13 Days Kenya & Tanzania Safari: The Ultimate East Africa Circuit

The 13 days Kenya Tanzania safari is Blue Lilac Tours & Travel’s signature grand East Africa circuit — the most comprehensive two-country safari itinerary we offer, and one of the finest wildlife journeys available anywhere on earth. Beginning and ending in Nairobi, this 13-night circuit takes in the Masai Mara (Kenya’s most famous game reserve), the freshwater paradise of Lake Naivasha, the legendary elephant kingdom of Amboseli at the foot of Kilimanjaro, the iconic Ngorongoro Crater on the Tanzanian side of the border, and the boundless, migration-swept plains of the Serengeti. Eight destinations. Two countries. Thirteen unforgettable nights. This is East Africa at its absolute, unrepeatable best.

Why the 13-Day Kenya-Tanzania Circuit Is the Ultimate East Africa Safari

Kenya and Tanzania share the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem — the world’s largest intact savannah system and the stage for the Great Wildebeest Migration, which moves between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara in an annual circuit of over 3,000 km. By visiting both the Masai Mara at the start of the itinerary and the Serengeti at the end, this 13-day circuit creates the extraordinary possibility of encountering the migration in both countries — watching the same herds that crossed the Mara River in August reappear in the southern Serengeti in February. Beyond the migration, the itinerary delivers:

• The world’s highest lion density per km² (Masai Mara)
• The world’s finest close-encounter elephant viewing (Amboseli)
• The world’s most dramatic volcanic caldera game drive (Ngorongoro)
• The world’s largest terrestrial wildlife migration (Serengeti/Mara)
• Kenya’s most spectacular freshwater lake (Naivasha)

No other safari circuit of comparable length delivers this range and depth of wildlife experience.

13 Days Kenya & Tanzania Safari — Complete Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Nairobi

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Transfer to your Nairobi hotel. Afternoon at leisure — Giraffe Centre, Karen Blixen Museum, or a quick game drive at Nairobi National Park Day Trip. Comprehensive safari briefing over dinner with your Blue Lilac guide. Overnight Nairobi.

Day 2: Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve

Early departure south-west via Narok and the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Enter the Masai Mara ecosystem mid-morning. Afternoon game drive across the Mara’s golden grasslands. First encounters with lion prides, elephant herds, and the vast wildebeest plains. Dinner and overnight Masai Mara.

Day 3: Full Day in the Masai Mara

The safari’s first full-day highlight. Pre-dawn departure for the 06:00 dawn game drive — prime hour for lion kills, cheetah hunts, and leopard sightings. Full morning on the Mara’s plains, river, and kopjes. After breakfast and a midday rest, the afternoon drive (14:00–18:30) uses the extraordinary golden light for photography. Option: Mara River visit for hippo and crocodile viewing, plus migration potential (seasonal). Dinner and overnight Masai Mara.

Day 4: Masai Mara to Lake Naivasha

Morning game drive in the Mara (06:00–08:30). Check out after breakfast and drive north-east to Lake Naivasha (approx. 2.5 hours via Narok). Arrive mid-afternoon. Guided boat ride on Lake Naivasha — hippos at close range, African fish eagles, kingfishers, and wading birds in magnificent abundance. Optional Crescent Island guided bush walk — walk among zebras and Rothschild’s giraffes. Dinner and overnight Lake Naivasha.

Day 5: Lake Naivasha to Amboseli National Park

Morning Crescent Island walk or second boat excursion. Check out after breakfast and drive south-east to Amboseli (approx. 4–5 hours via Nairobi). Arrive mid-afternoon. Late afternoon game drive — first Kilimanjaro views, elephant families moving to the swamps, hippos, and Amboseli’s remarkable birdlife. Dinner and overnight Amboseli.

Day 6: Full Day in Amboseli National Park

Pre-dawn 06:00 sunrise game drive for the iconic Kilimanjaro-with-elephants photograph. Spend the morning with Amboseli’s habituated elephant families — close, unhurried encounters with Africa’s largest land mammal in the world’s most cinematic setting. Afternoon drive (14:00–18:30) in the golden light. Dinner and overnight Amboseli.

Day 7: Amboseli to Arusha — Tanzania Border Crossing

Final Amboseli morning game drive (06:00–08:30). Check out and drive south to the Namanga border (approx. 1.5 hours). Blue Lilac handles all border formalities — Tanzania-side vehicles and guides are ready on the other side. Continue to Arusha (approx. 1.5 hours from Namanga). Check in to your Arusha hotel. Afternoon at leisure or cultural visit. Dinner and overnight Arusha.

Day 8: Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater Rim

Depart after breakfast and drive west to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (approx. 3 hours). Arrive at the crater rim in the late morning. Your first view of the crater — a sheer 600-metre drop into a caldera the size of a city — is genuinely breathtaking. Check in to your rim lodge. Afternoon walk along the rim or relaxation with the crater panorama. Dinner and overnight Ngorongoro rim.

Day 9: Full Day in the Ngorongoro Crater

Descend into the crater floor at dawn (06:30) for the grand Big Five experience in Africa’s most concentrated wildlife arena. The 260 km² caldera floor is home to 25,000+ large animals: lion prides on the open plain, black rhinos in the swamp, elephant bulls striding through the grass, cheetahs scanning the horizon from termite mounds, hippos in the crater lake. Picnic lunch inside the crater. Return to the rim by late afternoon. Dinner and overnight rim.

Day 10: Ngorongoro Rim to Serengeti National Park

Morning crater descent option (06:30–09:30) for additional Big Five encounters. Check out and drive west, descending from the Ngorongoro highlands onto the Serengeti plains (approx. 2.5 hours). En route game drive as you enter the park. The visual transition from volcanic highlands to infinite grassland plain is one of Africa’s most stirring moments. Arrive your Serengeti camp by early afternoon. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight Serengeti.

Day 11: Full Day in the Serengeti National Park

The second full-day safari highlight — and many guests’ favourite day of the entire circuit. Pre-dawn departure for the 06:00 dawn game drive across Africa’s greatest wildlife stage. The Serengeti’s open plains allow you to watch action unfold over vast distances: cheetah hunts, lion pride dynamics, wildebeest crossing decisions, and the raw mathematics of predator and prey played out in full view. Afternoon drive (14:00–18:30) in spectacular golden light. Dinner and overnight Serengeti.

Day 12: Serengeti to Arusha

Final Serengeti morning game drive (06:00–09:00). Check out and drive east back to Arusha (approx. 4–5 hours through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area). Arrive Arusha by early afternoon. Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for the flight back to Nairobi (scheduled or charter, approx. 45 minutes). Arrive Nairobi by evening. Overnight Nairobi.

Day 13: Nairobi Departure

Final morning in Nairobi. Optional visits to the Nairobi National Museum, Kazuri Beads, or the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage. Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your international departure flight. Your Blue Lilac guide is available throughout.

Complete Wildlife Summary: 13-Day East Africa Circuit

• Masai Mara — Lions, cheetahs, leopards, Great Migration (seasonal), elephants, hippos, Mara River crossings
• Lake Naivasha — Hippos, African fish eagle, boat safaris, Crescent Island walking safari
• Amboseli — Elephant mega-herds, Kilimanjaro backdrop, lions, cheetahs, 600+ birds
• Ngorongoro — All Big Five including black rhino, flamingos, 25,000+ resident large mammals
• Serengeti — Great Migration (seasonal), all Big Five, cheetahs, hippos, crocodiles, 500+ birds

Shorter East Africa Safari Options

The 13-day circuit is our most comprehensive East Africa package, but we offer options for every timeline. Our 9 Days Kenya Tanzania Safari covers Amboseli plus the full Tanzania northern circuit in 9 nights. For Kenya-only circuits, our 8 Days Kenya Safari and 9 Days Kenya Safari are excellent alternatives. For Tanzania only, our 7 Days Tanzania Safari is the definitive northern Tanzania circuit. And if you’re looking for Kenya’s best beach combination, see our 10 Days Kenya Bush & Beach Safari.

Frequently Asked Questions

What destinations does the 13-day Kenya Tanzania safari cover?

The full circuit covers: Nairobi (1 night), Masai Mara (2 nights), Lake Naivasha (1 night), Amboseli (2 nights), Arusha (1 night), Ngorongoro (2 nights), Serengeti (2 nights), and a final night back in Nairobi — eight destinations across Kenya and Tanzania.

Is two weeks enough for both Kenya and Tanzania?

Thirteen nights is the ideal length for a comprehensive Kenya-Tanzania safari. It allows unhurried time in each destination, covers the Big Five multiple times in different habitats, includes both the Masai Mara and the Serengeti, and finishes with a relaxed Nairobi night before international departure.

Do I need separate visas for Kenya and Tanzania?

Most nationalities require a visa for both Kenya and Tanzania. The East African Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda with multiple entries but does not include Tanzania — a separate Tanzanian visa is required. Blue Lilac Tours & Travel advises all guests on current requirements.

What is the best time of year for the 13-day Kenya Tanzania circuit?

The circuit is spectacular year-round, but July–October is peak wildlife season with the Great Migration in both the Masai Mara and Serengeti simultaneously. January–March offers the Serengeti’s calving season and exceptional predator activity. June and November are quieter with excellent value.

What is included in the 13-day Kenya Tanzania safari price?

Included: all 4×4 safari vehicles and pop-up roof, professional guides on both sides of the border, all national park and conservancy fees, full-board accommodation at all destinations, all game drives per itinerary, and hotel/airport transfers in Nairobi and Arusha. International flights and personal insurance are excluded.