Tanzania & Kenya Classic Private Safari Tour
The Best of the Big Game Safaris
- Available: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
- Activity: Level 1
- Accommodations: Luxury Hotels
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Group Size:
2-10 Guests
Highlights
- Journey to Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Masai Mara, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara
- Meet the Datoga and Wahadzabe people and learn about their millenia-old traditions firsthand
- Witness a dazzling variety of big game wildlife and track migrating wildebeest
Itinerary
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport & Transfer to Arusha
Day 1
Welcome to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania! Meet with an MT Sobek representative for an hour's drive to Arusha. Check into the boutique hotel set on five acres of land, with beautifully manicured gardens that provide a home to many varieties of birdlife and endemic plant species. Ease into the slow pace of safari life, leaving the daily hustle and bustle behind.
Accommodation: Arusha Hotel
Accommodation: Mount Meru Game LodgeTransportation: 1-hour private van transfer
Drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Day 2
Take a morning drive to the Shanga River House, a project devoted to empowering disabled Tanzanians, located on one of the country's oldest coffee plantations. Tour the workshop and boutique selling jewelry and crafts handmade by disabled artists using recycled glass bottles. There may be a chance to meet some of the artists and savor the fresh and delicious regional cuisine served at the restaurant. After a leisurely visit, get back on the road and drive to the deluxe tent camp in Tarangire.
Accommodation: Oliver’s Camp
Accommodation: Lemala Mpingo Ridge
Accommodation: Corfield CampTransportation: 2-hour 4x4 vehicle transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Discover Tarangire National Park's Wildlife
Day 3
Today is devoted to a full day touring of Tarangire National Park, home to the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti. Tarangire is the sixth largest park in the country and relatively less well known to tourists. Feel entirely on your own, come face to face with enormous herds of elephants, wildebeest, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest, and eland. After a long day tracking game by foot, return to the deluxe camp for refreshing sundowners and a delicious dinner.
Accommodation: Oliver’s Camp
Accommodation: Lemala Mpingo Ridge
Accommodation: Corfield CampActivity: Morning & afternoon game drive in 4x4 safari vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive to Mto Wa Mbu village and Lake Manyara National Park
Day 4
This morning, tour Mto wa Mbu, a village of farmers and craftspeople. Follow locals through their homes and farmlands, visit the milling machine, and the market where their woodcarvings and handiwork are sold. Head to Lake Manyara, a shallow alkaline lake often covered by resident flamingos. Apart from the lake and the many lions that roam the park, there is an expanse of tropical jungle filled with baboons and other rainforest wildlife. Later, drive to the mountain lodge, uniquely situated on the outskirts of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Accommodation: Acacia Farm Lodge-Karatu, Tanzania
Accommodation: Kisima Ngeda Tented CampActivity: Morning & afternoon game drive in 4x4 safari vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore the Ngorongoro Crater
Day 5
Drive to Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day of game watching with a picnic. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famed for its abundance of "big five" game and birds. Descend into the sunken cone to track game along the crater floor, its high walls serving as a natural enclosure for an abundance of wildlife. Look out for exceptional birds such as the lammergeyer, Verreaux's eagle, Egyptian vulture, rosy-breasted longclaw, flocks of lesser, and greater flamingos. End the day with sundowners and dinner back at the lodge outside the conservation area.
Accommodation: Acacia Farm Lodge-Karatu, Tanzania
Activity: Full day game drive in 4x4 safari vehicle
Transportation: 30-minute private van transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Meet Wahadzabe People at Lake Eyasi
Day 6
Tour villages of the Datoga and meet with the Wahadzabe people, who live as hunter-gatherers around Lake Eyasi, one of the oldest parts of the Eastern Rift Valley, renowned for its colorful bird life. An off-shoot of the Acadi tribe, the Wahadzabes are a very secretive and protective community. Learn to hunt with a bow and arrow, start a fire, or join the women gathering roots, tubers and wild fruit. Discover their way of life - an unforgettable experience - and return to the mountain lodge in Ngorongoro.
Accommodation: Acacia Farm Lodge-Karatu, Tanzania
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Discover Serengeti National Park
Day 7
From Ngorongoro, head to Serengeti National Park, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Relax at safari tent camps just like Out of Africa. MT Sobek mobile camps allow blending in with the environment, and upon departure, there is little if any evidence of camping left behind. Spacious and comfortable accommodations offer a good rest after long days of tracking. Come evening, head out for a game drive, then sit around the campfire to share stories of the day's greatest discoveries
Accommodation: Intimate Camps Tanzania-Serengeti National Park
Accommodation: Chaka CampActivity: Morning & afternoon game drive in 4X4 safari vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Journey through the Serengeti
Day 8
Besides being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Serengeti is Tanzania's oldest and most popular park, as well as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Today head into the south-central corner, an area that sees few tourists. Witness majestic lions, herds of wildebeest, zebra and crocodile in the savannas, plains, forests and woodlands. Enjoy game-viewing in the early morning and late afternoon.
Accommodation: Intimate Camps Tanzania-Serengeti National Park
Accommodation: Chaka CampActivity: Morning & afternoon game drive in 4X4 safari vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore Mara North Conservancy
Day 9
After breakfast, fly to Tarime for a connecting flight to Migori, Kenya and a two-hour drive to Mara North Conservancy, just north of the Masai Mara National Reserve. En route, enjoy a leisurely game drive, spotting lions, hippos, crocodiles, cheetahs, and leopards. A private concession, the Mara North Conservancy partners with a few member camps and 800 Maasai landowners to establish a protected wilderness area. Its savannas and grasslands attract herbivores of all kinds, from elephants, giraffes and zebras to gazelles and impalas. Arrive to the luxury tent camp at lunchtime.
Accommodation: Karen Blixen Camp-Masai Mara, Kenya
Activity: Afternoon game drive in 4x4 safari vehicle
Transportation: 2-hour safari vehicle transfer; 1.25-hour flight
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Encounter Wildlife of the Mara North Conservancy
Day 10
Wake to the smell of freshly brewed coffee for the first morning game drive in Kenya. Early mornings are one of the best times to view wildlife, as most activity goes on before the day heats up. Return to camp for a hearty breakfast and a nature walk in the wild. In the afternoon, set off on a game drive with drinks and snacks for happy hour out in the bush. Back at camp, enjoy a hot shower before dinner is served.
Accommodation: Karen Blixen Camp-Masai Mara, Kenya
Activity: Morning & afternoon game drive in 4x4 safari vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 11
Start the day early and set out towards the gates of the Masai Mara National Reserve. With a packed picnic lunch, enjoy the whole day exploring another part of the famous conservation area. Visit the Mara River and marvel at the famous migration routes. Arrive just in time for a quick swim in the pool or an easy walk before sunset. Enjoy dinner and celebratory drinks to end the extraordinary African adventure.
Accommodation: Karen Blixen Camp-Masai Mara, Kenya
Activity: Morning & afternoon game drive in 4x4 safari vehicle
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nairobi, Kenya
Day 12
After breakfast, board a flight to Nairobi, Kenya's capital city, and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy the heated swimming pool, fully equipped day rooms and the hotel's restaurant prior to departure. Refresh and relax before hitting the road to the airport for international flights home.
Transportation: 1.25-hour internal flight
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Dates & Prices
- Go Private
- Go Custom
- Inclusions
Go Private
Go Private
Gather your favorite travel companions to share an MT Sobek adventure on an easy-to-book Private departure.
Call or email us to get the ball rolling.
*Private trips require a 25% non-refundable deposit.
Looking for a private family adventure?
This trip can accommodate guests with a minimum age of 10.
Private Trip Pricing:
2023 Pricing
2 to 3 guests from $8,695 per person double occupancy
4 to 5 guests from $8,495 per person double occupancy
6 to 7 guests from $8,295 per person double occupancy
8 to 9 guests from $7,995 per person double occupancy
10 guests from $7,895 per person double occupancy
2024 Pricing
2 to 4 guests from $8,495 per person double occupancy
5 to 7 guests from $8,095 per person double occupancy
8 to 12 guests from $7,895 per person double occupancy
*Seasonal rates may apply.
Additional Costs:
Internal Airfare: $975
Park Fees: $1,294
Private pricing excludes potential additional costs such as internal airfare, single supplement, or any park fees that may be required for the trip.
*Private trips require a 25% non-refundable deposit.
Make Your Own Dates in These Months
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January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Go Custom
Create Your Very Own Adventure
Dreaming of an adventure designed exclusively for you? With insider access and decades of experience, our travel experts create custom tailored adventures that are perfect for families, couples, and large groups. MT Sobek's custom adventures are designed to our exacting standards and led by our award-winning adventure guides.
When to start planning? Earlier is always better when designing a custom trip. More time allows for better availability of preferred accommodations, guides and your desired activities. Ideally, start the conversation with us at least 6 months before you want to travel. If you are looking for a custom trip that departs within three months, chances are greatly diminished in securing requested accommodations and the best guides.
*Custom trips require a 25% non-refundable deposit once an itinerary is agreed upon.
Start PlanningInclusions
Price Includes
- Pricing based on July - October departures. Please call for exact quote on other dates.
- Expertise and services of our experienced adventure Tanzania guides
- All accommodations as noted in the itinerary
- All breakfasts, almost all lunches and dinners as noted in the itinerary
- Shared guided wildlife drives in Kenya
- Snacks and water between meals
- Additional regional guides and experts on many trips
- Comprehensive Trip Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at historic sites, museums, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the itinerary
- Special events and other select attractions as mentioned in the itinerary
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Equipment and experienced guides for activities as described in the itinerary
- Park and other entry fees (unless otherwise noted)
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the itinerary
- Select transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Price Does Not Include
- International airfare, airport taxes, and excess baggage fees
- Alcoholic beverages (MT Sobek provides wine at select events)
- Gratuities for MT Sobek guides and guide-drivers
- Travel Protection Program
- Personal expenses
Need help picking your next adventure? Call us to answer your questions.
Your Guides
The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.

Joseph N.
Joseph is affectionately known as 'Africa's Smallest Giraffe' by his fellow classmates at the Mweka Wildlife College. He is a passionate conservationist who was one of only four Tanzanians to be offered a UNESCO Grant to study Conservation and Park Management at University of Michigan. After completing his degree, Joseph returned to the Ngorongoro conservation area to work on anti-poaching initiatives. Despite his recognition and promotion, Joseph prefers to share his enthusiasm of the natural world with visitors as a safari guide in Tanzania.

Raymond T.
Raymond was born in Arusha and raised in Masai villages, in both Ngorongoro and Simanjiro. As a Masai, he's lived his entire life within wildlife protected areas and in harmony with nature. Consequently, he possesses deep knowledge and respect for the Serengeti's wildlife. Raymond is an excellent leader with 15 years of experience as a guide, and a passion for sharing Tanzania with MT Sobek travelers.
Activity Level
This trip is rated activity level 1. This safari trip includes game drives in open 4X4 vehicles. The roads can be rugged and bumpy so travel itself can be wearing. The guided nature walks will be on flat terrain and vary in length. No previous experience is required.
Learn more about activity levels here.
Activity Snapshot
Day 3
Morning & afternoon game drive in 4x4 safari vehicle
Day 4
Morning & afternoon game drive in 4x4 safari vehicle
Day 5
Full day game drive in 4x4 safari vehicle
Day 7
Morning & afternoon game drive in 4X4 safari vehicle
Day 8
Morning & afternoon game drive in 4X4 safari vehicle
Day 9
Afternoon game drive in 4x4 safari vehicle
Day 10
Morning & afternoon game drive in 4x4 safari vehicle
Day 11
Morning & afternoon game drive in 4x4 safari vehicle
Accommodations
Bookend the journey at boutique hotels; in the wilderness, enjoy deluxe tailor-equipped safari camps.
Weather
You will be blessed with a temperate climate year-round. Although the weather is usually dry, rain or thundershowers are always a possibility.
Know Before You Book
This trip has seasonal pricing so please call for an exact quote.
Green Season: November-December 15
Shoulder Season: January-March & June
Peak Season: July-October & December 16-31
FAQs
What are the visa and passport requirements for travel to East Africa?
A current passport valid for up to 6 months after the return date of your trip is needed to travel anywhere in East Africa. U.S. citizens also need a visa for entry into Tanzania and Kenya.
Do I need vaccinations or malaria tablets?
We always recommend you speak to your doctor or a health professional about vaccinations and malaria tablets well in advance of your safari. At present, certain areas of Tanzania and Kenya are affected by malaria.
Can I drink the water when traveling in East Africa?
Tap water is generally unsafe in East Africa. Bottled water is provided in the safari vehicles for all of our game drives and in the bathrooms at the lodges for brushing your teeth.
Are tour dates flexible?
Yes, please contact us if you aren't able to travel on the set departure dates listed. Most safaris can be arranged on alternative departure dates as long as camps are available.
What is a typical day on safari?
Each camp and lodge varies, but there are usually two game drives or walks per day; one in the morning lasting about 3-5 hours, and one in late afternoon which lasts about 3 hours.
Does this trip contribute to any local conservation efforts?
Yes! This trip helps support the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust by visiting the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage to learn about rescue and preservation efforts to protect local wildlife and habitats. For every guest, MT Sobek "adopts" one orphan elephant.
What is the minimum age for this trip?
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Guest Reviews
"Epic East Africa was exactly that and more, it was amazing to stay in camps inside the parks so close to the wildlife. Listening to leopards, elephants and lions near camp at night under a full moon was an experience I'll always treasure."
Guillermo B.
MT Sobek Guest, Tanzania and Kenya Classic Safari Private Adventure
"If you are looking for truly the trip of a lifetime, let MT Sobek plan your African Safari Adventure. Our family of 5 toured Tanzania and Kenya and saw more wildlife and beautiful scenery than we could have imagined. We felt immersed in the African culture with visits to 3 tribes and a school. Our accommodations were both safari inspired and luxury. When you see the rugged, vast landscape of Africa, you'll realize you could have never planned this trip on your own. You need an expert tour company to help you and MT Sobek fit the bill. We will never forget this trip!"
Tara K.
MT Sobek Guest, Tanzania and Kenya Classic Safari Private Adventure