10-Day Luxury Kenya and Tanzania Safari (Bespoke Tours)

Embark on an extraordinary 10-day luxury safari across Kenya and Tanzania, showcasing East Africa’s legendary wildlife destinations. Start your adventure at the picturesque Lake Nakuru in the Great Rift Valley, famous for its flamingos and rhinos, before heading to the Masai Mara, renowned for the Big Five and the spectacular Great Migration.

Cross into Tanzania to explore the vast plains of the Serengeti, teeming with predators and migration herds (wildebeest, gazelles, and zebras) before heading to the awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site offering unparalleled wildlife viewing. Conclude your 10-day luxury Kenya and Tanzania Safari with a visit to the tranquil Lake Manyara, known for its tree-climbing lions and diverse birdlife.

With luxurious accommodations, expertly guided game drives, and breathtaking scenery, this safari offers an unforgettable blend of adventure, comfort, and cultural discovery. This perfectly curated safari itinerary delivers an exceptional experience in the heart of East Africa.

Safari Highlights

• Luxury stays at opulent safari lodges
• Delicious cuisine
• Big Five sightings and other wildlife
• The Great Migration
• Border crossings
• Scenic drives by the countryside
• Cultural experiences

Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park

Upon arrival in Nairobi, you’ll be met by your guide and representative for Vacation Africa Safaris, and driven to Lake Nakuru National Park, a haven for bird enthusiasts and wildlife lovers. Located in Kenya’s Rift Valley Region, Lake Nakuru National Park is a premier wildlife destination renowned for its stunning landscapes and abundant biodiversity.

The park is cantered around a soda lake, which attracts a myriad of bird species, including thousands of pink flamingos, pelicans, and over 400 other bird species, making it a birdwatcher’s paradise. The park is also a Big Five reserve, home to one of the country’s largest populations of black and white rhinos, as well as lions, leopards, and buffalos. The park’s acacia forests, waterfalls, and savannahs provide a scenic backdrop for game drives and photography where visitors can also spot giraffes, zebras, and waterbucks in the park’s diverse ecosystems.

You will arrive in the park in time for lunch at your luxurious lodge and later an afternoon game drive. Overnight stay in Lake Nakuru National Park.

Travel Time: 2 to 3 Hours

Accommodation: Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Morning Game Drive – Transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive in Lake Nakuru before embarking on your journey to Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s premier safari destination. Located in southwestern Kenya, Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya’s most visited national park, known for its breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity.

It forms the northern tip of the Serengeti ecosystem and is famous for hosting the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest, zebras, and predators move across its plains annually in search of greener pastures. The reserve spans about 1,510 square kilometers and is home to the Big Five—lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, and rhinos, as well as an enthralling cheetah population. Masai Mara also boasts over 450 bird species, making it a birdwatcher’s haven.

The drive to Masai Mara offers scenic views of the Rift Valley and Maasai villages which are home to the famous Maasai people. These add cultural depth to the experience. Arrive in time for lunch at your luxury lodge before an evening game drive in the reserve. Overnight stay in Masai Mara National Park.

Travel Time: 4 to 5 Hours

Accommodation: Angama Mara Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 3 & 4: Explore Masai Mara National Reserve

Spend two full days exploring the Masai Mara, known for its rich wildlife, rolling savannahs dotted with acacia trees, and the annual Great Migration (July to October). Enjoy full-day game drives (with picnic lunches). Masai Mara is well-known for the Big Five sightings, including leopards, elephants, buffalos, rhinos, and its population of mane lions, cheetahs, and hyenas.

For the avid birders, the reserve is home to over 500 recorded bird species including the Kori Bustard – the world’s largest flying bird. While in Masai Mara, you can also indulge in a range of optional experiences such as hot air balloons accompanied by bush breakfast, walking safaris, and a Maasai village visit to interact and learn about the local Maasai culture.

Accommodation: Angama Mara

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Transfer to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, depart Masai Mara and cross the border into Tanzania and head to the Serengeti National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its endless plains and abundant wildlife. On arrival in Serengeti, enjoy a game drive en route to your luxury lodge, where you’ll unwind and savor the park’s unique tranquility.

Time Travel: 6 to 8 Hours (including time spent at the border crossings)

Accommodation: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti (Central Serengeti)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 6 & 7: Explore Serengeti National Park

Experience two days in the Serengeti, immersing yourself in its unmatched biodiversity. Serengeti National Park is one of Africa’s most iconic and breathtaking wildlife destinations. Spanning over 6,900 square miles (18,000 square kilometers), it is renowned for its vast, endless plains, which is what “Serengeti” means in Kiswahili.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to an abundance of wildlife, including over two million ungulates such as wildebeest, zebras, and Thomson’s gazelles. Serengeti is famous for hosting the spectacular Great Migration, where millions of herbivores move across the plains in search of fresh pasture, attracting numerous predators like lions, cheetahs, and hyenas. Aside from that, the Serengeti also hosts a diverse range of smaller animals, including rock hyraxes, jackals, and baboons, as well as nearly 500 species of birds. Its rich biodiversity and dramatic landscapes make Serengeti a must-visit destination for wildlife enthusiasts and safari-goers.

Depending on the time of year, you may witness the Great Migration and full-day game drives, offering ample opportunities to spot predator–prey interactions. Indulge in an optional hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti plains or take a guided walking safari for an intimate experience with the park’s flora and fauna.

Accommodation: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast, journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, home to the Ngorongoro Crater, often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Known for the iconic Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest unbroken volcanic caldera, the area spans over 3,200 square miles and offers incredible game viewing. Inside the crater, you’ll find the highest concentration of wildlife (more than 25,000 mammals), including lions, elephants, zebras, and the endangered black rhino, making it one of the best places in Africa for a safari.

The conservation area also includes the historically significant Olduvai Gorge, where early human fossils were discovered. Moreover, the presence of the Maasai people, who live within the conservation area, adds to its cultural richness. On arrival, drive to your lodge perched on the crater rim which offers spectacular views and a serene setting.

In the afternoon, take an optional cultural visit to a nearby Maasai village. Here, you will have the chance to learn about the Maasai people’s rich traditions, lifestyle, and history. Enjoy a village tour, interact with the locals, and witness a traditional dance performance. Overnight stay in Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Travel Time: 4 to 5 Hours

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Ngorongoro to Lake Manyara National Park

Wake up early for a light cup of coffee/tea and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive, where you’ll encounter diverse wildlife, including black rhinos, lions, elephants, buffaloes, and flamingos. Return to your lodge for relaxation and after lunch, transfer to Lake Manyara National Park, famed for its tree-climbing lions and picturesque landscape.

Travel Time: About 2 Hours

Accommodation: Lake Manyara Tree Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Lake Manyara Game Drive and Departure

On the last day of your 10-day luxury Kenya and Tanzania adventure, begin your day with a thrilling morning game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. Located at the base of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment, this park spans 330 square kilometers and is home to a variety of landscapes, from dense forests to the expansive Lake Manyara itself. The park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, which are a rare sight and one of the park’s main attractions.

Lake Manyara is also a vital haven for birdlife, with over 400 species recorded, including large populations of flamingos that gather on the lake’s shores during the rainy season. The park supports a wide range of animals such as elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, and hippos, as well as many smaller mammals and reptiles, which you get a chance to see on your morning game drive.

After the game drive, return to your lodge for a late breakfast and relaxation. Later, transfer to Arusha where you will have lunch and then connect to your onward departure flight.

Travel Time: About 2 Hours

Safari Inclusions

• All park entry fees
• Luxury accommodation on full-board
• Border crossing fees
• Ground transfers in a 4×4 safari vehicle
• Service of a professional English-speaking safari guide
• All safari activities included in the itinerary
• Bottled mineral water in the safari vehicle

Safari Exclusions

• International flights
• Visas
• Travel Insurance
• All personal expenses
• All optional activities excluded from the itinerary

End of Safari.

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