Kenya & Tanzania · 13 days · 12 nights · Year-round · best Jul – Oct (migration)
13-Day Kenya & Tanzania Lodge Safari
This is the long, unhurried way to see Kenya and northern Tanzania in one trip. You cross into Tanzania from the Maasai Mara, spend two nights each in the Serengeti and on the Ngorongoro Crater rim, then work back through Lake Manyara and Tarangire to Amboseli under Kilimanjaro. Most stops get two nights, so there are proper full days in the big parks rather than just transfers. It runs as a private trip in a pop-up-roof 4x4, with lodges inside or close to the parks.
From $9,287 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 → Nairobi
We meet you at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and take you to your hotel in Nairobi. The rest of the day is yours to rest after the flight.
Day 2: Nairobi → Lake Nakuru
A morning drive out of Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park. Your first game drive is in the afternoon, with a focus on the park's birdlife and its rhinos.
Day 3: Lake Nakuru → Maasai Mara
A last look around Nakuru after breakfast, then the drive west to the Maasai Mara. You arrive in time for an afternoon game drive before checking in for two nights.
Day 4: Full day in the Maasai Mara
A whole day out on the Mara plains, where lion, elephant, cheetah and giraffe are all regulars. There is also the chance to visit a Maasai village before you head back to the lodge for dinner.
Day 5: Maasai Mara → Isebania border → Serengeti
You leave via the Oloololo Escarpment and stop for lunch at the Isebania border before crossing into Tanzania. The road runs through the hills of the Lake Victoria highlands and past Musoma, and wildlife often starts to appear before you even reach the Serengeti gate.
Day 6: Full day in the Serengeti
Morning and afternoon game drives across the Serengeti, with your guide picking the best spots for lion, leopard, elephant and giraffe. You return to camp between drives for meals.
Day 7: Serengeti → Ngorongoro Crater rim
After breakfast you game-drive your way out of the Serengeti with a picnic lunch packed. By evening you are at your lodge on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, where you spend two nights.
Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater floor
You drive down the steep crater wall for around six hours on the crater floor, with a picnic lunch among the wildlife. The afternoon is back at the lodge, with the views over the crater from the rim.
Day 9: Ngorongoro → Lake Manyara
Down the escarpment to Lake Manyara National Park, arriving for lunch. The afternoon game drive looks for the park's tree-climbing lions, elephants and plentiful birds.
Day 10: Lake Manyara → Tarangire
One more morning drive in Manyara, then on to Tarangire National Park for lunch at your lodge. In the afternoon you go out among Tarangire's big elephant herds and baobab trees.
Day 11: Tarangire → Arusha → Namanga border → Amboseli
An early start, a hot lunch in Arusha, then immigration at the Namanga border, where you meet your Kenyan guide. You reach Amboseli National Park, at the foot of Kilimanjaro, by late afternoon for two nights.
Day 12: Full day in Amboseli
Morning and afternoon game drives with Kilimanjaro behind the plains. The swamps draw plenty of birds, and you may also find giraffe, gazelle, lion and cheetah.
Day 13: Amboseli → Nairobi
After breakfast you drive back to Nairobi. We drop you at the airport for your flight home, or at a Nairobi hotel if you are staying on.
Trip inclusions
- Accommodation in lodges and camps as listed (bed & breakfast in Nairobi, full board on safari)
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and driver-guide
- Experienced safari guides in Kenya and Tanzania
- All national park, reserve and Ngorongoro Crater entry fees
- All game drives as per itinerary
- Airport arrival and departure transfers in Nairobi
- 24/7 WhatsApp support from the Bookara team
Trip exclusions
- International 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 lodge staff
- Optional excursions and extra activities
- Drinks and personal expenses
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 13-Day Kenya & Tanzania Lodge 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.