20 Days / 19 Nights | Cross-Border Safari | Kenya & Tanzania
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Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and transfer to your Nairobi hotel. Meet your expedition guide for a welcome briefing and overview of the epic 20-day cross-border journey ahead. Rest and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime.
Drive south to Amboseli National Park at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro. Arrive at your lodge and enjoy an afternoon game drive. Amboseli is famous for its massive elephant herds set against the stunning backdrop of Africa’s highest peak.
Full day exploring Amboseli. Watch elephant herds crossing the dusty plains with the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro behind them. Also spot lions, cheetahs, hippos, and over 400 bird species in the park’s swamps.
Depart Amboseli and drive to the Namanga border crossing into Tanzania. Complete border formalities and continue to Arusha — the safari capital of Tanzania. Arrive at your hotel for rest and preparation for the Tanzanian leg of the expedition.
Drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park, famous for its ancient baobab trees and large elephant herds. Afternoon game drive along the Tarangire River where wildlife concentrates. Spot tree-climbing pythons, large prides of lion, and enormous herds of elephant.
Drive from Tarangire to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Arrive at your lodge on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater — the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. The crater floor, 600 metres below, is home to an extraordinary concentration of wildlife including the endangered black rhino.
Descend 600 metres to the crater floor for a full day of game viewing. The 260 sq km caldera supports around 25,000 animals including the Big Five. Spot black rhino, lion prides, elephant, buffalo, and flamingos along the soda lake. Picnic lunch on the crater floor.
Drive from Ngorongoro across the short-grass plains to the legendary Serengeti National Park. Pass through the Olduvai Gorge — the “Cradle of Mankind” where early human fossils were discovered. Arrive at your lodge and enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti’s central Seronera valley.
Full day exploring the Serengeti with morning and afternoon game drives. The Serengeti hosts the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth — the Great Wildebeest Migration, with over two million animals on the move. Track big cats, witness dramatic predator-prey interactions, and marvel at the sheer scale of the migration.
Third day in the Serengeti, exploring the western corridor and the Grumeti River area. Look for massive Nile crocodiles, hippo pods, and the river crossing spectacles that define this region. Optional early morning hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti (at extra cost).
Drive west from the Serengeti to the shores of Lake Victoria — Africa’s largest lake and the source of the White Nile. Arrive at your lakeside resort for a peaceful evening. Visit local fishing villages and enjoy a spectacular sunset over the lake.
Drive north from Lake Victoria, crossing back into Kenya at the Isebania border. Continue to the legendary Maasai Mara National Reserve. Arrive at your hilltop lodge overlooking the Mara plains for a sunset game drive.
Full day in the Maasai Mara with morning and afternoon game drives. The Mara is the Kenyan extension of the Serengeti ecosystem — seeing the migration from both sides is a truly extraordinary experience. Track the Big Five and visit the Mara River for dramatic crossings.
Explore the Mara Triangle sector for exceptional big cat sightings. Optional hot air balloon safari at dawn (at extra cost). Optional visit to a Maasai cultural village to experience traditional warrior dances and learn about the Maasai way of life.
Final morning game drive in the Maasai Mara — early mornings offer the best chance to witness predators on the hunt. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the lodge and the stunning Mara views, or take an optional guided bush walk.
Drive east from the Mara to Lake Nakuru National Park. Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive along the flamingo-lined lakeshore. Lake Nakuru is a rhino sanctuary and one of the best places in Kenya to see both black and white rhinos.
Morning game drive at Nakuru, then short drive to Lake Naivasha. Afternoon boat ride on the freshwater lake to spot hippos, fish eagles, and pelicans. Relax at the lakeside lodge after weeks on the road.
Morning cycling through Hell’s Gate National Park — ride alongside zebras and giraffes beneath volcanic cliffs. After the ride, drive north through the central highlands to Samburu. A long transfer day, but the changing landscapes from Rift Valley to semi-arid bushland are spectacular.
Full day exploring Samburu National Reserve with morning and afternoon game drives. Search for the rare “Special Five” — reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, and Somali ostrich. Samburu is also famous for its leopards and large elephant herds along the Ewaso Ng’iro River.
After a final early morning game drive in Samburu, depart and drive south to Nairobi. Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the afternoon for your onward flight. End of an unforgettable 20-day expedition across Kenya and Tanzania — two countries, 10+ national parks, and memories to last a lifetime.
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“Twenty days, two countries, and more wildlife than we ever imagined possible. The transition from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara was seamless — seeing the migration from both sides of the border was something truly special. The Ngorongoro Crater took our breath away. This is the definitive East Africa experience.”
“We wanted to see it all, and Nature Nest delivered. From Amboseli’s elephants to the Serengeti’s endless plains to Samburu’s rare wildlife — every day was different, every park was unique. The logistics of crossing borders were handled perfectly. An expedition we’ll never forget.”
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Tell us your dream African adventure and we'll craft a personalised itinerary — absolutely free, no obligation.