12 Days Masai Mara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari
This 12 Days Masai Mara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari is a 12 day adventure focusing on witnessing the Great Migration as it happens in the Mara – Serengeti Ecosystem which is made up of Masai Mara National Reserve and Serengeti National Park.
Highlights of 12 Days Masai Mara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari
- Day 1 : Nairobi-Maasai Mara Game Reserve
- Day 2, 3 & 4: Full Day in Maasai Mara Game Reserve
- Day 5 : Maasai mara (Kenya)-Serengeti (Tanzania)
- Day 6 : Serengeti North – Lobo Area
- Day 7 : Serengeti (Mara River )
- Day 8 : Serengeti (Mara River)-Ngorongoro
- Day 9&10 : Ngorongoro Crater Tour
- Day 11 : Arusha
- Day 12: Departure
Detailed itinerary of 12 Days Masai Mara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari
Day 1: Nairobi-Maasai Mara Game Reserve
On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or after breakfast at your hotel in Nairobi, you will meet your safari-driver guide and have a brief briefing about the safari and transfer you to Masai Mara National Reserve through the Narok Town.
Reach in the reserve in late afternoon, check in for lunch and refreshments.
Later go for evening game drive on which you will see various animals including black-maned lions, elephants, lions, cheetahs, buffaloes and other plains game. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Zebra Plains Luxury Camp
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2, 3 & 4: Full Day in Maasai Mara Game Reserve
Spend these two days exploring the endless plains of Masai Mara Game Reserve and following the Great Migration as it takes place, you will see large herds of wildebeests in their search for green pastures and water. Normally the herds are constantly followed by predators – cheetahs, lion, leopards and spotted hyenas which you will also catch sight of.
On these three full days of exploring Masai Mara you will have picnic lunch and continue exploring the reserve and following the migration.
You also have optional activities of hot air balloon and culture experience in Masai Village and have an encounter with the Masai people. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Zebra Plains Luxury Camp
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Fly to Serengeti National Park
Wake up early for breakfast, check out of your lodge and head to the airstrip for your flight to Seronera Airstrip in Serengeti National Park.
Upon landing you will be welcomed by our guide and have a full day game drive in Serengeti National Park with picnic lunch. This game drive will give you the best introduction to Serengeti National Park
After sunset you will head to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Mara Serena Safari Lodge or Zebra Plains Luxury Camp
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Serengeti North – Lobo Area
Have early morning breakfast and drive to northern Serengeti for game drive in the Lobo Area till Sunset.
The Lobo Area of Serengeti National Park serves as an essential corridor for the Great Migration connecting the southern green season short-grass plains in the south with the dry season areas up north. This unspoiled and beautiful area stretches from the Lobo Hills southwards to Seronera and is typified by green rolling hills which is a pleasant diversion from the much flatter southern plains.
During the game drive you will have excellent sightings of several animals including elephants, impalas, warthogs, giraffes, topis, hartebeests, baboons, vervet monkeys, dik dik, lions, and wildebeests among others.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Serengeti (Mara River)
After breakfast, proceed for a full day game drive viewing the great migration in Mara River Area of Serengeti National Park, in the Wagakuria area resident wildlife numbers are exceptionally high.
The key feature here is the Mara River and there is a great chance to see the herds cross the Mara River to the north on one day and back south a few days later.
Please note that it can be very difficult to witness crossing and is sometimes a matter of luck, a herd can be seen next to river and only decide to cross a couple of days later. This area is stunning region with kopjes, woodland, riverine vegetation and open plains, similar to Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Serengeti –Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, you will go for another game drive in Serengeti National Park. in the afternoon proceed to Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a visit to the Olduvai Gorge Museum a famous archaeological location in East Africa.
At Laetoli located 45 km south of Olduvai Gorge, you will find hominin footprints preserved in volcanic rock that dates back 3.6 million years ago and represent some of the earliest signs of mankind in the world.
Head to your lodge for check-in, have dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9-10: Ngorongoro Crater Tour
Spend these two days exploring the Ngorongoro Crater on game drives.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is an extensive highland area along the eastern arm of the Rift Valley, with the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater as its focal point.
Ngorongoro Crater is home to a wide range of wildlife including lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, cheetahs, gazelles, elands, rhinos and ostriches during the game drive in the crater.
Later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Arusha
After breakfast, you will check out of your lodge, leave Ngorongoro Crater and drive back to Arusha where you will arrive in time for lunch.
You have afternoon free to rest at your hotel or go for a city tour in Arusha City visiting some of the amazing sites. Have dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Arusha Gran Melia
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Departure
Have a leisurely breakfast and depending on your flight schedule, your guide will transfer you to the airport to catch your flight back home.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
End of 12 Days Masai Mara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater Safari
What is included in this tour?
- Pick up and drop off Airport
- Park entrance fees
- Full board accommodation while on safari (picnic lunch, dinner, b/fast, hot lunch)
- Service of an English speaking driver guide
- Transport is a 4by4 Vehicle with a pop up roof for comfortable game viewing
- Drivers Salary and allowances and park fees for vehicle and driver
- Game drives as per the Itinerary
- Complementary bottle of water daily
- Government taxes
What is exclusions in this tour?
- Extras at the camp i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc
- International flight, Visa and Travel Insurance
- Tips to driver Guide (highly recommended $ 25 per person per day
