15 day self drive safari in Kenya and Tanzania

This 15 day self drive safari in Kenya and Tanzania will take you through the vibrant sceneries of renowned national parks of Kenya and Tanzania. Embark on memorable game drives and cultural encounters in the two East African countries.

Have the best moments in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, a home for flamingos, enjoy the amazing hot air balloon experience with great wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park, interact with locals like the Maasai, and other people in different market centers.

Spend your journey in affordable accommodations of your choice as you venture into the East African wilderness for memorable expeditions.

xr:d:DAFgAHRSdjY:15,j:2909369614,t:23041723

Tour highlights

• Day 1:Arrival in Nairobi
• Day 2: Nairobi City Tour
• Day 3: Transfer to Maasai Mara National Park
• Day 4:Morning and afternoon game drives – optional air balloon safari
• Day 5:Morning game drive and transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park
• Day 6: Full-day game drive – flamingos and rhinos
• Day 7:Transfer to Amboseli-afternoon game drive
• Day 8:Morning game drive and Maasai Village Visit
• Day 9: Transfer to Arusha
• Day 10:Transfer to Tarangire National Park – afternoon game drive
• Day 11: Transfer to Serengeti National Park(stopover at Olduvai Gorge)
• Day 12:full day game drive in Serengeti National Park
• Day 13-14: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Game drives and hike to the crater rim
• Day 15: Return to Arusha

 Detailed itinerary for the 15 days self-drive safari to Kenya and Tanzania.

Day 1: Arrive in Nairobi

On the first day of your 15 day self-drive safari, you will arrive in Nairobi at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Pick up your rental 4×4 vehicle and move to your accommodation where you will spend the day relaxing and enjoying the pool, Wi-Fi, and the city’s scenic views. You will have dinner and a night stay.

Accommodation: Airport gate View hotel

Meal plan: Full board

Day 2: Nairobi city tour.

Wake up early morning, have breakfast, and move out to different places in the city. You may visit the Nairobi National Museum to learn more about Kenya’s culture, the history of Kenya in the gallery, find out about Kenya during colonial rule, the struggle  for independence, the origin of man, stone age tools, and other historical information. Visit the snake park that is also part of the museum.  Involve a visit to the giraffe center as part of your city tour to learn about the Rothschild giraffe, one of the endangered species that was raised by Daisy in Lingata’s home. Towards the end of your city tour, visit some shopping centers for souvenirs. You will later return to the accommodation for dinner and a night’s stay.

Accommodation: Airport gate view

Meal plan: Full board

Day 3: Transfer to Masai Mara – afternoon game drive.

After a tasty breakfast, check out of the lodge and drive to Maasai Mara National Park which is endowed with diverse wildlife.   The journey will take 4-5 hours. Since you are on a self drive take your time to enjoy the scenic hills and valleys with photography. When you reach the park, move directly to the lodge for lunch.After lunch, drive out for an afternoon game drive where you will luckily spot the big cats and other wildlife as they return from their feeding places and water bodies. You will later return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Mara West Camp

Meal plan: full board

Day 4:Morningand evening game drive- optional air balloon safari.

Get up early in the morning and go for the amazing air balloon experience that will enable you to explore the park in the skies together with the birds. You will observe most parts of the park and have the best photography. When you land, you will get a wine and tasty breakfast in the wilderness. After relaxing, you will drive in another direction in the park to see more wildlife before returning to the lodge for lunch.  If you are not exhausted, return to the park for an evening game drive then return to the accommodation for dinner and a night stay.

Accommodation: Mara west Cottages

Meal plan: full board

Day 5:Morning game drive and transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park.

after a yummy breakfast, check out of the accommodation and set off for another magnificent park, famously known for flamingos and rhinos. Before you set off, drive at your pace in the morning game drive where you will luckily spot different animals going to their feeding yards. These animals may include zebras, waterbucks, cape buffalos, colobus monkeys, lions, leopards, and impalas among others. After a game drive of 2-3 hours,  proceed to Lake Nakuru to your booked accommodation, relax, dine, and recover in preparation for the next day’s activities.

Accommodation: Rock hyrax cottages

Meal plan: Full board

Day 6: Full-day game drives with a focus on flamingos and rhinos.

After breakfast, drive to the park for a full day of adventure. Make sure you move with a packed lunch. Start with a drive to the rhino sanctuary and other wildlife like leopards, hippos, leopards, zebras, and many other wild creatures. Find time to have lunch and later move to the lake shores for views of the beautiful flamingos that occupy most parts of the lake. At this lake you have the best photography as you watch the birds and lately in the evening hours return to the lodge for dinner and a night stay.

Accommodation: Rock Hyrax Cottages

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 7: Transfer to Amboseli National Park

In the early morning of the 7th day of your 15 days self-drive tour, have a strong breakfast and check out of the lodge to start to another amazing park in southern Kenya (Amboseli National Park). As you move, enjoy the stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro, this is a long journey that will take 6-7 hours. On arrival, move to the accommodation for relaxation, prepare for the next day, have dinner and night stay.

Accommodation: Amboseli Eco camp

Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 8: Morning game drive and Maasai Village visit.

After a morning breakfast, go for a morning game drive where you will be able to actively watch wildlife. Expect to see animals like the African elephant, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, lions, mongooses, wild dogs, lesser, kudu, and other animals as they feed in the large savannah yards. In the same park, you will enjoy watching various bird species. During this morning activity, you will be able to observe predators returning to their caves and, after this activity, return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, immerse yourself in Kenyan culture and visit the Maasai villages. Interact with them, enjoy their traditional stories, songs, and dances, and at the end of your visit, buy some of their craft work as souvenirs as a remembrance of the trip and support to their community. Dine and sleep at your booked lodge when you return.

Accommodation: Amboseli Eco Camp

Meal plan : full board

Day 9:Transfer to Arusha.

After breakfast on the early morning of the 9th day of your 15-day self-drive safari, check out of the lodge, and set off for Arusha. The journey will take 2-3 hours. When you arrive, you can visit the Cultural Heritage Center to look at the amazing tanzanite jewels made by the Makonde tribe.  From here, visit the Soko Mujinja for some shopping. Drive back to the lodge for relaxation and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Arusha back Packers Hotel

Meal plan: Full Board

Day 10:Transfer to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, set off for Tarangire National Park. On arrival, embark on a game drive where you will luckily spot herds of elephants, antelopes, and other animals as they cross to quench their thirst on the Tarangire River. After the exciting game drive, proceed to the accommodation for an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Tarangire Tilibise Camp

Meal plan: Half board

Day 11: Transfer to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, on the 11th day of your self-drive from Kenya to Tanzania, check out of the lodge and travel to  Serengeti National Park. It is one of the outstanding game reserves with the best wildlife in Tanzania.

On entering Serengeti, drive through the Seronera region which has a high concentration of big cats like lions, leopards, cheetahs, and several other species of wildlife.

Enjoy dinner and a night stay at a campsite inside the park.

Accommodation: Safari camp Lodge

Meal plan: Half board

 Day 12:Full day game drive in Serengeti National Park.

Having spent the night in the park, it will be easy for you to start your full day’s expedition in the largest park in Tanzania. The park shares borders with the Maasai Mara National Reserve, which enables wildlife to cross into either country.

Your safari becomes more adventurous when it tallies with the wildebeest migration. You will witness herds of wildebeests and other herbivores migrate between Serengeti and Masai Mara national parks. other animals to see include oribi, gazelles, impalas, waterbucks, buffalos, and giraffes.   The presence of these animals attracts predators like lions, hyenas, and cheetahs which can be seen on a game drive.

In the same park, you can do birding on the same day as it’s a habitat for various bird species like ostriches, finches, kori bustards, and many other bird species. At the end of the day, return to the campsite in the park for a night’s rest.

Accommodation: Safari camp lodge

Meal plan: Full  Board

Day 13-14: Morning game drive and then travel to Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Day 13 of  15 day self-drive safari in Kenya and Tanzania: Wake up in the tented bush environment of  Serengeti National Park.  After breakfast, travel out of the park while game viewing and en route, drive to the Ngorongoro conservation area. On day 13 visit the Olduvai Gorge Museum and the footprints at Laetoli.

Ngorongoro crater is the largest caldera in the world with a large concentration of wildlife.  On the 14th day, get into full exploration of the crater area. It is one of the best places to spot large animals like lions, elephants, and rhinos. This place is one of the natural wonders of the world. After a day’s adventure, ascend to the rim and connect to the accommodation.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge

Meal plan: Full board

Day 15: Return to Arusha.

On the final day of the 15 days self-drive safari, have breakfast and check out of the lodge. drive back to Arusha where you hand over the vehicle to the rental company as you wait for private transfers to Nairobi and your flight back home. You can even exit using Arusha airport.

End of  15 days self-drive safari

Tour inclusions.

• Transportation: 4x4WD vehicle
• All accommodation on the safari
• All specified game-viewing activities.
• Drinking water

Tour exclusions

• International driver’s license.
• Air ticket
• Luxury drinks
• Cigarettes
• Souvenirs.