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Summary

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East African Explorer Shared Kenya & Tanzania Safari

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Duration

13 Days

Starts In

Nairobi

Route

Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Amboseli National Park, Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Nairobi, Lake Manyara National Park

Discover the very best of East Africa on this 13-day shared safari through Kenya and Tanzania, traveling alongside fellow travelers in comfortable vehicles as expert guides lead the way across some of the region's most celebrated wilderness areas. From the acacia-dotted plains of the Masai Mara to the flamingo-fringed shores of Lake Nakuru and the elephant herds of Amboseli beneath Mount Kilimanjaro, each stop offers its own rhythm of wildlife and landscape. Crossing into Tanzania, the journey continues through Tarangire's baobab wilderness, Lake Manyara's tree-climbing lions, and the Serengeti's endless grassland, before culminating at the Ngorongoro Crater. With shared game drives, optional hot air balloon safaris, and character-filled lodges throughout, this itinerary delivers a complete, immersive picture of East Africa without compromising comfort.

SMALL GROUP SAFARI - 13 Days / 12 Nights featuring Kenya and Tanzania. Includes private arrival & departure transfers, accommodations in Nairobi, Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and game drives sightseeing as indicated in the itinerary. This itinerary is also available as a Private Safari

Includes

Accommodations as per itinerary
Meals as per itinerary; breakfast (B), lunch (L), dinner (D)
Keytours 24-hour emergency assistance
Private arrival and departure transfers as per itinerary
Game Drives: As Per Itinerary

Excludes

Items of a personal nature
All other items not mentioned as included
Travel insurance; please inquire with your Keytours travel consultant
Gratuities for drivers, guides, and escorts

Itinerary

Day
1

Day 1: Karibu Kenya — Touching Down in Nairobi

Your East African adventure begins the moment you land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where a warm welcome and private transfer carry you to the Eka Hotel Nairobi, ideally positioned along Mombasa Road near the city center and both airports. With the afternoon free, settle in and shake off travel fatigue, or consider an optional excursion for early arrivals — a visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Elephant Orphanage, an Out of Africa-themed outing, or the Nai Nami Cultural Walking Tour all offer a gentle introduction to Kenya. Tonight's stay is in a superior room on a bed and breakfast basis, a comfortable start before your shared safari begins tomorrow.

Day
2

Day 2: Into the Rift — Nairobi to the Masai Mara

Breakfast is followed by a scenic drive through Kenya's highlands and down into the dramatic Great Rift Valley, passing a chapel built by Italian prisoners of war and the historic Longonot Earth Satellite Station en route. The road continues through Narok and across golden wheat fields toward the world-famous Masai Mara. Lunch is taken at camp before your first shared game drive gets underway, tracking the reserve's abundant wildlife alongside fellow travelers as the light softens toward sunset. Tonight's stay is at Zebra Plains Mara Camp, in a hillside tent offering secluded, elevated views across the plains, full board included.

Day
3

Day 3: Mara Magic — Shared Game Drives and Maasai Culture

An optional shared hot air balloon safari offers early risers a silent, aerial view over the plains, descending to treetop level to observe wildlife from above before a celebratory bush breakfast (offered at additional cost). For everyone else, the day unfolds with a morning game drive through the Masai Mara's golden grassland, tracking lion, elephant, and the reserve's celebrated Big Five, shared with your fellow travelers throughout. After a midday rest, the afternoon brings a second game drive paired with a visit to a local Maasai village, offering genuine cultural insight before returning to camp as the sun dips below the horizon.

Day
4

Day 4: Flamingo Waters — Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru

Leaving the Mara behind, the journey crosses Kenya's agricultural heartland through Narok before descending onto the Rift Valley floor, arriving at Lake Nakuru around midday. Game viewing continues en route to the lodge, with lunch and a siesta preceding a shared afternoon game drive as the light turns golden. Lake Nakuru National Park, a shallow soda lake fringed by forested hills, is renowned for its birdlife — flamingos among them — as well as thriving populations of black and white rhino and the endangered Rothschild giraffe. Tonight's stay is at Lake Nakuru Lodge, in a deluxe room with sweeping views over the lake.

Day
5

Day 5: Kilimanjaro Calling — Nakuru to Amboseli

An early start brings a stop at Lake Naivasha for a scenic boat ride before the journey turns south, passing through Nairobi for lunch and continuing toward Amboseli, arriving at your lodge by late afternoon. Famous above all for its unobstructed views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, Amboseli is home to some of the continent's largest elephant herds alongside lion, cheetah, and giraffe across its swamps, savannah, and acacia woodland. Tonight's stay is at Ol Tukai Lodge, in a standard room set at the very foot of Kilimanjaro, where cottage-style accommodation offers uninterrupted views of the mountain or surrounding wetlands.

Day
6

Day 6: Giants of Amboseli — A Full Day of Shared Game Drives

Today is dedicated entirely to Amboseli's extraordinary wildlife, with both morning and afternoon shared game drives revealing the park's famous elephant herds against the ever-present backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. Beyond elephants, keep an eye out for lion, cheetah, zebra, and the more than 400 bird species recorded within the park's boundaries. The shifting light across the swamps and acacia woodland offers superb photographic opportunities throughout the day, with Kilimanjaro's snow-capped peak rarely far from view when the clouds allow. As evening falls, return to Ol Tukai Lodge for dinner, the mountain silhouetted against the fading sky.

Day
7

Day 7: Crossing Borders — Amboseli to Tarangire

A final glimpse of Kilimanjaro accompanies your departure from Amboseli as the road leads to the Namanga border, where farewells are exchanged with your Kenyan guide before a Tanzanian driver takes over for the onward journey, joined by any new travelers meeting the group in Arusha. Lunch is taken in Arusha, gateway to Tanzania's northern safari circuit, before continuing to Tarangire National Park. Game viewing begins the moment you pass through the gate, continuing en route to the lodge. Named for the river running through its heart, Tarangire is known for its immense elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. Dinner and overnight await at Tarangire Sopa Lodge.

Day
8

Day 8: Baobab Kingdom to Rift Valley Views — Tarangire to Lake Manyara

A morning game drive through Tarangire's elephant-rich plains precedes lunch back at the lodge, set among ancient baobabs and kopjes. In the afternoon, the shared safari continues to Lake Manyara National Park, arriving at your escarpment-perched lodge in time for dinner. Known for its tree-climbing lions and over 400 recorded bird species, Manyara's shallow alkaline waters and varied terrain — from dense forest to open grassland — offer a striking contrast to Tarangire's dry plains. Tonight's stay is at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, its rondavel rooms and vanishing-horizon pool set high above the glittering lake.

Day
9

Day 9: Tree-Climbing Lions to Endless Plains — Manyara to the Serengeti

A morning game drive through Lake Manyara National Park brings the chance to spot its famous tree-climbing lions, along with elephant, buffalo, and giraffe. After lunch back at the lodge, your shared vehicle departs for the Serengeti, passing through Naabi Gate — the park's iconic entrance — with game viewing continuing en route to your lodge for dinner. Covering nearly 14,750 square kilometers, the Serengeti is home to the Big Five alongside cheetah, hyena, and the annual wildebeest migration, one of the natural world's most spectacular events, set against the endless golden grassland that gives the park its name.

Day
10

Day 10: Sunrise Over the Serengeti — A Shared Day in the Plains

For early risers, an optional shared hot air balloon safari lifts off at sunrise, drifting silently over the plains before descending to treetop level for an intimate view of the wildlife below, followed by a bush breakfast (offered at additional cost). For everyone else, the day unfolds with shared morning and afternoon game drives across the Serengeti's endless grassland, tracking lion, elephant, leopard, and the great herds that define this landscape. Dinner and overnight are taken back at the lodge, set high on a tree-clad ridge overlooking the Western Corridor and Grumeti River, with the Serengeti's famous "vanishing horizon" views stretching out below.

Day
11

Day 11: Into the Crater Highlands — Serengeti to Ngorongoro

Departing the Serengeti, your shared safari vehicle continues toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with game viewing en route and a picnic lunch served along the way. Arriving at your lodge perched on the crater rim, the afternoon is at leisure, giving time to take in one of the most dramatic views in Africa before dinner. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ngorongoro is home to an estimated 30,000 animals within its crater walls, alongside the Maasai people who have lived here for centuries, and landscapes stretching from the crater floor to the ancient site of Olduvai Gorge and the striking Empakai Crater beyond.

Day
12

Day 12: Into the Crater — A Shared Day Among 30,000 Animals

An early departure carries your shared safari group down to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa's most extraordinary wildlife arenas. Within just 102 square miles, more than 30,000 resident mammals create exceptional odds of spotting all of the Big Five in a single day. A picnic lunch is enjoyed at a scenic spot on the crater floor before the afternoon return to the rim, where dinner and overnight await at your lodge. Few wildlife experiences anywhere in the world match the sheer density and drama of a full day spent within this ancient volcanic amphitheater.

Day
13

Day 13: Journey's End — Ngorongoro to Nairobi

Early risers can catch a final sunrise over the crater's eastern rim before breakfast and departure. The journey retraces its route to Arusha, arriving in time for lunch, before a transfer to Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight, bringing this extraordinary shared East African circuit to its close. Travelers wishing to extend their journey may instead depart from Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport toward Zanzibar at no extra charge, though no reduction applies for the unused Nairobi transfer. From Mara plains to crater floor, this shared safari has delivered the very best of Kenya and Tanzania's safari country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What destinations are included in the East African Explorer Shared Kenya & Tanzania Safari?

The East African Explorer Shared Kenya & Tanzania Safari includes several stunning destinations over 13 days: Nairobi, Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Amboseli National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Each location offers unique wildlife and scenic experiences, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of East Africa.

How many days and nights are spent in each destination on this itinerary?

On the East African Explorer Shared Kenya & Tanzania Safari, the duration spent in each destination is as follows: - Nairobi: 1 night - Masai Mara National Reserve: 2 nights - Lake Nakuru National Park: 1 night - Amboseli National Park: 2 nights - Tarangire National Park: 1 night - Lake Manyara National Park: 1 night - Serengeti National Park: 2 nights - Ngorongoro Conservation Area: 1 night This structure allows for immersive experiences in each location.

What is included in the price of this package?

The price of the East African Explorer Shared Kenya & Tanzania Safari includes several key components: - Accommodations as per the itinerary - Meals as per the itinerary (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) - Private arrival and departure transfers - Shared game drives as outlined in the itinerary - 24-hour emergency assistance from Keytours Please note that items of a personal nature and travel insurance are not included.

Are there any optional activities available during this tour?

Yes, this itinerary offers several optional activities that travelers can choose to enhance their experience. Notable options include: - Hot air balloon safaris over the Masai Mara and Serengeti, providing a unique aerial perspective of the wildlife and landscapes - Cultural excursions, such as visiting local Maasai villages These activities are available at an additional cost and can be arranged through your Keytours travel consultant.

How do travelers move between destinations on this safari?

Travelers will move between destinations on the East African Explorer Shared Kenya & Tanzania Safari in comfortable shared safari vehicles. The itinerary includes scenic drives through the beautiful landscapes of Kenya and Tanzania, with game viewing opportunities along the way. Transfers between the various parks and lodges are designed to maximize wildlife viewing while ensuring a comfortable travel experience.

Can I customize my accommodations or extend my stay on this tour?

Yes, accommodations can be customized based on your preferences, including room categories and lodge choices. Additionally, travelers wishing to extend their stay can discuss options with their Keytours travel consultant. This could include adding extra nights in any of the visited destinations or exploring additional locations in East Africa, such as Zanzibar.

What should travelers know before booking the East African Explorer Shared Kenya & Tanzania Safari?

Before booking this safari, travelers should consider the following: - The itinerary is designed for small groups, providing a shared experience with fellow travelers. - It involves varying levels of physical activity, including game drives and some walking. - Travelers should review their final itinerary for any specific requirements or recommendations. - Ensure that travel insurance is arranged, as it is not included in the package. - Check passport and visa requirements based on your nationality and travel plans.

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Include Flights?

Yes

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