The cost of 9-Day Kenya and Tanzania Safari

Are you planning a safari that takes you through two of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations? This 9-day Kenya and Tanzania journey gives you exactly that. You will travel from the rhino-filled shores of Lake Nakuru through the predator-rich plains of the Masai Mara, then cross into Tanzania to explore the Serengeti, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, and finish among the giant baobabs of Tarangire. Private 4×4 vehicles and skilled local guides carry you through every stage. Travel between July and October, and you stand a strong chance of catching the Great Migration in the Mara or the Serengeti. Below, you’ll find the full pricing, a day-by-day breakdown, and everything included in your package.

What is the Safari Cost?

Your price depends on the season you pick. Two travelers sharing accommodation will stay at Sarova Woodlands in Lake Nakuru, Sentrim Mara Lodge in the Masai Mara, Osero Serengeti, Eileen’s Trees Inn in Ngorongoro, and Tarangire Korongo Camp, with transport included for the entire trip.

Low season runs from January to June, and during this period, the cost is at USD 5,050 per person. Peak season covers July through December, and prices rise to USD 5,240 per person. Larger groups bring the per-person cost down, so traveling with friends or family helps everyone save.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park

Your guide picks you up at 8:00 AM from your Nairobi location. The drive takes you down into the Great Rift Valley, and a short stop at the escarpment viewpoint gives you a chance for stunning photos. You reach Lake Nakuru by midday and check into your lodge in time for lunch. By 3:30 PM, you head out for an afternoon game drive along the lake shores. Rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, and leopards all call this park home, and you may also spot flamingos or pelicans feeding in the shallow waters before heading back for dinner.

Day 2: Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara National Reserve

Breakfast comes early, and then you depart for the Masai Mara, passing the extinct volcano of Mount Longonot and rolling through the town of Narok along the way. You arrive at your camp by 1:00 PM, giving you time to settle in and enjoy lunch. At 4:00 PM, your first game drive begins under the golden afternoon light. Your guide starts tracking the big cats and herds that made this region famous, and the Mara reveals its magic well before sunset.

Day 3: Full Day in the Masai Mara

This entire day belongs to the Mara. A picnic lunch travels with you so your guide can follow the wildlife without needing to return to camp, and you might eat under an acacia tree or near hippos resting in the Mara River. Because the schedule stays flexible, your guide can chase sightings as they happen, giving you the best shot at predator action, wide-open views, and the rich variety of animals that make this reserve so special.

Day 4: Masai Mara to Serengeti National Park (via Isebania Border)

You leave early with packed breakfast boxes for a long but rewarding transit day linking two great ecosystems. Around 11:00 AM, you reach the Isebania Border Control, where customs, immigration, and health checks take place. After crossing, you switch to your Tanzanian vehicle and meet your new guide team. The drive continues past the edges of Lake Victoria, and you enter the Serengeti gates by mid-afternoon. A game drive along the way lets you watch the landscape shift into the vast plains the Serengeti is known for.

Day 5: Full Day Exploring Serengeti National Park

A 6:30 AM game drive puts you out in the field while predators remain most active, or you can choose a full-day safari with a picnic lunch and push deeper into the Seronera region or the northern corridors. This UNESCO World Heritage site holds some of the highest wildlife density on the continent. Throughout the day, you track resident lion prides, search for leopards resting in sausage trees, and take in an ecosystem that supports millions of animals.

Day 6: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

A relaxed morning game drive marks your farewell to the Serengeti as you head toward the cooler, forested highlands. Lunch awaits at your lodge once you reach the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Your afternoon stays open, so you can take in the sweeping views from the crater rim or visit a Maasai boma to learn about local traditions. An early rest follows, preparing you for tomorrow’s descent into the crater.

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater Floor Tour

At 6:30 AM, you descend 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day tour of this enormous volcanic caldera. More than 25,000 large mammals live within this enclosed ecosystem, giving you a strong chance to see the rare black rhino along with elephants, lions, and hyenas. A picnic lunch by the hippo pool on the crater floor breaks up the day before you climb back up the caldera walls and settle into your nearby lodge for the evening.

Day 8: Ngorongoro to Tarangire National Park

You depart the highlands at 8:00 AM and head for Tarangire National Park, known for its giant baobab trees and large elephant herds. Arrival comes before midday, and exploration begins right away along the Tarangire River circuit. Since this river supplies water to the surrounding area, wildlife gathers here in large numbers, so you can expect to see elephants bathing alongside lions, zebras, giraffes, and a wide variety of birds.

Day 9: Tarangire to Arusha & Drop-off

A final, relaxed breakfast at the lodge lets you soak in the sounds of the bush one last time. At 10:00 AM, you set off on a comfortable 2.5-hour drive toward Arusha, arriving by 1:00 PM for your drop-off. Whether you head to a local hotel, Arusha Airport, or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home, this marks the close of your cross-border adventure.

What’s Included in the total safari cost

• Your package covers private transport throughout the trip, with custom-built 4×4 Land Cruisers featuring pop-up roofs. A dedicated Kenyan vehicle takes you to the border, where a smooth swap to a Tanzanian vehicle continues your journey.
• Professional, English-speaking driver-guides handle all tracking and navigation in both countries.
• Full-board accommodation at your selected lodges or tented camps comes included, along with daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner while on safari, including bush picnic lunches designed to maximize your time watching wildlife.
• All park fees get covered too, including conservation fees, government levies and entry taxes for Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Tarangire.
• The mandatory crater descent permit for Ngorongoro comes included as well and bottled mineral water stays stocked in your vehicle throughout the trip.

What’s Not Included in the total safari cost

• International flights, the Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization and Tanzania Tourist Visas fall outside this package.
• Yellow Fever vaccination certificates and any related medical testing also stay separate, since these requirements vary by traveler.
• Tips for your driver-guides, lodge staff, and local community guides aren’t included either.
• Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages cost extra unless your camp operates on an all-inclusive basis.
• Optional activities like hot air balloon safaris or walking safaris come at an additional cost, and so do visits to Maasai villages, since those fees go directly to community elders.
• Personal expenses such as laundry, travel insurance, souvenirs and phone charges remain the traveler’s responsibility.

How to Book This Adventure

Pick whichever booking method suits you best, and a safari consultant will respond within 12 hours or less.

• For email booking, send your travel details, preferred dates, and any special requests to info@iconicafricasafaris.com.
• For WhatsApp booking, message us directly at +256767585369, or tap the WhatsApp icon on the right side of your screen for a quick response.
• You can also fill out the booking form provided and our team will follow up with confirmation and next steps.

Whichever path you choose, our consultants will walk you through the process, confirm availability, and help shape the safari around what matters most to you.