Kenya & Tanzania · 7 days · 6 nights · Best Jul – Oct (migration)
7-Day Mara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari
The Mara and the Serengeti are one ecosystem split by a border, and this trip drives straight through it. You start at Lake Nakuru, spend a full day in the Mara with a picnic at the hippo pool, cross into Tanzania at Isebania and give the Serengeti a full day of its own. The last stop is the Ngorongoro Crater floor before the drive to Arusha. It runs privately in a pop-up-roof 4x4, staying in lodges and camps with meals on safari.
From $5,513 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: Nairobi → Lake Nakuru
After breakfast you drive through the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru, arriving for lunch at your lodge. The park's lake and wooded grassland hold flamingos and other water birds, white rhino and buffalo.
Day 2: Lake Nakuru → Maasai Mara
On to the Maasai Mara in time for lunch, then your first afternoon game drive. The Mara is the northern end of the Mara–Serengeti ecosystem, and from July to October the wildebeest, zebra and gazelle herds move into it.
Day 3: Full day in the Maasai Mara
A full day out on the grasslands and hills of the reserve, where the network of tracks lets your guide get you close to the animals. Lunch is a picnic at the hippo pool, with hippos and crocodiles below.
Day 4: Maasai Mara → Isebania border → Serengeti
An early breakfast and a morning game drive, then over the western escarpment to Isebania for immigration and vehicle checks. You continue into the Serengeti with game drives across the plains on the way to camp.
Day 5: Full day in the Serengeti
A whole day of game drives in the Serengeti, where the big cats follow the grazing herds. Your guide checks the trees along the Seronera River for leopard and the open plains for cheetah, hyena and jackal.
Day 6: Serengeti → Ngorongoro
A last morning drive in the Serengeti, then a picnic lunch and the drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You arrive in time for dinner.
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater → Arusha
After breakfast you go down into the Ngorongoro Crater, a volcanic caldera about 610 metres deep, with a picnic lunch on the floor. You then drive on to Arusha, where the trip ends.
Trip inclusions
- Accommodation in lodges and camps as listed (or similar), full board
- 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
- 24/7 WhatsApp support from the Bookara team
Trip exclusions
- International and domestic flights
- Hotel in Arusha on the final night (we can book it)
- 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 7-Day Mara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro 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.