Kenya & Tanzania · Group joining · Budget safari
Two weeks across East Africa's great parks
Fourteen days and eight parks on a budget: the Mara, Lake Nakuru, Naivasha and Hell's Gate, Amboseli, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, two nights in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.
From USD 1,960 pp
The journey in brief
The experience
Our longest safari covers the full sweep of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. You spend time at each stop rather than racing between them, including two nights in the Serengeti.
It suits travellers with two weeks who want variety and value, travelling with others on a group-joining basis.
Eight parks and reserves
Hell's Gate and Lake Naivasha
Two nights in the Serengeti
Ngorongoro Crater game drive
The route
Nairobi
Maasai Mara
Nakuru
Lake Naivasha
Amboseli
Arusha
Tarangire
Lake Manyara
Serengeti
Ngorongoro
Arusha
Nairobi → Maasai Mara → Nakuru → Lake Naivasha → Amboseli → Arusha → Tarangire → Lake Manyara → Serengeti → Ngorongoro → Arusha
Day by day
Timings are approximate. Your guide adjusts each day around road and wildlife conditions.
Day 1 / Nairobi → Maasai Mara
Our longest safari begins with the road west from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara. Pause at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint for a view over the valley floor, then continue through Narok and across Maasai grazing country. After checking in at Miti Mingi Eco Camp, set out on an afternoon game drive, the first of many over the next two weeks.
Day 2 / Maasai Mara National Reserve
Spend a full day in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, travelling with your group and guide across its grasslands, woodland and river courses. The reserve is one of the best places in Africa to watch big cats, and it supports large numbers of elephants, buffalo, giraffes and grazing herds. There is time to stay with good sightings and to explore areas further from camp.
Day 3 / Maasai Mara → Nakuru
An early game drive in the Mara, while the air is still cool, then breakfast and the drive north via Narok and along the floor of the Great Rift Valley to Nakuru. The town lies close to Lake Nakuru National Park, which you explore tomorrow, and the drive passes farmland, small market towns and the volcanic hills of the valley. Spend the night at Buraha Zenoni.
Day 4 / Lake Nakuru National Park → Lake Naivasha
A morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, a fenced sanctuary for black and white rhinos, with Rothschild's giraffe in the acacia woodland and pelicans along the shore. Then drive south to Lake Naivasha, the highest of Kenya's Rift Valley lakes and one of the few with fresh water, where hippos come ashore to graze at night. Spend the night at Leisure Apex.
Day 5 / Hell's Gate → Amboseli
Explore Hell's Gate National Park by bicycle or vehicle, riding between tall volcanic cliffs and past Fischer's Tower, with zebras, giraffes and buffalo grazing on the open grassland. The park takes its name from the geothermal activity that still sends steam into the air nearby. Then begin the long drive south-east to Amboseli, near the Tanzanian border, arriving at Nyati Safari Camp for two nights.
Day 6 / Amboseli National Park
A full day in Amboseli National Park, known for its elephants and its views of Kilimanjaro. The park's swamps, fed by water from the mountain, are the focus for much of the wildlife, and elephant families spend hours feeding and bathing there. Explore the plains, the marshes and the viewpoint at Observation Hill, and keep your camera ready for Kilimanjaro when the cloud lifts.
Day 7 / Amboseli → Namanga → Arusha
Leave Amboseli for the Namanga border, where you cross into Tanzania and complete immigration on both sides. The drive continues south through open country, with Mount Meru rising ahead, to Arusha, the gateway to Tanzania's northern circuit. Spend the night at Charity Hotel, ready to begin the Tanzanian half of the safari.
Day 8 / Arusha → Tarangire National Park
Drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park for a game drive in a landscape of baobabs, acacia woodland and the Tarangire River valley. The river is a magnet for wildlife in the dry season, when large elephant herds gather here, and the park is also home to lions, buffalo, giraffes and colourful birdlife. In the evening, continue to Fanaka Campsite in the Lake Manyara area.
Day 9 / Lake Manyara National Park
A game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, which packs groundwater forest, open grassland and an alkaline lake into a small area beneath the Rift Valley escarpment. Look for troops of baboons and blue monkeys among the fig trees, elephants and giraffes in the clearings, and hippos and waterbirds along the lakeshore. Return to Fanaka Campsite for your second night in the area.
Day 10 / Lake Manyara area → Serengeti
Leave the Lake Manyara area and climb the escarpment into the Ngorongoro highlands, a cool, green region of farms and forest, before descending onto the Serengeti's short-grass plains. Continue across the park to Seronera Camp in the central Serengeti, watching for herds and predators along the way. This is your base for two nights.
Day 11 / Serengeti National Park
A full day in the Serengeti, with time to explore its plains, kopjes and river valleys. The central Seronera area is known for resident lions, leopards and cheetahs, and depending on the month, the migrating wildebeest and zebras may be within reach. Your guide plans the route around the season and the latest sightings, and the day ends back at camp under a wide sky.
Day 12 / Serengeti → Ngorongoro
Spend the morning in the Serengeti, then leave the plains and drive east into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The road climbs through the highlands to the crater rim, where you spend the night at Simba Campsite with the vast caldera just below. The evening air is cool here, a sharp contrast with the warmth of the plains.
Day 13 / Ngorongoro Crater → Arusha
The last game drive of your two-week safari takes place on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater. The caldera's walls enclose a world of grassland, swamp and soda lake that supports lions, hyenas, buffalo, elephants, zebras, wildebeest and black rhinos. It is a fitting finale after the open plains of the Serengeti. Climb out and drive back to Arusha for the night at Charity Hotel.
Day 14 / Arusha
After breakfast, transfer for your onward journey from Arusha, whether a flight home from Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha airport, or the next stage of your travels. Over two weeks, the safari has taken you from the Maasai Mara and the Rift Valley lakes to Amboseli, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Where you stay
This budget safari uses the camps and hotels listed below. Where a stop says 'camp/lodge', we confirm the property with your quote.
Maasai Mara · 2 nights
The budget tented camp used for Absolute's Maasai Mara budget safaris, close to the reserve.
About Miti Mingi Eco Camp
Nakuru · 1 night
The Nakuru hotel used for overnight stays before or after a Lake Nakuru National Park game drive.
About Buraha Zenoni
Lake Naivasha · 1 night
The Naivasha base for budget safaris that include Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate.
About Leisure Apex
Amboseli · 2 nights
The budget camp used for Amboseli nights, with views towards Kilimanjaro on clear days.
About Nyati Safari Camp
Arusha · 1 night
The Arusha hotel used before or after selected budget safaris on Tanzania's northern circuit.
About Charity Hotel
Lake Manyara area · 2 nights
The budget base used for selected Tarangire and Lake Manyara stops.
About Fanaka Campsite
Serengeti · 2 nights
The budget tented base used for selected nights in the central Serengeti.
About Seronera Camp
Ngorongoro crater rim · 1 night
The public campsite used for selected budget itineraries around the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
About Simba CampsiteArusha · 1 night
The Arusha hotel used before or after selected budget safaris on Tanzania's northern circuit.
About Charity HotelAccommodation pattern: Budget · Miti Mingi Eco Camp + Buraha Zenoni + Leisure Apex + Nyati Safari Camp + Charity Hotel + Fanaka Campsite + Seronera Camp + Simba Campsite.
Prices are in US dollars per person. Your written quote confirms the final price for your dates and party size.
Prices can depend on travel dates, party size, accommodation availability and changes to park fees. All terms are confirmed in writing before you book.
The details
Before you travel
Kenya–Tanzania safaris cross at Namanga or Isebania/Sirari. Allow time for immigration on both sides and carry your passport, visas or eTA and any vaccination certificates required for your nationality and route. Check current entry requirements before you travel.
Your vehicle and guide arrangements for each country are confirmed in writing with your booking, including where any change takes place.
Pack in a soft bag where possible; space is shared and you may move between vehicles at the border.
Check passport validity and entry requirements for every country on your route with official government sources before you travel.
Ask a travel-health professional about vaccinations and malaria precautions, and take out travel insurance that covers your activities.
A soft bag is easiest in safari vehicles. If any part of your trip includes light-aircraft flights, baggage limits apply.
Weather and wildlife movement change through the year. Tell us your dates and we will explain what to expect.
Questions travellers ask
Group-joining safaris follow the published route so everyone travels together. If you want changes, ask us about running the route privately.
Yes. Prices are in US dollars per person, as published in our catalogue. Your written quote confirms the final price for your dates and party size.
We reply with availability, any suggestions for your dates and a written quote. Nothing is booked until you have agreed the quote and booking terms.
No. Wildlife is free-ranging and sightings vary. Your guide will plan each day around conditions to give you the best chances.
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The next step
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check availability and send a written quote; nothing is booked until you agree.
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14 days · Kenya & Tanzania
From USD 1,960 pp
