. However, this immense ecosystem is home to thousands of lions and millions of wildebeests and zebras. Settle into your Serengeti safari lodge or tented camp for dinner and a relaxing evening. Day 4: Full day at Serengeti Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Another day of full safari experiences awaits, allowing you to appreciate this extensive and dynamic reserve. Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives, or allocate time for relaxation at your accommodation. The Serengeti boasts a dazzling array of wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, zebras, gazelles, elands, impalas, hippos, and warthogs. Witness the massive herds of wildebeests populating this vast wilderness. Stories and sightings of the day will be shared over dinner at our Serengeti safari lodge or tented camp.

Day 5: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater

Duration: 3 – 4 hours. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Embark on a final game drive through the Serengeti, exiting the park on the way to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. A stop at Oldupai Gorge precedes our arrival, a world-renowned site for early man's preserved antiquities. Thousands of fossilized remnants, including tools and artifacts, were discovered here, providing a brilliant record of our evolution from millions of years ago. Our journey continues with a captivating view of the Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact volcanic caldera on the planet. This unique ecosystem is a haven for big game and a diverse array of wildlife and birds. Descend the steep crater walls in our 4 x 4, entering a distinctive ecosystem inhabited by lions, leopards, elephants, rare black rhinos, large herds of zebras, hippos, and pink flamingoes! Explore this blue/green world, bringing along a picnic lunch to enjoy at Ngoitoktok Springs, surrounded by hippos and water birds, including the vibrant flamingoes accenting the shoreline. The remainder of the day is dedicated to discovering lions, elephants, buffalo, antelope, zebras, and more. As the sun begins to set, ascend the crater’s wall in time for a brilliant sunrise at the rim, one of Africa’s signature moments.

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater – Lake Manyara Park

Duration: 1.5 hours. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Prepare for an early rise to witness an astonishing sunrise at the crater’s rim! Journey to Lake Manyara National Park, introducing a change of scenery and pace. This small yet charming reserve features a deep blue lake as a backdrop for the bright pink flamingoes carpeting its shores—a magnificent moment on your African safari. Look upward, and you may spot a lion resting in the branches! Lake Manyara Park is renowned for its distinctive tree-climbing lions. Take advantage of the serene environment to relax and appreciate the beauty, diversity, and colors of nature. Dinner will be served at your Lake Manyara lodge or tented camp.

Day 7: Lake Manyara Park – Arusha - Nairobi

Duration: 3 hours to Arusha, 7 hours to Nairobi. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch. On your final day of safari, embark on one last game drive around the park to soak in its unique charms and witness more tree-climbing lions and the spectacle of pink flamingoes. Look out for gazelles, giraffes, impalas, hippos, and baboons. Then, head to Arusha, where you can choose to be dropped off at your hotel or nearby Kilimanjaro airport. Alternatively, return to Kenya and its capital, Nairobi, where we will transport you to your hotel, the international airport, or another location of your choosing. From the great fields and majestic cats of the Masai Mara and Serengeti to the wonders of the Ngorongoro Crater and the captivating sights at Lake Manyara, this safari has been a continuous exploration of everything an African safari can offer. We hope every moment was cherished! We, at Grayton Expeditions, express our gratitude for your patronage.

What is Included in the Package

- Park Fees
- Transport By 4×4 safari jeep
- Accommodation
- 3 Meals a day
- Bottled Drinking Water
- Game Drives
- Services of a qualified driver-guide

Excluded in the Package

- Tips
- Items of personal nature
- Visa
- Flights
- All expenses of personal nature
- Drinks and any other item not specified above

• BOOKING TERMS