What You Need to Know: This 6-day private safari starts in Arusha, spends three days in the Serengeti, crosses into Kenya at the Sirari–Isebania border and ends with the Maasai Mara and a drive to Nairobi. It costs from US$2,892 per person for 2 travelers at mid-range lodges, with park fees included, and suits travelers who want the Serengeti and the Mara in under a week.
Is the 6-Day Tanzania and Kenya Safari Right for You?
This is a fast route: two long travel days (Arusha to the Serengeti and the border crossing) hold up a lot of game-drive time. It works best from July to October, when the herds are in the northern Serengeti and the Mara.
| This trip suits you if… | Consider another trip if… |
|---|---|
| You want both the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara in 6 days | You want the Ngorongoro Crater too: see the 9-day Mara and Serengeti safari |
| You are traveling July–October, the migration months in the north | You prefer short drives: the border day takes 6–7 hours |
| You fly home from Nairobi | You want gorillas as well: see our Kenya and Uganda gorilla safari |
The 6-Day Tanzania and Kenya Safari Route at a Glance
Three nights in the Serengeti, two in the Maasai Mara, then Nairobi.
| Day | Route | Travel | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arusha to the Serengeti | Drive 7–8 hours with game viewing | Central Serengeti |
| 2 | Full day in the Serengeti | Full-day game drive | Central Serengeti |
| 3 | Into the northern Serengeti | Drive 4–5 hours with game viewing | Northern Serengeti |
| 4 | Serengeti to the Maasai Mara via Sirari | Drive 6–7 hours, border crossing | Maasai Mara |
| 5 | Full day in the Maasai Mara | Full-day game drive | Maasai Mara |
| 6 | Maasai Mara to Nairobi | Drive 5–6 hours | — |
6-Day Tanzania and Kenya Safari Itinerary, Day by Day
The order follows the herds: central Serengeti first, the northern Serengeti near the Mara River second, then over the border to the Kenyan side of the same ecosystem.
-
Day 1: Arusha to the Serengeti
Pickup from your Arusha hotel after breakfast. The road climbs through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with a stop at the crater-rim viewpoint, then drops onto the Serengeti plains at Naabi Hill gate.
Your first game drive is on the way to camp: the Seronera valley is the best area in the Serengeti for big cats, with lions and leopards seen all year.
Drive 7–8 hours with game viewingCentral SerengetiBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 2: Full day in the Serengeti
A full day in the central Serengeti with a picnic lunch: lion prides on the kopjes, leopards in the sausage trees along the Seronera River, cheetahs on the short-grass plains, and elephants, giraffes and buffaloes everywhere.
Your guide chooses the area from recent sightings, and the pop-up roof lets you stand for photos.
Full-day game driveCentral SerengetiBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 3: Into the northern Serengeti
Drive north through the Lobo hills to the Kogatende area, near the Mara River. From July to October this is where the wildebeest and zebra herds gather to cross the river; outside those months it is quiet, wild country with resident lions and elephants.
Game drive on the way and in the afternoon.
Drive 4–5 hours with game viewingNorthern SerengetiBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 4: Serengeti to the Maasai Mara via Sirari
An early start west out of the park to Tarime and the Sirari–Isebania border, where you complete Tanzania's exit and Kenya's entry formalities. From the border the road runs through Migori to the Maasai Mara, arriving in the afternoon.
Your driver-guide arranges the vehicle handover at the border if the Kenyan side is run by a different vehicle and guide.
Drive 6–7 hours, border crossingMaasai MaraBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 5: Full day in the Maasai Mara
Leave after an early breakfast with a packed lunch and spend the whole day on the plains, so you can follow lions, cheetahs and leopards without heading back at midday. From July to October the wildebeest and zebra herds are here, and crossings of the Mara River are possible if the herds are near the water.
Optional extras: a sunrise balloon flight (US$460 per person) or a visit to a Maasai village near the reserve.
Full-day game driveMaasai MaraBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 6: Maasai Mara to Nairobi
A last early game drive if you wish, then breakfast and the drive back to Nairobi through the Rift Valley. You arrive in the afternoon for a hotel drop-off or an evening flight from Jomo Kenyatta Airport.
Drive 5–6 hoursDepartureBreakfast, lunch
What You Can See on the 6-Day Tanzania and Kenya Safari
The Serengeti and the Maasai Mara are one ecosystem split by the border, so you see the same animals on both sides: the Big Five minus rhino (rare in both), large lion prides, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, elephants, giraffes and, in season, the migration herds. Our Serengeti vs Maasai Mara guide compares the two in detail.
- Central Serengeti: the most reliable big-cat sightings in Tanzania, all year
- Northern Serengeti: Mara River crossings, usually July to October
- Maasai Mara: dense wildlife in a smaller area, and Maasai culture around the reserve
How Much Does the 6-Day Tanzania and Kenya Safari Cost?
From US$2,892 per person for two travelers sharing at mid-range lodges.
What changes the 6-Day Tanzania and Kenya Safari price
Two park fees set the floor here: the Serengeti at US$82.60 per person per 24 hours for the Tanzanian half, and the Maasai Mara at US$100 a day, which becomes US$200 from July to December. Add the higher camp rates of the migration months and a July departure costs noticeably more than one in May. Three or four travelers sharing the vehicle bring the per-person figure down; a flight from the Mara to Nairobi instead of the last drive adds a fare.
Park fees and permits on the 6-Day Tanzania and Kenya Safari
Already included in the price; the 2026 rates for reference:
| Park, permit or fee | 2026 rate |
|---|---|
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area (also charged when you drive through) | US$70.80 per person per 24 hours |
| Serengeti National Park | US$82.60 per person per 24 hours |
| Maasai Mara National Reserve (Narok County) | US$100 per adult per day January–June, US$200 July–December; children 9–17 US$50 |
What the 6-Day Tanzania and Kenya Safari Price Includes
The price covers:
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle and English-speaking driver-guide in each country
- 5 nights' accommodation at the level you choose, with meals as listed in the itinerary
- All park entry and conservation fees, and government taxes
- Airport pickup and drop-off
- Drinking water in the vehicle
Not included in the 6-Day Tanzania and Kenya Safari price
Budget separately for:
- International flights
- Optional flights, such as a fly-in instead of a long drive
- Visas and Kenya's eTA
- Tanzania's mandatory inbound travel insurance, US$44 per adult from October 1, 2026 (we can help you buy it)
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation
- Tips for your guides, rangers and porters
- Drinks, laundry and personal items
- Optional Maasai Mara balloon flight, US$460 per person
When Is the Best Time for the 6-Day Tanzania and Kenya Safari?
July to October is the best time: the herds are in the northern Serengeti and the Mara, and the roads are dry. January to March the herds are in the southern Serengeti, so the route works but sees fewer of them; April and May bring the long rains.
How the 6-Day Tanzania and Kenya Safari Compares with Our Other Trips
Our other Kenya and Tanzania routes trade travel time for more parks:
| Trip | Days | Parks | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mara and Serengeti | 9 | Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara | Adding the crater, less rushed |
| Luxury Kenya and Tanzania | 13 | Amboseli, Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara, Tarangire | The full circuit, luxury lodges |
If you only have six days and don't need Kenya, a Tanzania-only route avoids the border day: see our Tanzania safari packages.
How to Book the 6-Day Tanzania and Kenya Safari
Our own team handles the Serengeti days and a trusted partner operator runs the Kenyan side, so you deal only with us from Arusha to Nairobi. Send your dates, group size and lodge level through the form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or to jaynevytours@gmail.com. A 30% deposit secures the trip, the rest is due on arrival, and our cancellation terms set out the refunds.
Common Questions About the 6-Day Tanzania and Kenya Safari
Do we change vehicles at the border?
Sometimes. Tanzanian and Kenyan vehicles each need permits for the other country's parks, so you may switch to a Kenyan vehicle and driver-guide at Sirari–Isebania. We arrange the handover so you don't wait.
Can the trip run in reverse, Nairobi to Arusha?
Yes. It starts with the Mara and ends in Arusha, which suits flights home from Kilimanjaro.
Will we see a river crossing?
Crossings happen most years between July and October, but they depend on where the herds are and can't be guaranteed. Spending day 3 in the north gives you the best chance.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination?
Kenya is on the yellow fever list, and Tanzania may ask for the certificate when you arrive from Kenya. On this route you enter Kenya from Tanzania, so check with your doctor and carry the certificate if you have one.
How much does the 6-Day Tanzania and Kenya Safari cost?
From US$2,892 per person for two travelers at mid-range lodges, including the Serengeti and Maasai Mara fees. Travel between July and December and the Mara fee alone adds US$100 per person per day; your quotation shows the exact figure.
Should You Book the 6-Day Tanzania and Kenya Safari?
This is the shortest way to do both the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara: three days in Tanzania, two in Kenya, with the border crossed by road. Come between July and October for the herds.