An African safari is a dream for many, offering a chance to witness incredible wildlife in their natural habitat. A 7-day safari tour can provide a comprehensive experience, allowing you to explore some of the most iconic parks and reserves in East Africa.
Masai Mara Landscape
Destinations
In Tanzania, most tours visit the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, and Lake Manyara. Kenya's highlights include the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru National Park, and Amboseli National Park - where you can watch elephants with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background.
- Tanzania: Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park
- Kenya: Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Amboseli National Park
Best Time to Visit
For Kenya's Masai Mara, plan your trip between July and October to catch the Great Migration. If you're heading to Tanzania's Serengeti, December through March is perfect for seeing big cats and baby wildebeest. The dry seasons (June to October and January to February) work well for spotting all kinds of animals since they gather near water sources.
What to Expect
You'll likely see quite a lot in a week. The Serengeti and Masai Mara are great spots to find the Big Five - lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo.
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The Big Five
In Tarangire National Park, you might come across huge elephant herds with up to 300 animals. Lake Nakuru is a bird lover's paradise with over 450 species, including its famous pink flamingos.
Game drives usually happen twice a day, lasting 3-4 hours each in the morning and afternoon. You'll ride in 4x4s made for safaris with good seats and windows for viewing. You'll spend about 2-5 hours driving between parks. Getting from Nairobi to the Masai Mara takes 5-6 hours, while going from the Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater is about 3-4 hours.
Days are generally pleasant, with temperatures between 70-85°F (21-29°C). In the Serengeti, days usually hit around 77°F (25°C), but nights can cool down to 50°F (10°C). Over in the Masai Mara, you'll find temperatures between 68°F (20°C) and 86°F (30°C).
Sample Itinerary
This is a year-round safari with several game viewing experiences throughout Kenya and Tanzania. Your safari starts in Nairobi, Kenya where you will travel to the world famous Masai Mara Game Reserve.
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Day 1: Nairobi to Masai Mara
Departing in the morning, we will see the Kenya countryside on the way to the Masai Mara. The Masai Mara, also called The Mara, is one of the most renowned wildlife conservation and wilderness areas in Africa! It holds exceptional populations of lion, leopard, cheetah and African bush elephant. It is also the site of the Great Migration, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, and one of the ten Wonders of the World. We often see herds of cows, goats and small villages along the way. We can stop at small shops for homemade souvenirs that support the local communities. Upon reaching the park, we will start to see many species of wildlife!
Day 2: Masai Mara Game Reserve
Have your cameras ready as we depart for a sunrise game drive! Guests may have opportunities to see predators on the hunt or massive herds of wildebeest moving across the beautiful landscapes. We often see big cats and other Big 5 species such as Cape buffalo, elephants and sometimes rhinoceros. Thomson’s gazelle, topi, hartebeest, hippopotamus and many species of birds may also be seen.
Day 3: Masai Mara to Maasai Village
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Departing early, guests will have the opportunity to observe, photograph and video more animal sightings along the way to a local Maasai Village. Our local Kenya guides will communicate over the radio for the best sightings of lions, leopards, cheetahs and more! At the village, the local Maasai Tribe will show us their traditional way of life and welcome us into their homes. This is truly a unique experience!
Day 4: Serengeti National Park
Welcome to the heart of safari, the Serengeti National Park, Africa’s most treasured safari destination! We will have an early morning departure for the Keekorok airstrip to fly to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania! We will clear customs upon arrival and travel to our hotel to settle in. This safari day will be spent viewing incredible amounts of wildlife in the vast Serengeti plains. Morning and afternoon game drives are offered. The Serengeti is easily Tanzania’s most famous national park, also the largest, at 14,763 square kilometers of protected area that borders Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Park. It is most famous for its migrations! Over a million wildebeest and about 200,000 zebras flow south from the northern hills to the southern plains for the short rains every October and November. They, then, swirl west and north after the long rains in April, May and June.
The Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Explained | Expert Africa
Day 5: Serengeti to Karatu
As we depart our lodge, we will game drive our way to Karatu looking for many game species like elephants, topi, wildebeest, zebra, and big cats like lions, leopards and cheetah! On the way, we will visit the Olduvai Gorge and Museum of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dr. Leakey discovered hominid species here of the first humans to walk upright and scientists still work to discover more fossils and artifacts.
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater
After an early breakfast, your guide will pick you up from the Country Lodge and drive to Ngorongoro. The Ngorongoro Crater is often called ‘Africa’s Eden’ and the ‘8th Natural Wonder of the World,’ a visit to the crater is a main draw for tourists coming to Tanzania and a definite world-class attraction. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is home of Ngorongoro Crater. It was formed some 2.5 million years ago from a volcanic mountain sinking due to inactivity. It was initially thought to be higher than Tanzania’s famous Kilimanjaro. The crater has evolved into a unique and integral part of Tanzania’s ecosystem. The crater is actually a caldera, measuring 22.5 kilometers across and the rim walls stand 600m high. Views from within the crater and from the rim are breath-taking! The crater houses 30,000 animals and a large variety of birds, which rarely move from the area due to the availability of water through wet and dry seasons.
Day 7: Shopping and Cultural Tour
On our last day together, we will head to the African Galleria where guests will be able to do some end of tour shopping. The Galleria has available wood art, paintings, and jewelry specializing in Tanzanite. After shopping, we will take a cultural village tour to see how local Tanzanians grow bananas, create wood art and taste local banana beer. After the tour, we will have a traditional African meal made by Mama Africa.
Accommodation Options
You'll find different options to match your budget. You can stay in comfortable lodges or get closer to nature in tented camps. If you're watching your spending, campsites work well.
- Lodges: Kudu Lodge, Bougainvillea Lodge, The African Tulip (Arusha), The Manor(Ngorongoro), Pumzika (Serengeti)
- Tented Camps: Tukaone Serengeti Camp, Katikati Tented Camp
- Campsites: Heaven Nature Campsite, Pimbi Camp
What to Pack
Weather is mildly cold (60 degrees Fahrenheit) to very hot (100+ Fahrenheit). We suggest packing thin long sleeve shirts, thin pants or zip off pants as these prevent sunburns and bug bites. For cooler nights and early mornings, be sure to pack a medium weight jacket.
Visa and Health
A Kenya single entry visa will be needed to enter the country. You must apply 30 days prior to departure. A Tanzania multiple entry visa will be needed to enter the country. You must apply 30 days before departure. Ask your travel doctor for malaria pills that will work best for you and your travel companion.
Money
A traveler’s wallet is suggested with two (2) credit cards and at least one ATM card. Tell your bank where you are going otherwise they will shut your cards off for fraud protection. Currency in Kenya is the Kenyan shilling. The currency in Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling. Both can be withdrawn at the ATM or bank upon arrival, although all shops usually accept USD.
Insurance
Trip insurance is highly recommended on any international trip.
Elephant Herd in Amboseli National Park
