From $1,793 USD / 5 Days
Price per person sharing, based on 6 travellers, Silver tier, Low Season. Includes driver-guide, 4x4 safari vehicle, park and conservation fees, and listed accommodation. Excludes international flights, visas, and the Namanga border crossing fee.
Most “Tanzania safari” itineraries start in Arusha. This one starts in Nairobi, which means your 5-day Kenya and Tanzania safari genuinely begins the moment you leave the city, not after a separate flight into Tanzania. AK African Tours and Safaris drives you overland from Nairobi, across the Namanga border, and straight into northern Tanzania’s best-known wildlife circuit: Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater.
From Nairobi across the Namanga border to Lake Manyara, on to the Serengeti via Olduvai Gorge, then the Ngorongoro Crater before returning to Arusha, here’s where your 5-day safari takes you:
The route follows Masai country through changing scenery and climate zones before reaching Arusha for a lunch stop, then continues to Lake Manyara National Park, known for its tree-climbing lions and large flamingo flocks on the lake itself. From there, the itinerary crosses to the Serengeti via Olduvai Gorge, the site where some of the earliest hominid fossils were discovered, before two days of game drives across the Serengeti’s open plains in search of the Big Five.
The final leg descends into the Ngorongoro Crater, a collapsed volcanic caldera and one of Africa’s most concentrated wildlife areas, before ascending back to the crater rim and returning to Arusha, where the safari ends (with onward drop-off at Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport, or a return drive to Nairobi, available on request).
This is a private safari: you travel in your own 4×4 safari jeep with a dedicated English-speaking driver-guide, not as part of a shared group tour, and the pace can be adjusted around your interests, whether that’s more time photographing at Ngorongoro or an extra game drive in the Serengeti.
Five days is enough to properly cover this specific route (Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro) without the itinerary feeling rushed, though it does not allow time for a Zanzibar extension or additional parks like Tarangire, travellers wanting those should ask about a longer combined itinerary instead.
Accommodation is available across three tiers, Silver, Gold and Platinum, so the same five-day route can be booked as a comfortable tented-camp safari or upgraded to private-villa and luxury-lodge accommodation throughout. Pricing varies by season and group size; see the Prices tab for the full breakdown.
It’s one of the few itineraries that genuinely starts in Nairobi and crosses overland into Tanzania via the Namanga border, rather than starting with a flight into Arusha. You get the Nairobi-to-Serengeti crossing experience plus Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in a single private trip.
Pricing depends on season, accommodation tier (Silver, Gold or Platinum) and group size. See the Prices tab for the full breakdown.
Five days is enough to cover this specific route well, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater — without feeling rushed. It doesn’t allow time for additional parks like Tarangire or a Zanzibar extension; those need a longer itinerary.
The route is doable year-round. Drier months (roughly June–October and January–February) tend to have easier game viewing and road conditions; the long rains (March–May) are quieter and greener but can affect some roads.
Lake Manyara is known for tree-climbing lions and flamingos; the Serengeti offers Big Five game viewing across open plains; Ngorongoro Crater has some of the highest wildlife density in Africa, including good chances of seeing black rhino.
Yes, accommodation for all four nights and all meals listed per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner where applicable) are included in the package price.
Yes. The route, pace, and accommodation tier can be adjusted, for example, adding extra time in the Serengeti or upgrading specific nights to a different tier.
Safaris run in a private 4x4 vehicle with an experienced driver-guide, and the package includes Flying Doctors emergency medical evacuation and rescue cover for the duration of the trip.
Yes, Kenya and Tanzania require separate visas (Kenya’s eTA and Tanzania’s eVisa); there is no single visa covering both countries on this route.
Depart Nairobi at 7:00am and drive to the Namanga border, where you’ll clear customs and immigration into Tanzania. The route continues through Masai country and changing landscapes to Arusha for a lunch stop, then on to Lake Manyara National Park for an afternoon game drive, Lake Manyara is known for its tree-climbing lions and the large flamingo flocks that gather on the lake. Overnight at Lake Manyara.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, depart for the Serengeti via Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world, where early hominid remains were discovered. Continue into the Serengeti for an afternoon game drive across its open plains. Overnight in the Serengeti.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A full day of game-viewing drives across the Serengeti, one of Africa’s largest and most varied game reserves, in search of the Big Five. Overnight in the Serengeti (same lodge as Day 2).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart the Serengeti with a picnic lunch, descending roughly 600 metres into the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day of game drives, with a lunch stop at Ngoitoktok Springs picnic site. In the late afternoon, ascend to the crater rim for sunset views before overnighting at your crater-rim lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, depart for Arusha (approx. 3.5 hours with a lunch stop). On arrival, transfer to your chosen Arusha hotel, or to Arusha/Kilimanjaro airport for an onward flight. A return drive to Nairobi can also be arranged on request.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
This is a private, guided safari, you won’t be combined with other travellers’ vehicles. Confirm your accommodation tier and any customization requests before booking.
Northern Tanzania’s dry seasons (roughly June–October and January–February) generally offer easier game viewing and firmer roads. The long rains (March–May) are quieter, greener, and can make some tracks harder going.
Kenya and Tanzania each require a separate visa — there is no single visa covering both countries on this route. Kenya eTA: around $30, applied for only at the official etakenya.go.ke portal, roughly 3 working days to process, no visa on arrival. Tanzania visa: single-entry eVisa around $50 for most nationalities; US passport holders need the $100 multiple-entry version instead. Visa-on-arrival is available at the border but applying online in advance is recommended. Confirm current fees on the official government portals before travel.
The safari crosses into Tanzania at the Namanga border post on Day 1, where you’ll clear Kenyan and Tanzanian immigration and customs. Keep your visa confirmation and passport easily accessible for this stop.
Flying Doctors emergency medical evacuation and rescue cover is included for the duration of this safari. We recommend routine travel vaccinations and malaria precautions appropriate for East Africa, check current guidance with your doctor before departure.
Light layers for warm days and cool mornings/evenings, neutral-colored clothing for game drives, sun protection, a hat, binoculars, and a camera.
A stop at one of the world’s most significant paleoanthropological sites, where some of the earliest hominid fossils were discovered, en route from Lake Manyara to the Serengeti on Day 2.
A sunrise balloon flight over the Serengeti plains followed by a bush breakfast, bookable as an add-on to Days 2 or 3.
A visit to a local Maasai village near Lake Manyara or the Serengeti to learn about Maasai culture and daily life.
The Day 1 afternoon game drive through Lake Manyara National Park, known for its tree-climbing lions and large flamingo flocks on the lake shore.
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