Kenya & Tanzania · 9 days · 8 nights · Year-round · best Jul – Oct (migration in the Mara)
9-Day Kenya & Tanzania Camping Safari
This trip links the two halves of the same great ecosystem: the Maasai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania. You join other travellers on a set departure, which keeps the cost down, and sleep in simple camps and campsites close to the parks. After two nights in the Mara you cross the border at Isebania, spend two nights at Seronera in the central Serengeti, then work your way east through the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire. It suits travellers who would rather spend their budget on more parks than on more comfort.
From $3,717 per person
Specimen itinerary for planning purposes only — not a confirmed booking document.
Logistics & transport
- Pickup
- Confirmed 24 hours before departure on WhatsApp
- Guide language
- As selected at booking
- Group
- Private / small group · max 12 guests
Where you'll stay
Lodging varies by trip — tented camp, safari lodge, beach hotel, or city hotel as your package requires. The property for this package is confirmed in writing after you book — ask us on WhatsApp if you want options before paying.
Included in your package price — exact camp, lodge, or hotel confirmed after booking.
Indicative schedule — day by day
Planned rhythm for your trip — your guide may adjust on the day for conditions, light and wildlife.
Day 1: Arrive in Nairobi
We meet you when you land and take you to your hotel in Nairobi for the night. The rest of the day is yours to rest after the flight before the safari starts in the morning.
Day 2: Nairobi → Maasai Mara
Pick-up is at 7:30 a.m. for the drive west to the Maasai Mara, reaching camp in time for lunch. Late in the afternoon you head out on your first game drive, as the heat fades and the predators start to move.
Day 3: Full day in the Mara
A full day out in the reserve, following its tracks across open grassland and low hills for close views of the cats and the plains game. Lunch is a picnic at the hippo pool, where hippos and crocodiles share the water, before you carry on exploring until evening.
Day 4: Maasai Mara → Isebania border → Serengeti
An early game drive before breakfast, then the drive over the western escarpment to the Isebania border to clear immigration into Tanzania. You continue into the Serengeti with a picnic lunch on the way and finish the day with an afternoon drive on the plains.
Day 5: Full day in the Serengeti
A full day of game drives around the central Serengeti, where lion prides follow the grazing herds and leopards often rest in the trees along the Seronera River. Cheetah, hyena, jackal and, with luck, serval are all found here too.
Day 6: Serengeti → Ngorongoro Crater
One last morning drive in the Serengeti before you leave for the Ngorongoro Crater, a huge volcanic caldera around 600 metres deep. In the afternoon you go down to the crater floor, where lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino live alongside the plains game.
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater → Lake Manyara
After breakfast you descend into the crater again for more time on its grasslands and around its lake. Later in the day you drive on to the Lake Manyara area for the night.
Day 8: Lake Manyara → Tarangire
A game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, known for lions that climb trees and for its birdlife, with flamingos, pelicans and storks along the shore. In the afternoon you continue to Tarangire, where you spend the night.
Day 9: Tarangire → Arusha
An early game drive in Tarangire, home to big elephant herds and old baobab trees. You then drive through the Rift Valley to Arusha, stopping for lunch on the way, and the safari ends there.
Trip inclusions
- Eight nights' accommodation: a hotel in Nairobi, then camps and campsites on safari, as listed
- Meals as described in the itinerary (breakfast only in Nairobi; breakfast, lunch and dinner on safari)
- Arrival pick-up from the airport to your Nairobi hotel
- 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and driver-guide, shared with other travellers on the departure
- Game drives in the Maasai Mara, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire
- All national park, reserve and crater entry fees
- 24/7 WhatsApp support from the Bookara team
Trip exclusions
- International and domestic flights
- Kenya eTA (government fee — we help you apply)
- Tanzania visa (government fee — we help you apply)
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips for guides, drivers and camp staff
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Optional activities and excursions
Preparation & packing
Before you go
- This section is general Kenya travel guidance — not a substitute for official advice or your doctor.
- We confirm trip-specific details (property, pickup times, park rules) with you on WhatsApp before departure.
- Questions about 9-Day Kenya & Tanzania Camping Safari? Message us anytime — we'd rather you ask than guess.
Visa & entry
- Most visitors need a Kenya eTA before travel — apply at etakenya.go.ke and check the current fee and rules.
- Passport usually needs 6+ months' validity and blank pages — verify with your airline and immigration.
- Keep a printed copy of this itinerary and your eTA approval for border control.
Health
- Yellow fever certificate may be required depending on where you are travelling from — check Kenya's latest entry rules.
- Malaria prevention is commonly recommended for safari areas — ask your doctor well before you fly.
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is strongly recommended.
- Bring personal medication in original packaging.
Weather & clothing
- Safari mornings and evenings are often cooler than midday — layers work better than one heavy coat.
- Neutral colours (khaki, olive, beige) are standard for game drives.
- Rain can appear in any season — a light waterproof layer is worth packing.
- We send a short weather note for your dates once your trip is confirmed.
Packing list
- Comfortable closed shoes for walking + sandals for camp or lodge
- Sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
- Binoculars if you have a pair (optional — ask us if you'd like a recommendation)
- Power bank + travel adaptor (Kenya commonly uses Type G plugs, 240V)
- Soft bag often works better than a hard suitcase if your trip includes light-aircraft legs — we'll confirm luggage limits for your routing
- Some cash in USD (clean, newer bills) or KES for tips and small purchases
- Insect repellent
Money & connectivity
- Cards work in Nairobi and at many properties; cash is still useful for tips and markets.
- M-Pesa is widely used in Kenya — we can walk you through it on arrival if helpful.
- Wi‑Fi varies by property (lodge, camp, or hotel) — signal on game drives is usually limited.
- Tipping customs vary by property and guide — we share current guidelines for your trip before you travel.