Highlights of Kenya & Tanzania Camping Safari

Day 1: Depart from Nairobi and drive south to Arusha in Tanzania. The diverse town of Arusha, located close to several of Tanzania’s top game parks in the northern highlands, serves as a tourism hub boasting lively nightlife. In the afternoon, you are free to explore thriving Arusha town on foot and discover a bit of local Tanzanian culture. Tonight we camp at a comfortable campsite near Arusha National Park in the scenic foothills of Mount Meru. The camp is fully equipped, including hot showers, a bar, and a restaurant.

Day 2: Today we head to the picturesque Tanzanian town of Karatu. For centuries, the cool climate, lush hills, and pretty views have attracted visitors. Expansive rolling fields cover the slopes of the now extinct volcano and surrounding lands. Karatu is conveniently located not far from the world-famous Serengeti Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area of Tanzania.

Days 3 – 5: Serengeti National Park & Ngorongoro Crater – Tanzania

Next, we travel to the vast plains of the famous Serengeti National Park, renowned for the annual Great Migration. We spend the next few days exploring as much of this 14763 km² wildlife area as possible, discovering exactly why Serengeti is a world heritage site. The Serengeti is one of Africa’s top safari destinations and most legendary wilderness areas offering superb game viewing. The world’s largest wildlife migration, the annual Wildebeest migration in the Serengeti, is one of the most phenomenal wildlife spectacles on earth. Witness thousands upon thousands of wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle stampeding across the open plains, attracting numerous predators. However, game viewing in the Serengeti is excellent year-round, offering an unforgettable wildlife experience even when the migration is not taking place. The Serengeti is home to Africa’s Big 5 – elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, and rhino – and an incredible abundance and variety of plains game. We spent three nights camping under the African stars at the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park, surrounded by the wild African savannah. Finally, we visit Masaai Mara villages where the culturally distinct Masaai people, an indigenous rural tribe, live side-by-side with the wild animals of the Serengeti in Tanzania and Kenya.

Day 6: Ngorongoro to Arusha – Tanzania

Today we exit the Ngorongoro Crater, also known as Africa’s Eden. The unflooded Ngorongoro Crater is home to the highest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania. This caldera measuring more than 20 km’s across and 600m deep, is the main attraction in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This impressive volcanic formation, formed about 25 million years ago, consists of various habitats home to over 25,000 wild animals. In addition, the crater is home to the highest concentration of predators in Africa, including lions, cheetahs, and leopards. We return to Arusha village on day six and have the opportunity to visit the local Masai Mara Museum and Snake Park in the afternoon.

Day 7: Arusha – Tanzania to Nairobi – Kenya

After crossing back into Kenya, we travel north to bustling Nairobi. After settling into your hotel, the afternoon is free to relax and explore the city, shop, relax, restock, eat out and prepare for the next leg of the adventure.

Day 8: Nairobi to Lake Naivasha – Kenya

We head northwest to Lake Naivasha National Park from Kenya’s capital, Kenya’s second most visited wildlife area. We spend the day relaxing on the shores of freshwater Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley. Over 400 bird species are found at the papyrus-fringed lake, which is also home to a healthy population of hippos. At Lake Naivasha, we enjoy excellent bird watching and keep an eye open for the game in this compact nature reserve. You have the option of going on a short hike near Naivasha or heading into the bush on a bicycle for some up-close game viewing. Tonight we camp just south of Lake Naivasha in the Rift Valley, at a well-maintained establishment with a big swimming pool, sauna, gym, basketball, and volleyball courts, a pub, and a restaurant.

Day 9: Masai Mara Game Reserve – Kenya

In the morning, we embark on a game drive through Hells Gate National Park, home to a variety of wildlife named after a narrow break in the tall cliffs in this area known for rock climbing the craggy peaks and bush walks in the savannah terrain. Wildlife commonly sighted includes lion, leopard, cheetah, zebra, buffalo, baboons, and numerous antelope species, as well as over 100 bird species. In the afternoon, we drive south to the world-renowned Masai Mara Game Reserve, home to Kenya’s highest concentration of wildlife. Located along the Kenya-Tanzania border, the Masai Mara Reserve is best known for the great annual migration between its vast plains and the Serengeti Park in Tanzania. Our game viewing adventure in Masai Mara begins in the afternoon as we enter this game-rich park known for its spectacular scenery. The rolling grasslands inhabited by an abundance of the game make for excellent photographic opportunities and game sightings. Our game drives take us searching for the Big Five, the big cats, and the abundance of other fascinating wild animals found in this beautiful 1500km² game reserve. We are almost guaranteed to see the Big Five of Africa – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo – in Masai Mara, as well as cheetah, hyena, giraffe, and zebra. Masai Mara is also home to hippo, jackal, the bat-eared fox, wildebeest, baboon, warthog, and numerous antelope species, such as impala and topi. Our overnight Safari Camp is located in the Masai Mara Reserve at the foot of Naunare Hills along the scenic banks of the Sekenani River. The safari bush camp features a dining area, bar, showers, and a primary shop.

Day 10: Lake Nakuru – Kenya

We set off north from Masai Mara, one of the best game parks in Africa, making our way to Lake Nakuru. This Great Rift Valley soda lake is famous for its immense flamingo flocks. We head out into the savannah in the afternoon on a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park. This recently expanded 180km² game park is home to more than 25 black rhinos, one of the highest concentrations in Kenya, and about 70 white rhinos. Wild animals commonly sighted include impala, gazelle, warthog, waterbuck, resident hippos, and giant tree pythons. In addition, lions, cheetah, buffalo, Rothschild giraffe, eland, and leopard inhabit Lake Nakuru Park. Originally established as a bird sanctuary, this national park is home to a wide array of birds, with over 400 resident species and various migratory birds. We spend the night camping inside Lake Nakuru National Park at one of the park’s campsites among wild monkeys and baboons.

Day 11: Nairobi – Kenya

In the morning, we depart from Lake Nakuru, returning to the hustle and bustle of Nairobi in the afternoon. This memorable Kenya & Tanzania Highlights Safari ends when we arrive in Nairobi. Still, most people again choose to share a meal at one of Nairobi’s excellent restaurants and sample some of the lively nightlife of this vibrant city on the last night.