6-Day Kenya & Tanzania Safari: Amboseli, Tarangire & Ngorongoro
Start in Kenya with Amboseli's elephants beneath Kilimanjaro, cross at Namanga into Tanzania and finish with Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater.
About this safari
Start in Kenya with Amboseli's elephants beneath Kilimanjaro, cross at Namanga into Tanzania and finish with Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater.
This 6 days private safari starts in Nairobi and takes you to Elephants with Kilimanjaro behind them in Amboseli, Overland border crossing at Namanga, Tarangire's baobabs and elephant herds, Game drive inside Ngorongoro Crater. Your own vehicle and guide set the pace, and every stay and transfer is confirmed around your dates.
Safari snapshot
A quick look at the route, day by day.
| Day | Place | Highlights | Hotel options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Nairobi to Amboseli | Game drives · big cats · local guide | Lodge in or near Amboseli |
| Day 2 | Full day in Amboseli | Game drives · big cats · local guide | Lodge in or near Amboseli |
| Day 3 | Namanga border to Tarangire | Elephant herds · baobabs · Tarangire River game drive | Sangaiwe Tented Lodge or similar |
| Day 4 | Lake Manyara National Park | Groundwater forest · elephants and baboons · lakeshore birds | Country Lodge Karatu or similar |
| Day 5 | Ngorongoro Crater | Crater floor game drive · black rhino · Lerai forest | Country Lodge Karatu or similar |
| Day 6 | Return to Arusha | Arrival · guide briefing · rest in Arusha | Departure |
Ways to customise this trip
- Add a night in the bush, a cultural visit or a balloon flight
- Upgrade your stays or finish with beach time in Zanzibar
Route
- Day 1Amboseli
- Day 2Amboseli
- Day 3Tarangire
- Day 4Lake Manyara
- Day 5Ngorongoro Crater
- Day 6Arusha
Day by day
Here is how the days run. We can adjust the route around your dates and the pace you want.
1Day 1Nairobi to AmboseliLodge in or near Amboseli / Lunch, Dinner
Leave Nairobi after breakfast for the four- to five-hour drive south to Amboseli National Park. After lunch at your lodge, the afternoon game drive explores the swamps fed by Kilimanjaro's snowmelt, where large elephant families wade and feed. On a clear evening the mountain appears above the clouds — one of Africa's classic views. Kenya's parks share the same ecosystem as northern Tanzania. Your guide focuses on the wildlife the area is known for and adjusts the day to what is moving. A packed lunch is eaten out in the park, often within sight of grazing herds. You return to your lodge in or near Amboseli as the sun drops, with time to rest before dinner. Lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Amboseli
- Accommodation
- Lodge in or near Amboseli
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
2Day 2Full day in AmboseliLodge in or near Amboseli / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Early morning is the best time for Kilimanjaro views, before the clouds gather. Spend the day on game drives across the dry lake bed and swamps, looking for elephants, buffalo, hippos, lions and hyenas, with a climb up Observation Hill for a view over the whole park. Picnic or lodge lunch, then a final afternoon drive. With another day in the same area, your guide can explore sections you haven't seen yet, return at first light to a promising sighting, or wait patiently where the animals are gathering. Lunch is a picnic in the park, usually at a viewpoint or under a big tree, so no time is lost driving back to camp. In the late afternoon you check in at your lodge in or near Amboseli, with time to freshen up before dinner and a briefing from your guide about tomorrow. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Amboseli
- Accommodation
- Lodge in or near Amboseli
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
3Day 3Namanga border to TarangireSangaiwe Tented Lodge or similar / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, drive to the Namanga border post, where we help with exit and entry formalities and your Tanzanian guide meets you with the safari vehicle. Continue south past Arusha to Tarangire National Park, arriving for a late lunch and an afternoon game drive among the baobabs and elephant herds along the Tarangire River. The park's ancient baobabs, some many centuries old, make Tarangire one of the most photogenic places in Tanzania. Game drives follow the river valley and the edges of the Silale swamp, where elephants, buffalo and waterbuck gather and lions and leopards hunt. It is quieter than the Serengeti, so sightings often feel private. Your guide picks a shady spot for a picnic lunch in the field, keeping the whole middle of the day for wildlife. The evening is spent at Sangaiwe Tented Lodge or similar: a hot shower, sundowners as the light fades, and dinner while you compare the day's sightings. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Tarangire
- Accommodation
- Sangaiwe Tented Lodge or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4Day 4Lake Manyara National ParkCountry Lodge Karatu or similar / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A short drive to Lake Manyara, where the groundwater forest at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment shelters baboon troops and blue monkeys. Continue to the open lake shore for buffalo, giraffe, hippo pools and, at times, flamingos. Picnic lunch in the park, then up the escarpment to the green farmland around Karatu. Lake Manyara National Park lies at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment. The drive starts in a groundwater forest full of baboons and blue monkeys, then opens onto the lakeshore, where buffalo, giraffe, elephants and hippos gather and flamingos and pelicans may be on the water. Its lions are known for sometimes resting in the trees. You return to Country Lodge Karatu or similar as the sun drops, with time to rest before dinner. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Lake Manyara
- Accommodation
- Country Lodge Karatu or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
5Day 5Ngorongoro CraterCountry Lodge Karatu or similar / Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Descend into Ngorongoro Crater early, when the floor is quiet and predators are active. Over the day you look for lions, hyenas, buffalo, elephants, hippos and the endangered black rhino, with lunch by the hippo pool. Climb out in the afternoon and return to Karatu. Ngorongoro Crater is a world of its own: grassland, swamp, the yellow-barked Lerai forest and a soda lake, all ringed by steep walls. Going down early gives you the best light and the quietest hour on the crater floor before you climb back to the rim. In the late afternoon you check in at Country Lodge Karatu or similar, with time to freshen up before dinner and a briefing from your guide about tomorrow. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included today.
- Main stop
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Accommodation
- Country Lodge Karatu or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6Day 6Return to ArushaBreakfast, Lunch
A relaxed breakfast, then the three-hour drive back to Arusha with a stop at a local market or craft centre along the way. Drop-off at your hotel, Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight home, or Arusha airport for a flight to Zanzibar. Arusha sits on the green slopes of Mount Meru and is the starting point for northern Tanzania safaris. The pace is gentle: time to rest after your flight, meet your guide for a briefing on the route ahead, and settle in at your hotel. At the end of the game drive your guide takes you to the airstrip for your flight back to Zanzibar, arriving in time to reach your beach hotel for the evening.
- Main stop
- Arusha
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation
Where you stay on this trip. We can move the comfort level up or down when we plan your dates.
Tour rates
Your price depends on your dates, group size and the stays you choose. We confirm it in writing once we have checked availability.
Prices are per person and assume shared rooms. Season, park fees, group size, flights and lodge availability all affect the final quote.
Get my exact quoteWhat’s included
Included
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Park entrance and conservation fees for the itinerary
- Accommodation as listed, or similar
- Meals as listed and bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- Airport or hotel transfers at the start and end
- Assistance at the Namanga border
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips for guides and lodge staff
- Drinks at lodges and personal expenses
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
- Visas for Kenya and Tanzania
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Read guideFrequently asked questions
Can this 6 days itinerary be changed?
Yes. We can review your dates, daily pace, room preferences and interests, then build a specific proposal. Changes to flights, activities or park nights may affect cost and availability.
Which accommodation will I stay in?
Your proposal will name the properties and room categories for each night. Any stays shown here are planning options and remain subject to availability; alternative properties are agreed before confirmation.
What wildlife will we see?
Wildlife sightings depend on season, weather and the animals themselves. Your guide plans around local conditions, but particular species, migration movements and river crossings cannot be guaranteed.
Can I change the route and accommodation?
Yes. The published routes are starting points. Tell us your dates, interests and preferred comfort level so we can adjust nights, transfers and activities before quoting.
What determines the final price?
The travel season, number of travellers sharing a vehicle, park fees, room arrangements, lodge availability and domestic flights all affect cost. Your written proposal will identify inclusions and optional extras.
Can the safari finish in Zanzibar?
A mainland safari can connect with Zanzibar by a separately arranged domestic flight. Leave enough time for the transfer and confirm baggage allowances before booking flights.
When is the best time for a Tanzania safari?
Wildlife can be seen all year. June to October is dry, with animals gathering near water. January to March brings the calving season in the southern Serengeti. April and May are the long rains: greener, quieter and often better value. We match the parks and camps to the month you travel.
How many days do I need?
Two or three days suit Tarangire and Ngorongoro. Four to six days let you add the Serengeti without rushing, and seven or more give time for extra parks, a cultural visit or the coast. Fewer long drives usually means a better trip.
Is the safari private?
Our tailor-made safaris are private: your own vehicle and guide, and a daily pace set around your group. Shared departures can sometimes be arranged for solo travellers — ask us and we’ll explain the options.
What vehicle will we travel in?
Game drives are in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for viewing and photography. Your proposal confirms the vehicle and seating for your group size.
Is a safari suitable for children?
Yes, with the right planning. We keep drives shorter, choose family-friendly rooms and build in rest time. Some camps and activities have minimum ages, so please share each child’s age when you enquire.
Can you cater for dietary needs?
Most lodges and camps can prepare vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other meals with notice. Tell us about allergies or requirements when you enquire and we’ll pass them to every property on your route.
Do I need vaccinations or malaria tablets?
Requirements depend on your nationality and recent travel, and a yellow fever certificate may be needed if you arrive from certain countries. Malaria precautions are generally advised. Please check with a travel health clinic before you go.
What should I budget for tips?
Tipping is not compulsory but is customary for guides and lodge staff. We include current guidance with your proposal so you can plan for it in advance.
Will there be Wi-Fi and charging?
Many lodges and camps offer charging points and some Wi-Fi, but the connection can be slow or limited to main areas in remote parks. A spare power bank is useful on game drives.
How far in advance should I book?
For July to October and the holiday season, three to nine months ahead gives the best choice of camps. Shorter notice is often possible — send us your dates and we’ll check availability.
A few details.
A good beginning.
Tell us who is coming and what you would love to find here. We’ll send back a route you can read, question and make your own.
- Planned around your dates and interests
- Midrange or luxury, at your pace
- A personal conversation with our local team