Quick Facts
| Duration | 10 days / 9 nights |
|---|---|
| Style | Private safari — dedicated vehicle and guide, no shared van |
| Vehicle | Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof |
| Route | Nairobi → Masai Mara → Serengeti → Ngorongoro Crater → Arusha/Kilimanjaro |
| Border Crossing | Isebania/Sirari, vehicle and guide handover |
| Price From | USD 2,000–6,500+ pp (season-dependent, 2–6 people sharing) |
| Best For | First-time East Africa travellers wanting the complete Mara-Serengeti-Ngorongoro circuit without rushing |
Ten days. Two countries. One private 4x4 safari Land Cruiser, from the moment you land to the moment you fly home. This itinerary links Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve with Tanzania's Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, three of Africa's most iconic wildlife regions, on one continuous route.
No backtracking to Nairobi. No shared group vans. No fixed departure dates built around someone else's schedule. You travel exclusively with your own driver-guide, in your own vehicle, on your own timeline. A private Land Cruiser means you stop when you spot a leopard, not when a 12-person minivan itinerary says you can.
Cross-border transfers at Isebania are handled by our team: a vehicle and guide handover at the border, so you move from a Kenyan-registered Land Cruiser to a Tanzanian-registered one without losing a day.
Safari Highlights
- 10 days / 9 nights across two countries, three iconic parks
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and individual window seating
- Two full days of Big Five game drives in the Masai Mara
- Access to conservancies bordering the reserve for lower vehicle density
- A full day in the Serengeti's Seronera Valley wildlife heartland
- Full crater-floor day at Ngorongoro, one of Africa's densest predator concentrations
- Seamless vehicle and guide handover at the Isebania border
- Optional hot-air balloon safari and Maasai village visit
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Nairobi
Airport pickup at JKIA. Private transfer to your Nairobi hotel. Briefing on your 10-day route.
Day 2: Nairobi to Masai Mara
Drive, approximately 5–6 hours, or a scheduled flight to the Mara.
Afternoon game drive en route to camp. First chance at lion, elephant, and, in migration season, river-crossing wildebeest herds.
Day 3: Full-Day Masai Mara Game Drives
Morning and afternoon drives across the Mara's different territories, tracking the Big Five.
Picnic lunch overlooking the Mara River, a known hippo and crocodile hotspot.
Day 4: Masai Mara, Second Day
Deeper exploration of the conservancies bordering the reserve for lower vehicle density and closer sightings.
Optional Add-Ons
An early-morning hot air balloon safari, at an additional cost.
Day 5: Masai Mara to Serengeti (Isebania Border Crossing)
Depart camp early for the drive to Isebania. Vehicle and guide handover at the border, your Kenyan driver-guide hands you to your Tanzanian counterpart.
Continue into the Serengeti's western corridor. Afternoon game drive on arrival.
Day 6: Serengeti Central (Seronera)
Full-day game drive through the Seronera Valley, the Serengeti's wildlife-dense heartland.
Year-round resident lion prides, leopard in the riverine forest, and, depending on season, migration herds moving through.
Day 7: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
Morning game drive, then transfer to the Ngorongoro Highlands. Check in to your lodge on the crater rim.
Sundowner with crater views.
Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater Floor
Descend into the crater at dawn for a full-day game drive on the floor, one of the highest densities of predators and Big Five sightings in Africa, in a contained 260-square-kilometre caldera.
Day 9: Ngorongoro to Arusha
Morning at leisure or a short cultural visit to a Maasai village, then drive to Arusha.
Overnight in Arusha, or connect directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for onward flights.
Day 10: Departure
Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or, for select routings, back through Nairobi (JKIA). End of safari.
Get Free Quote ›Tour Cost & Pricing
Pricing is per person, land-only, based on a private group sharing one Land Cruiser. Every itinerary is custom-quoted; the figures below reflect typical 2026 market ranges for this route.
Season Guide
- Low SeasonMarch–May, November
- High SeasonJune–October, late December–February
- Peak SeasonJuly–September migration river crossings, Christmas/New Year
Private Land Cruiser Safari Rates (Per Person)
| Season | 2 People | 4 People | 6 People |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Season | $2,600–$3,400 | $2,300–$3,000 | $2,000–$2,700 |
| High Season | $3,400–$4,600 | $3,000–$4,000 | $2,700–$3,600 |
| Peak Season | $4,600–$6,500+ | $4,000–$5,600+ | $3,600–$5,000+ |
What's Included & Excluded
| ✓ | Private 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof (Kenya and Tanzania legs) |
| ✓ | Dedicated professional driver-guide throughout, including border handover |
| ✓ | All park, reserve, and conservancy entry fees on the route |
| ✓ | Full-board accommodation (breakfast, lunch, dinner) at listed camps/lodges |
| ✓ | All game drives per the itinerary |
| ✓ | Cross-border transfer logistics at Isebania or Namanga |
| ✓ | Airport pickup and drop-off (JKIA and/or JRO) |
| ✓ | Bottled drinking water during game drives |
| ✗ | International flights to and from East Africa |
| ✗ | Visas: Kenya ETA and Tanzania visa (single or multiple entry, depending on route) |
| ✗ | Tips and gratuities for driver-guides and camp staff |
| ✗ | Personal travel insurance |
| ✗ | Alcoholic beverages |
| ✗ | Optional activities, including a hot air balloon safari over the Mara or Serengeti |
Getting There & Logistical Guidance
Most travellers fly into Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to start in the Masai Mara. If your itinerary reverses, Serengeti first, Mara second, Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) near Arusha is the better entry point. Both work with this itinerary; we adjust routing either way.
Border Crossing
The Isebania/Sirari border links the Masai Mara directly to the Serengeti's western corridor, the route used in the itinerary above. Namanga is the alternative, linking Nairobi/Amboseli with Arusha, and is used on itineraries that loop through Amboseli first.
One detail worth knowing before you book: Kenyan-registered vehicles cannot operate inside Tanzanian national parks, and Tanzanian-registered vehicles cannot operate inside Kenyan ones. That means every cross-border safari, regardless of operator, requires a vehicle and driver-guide handover at the border. A well-run operator makes this a 10–30 minute walk-across with your new guide already waiting, not a multi-hour ordeal. This is arranged in advance as part of your booking, so it doesn't cost you a game drive.
