11 Days Kenya & Tanzania Safari from Nairobi (2026 & 2027) — Lobo Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara & Tarangire

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi – Private Transfer to Hotel Rio

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, you are met by our representative for a warm welcome and a private transfer into the city. After your flight, the focus is on a smooth, simple start: check in at Hotel Rio, freshen up, and take a moment to reset before your journey into Tanzania begins the next day.

Depending on your arrival time, you may choose to keep the evening quiet with a relaxed dinner at the hotel, or add a short city walk or coffee stop nearby. This first night also gives space for a brief safari briefing: your host or guide can run through your flight to Lobo, baggage guidelines for the small aircraft, and what to expect as you transition from the city to the Serengeti plains.

Overnight: Hotel Rio Nairobi (or similar midrange Nairobi hotel)

Day 2: Nairobi (Wilson Airport) → Lobo Airstrip, Serengeti – First Game Drive in Lobo

After an early breakfast, you transfer to Wilson Airport for your scheduled flight direct to Lobo airstrip in the northern Serengeti. The flight itself is part of the experience: watch the city melt away below as you cross the border into Tanzania and begin to see the patchwork of savannah, hills and rivers that define the Serengeti ecosystem.

On landing at Lobo, your Tanzanian safari guide will meet you at the airstrip. From here you head straight into game viewing, working your way through the rugged Lobo area en route to Lobo Wildlife Lodge. This region is known for its rocky kopjes, open valleys and potential sightings of lions, elephants and resident herds even outside the peak migration weeks. Lunch is arranged either at the lodge or as a picnic depending on your arrival time and wildlife movements.

In the late afternoon, enjoy a relaxed game drive as the heat drops and predators become more active, then return to the lodge for dinner, sundowners and your first night above the Lobo plains.
Overnight: Lobo Wildlife Lodge (Lobo, Serengeti)

Day 3: Full Day Safari in Lobo – Kopjes, Valleys & Northern Serengeti Wildlife

Today is dedicated entirely to the Lobo region. You start early, taking advantage of the cool morning air to search the valleys and rocky outcrops for lions, leopards and other predators that patrol this northern corner of the Serengeti. Your guide shapes the route around recent sightings, water sources and seasonal wildlife concentrations.

As the day unfolds, you might spend time scanning higher ground for elephants and buffalo, or drop into low-lying areas where resident plains game attract big cats. Picnic lunch is typically served at a scenic point inside the park, allowing you to stay out and keep your focus on wildlife rather than rushing back to the lodge in the middle of the day.

In the afternoon you continue exploring the northern reaches of the Serengeti, tracking movement and lingering when the light is most beautiful. Sunsets here can be particularly dramatic, with kopjes silhouetted against the sky.
Overnight: Lobo Wildlife Lodge (Lobo, Serengeti)

Day 4: Lobo → Central Serengeti – Scenic Game Drive to Safari Haven

After breakfast you check out and begin a long but rewarding game drive from Lobo toward Central Serengeti. Rather than rushing along the most direct route, your guide uses the day to link productive wildlife areas, following valleys, ridges and river lines that can hold predators and grazing herds throughout the year.

This north-to-central traverse gives you a sense of how big and varied the Serengeti really is: open grasslands, scattered woodland, rocky outcrops and seasonal watercourses all appear along the way. You pause for a picnic lunch at a safe and scenic lookout, then continue toward your camp, watching for cheetahs on the plains and lions resting on kopjes as you move south.

By mid to late afternoon you arrive at Safari Haven in Central Serengeti. Settle into your tent or room, enjoy a hot shower, then unwind around the fire as the sounds of the Serengeti continue into the night.
Overnight: Safari Haven Serengeti (or similar midrange central Serengeti camp)

Day 5: Full Day Central Serengeti – Big Cats & Optional Balloon Safari

Central Serengeti is one of the park’s most productive year-round wildlife areas, and you have a full day to explore it. You can choose a classic early-morning game drive with breakfast back at camp, or pack a picnic breakfast and head out at first light to cover more ground while animals are most active. Your guide will target productive sectors based on season, recent sightings and your interests.

This zone is particularly good for big cats—lions, cheetahs and leopards—as well as hyenas, jackals and a wide range of plains game. You may spend time near river lines watching hippos and crocodiles, scan rocky outcrops where lions rest between hunts, or follow the edges of open plains that cheetahs prefer. Central Serengeti also gives strong birding opportunities, from raptors to ground birds and waterbirds.

Optional upgrade: At extra cost, you can join a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the Serengeti (from approx. $550 per person). It includes an early pick-up, a one-hour flight with spectacular aerial views and a celebratory bush breakfast afterward—an unforgettable way to experience the scale of the plains.
Overnight: Safari Haven Serengeti (or similar)

Day 6: Serengeti Morning Game Drive → Olduvai Gorge & Maasai Boma → Ngorongoro Highlands

One more Serengeti morning lets you revisit productive areas or focus on species you would like to spend additional time with. After breakfast and a final game drive, you begin the journey toward the Ngorongoro highlands. Rather than simply transferring, this day combines wildlife, scenery and culture into one flowing route.

You pass through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, stopping at Olduvai Gorge (optional entrance fees apply) where significant paleoanthropological discoveries helped shape our understanding of human origins. Later, you can visit a Maasai boma for a respectful introduction to local culture, traditional homesteads and daily life. These visits provide context on how people and wildlife coexist in this landscape.

By late afternoon you climb into the cooler Ngorongoro highlands and arrive at your tented camp near the crater rim. The air is crisp, views can be sweeping on clear days, and the contrast with the Serengeti plains is striking.
Overnight: Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp or Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp (or similar)

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater Full Game Drive → Lake Manyara Escarpment

You start early for one of the most iconic game drives in Africa. After a short drive to the descent road, you drop down into the Ngorongoro Crater, an ancient caldera with a remarkable concentration of wildlife in a relatively compact area. Over the course of the morning and early afternoon you explore different habitats, from open grasslands and swampy areas to tree-dotted plains and the soda lake shore.

Expect strong chances for lion, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, hippo and hyena, with good potential for elephant and, with some luck and patience, black rhino. Your guide chooses routes carefully to avoid the busiest pockets when possible while still covering key wildlife zones. A picnic lunch is usually enjoyed at a designated site near the hippo pool, with time to stretch and take photographs.

In the afternoon you ascend out of the crater and drive down toward the Great Rift Valley, finishing at Africa Safari Manyara Escarpment. Here you can relax by the pool, enjoy the views over the valley and “rewind” after an action-packed day.
Overnight: Africa Safari Manyara Escarpment (or similar)

Day 8: Lake Manyara Half-Day Game Drive → Tarangire Sunset Safari

After breakfast you descend from the escarpment to Lake Manyara National Park for a half-day game drive. The park’s groundwater forest provides shade and a distinct feel compared to the open Serengeti and crater landscapes. Baboons, blue monkeys, elephants and prolific birdlife are commonly seen here, and the lakeshore can host flamingos and other waterbirds when conditions are right.

Around midday you exit Lake Manyara and drive toward Tarangire National Park, arriving in time for a late-afternoon or “sunset” game drive. As you enter the park the scenery shifts again to wide savannah, riverine corridors and iconic baobab trees. Elephants often dominate the view in Tarangire, and the late light makes for beautiful photography.

After your sunset drive you head to your lodge or camp on the Tarangire side, with time to freshen up and enjoy dinner while listening for distant calls of lions or hyenas.
Overnight: Tarangire Safari Haven or Tarangire Tortilis Camp (or similar)

Day 9: Full Day Tarangire – Elephants, Baobabs & Optional Balloon Safari

A full day in Tarangire allows you to cover both the main river valley and quieter sections deeper inside the park. You’ll likely see elephants throughout the day, along with zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe and a range of antelope. Lions, leopards and cheetahs are present as well, and your guide will watch for tracks, alarm calls and vulture activity to piece together where predators might be moving.

The baobabs and rolling hills make Tarangire especially photogenic, and with a full day you can slow down and enjoy the landscape as much as the individual sightings. Picnic lunch is typically taken at a viewpoint or designated site inside the park so you can stay immersed in the environment without breaking the day in half.

Optional upgrade: A Tarangire hot-air balloon safari is available at extra cost (from approx. $599 per person), offering a different perspective on elephants, river channels and morning light over the baobabs.
Overnight: Tarangire Safari Haven or Tarangire Tortilis Camp (or similar)

Day 10: Morning Tarangire Game Drive → Lake Manyara Airstrip or Arusha Airport → Nairobi

This morning you enjoy a final game drive in Tarangire, making the most of the early hours when animals are on the move. It is a good chance to spend extra time with elephants, look for predators you may have missed, or simply soak in the last views of this character-filled park.

After a late breakfast or early lunch, you leave the park and drive to either Lake Manyara airstrip or Arusha Airport, depending on the best-suited schedule for your onward flight. From here you board a scheduled flight back to Nairobi (usually arriving at Wilson Airport). On arrival our Nairobi team meets you again for a transfer back to Hotel Rio, where you can relax, enjoy dinner and organize for your international flight the next day.

Flight timings are selected to balance a meaningful final morning in Tarangire with a smooth transition back to Nairobi, avoiding unnecessary airport waiting time wherever possible.
Overnight: Hotel Rio Nairobi (or similar)

Day 11: Giraffe Centre & Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage – Departure from Nairobi

Your final day is shaped around your international flight time. After breakfast and check-out, you are driven toward the leafy Karen area of Nairobi for two of the city’s most-loved conservation visits. At the Giraffe Centre, you learn about the work being done to protect Rothschild giraffes and, when possible, can get remarkably close to these gentle animals from the viewing platforms.

You also visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage (subject to opening times and advance booking), where rescued elephant calves are cared for until they can be released back into the wild. It is a moving and educational experience that connects your safari sightings to real conservation work on the ground.

When it is time, you are transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your flight back home. Your driver will plan the day to keep it relaxed while ensuring a punctual airport arrival.

End of 11 Days Kenya & Tanzania Safari from Nairobi.

Rates Per Person (USD)

High season typically June–October 14 & late December–March 15. Low season rates are approx - March 15 - May 30 & October 15 to December 10. 15% - 8% lower and may vary slightly by exact dates, flight availability and lodge offers.

Language Guides Available

• ✓English-speaking guide (included)
• ✓Dutch-speaking guide (included)
• ✓Spanish-speaking guide (included)
• Other languages are available on request (most $50–$100 per day per guide).

Included

• ✓All park fees & conservation charges (as per itinerary in Kenya & Tanzania)
• ✓Private 4x4 safari vehicle with professional guide in Tanzania
• ✓Accommodation as listed (or similar midrange lodges/camps based on availability)
• ✓Meals during safari (as provided by lodges/camps)
• ✓Drinking water during game drives
• ✓All scheduled game drives and activities as per itinerary
• ✓Maasai cultural visit and Olduvai Gorge stop (entry fees as arranged)
• ✓Return flight Nairobi–Lobo–Nairobi (Wilson / Lake Manyara or Arusha routing as scheduled)
• ✓Airport and city transfers in Nairobi (arrival & departure) including visits to Giraffe Centre & Sheldrick (subject to ticket availability)

Excluded

• ✗International flights & entry visas for Kenya and Tanzania
• ✗Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
• ✗Hot-air balloon safaris (optional: Serengeti from approx. $550 pp; Tarangire from approx. $599 pp)
• ✗Tips for guides, drivers and lodge/camp staff
• ✗Personal expenses, drinks not mentioned, and anything not listed as included

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