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Wildebeest leaping into the river during a migration crossing

Kenya & Tanzania · 7 days · Budget

7 Days Lake Nakuru, Maasai Mara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Budget Safari

The shortest budget route across the Mara–Serengeti ecosystem: Lake Nakuru and the Maasai Mara in Kenya, then across the Isebania border into the Serengeti and on to the Ngorongoro Crater.

Duration
7 days · 6 nights
Countries
Kenya, Tanzania
Starts
Nairobi
Ends
Nairobi (or Arusha)
Tier
Budget
Format
Group joining

Per personFrom USD 1,260 pp

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01 / Overview

The journey in brief.

The shortest budget route across the Mara–Serengeti ecosystem: Lake Nakuru and the Maasai Mara in Kenya, then across the Isebania border into the Serengeti and on to the Ngorongoro Crater.

This 7-day budget itinerary starts in Nairobi and ends in Nairobi (or Arusha), crossing between Kenya and Tanzania. Accommodation: Miti Mingi Eco Camp + Buraha Zenoni + Other stops: overnight at the camp/lodge.

Ideal for
Budget travellers · Seeing both Kenya and Tanzania · Migration season
Safari style
Budget · Group Joining · Photography

Destination guides: Lake Nakuru · Maasai Mara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro

Route

  1. Nairobi

    Start

  2. Lake Nakuru

    Stop 1

  3. Maasai Mara

    Stop 2

  4. Isebania border

    Stop 3

  5. Serengeti

    Stop 4

  6. Ngorongoro

    Stop 5

  7. Arusha

    Stop 6

  8. Nairobi

    Finish

02 / Highlights

What stays with you.

  1. 01

    Both halves of the Mara–Serengeti ecosystem

  2. 02

    Lake Nakuru rhino sanctuary

  3. 03

    Serengeti's western corridor

  4. 04

    Ngorongoro Crater morning tour

03 / Day by day

Travel it day by day.

7 days · driving times are approximate

  1. Day 1 · Approx. 3–4 hours by road

    Nairobi to Lake Nakuru

    Pick-up from your hotel at about 8:00 am for a safari briefing, then drive to Lake Nakuru National Park for an afternoon game drive with picnic lunch boxes.

    Meals
    Lunch · Dinner
    Overnight
    Lake Nakuru — Buraha Zenoni
    Great white pelicans gathered on the water

  2. Day 2 · Approx. 5 hours by road

    Lake Nakuru to the Maasai Mara

    Depart after breakfast and drive across the floor of the Great Rift Valley to the Maasai Mara. Lunch, then an evening game drive.

    Meals
    Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
    Overnight
    Maasai Mara — Miti Mingi Eco Camp
    Zebra and wildebeest mingling on rolling plains

  3. Day 3

    Full day in the Maasai Mara

    A full day in the reserve with a picnic lunch, exploring its savannah and rolling hills. The wildebeest migration is usually here around July to October, and big cats and elephants live here all year.

    Meals
    Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
    Overnight
    Maasai Mara — Miti Mingi Eco Camp
    Elephant feeding in lush green grass
    Female impala watching from a grassy clearing

  4. Day 4 · Full travel day with border crossing

    Maasai Mara to the Serengeti

    After breakfast, drive to the Isebania border to enter Tanzania, then continue to the Serengeti's Ndabaka gate and game drive through the western corridor with a picnic lunch.

    Meals
    Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
    Overnight
    Serengeti — Seronera Camp
    Lioness beside a dense moving wildebeest herd on the migration plains

  5. Day 5

    Serengeti to Ngorongoro

    Game viewing as you drive south-east out of the Serengeti, with a stop at Olduvai Gorge (museum entry optional) and a picnic lunch. Overnight on the Ngorongoro crater rim.

    Meals
    Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
    Overnight
    Ngorongoro — Simba Campsite
    Wildebeest and zebra scattered beneath a flat-topped acacia in the Serengeti
    Giraffe browsing among acacias as the sun sets over the Serengeti

  6. Day 6 · Approx. 3–4 hours after the crater

    Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

    An early breakfast, then descend about 600 metres onto the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a game drive among its resident lions, buffalo, elephants, hyenas, zebra and wildebeest, and one of Tanzania's few black rhino populations. Picnic lunch on the crater floor. Continue to Arusha, where you can end the tour, fly to Zanzibar, or stay for the return to Nairobi.

    Meals
    Breakfast · Lunch
    Overnight
    Arusha — Charity Hotel
    Lions resting on the crater floor with the crater wall behind

  7. Day 7 · Approx. 5–6 hours by shuttle

    Arusha to Nairobi

    After breakfast, transfer to the shuttle bus for the journey back to Nairobi.

    Meals
    Breakfast
    Overnight
    End of safari

04 / Where you stay

Budget camps and hotels.

Named properties are the budget stays we use on this route. Where the itinerary says “overnight at the camp/lodge”, your quotation confirms the exact stay.

  • Lake Nakuru1 night

    Buraha Zenoni

    Buraha Zenoni Hotel & Resort in Nakuru with its pool and gardensTwin room at Buraha Zenoni Hotel & Resort, Nakuru
  • Maasai Mara2 nights

    Miti Mingi Eco Camp

    Tented rooms among trees at Miti Mingi Eco Camp, Maasai MaraBed inside a tented room at Miti Mingi Eco Camp
  • Serengeti1 night

    Seronera Camp

    Dome safari tent with chairs at Seronera Camp in the Serengeti
  • Ngorongoro1 night

    Simba Campsite

    Tents beneath a broad shade tree at Simba Campsite on the Ngorongoro rim
  • Arusha1 night

    Charity Hotel

    Garden-facing exterior of Charity Hotel in ArushaDouble room at Charity Hotel in Arusha

Quick planning facts

Duration
7 days · 6 nights
Countries
Kenya, Tanzania
Starts
Nairobi
Ends
Nairobi (or Arusha)
Tier
Budget
Format
Group joining
Accommodation
Miti Mingi Eco Camp + Buraha Zenoni + Other stops: overnight at the camp/lodge
Best for
Budget travellers · Seeing both Kenya and Tanzania

05 / What’s included

Clear from the start.

Included

  • Pick-up and drop-off in Nairobi (hotel or airport)
  • Transport in 4x4 Land Cruisers with pop-up roofs in Kenya and Tanzania
  • Services of professional English-speaking driver-guides in each country
  • Accommodation as described in the itinerary
  • Meals as listed day by day
  • Park and conservation area entry fees for the areas visited
  • Game drives as listed in the itinerary
  • Drinking water in the vehicle
  • Accommodation in double, twin or triple rooms/tents

Not included

  • International flights and visa fees
  • Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Tips and gratuities for guides and camp staff
  • Alcoholic and soft drinks unless stated
  • Items of a personal nature such as laundry and phone calls
  • Optional activities not listed as included
  • Kenya and Tanzania visas

06 / Pricing

Honest, complete pricing.

Prices are per person, in US dollars, for the complete 7-day package — not per day.

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Package price per person in US dollars
OptionComplete package
Low season, per personUSD 1,260
High season, per personUSD 1,360

Optional extras (not included)

  • Maasai village visitPaid directly to the community; price confirmed when you book.
  • Hot-air balloon safari over the Maasai MaraEarly-morning flight with bush breakfast; quoted on request.
  • Olduvai Gorge museum visitEntrance paid on the day; price confirmed when you book.
  • Maasai village visitQuoted on request
  • Serengeti hot-air balloon safariQuoted on request, subject to availability.

07 / Good to know

Questions, answered.

Important notes

  • Seasonal prices: low and high season dates are confirmed with your quotation.
  • Cross-border itineraries require valid visas or electronic travel authorisations for both Kenya and Tanzania. Border formalities at Namanga (or Isebania) usually take 30–90 minutes; your consultant will confirm the current entry requirements for your nationality.
  • Transport is in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof and VHF radio.
  • Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Your guide will adapt the day to recent sightings, weather and road conditions.
  • Driving times are approximate and depend on road conditions, stops and wildlife encountered along the way.
  • Park and conservancy fees are set by the authorities and may change; any change is passed on at cost.
How much does this safari cost?

From USD 1,260 pp for the complete 7-day package (low season usd 1,260 · high season usd 1,360). Prices are per person in US dollars. The pricing section lists exactly what is included.

Where does the safari start and finish?

It starts in Nairobi and finishes in Nairobi (or Arusha).

Is this a private or group-joining safari?

This itinerary usually runs as a group-joining safari, sharing the vehicle with other travellers to keep costs down. It can also be quoted as a private trip.

What accommodation is used?

The accommodation pattern is: Miti Mingi Eco Camp + Buraha Zenoni + Other stops: overnight at the camp/lodge. Each night is listed in the day-by-day itinerary.

Can this itinerary be changed?

Yes. Dates, pace, accommodation level and the order of stops can usually be adjusted. Tell us what you have in mind when you enquire.

Do I need visas for both countries?

Most travellers need entry authorisation for both Kenya and Tanzania. Requirements depend on nationality and change from time to time, so check official sources; we will remind you when you book.

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7 days · Kenya & Tanzania

From USD 1,260 pp

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