Best of Kenya and Tanzania Wildlife Safari Tour

DAY 2 AND 3: AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK, THE FOOTHILLS OF MT. KILIMANJARO

Our Best of Kenya and Tanzania Wildlife Safari Tour will then head to Amboseli National Park, at the foothills of the mighty Mt. Kilimanjaro (Africa’s highest mountain). This beautiful park is one of the premium national parks in Kenya and offers amazing views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Amboseli National Park is very famous for its elephants. This is often termed as the best destination in Africa to see and photograph wild elephant herds. Amboseli also hosts the oldest elephant research project, which was started by the famous Cynthia Moss and her team. 

We shall enjoy game drives here as we scan the salty and dusty plains. Some sections have beautiful grasslands, and others are covered by Acacia woodland. Amboseli is also famous for Lake Amboseli, a seasonal pan that collects water in the rainy season. There are many other wetlands and swamps all over the park, and these attract many waterbirds and mammals.

Highlight mammals here include African Elephant, Banded Mongoose, Yellow Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Common Hippopotamus, Common Zebra, Common Waterbuck, Gerenuk, Grant’s Gazelle, Thomson’s Gazelle, Common Impala, Bohor Reedbuck, Maasai Giraffe, Common Warthog, Cheetah, African Civet, White-bearded Wildebeest, Black-backed Jackal, African Golden Wolf, Spotted Hyena, Serval, African Wild Cat and African Lion. 

Highlight birds include Lesser Flamingo, Greater Flamingo, African Fish Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Saddle-billed Stork, Hamerkop, Common Ostrich, Goliath Heron, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Kori Bustard and Grey Crowned Crane.

Some of the exciting reptiles found in Amboseli National Park include Leopard Tortoise, Striped Skink and Kenya Red-headed Rock Agama.

Nights in Amboseli.

DAY 4: AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK TO NGORONGORO HIGHLANDS 

Leaving Amboseli National Park behind, we shall drive across the Tanzanian border; where our Best of Kenya and Tanzania Wildlife Safari Tour continues. On our way South, we enjoy views of Mt. Meru and Mt. Longido. Mt. Kilimanjaro also peaks into the clouds from the East.

We shall then move higher to the Ngorongoro Highlands, as we enjoy Tanzania’s beautiful countryside.

Night at the Ngorongoro Highlands.

DAY 5: NGORONGORO CRATER

We shall then move onwards to the famous and mighty Ngorongoro Crater; a key location on our Best of Kenya and Tanzania Wildlife Safari Tour. This massive crater is named as one of the wonders of Africa. A view from the crater’s rim is breathtaking in many ways; as you also get to spot the soda lake known as Lake Magadi.

We shall be able to enjoy the beautiful Highland Forest as we move through the Ngorongoro Highlands. On the higher slopes, beautiful grasslands and open glades pattern this vast forest. We shall then descend down the walls of the crater through a scenic winding road. At the bottom, a vast savannah grassland awaits us, full of African wildlife. We shall also explore some of the local wetlands as we move around the Ngorongoro Crater floor. 

Mammals in the Ngorongoro Crater include African Lion, Serval, Caracal, African Golden Wolf, Black Rhino, Thomson’s Gazelle, Grant’s Gazelle, Common Zebra, Common Warthog, White-bearded Wildebeest, African Elephant, Common Hippopotamus, Spotted Hyena, African Buffalo and occasionally the Cheetah. On the outer fringes of the crater rim, we may get Maasai Giraffes and Common Impala.

Common birds in the Ngorongoro Crater include Kori Bustard, Grey Crowned Crane, Capped Wheatear, Abdim’s Stork, White Stork, Greater Flamingo and Lesser Flamingo.

Reptiles in the Ngorongoro Crater include Striped Skink and Nile Monitor Lizard.

Night at the Ngorongoro Highlands.

DAY 6: OL DUVAI GORGE MUSEUM TO SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

We shall enjoy a morning in the famous Ol Duvai Gorge Museum; also known as Ol Dupai Gorge Museum. Ol Dupai is the Maasai name for a local sisal-looking plant known as Sansevieria.

Many paleontology and archeology projects have been conducted here at Ol Duvai, mainly led by the Louis and Mary Leakey family. Their discoveries include Zinjanthropus, Homo habilis and Homo erectus.

We shall then continue into the mighty Serengeti National Park, as we enjoy the local wildlife.  

Night in Serengeti.

DAY 7 AND 8: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

This endless plain forms a wildlife haven like no other. The savannah grassland with mixed woodland and bush mosaic is the perfect recipe for African Wildlife. We shall also explore the local rivers and swamps, seeking the water-dwelling creatures of the wild. Huge rock outcrops dot the grassy plains of Serengeti and are often known as kopjes. These massive rocks form perfect resting sites for predators as they also scan the plains for potential prey.

Serengeti National Park has been made famous by the annual wildebeest migration. Here we shall enjoy many game drives as we seek to follow the local herds of White-bearded Wildebeests. Hot on their heels are multiple herbivores such as Common Zebras, Thomson’s Gazelles and Common Elands. Predators and scavengers also take advantage of the bounty and concentrate around the moving herds. This spectacle is always a great highlight on our Best of Kenya and Tanzania Wildlife Safari Tour.

Mammals in Serengeti National Park include African Lion, White-bearded Wildebeest, Maasai Giraffe, African Elephant, Common Hippopotamus, Cheetah, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Serval, Black Rhino, African Buffalo, Topi, Oribi, Thomson’s Gazelle, Grant’s Gazelle, Common Warthog, Common Zebra, Black-backed Jackal, Caracal and African Wild Cat.

Common reptiles of Serengeti National Park include Nile Crocodile, Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama, Nile Monitor Lizard and Marsh Terrapin.

Common exciting birds of Serengeti include Southern Ground Hornbill, Secretarybird, Superb Starling, Lappet-faced Vulture, Martial Eagle, African Fish Eagle and Lesser Flamingo.

Nights in Serengeti.

DAY 9: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK TO MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

Our safari will then proceed North into Kenya; for the next chapter of the Best of Kenya and Tanzania Wildlife Safari Tour. We shall cruise through great and beautiful landscapes on our way to Masai Mara.   

Night in Masai Mara.

DAY 10 AND 11: MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

We shall spend the next days exploring the mighty Masai Mara National Reserve, a key site for our Best of Kenya and Tanzania Wildlife Safari Tour.

Masai Mara National Reserve, sometimes commonly known as Maasai Mara, is definitely the top wildlife safari destination in Kenya. The name Maasai Mara comes from the local people who live here – the Maasai Tribe.  

The Great Wildebeest Migration is an annual event here that is often regarded as the eighth (8th) wonder of the world. The migration journey takes the wildebeests in a circle, from the breeding grounds in Southern Serengeti round to Northern Masai Mara and back. We shall spend these days following the wildebeest herds as we enjoy great photography opportunities. The exciting river crossings are also a great attraction on the Best of Kenya and Tanzania Wildlife Safari Tour. If lucky, and with some patience, you may see the Nile Crocodiles stalking the wildebeests as they cross rivers. The main rivers here include Mara River, Talek River and Sand River.  

Accompanying the wildebeests are other herbivores, such as Thomson’s Gazelles, Common Zebras and Common Elands. Hot on their heels are a host of direct and indirect predators. African Lion, Cheetah and Leopard keep an eye on the moving animals. Spotted Hyenas are also very active predators, and can also scavenge when an opportunity arises. The top scavengers however, are the different species of vultures. In Masai Mara, the common species are White-backed Vulture, Ruppell’s Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture and Hooded Vulture. They are also often joined by Marabou Storks.   

Other exciting mammals in Masai Mara National Reserve include Topi, Grant’s Gazelle, Steenbok, Oribi, Defassa Waterbuck, African Buffalo, Maasai Giraffe, Naivasha Dikdik, Common Impala, Common Warthog, Coke’s Hartebeest, Olive Baboon, Vervet Monkey, African Savannah Elephant, Black Rhino, Bushbuck, Banded Mongoose, Serval, Black-backed Jackal, Bohor Reedbuck and Common Hippopotamus.

Interesting birds in Masai Mara include Grey Crowned Crane, Kori Bustard, Common Ostrich, Martial Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Hamerkop, Saddle-billed Stork, Southern Ground Hornbill, Bare-faced Go-away-bird and Secretarybird.  

Common reptiles in Masai Mara include Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama, Nile Monitor Lizard and Nile Crocodile.

Nights in Masai Mara.

DAY 12: MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE TO NAIROBI

On this day, we shall travel back to Nairobi, cruising across the scenic Great Rift Valley.

We shall then enjoy a transfer to the airport, for our flights home. This marks the end to our lovely Best of Kenya and Tanzania Wildlife Safari Tour.

You may also choose to join one of our safari extensions, such as the Watamu Beach Holiday.

 

 

Highlight mammals and others

African Lion, White-bearded Wildebeest, Maasai Giraffe, African Elephant, Common Hippo, Cheetah, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Serval, Black Rhino, African Buffalo, Topi, Thomson’s Gazelle, Grant’s Gazelle, Common Warthog, Common Zebra, Caracal, Nile Crocodile, Nile Monitor Lizard

Highlight birds

Southern Ground Hornbill, Secretarybird, Superb Starling, Lappet-faced Vulture, Martial Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Lesser Flamingo

Habitats covered

Savannah, Highland Forest, Wetlands

Photographic opportunities

Excellent

Special moments

Big Wildebeest Herds, the Great Rift Valley, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Masai Mara, Mt. Kilimanjaro views