What You Need to Know: This 9-day private safari starts in Nairobi, spends two nights in the Maasai Mara, crosses into Tanzania by road and continues to the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara before Arusha. It costs from US$4,338 per person for 2 travelers at mid-range lodges, with park fees included.
Is the 9-Day Maasai Mara and Serengeti Safari Right for You?
This route gives you the two most famous parks in Africa and the Ngorongoro Crater without flights, and without feeling rushed.
| This trip suits you if… | Consider another trip if… |
|---|---|
| You want the Mara, the Serengeti and the crater in one trip | You have only six days: see the 6-day Tanzania and Kenya safari |
| You arrive in Nairobi and fly home from Kilimanjaro | You want luxury lodges and more parks: see the 13-day luxury safari |
| You like road travel and seeing the countryside | You want gorillas too: see the Maasai Mara and Rwanda gorilla safari |
The 9-Day Maasai Mara and Serengeti Safari Route at a Glance
Two nights in the Mara, three in the Serengeti, then the crater rim and Lake Manyara.
| Day | Route | Travel | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival in Nairobi | Airport transfer, 30–60 minutes | Nairobi |
| 2 | Nairobi to the Maasai Mara | Drive 5–6 hours (or a 45-minute flight) | Maasai Mara |
| 3 | Full day in the Maasai Mara | Full-day game drive | Maasai Mara |
| 4 | Maasai Mara to the Serengeti via Isebania | Drive 6–7 hours, border crossing | Northern Serengeti |
| 5 | Northern to central Serengeti | Game drive 5–6 hours | Central Serengeti |
| 6 | Full day in the central Serengeti | Full-day game drive | Central Serengeti |
| 7 | Serengeti to the Ngorongoro crater rim | Drive 4–5 hours with game viewing | Ngorongoro crater rim |
| 8 | Ngorongoro Crater to Lake Manyara | Crater game drive, then 1.5 hours' drive | Mto wa Mbu |
| 9 | Lake Manyara to Arusha | Game drive, then 2–3 hours' drive | — |
9-Day Maasai Mara and Serengeti Safari Itinerary, Day by Day
The border day is the longest; the rest of the trip balances full game-drive days with shorter drives.
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Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi
Your driver-guide meets you at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and takes you to your hotel. If you land in the morning, there is time for the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's orphaned baby elephants (late morning visiting hour) and the Giraffe Centre in Karen, where you can feed endangered Rothschild's giraffes from a raised platform.
In the evening your guide runs through the days ahead, checks your passports and visas, and answers last questions.
Airport transfer, 30–60 minutesNairobiDinner -
Day 2: Nairobi to the Maasai Mara
Leave Nairobi at about 8:00 and drop down the escarpment into the Great Rift Valley, with a stop at the viewpoint over the valley floor. The road continues through Narok, the last town before the reserve.
You arrive in time for lunch at your lodge, then head out on an afternoon game drive from about 4:00 to 6:00, when the cats start to move.
Drive 5–6 hours (or a 45-minute flight)Maasai MaraBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 3: 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 4: Maasai Mara to the Serengeti via Isebania
Drive west from the Mara to the Isebania–Sirari border, complete the exit and entry formalities, and continue into the Serengeti. You reach the northern Serengeti near the Mara River in the afternoon.
Drive 6–7 hours, border crossingNorthern SerengetiBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 5: Northern to central Serengeti
A morning in the north, along the Mara River if the herds are there, then a game drive south through the Lobo hills to the central Serengeti.
Game drive 5–6 hoursCentral SerengetiBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 6: Full day in the central Serengeti
A full day around the Seronera valley with a picnic lunch: the best place in the Serengeti for lions, leopards and cheetahs, all year.
Full-day game driveCentral SerengetiBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 7: Serengeti to the Ngorongoro crater rim
A last Serengeti morning, then out through Naabi Hill gate and up to the crater rim, with a stop at Olduvai Gorge if you wish.
Drive 4–5 hours with game viewingNgorongoro crater rimBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater to Lake Manyara
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day on the floor, the best chance of black rhino in Tanzania, then drive down to Mto wa Mbu near Lake Manyara.
Crater game drive, then 1.5 hours' driveMto wa MbuBreakfast, lunch, dinner -
Day 9: Lake Manyara to Arusha
A morning game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, then the drive to Arusha for your hotel or an evening flight from Kilimanjaro.
Game drive, then 2–3 hours' driveDepartureBreakfast, lunch
What You Can See on the 9-Day Maasai Mara and Serengeti Safari
You see the whole Mara–Serengeti ecosystem, from the Kenyan plains to the Ngorongoro Crater:
- Maasai Mara: lions, cheetahs and leopards in a compact reserve
- Northern Serengeti: the Mara River, where crossings happen July–October
- Central Serengeti: big cats all year
- Ngorongoro Crater: black rhinos, lions and flamingos
- Lake Manyara: elephants, baboons and birds along the lake shore
Our Serengeti vs Maasai Mara guide explains how the two parks differ.
Where You Stay on the 9-Day Maasai Mara and Serengeti Safari
| Nights | Area | Country | Example lodges (or similar) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nairobi | Kenya | Sarova Panafric Hotel |
| 2 | Maasai Mara | Kenya | Mara Sopa Lodge, Talek Bush Camp |
| 1 | Northern Serengeti | Tanzania | Olmorijo Camp, Nyikani Migration Camp |
| 2 | Central Serengeti | Tanzania | Mberesero Serengeti Central Lodge, Serengeti Classic View Camp |
| 1 | Ngorongoro crater rim | Tanzania | Ngorongoro Safari Lodge, Ang'ata Ngorongoro |
| 1 | Mto wa Mbu | Tanzania | Moonbow Lodge, Mawe Mawe Manyara |
How Much Does the 9-Day Maasai Mara and Serengeti Safari Cost?
From US$4,338 per person, for 2 travelers sharing at mid-range lodges, with the private vehicle and driver-guide, accommodation and meals as listed, park fees included. This is a starting price: your final price is the one in your written quotation, worked out for your dates, group size and lodge level.
What changes the price
- Group size: the vehicle and guide are shared, so the price per person falls as your group grows
- Lodge level: budget lodges lower it, and luxury lodges and tented camps raise it
- Season: lodges charge more from June to October and at Christmas; the Maasai Mara fee doubles from July to December
- Flights: the route is by road; a Nairobi–Mara flight (about 45 minutes) can replace day 2's drive
Park fees and permits on this route
| Park, permit or fee | 2026 rate |
|---|---|
| Maasai Mara National Reserve (Narok County) | US$100 per adult per day January–June, US$200 July–December; children 9–17 US$50 |
| Serengeti National Park | US$82.60 per person per 24 hours |
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area (also charged when you drive through) | US$70.80 per person per 24 hours |
| Ngorongoro crater service fee | US$295 per vehicle per descent |
| Lake Manyara National Park | About US$59 per person per 24 hours |
What the 9-Day Maasai Mara and Serengeti Safari Price Includes
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle and English-speaking driver-guide in each country
- 8 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
- 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 9-Day Maasai Mara and Serengeti Safari?
July to October is the peak: the herds are in the Mara and the northern Serengeti. January and February are also good, with the herds in the southern Serengeti; we then move day 5 and 6 south. April and May are the long rains.
How the 9-Day Maasai Mara and Serengeti Safari Compares with Our Other Trips
Our Kenya and Tanzania routes compared:
| Trip | Days | From (per person) | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanzania and Kenya | 6 | US$2,892 | Serengeti and Mara |
| Mara and Serengeti | 9 | US$4,338 | Mara, Serengeti, crater, Manyara |
| Luxury Kenya and Tanzania | 13 | US$11,050 | Six parks, luxury lodges |
Add a Zanzibar beach stay at the end: flights from Arusha take about an hour.
How to Book the 9-Day Maasai Mara and Serengeti Safari
| When you cancel | Refund |
|---|---|
| 60 days or more before arrival | 100% |
| 30–59 days | 90% |
| 15–29 days | 60% |
| 10–14 days | 25% |
| Less than 10 days, or a no-show | No refund |
What Else to Read Before You Book
In Kenya this trip is run on the ground by trusted local partner operators. We plan and book it, send one written quotation, and stay your contact from arrival to departure.
This page covers what is particular to the 9-Day Maasai Mara and Serengeti Safari. The parts that work the same way on our other trips are explained once, in these guides:
- Kenya safaris: how our partner operators run the trip and who your guide is.
- East Africa safaris: borders, flights and the East Africa Tourist Visa.
- Tanzania visa help: the eVisa and our visa application service.
- Tipping on safari: how much to give your driver-guide and lodge staff.
- Booking and cancellation terms: deposit, payment and refunds.
Common Questions About the 9-Day Maasai Mara and Serengeti Safari
Can we fly to the Mara instead of driving?
Yes, flights from Nairobi's Wilson Airport take about 45 minutes and save most of a day; we quote them as an option.
Do we keep the same vehicle all the way?
Usually you switch to a Tanzanian vehicle and driver-guide at the border, because each country's park permits differ. We arrange the handover so you don't wait.
Can we add Zanzibar?
Yes. Flights from Arusha or the Serengeti reach Zanzibar in about an hour; see our Zanzibar holidays.
How much does the 9-Day Maasai Mara and Serengeti Safari cost?
From US$4,338 per person for 2 travelers at mid-range lodges, with park fees included. Your written quotation gives the final price for your dates, group and lodge level.
The Bottom Line
The 9-day route is the classic Kenya-to-Tanzania safari: the Mara, the Serengeti and the crater, all by road. July to October gives you the best chance of the herds.
Send us your dates, the number of travelers and your lodge level through the booking form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com, and we will reply with a written quotation.