What You Need to Know: Choose Tanzania for space and variety: the Serengeti is about ten times the size of Kenya's Maasai Mara, the Ngorongoro Crater adds black rhinos, and the migration is in Tanzania for most of the year, including the calving from January to March. Choose Kenya for a shorter trip focused on the Mara from July to October, or for private conservancies with walking and night drives. Park fees are lower in Tanzania in peak season: US$82.60 a day in the Serengeti against US$200 a day in the Maasai Mara from July to December.
Tanzania and Kenya Safaris at a Glance
The main differences side by side:
| Tanzania | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Flagship park | Serengeti, about 5,700 sq mi (14,750 km²) | Maasai Mara, about 580 sq mi (1,500 km²) |
| Migration herds | Most of the year: calving January to March, river crossings July to October | Mainly July to October |
| Peak-season park fee | US$82.60 per adult per 24 hours (Serengeti) | US$200 per adult per day (Maasai Mara, July to December) |
| Crowds | Spread over a huge area; busy only at the crater and crossings | Busy at sightings in the Mara reserve in peak season |
| Other highlights | Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar | Amboseli, Samburu, private conservancies, Diani Beach |
| Getting there | Kilimanjaro International Airport, near Arusha | Nairobi, then a road or flight to the Mara |
| Entry | Visa: US$50, or US$100 for US citizens | eTA: about US$30 |
Wildlife: Which Country Has More?
Both have the Big Five, the big cats and the migration herds, because they share one ecosystem. Tanzania's advantage is variety: Tarangire's elephant herds, the Ngorongoro Crater's black rhinos and the sheer size of the Serengeti. Kenya's Maasai Mara has very high densities of lions and cheetahs in a small area, and Kenya's northern reserves, such as Samburu, have species you won't see in northern Tanzania, like the reticulated giraffe and Grevy's zebra.
The Great Migration: Tanzania or Kenya?
The herds spend roughly nine months of the year in Tanzania and two to three in Kenya. From December to March they calve on the southern plains around Ndutu; from April to June they move through the central and western Serengeti; from July to October they are in the northern Serengeti and Kenya's Maasai Mara, crossing the Mara River on both sides of the border. Our Serengeti vs Maasai Mara guide covers the migration side in detail.
| Months | Where the herds usually are | Best country |
|---|---|---|
| December to March | Ndutu and the southern Serengeti (calving) | Tanzania: 6-day Ndutu calving safari |
| April to June | Central and western Serengeti | Tanzania |
| July to October | Northern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara (river crossings) | Either: 7-day Mara River crossing safari in Tanzania |
| November | Moving south through the Serengeti | Tanzania |
Crowds and the Safari Experience
The Maasai Mara reserve is small and close to Nairobi, so in peak season dozens of vehicles can gather at a big cat or a crossing; Kenya's private conservancies around it limit vehicles and allow walking and night drives. The Serengeti is so large that you can drive for an hour without seeing another vehicle, though the crater and the busiest crossing points are crowded in high season. In both countries, a good guide makes the difference.
Is a Safari Cheaper in Tanzania or Kenya?
It depends on the season and the trip. Kenya's Maasai Mara charges US$100 per adult per day from January to June and US$200 from July to December, and a short Kenya safari can be cheaper because the Mara is close to Nairobi. Tanzania's daily park fees are lower in peak season, but the distances are greater and the Ngorongoro Crater adds a vehicle fee. Our private Tanzania safaris cost from US$4,470 per person for two for 7 days in the migration season; see Tanzania park fees and our Kenya safaris to compare.
Beyond the Safari: Beaches and Mountains
Tanzania's big extras are Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar, both a short drive or flight from the safari parks. Kenya offers Mount Kenya and the beaches of Diani and Lamu. For a climb and a safari in one trip, Tanzania is the natural choice: see the 11-day Kilimanjaro climb and safari.
Can You Combine Tanzania and Kenya in One Trip?
Yes. The usual route is the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara, crossing the border by road or by a short flight, which lets you follow the herds on both sides. We run a 6-day Tanzania and Kenya safari and a 9-day Maasai Mara and Serengeti tour; you need entry permission for both countries.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Tanzania if this is your first safari and you have a week or more, if you are traveling between December and June, or if you want the Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar. Choose Kenya if you have only three or four days in the July-to-October season, or want private conservancies. If you can't decide, combine them.
Common Questions About Tanzania vs Kenya Safaris
Short answers to the questions our guests ask us most often:
Is Tanzania or Kenya better for a safari?
Tanzania for space, variety and the migration for most of the year; Kenya for a short Maasai Mara trip from July to October or private conservancies.
Is the Serengeti bigger than the Maasai Mara?
Yes, about ten times bigger: roughly 5,700 sq mi (14,750 km²) against about 580 sq mi (1,500 km²).
When is the migration in Kenya?
Usually from July to October, when the herds cross into the Maasai Mara; the rest of the year they are in Tanzania.
How much is the Maasai Mara park fee?
US$100 per non-resident adult per day from January to June and US$200 from July to December.
Can you do Tanzania and Kenya in one safari?
Yes. Many travelers combine the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara, crossing by road or a short flight.
Bottom Line: Tanzania or Kenya for Your Safari?
For a first safari of a week or more, Tanzania gives you more: the Serengeti's space, the crater, the migration for most of the year and Zanzibar or Kilimanjaro next door. Kenya shines for a short Maasai Mara trip in the crossing season. Start with our Tanzania safaris or Kenya safaris.