Highlights of East Africa Safari: Kenya and Tanzania

Hippo and bird in a lake at Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

What to expect on this itinerary

During this 12-day African safari, you will experience two countries and five destinations, which will be the best East Africa has to offer. Imagine elephants beneath Mt. Kilimanjaro in Amboseli and dream of the great wildebeest migration that crosses the Serengeti and Masai Mara plains. Think of baboons and hippos in Lake Manyara, and the eternal Big Five of Ngorongoro. Handcrafted to incorporate East Africa’s five most iconic destinations, this African safari places you in the heart of the action.

Countries Visited

Kenya, Tanzania

Places Visited

Nairobi, Amboseli National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, Serengeti National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve

Suggested Duration

12 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Nairobi – Giraffe Encounters in the Gateway City

Nairobi is a big, bustling city with wildlife as its centerpiece. Nairobi National Park was originally on the city’s outskirts. Rather than remove the animals, the city extended its borders around the park, creating a rather striking juxtaposition. Elephants and giraffes roam across the park and are clearly visible from your hotel suite. They will be backdropped by the city with apartments and towers that will dominate the horizon. Such an incredible congruence will reflect East Africa’s attitude towards conservation and wildlife. You will not only visit animals in their natural habitat, but it will feel as if you are visitors in an animal realm.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Amboseli National Park – Safari Flight and Elephants Beneath Kilimanjaro

Day 3

Amboseli National Park – Settling into the Safari Charm

Day 4

Lake Manyara National Park – Baboons and Hippos Around the Lodge

Day 5

Ngorongoro Crater – Africa's Most Picturesque Park

Day 6

Ngorongoro Crater – Wonders of the Eternal Wildlife Eden

Day 7

Serengeti National Park – Tracing Ancient Footsteps Across the Plains

Day 8 - 9

Serengeti National Park – Endless Marvels of the Grasslands

Day 10

Masai Mara National Reserve – Lions on the Kopjes and Another Immersive Tented Camp

Day 11

Masai Mara National Reserve – Hot Air Balloon Above the Mara and a Day Along the River

Day 12

Nairobi – Final Game Drive and Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Track the great wildebeest migration by staying at a camp that moves with the herds
  • Gaze upon Mount Kilimanjaro then readjust your focus to see elephants and giraffes that wander past
  • Explore East Africa’s most picturesque park, getting incredibly close to baboons and hippos in Lake Manyara
  • Descend through the mist and spend a morning exploring Ngorongoro Crater, a wildlife Eden home to 30,000 animals
  • Bask in the endless beauty of the grasslands as you spend three nights in the Serengeti
  • Hot air balloon above the Mara River, just one highlight from your two days in Kenya’s most famous reserve
  • See giraffes and elephants from your hotel suite during a one-night layover in Nairobi
  • Lose track of all of the predators that you encounter, especially in the Serengeti and Masai Mara
  • Experience East Africa from the air with short safari flights while also enjoying adventurous drives between and through national parks

Starting Price

$7,100 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 798 reviews

Gina I.
Tanzania Travel Review: Safari, 8 Nights

This was an amazing trip. It was well planned by Zicasso's travel company and executed to perfection. The lodges were beautiful and strategically located. The game drives were so much fun. The guides were tremendous. I have never been on such a well-designed trip.

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Margarita M.
Tanzania, Kenya Vacation Review: 12 Nights

We had a wonderful journey, with every step detailed and escorted from end to end. Our Zicasso travel experts did a great job and were always available for support.

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Stephanie L.
Tanzania, Kenya Travel Review: Balloon Safari, Boat Ride, Culture, 12 Days

Without exaggeration, this was the most amazing trip of my life. Everything was perfect, from the itinerary to the lodging, food, and guides. We saw so much and so many varied topographies. We also got such a great flavor of the culture, people, and way of life in both countries. It truly was incredible from start to finish.

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Tracy C.
Kenya Travel Review: Nairobi, Elephant Experience, Local Cuisine, 8-Night Trip

We had a fantastic trip. There were a few hiccups, but they were minor and were resolved very quickly.

This was pretty much the trip we had envisioned coming to life! Zicasso's travel agents on the ground, assisting us, were on top of things and made the trip go super-smooth. Thanks!

The camps we stayed at were amazing, the food was fabulous at both camps, the hotel in Nairobi was very nice; all in all, a great trip. Thank you so much for putting together my bucket list, including the experience with elephants in Tsavo East National Park!

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Cathy W.
Tanzania, Rwanda Tour Review: Tented Cabins, Gorillas, 11 Nights

Zicasso's travel designer was easy to work with and, most importantly, listened to what we wanted our trip to be. He is a true professional and helped guide us to some truly spectacular places in Tanzania and Rwanda. We highly recommend his travel company!

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Jim K.
Kenya Vacation Review: Family Bonding, Wildlife, 10 Nights

There aren't enough superlatives to describe our safari. Every single aspect exceeded expectations. The Zicasso trip designer, who handled the in-country arrangements, was terrific, and literally every arrangement went smoothly. A few last-minute changes on the front and back end were handled effectively. 

Each of the camps was different, but wonderful in its own way. We liked the variation. The accommodations were great and the food was great. But the people – hosts, driver/guides, spotters, service personnel were really great – friendly, fun, helpful, enjoyable to be with, and really great. It's difficult to put into words how much we enjoyed being with them and with each other (me, my five adult children, and their spouses). And the wildlife and landscapes, again, quite different over the three camps, were spectacular. Every game drive was a much-anticipated adventure and the guides were, to a person, superb in helping us understand the animal behaviors we observed. 

There is nothing we would have done differently and we were constantly amazed at how smoothly everything worked out (literally no hitches, even minor ones), how much fun we had with each other and our hosts, and how much the people we were with contributed to our experience. I'm not given to hyperbole, but I'm left without words to describe how great the experiences we had were and how seamless the arrangements seemed to be.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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