Kenya & Tanzania Safari — Self-Launched Version
11 days · Kenya & Tanzania
Contiki charges £3,205
No-markup version: ~£1,045 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 11-day independent Big Five safari from Nairobi to Arusha covering Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater — the same parks as the Contiki group tour, but built yourself. You'll use budget safari camps and tented camps, join small-group shared game-drive vehicles (the standard way to do this cheaply), and travel between Kenya and Tanzania by shuttle bus across the Namanga border. Park fees are the single biggest cost in East Africa and are unavoidable, but skipping the operator's markup and guide overheads keeps you well under the commercial price. Costs are rough estimates in GBP at backpacker/mid-budget rates and exclude international flights, insurance and visas.
Day-by-day
Nairobi to Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara, Kenya
Arrive Nairobi and head straight out on the Great Rift Valley escarpment road to the Maasai Mara (~5-6 hrs by shared safari minivan). Budget operators run daily 3-day/2-night Mara group safaris departing Nairobi — book via GetYourGuide or a local Nairobi agency (e.g. around the Hotel Ambassadeur area) for roughly £200-280 per person including park fees, transport, meals and tented camp. Afternoon game drive on arrival, when the light is best. Use a shared minivan rather than the operator's private coach — everyone gets a window in a 6-8 seat 4x4/minivan.
🚌Shared safari minivan from Nairobi (~£0 incremental, part of safari package); allow 5-6 hrs
🛏Budget tented camp inside or just outside the Mara reserve (shared twin tent, en-suite)
- →Great Rift Valley viewpoint stop
- →Afternoon game drive in Maasai Mara National Reserve
Full day in the Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara, Kenya
Two game drives — a dawn drive for predators and an afternoon drive — with a picnic lunch by the Mara River. July-October you can see the wildebeest migration crossings; other months the Mara is still superb for lion, cheetah, elephant and leopard. Optional extra: a Maasai village visit (many camps arrange it for ~£15-20 — negotiate directly, and only go with community-run bomas).
🚌Safari vehicle with camp driver-guide
🛏Budget tented camp, Maasai Mara
- →Morning game drive
- →Afternoon game drive
- →Optional community Maasai boma visit (£15-20)
Mara back to Nairobi — Kibera & Sheldrick
Nairobi, Kenya
Morning drive back to Nairobi. In the afternoon, visit Kibera with a community-based organisation such as Kibera Black Stars or Mirror of Hope-style projects — book direct for a donation-based walking visit (~£15-25, money goes to the community). Alternatively visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage (public visiting hour 11am-12pm, ~£10 booking donation — book online well ahead). Evening: matatu or Bolt across town for nyama choma and a Tusker.
🚌Return shared safari minivan to Nairobi (~included in Mara package); Bolt ride-hailing around town £2-4 per trip
🛏Budget guesthouse in Nairobi Westlands or Kilimani (~£20-30 twin share)
- →Community-run Kibera walking visit
- →Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage (optional)
- →Nairobi street food evening
Nairobi to Amboseli
Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Take a morning matatu/bus from Nairobi to Emali (~£3, 2.5 hrs) then a shared taxi/pikipiki to Kimana Gate (~£4-6), or book a seat on a shared daily Amboseli shuttle from a Nairobi agency (~£25-35 one way including drop at camp). Base yourself at a budget camp near Kimana Gate. Afternoon game drive in Amboseli with Kilimanjaro filling the horizon. Optional Nairobi National Park dawn game drive if you'd rather do it in the morning before leaving (~£90-120 shared, park fees included).
🚌Matatu Nairobi–Emali ~£3 + shared taxi to Kimana ~£5; or shared shuttle ~£30
🛏Budget camp/lodge near Kimana Gate, Amboseli (~£25-35 twin share)
- →Afternoon game drive in Amboseli National Park
- →Optional Nairobi National Park dawn drive
Amboseli — elephants under Kilimanjaro
Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Full-day game drive with a picnic lunch at Observation Hill. Amboseli's big-tusker elephant herds are the draw, and on clear mornings the snows of Kilimanjaro sit right behind them. Join a shared 4x4 game drive through your camp (typically £55-80 per person for a full day including park entry ~£45).
🚌Shared 4x4 with camp driver-guide
🛏Budget camp/lodge near Kimana Gate, Amboseli
- →Full-day game drive in Amboseli
- →Observation Hill picnic lunch
Amboseli to Tarangire via Namanga border
Tarangire area, Tanzania
Cross into Tanzania independently: shared shuttle from Amboseli/Kimana to Namanga (~£8), walk the border formalities (Kenya eTA and Tanzania e-visa both needed — get them in advance), then a Tanzanian shuttle from Namanga to Arusha (~£10-15, 3-4 hrs), then a dalla-dalla or shared taxi to your Karatu/Tarangire-area camp (~£5). Long day but totally doable — leave early. Sunset over the Rift Valley escarpment.
🚌Shared shuttle Kimana–Namanga ~£8; shuttle Namanga–Arusha ~£12; dalla-dalla/shared taxi Arusha–Karatu ~£5
🛏Budget tented camp near Karatu or Tarangire gate (~£30-40 twin share)
- →Namanga border crossing
- →Rift Valley escarpment sunset
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park, Tanzania
Full-day shared game drive in Tarangire, famous for giant baobabs and huge elephant herds. Book a seat through your camp or a Karatu-based operator (~£65-85 per person including park fee, vehicle and packed lunch). Afternoon: visit a Maasai village near Karatu — arrange via your camp so payment goes to the community (agreed contribution usually £10-15 per person, negotiate upfront).
🚌Shared 4x4 with local driver-guide
🛏Budget tented camp near Karatu/Tarangire gate
- →Full-day game drive in Tarangire
- →Maasai village visit with agreed community contribution
Karatu to Serengeti via Mto Wa Mbu
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Morning stop at Mto Wa Mbu village market — a genuinely lively mix of 120+ tribes, good for fruit, tinga-tinga art and a local lunch (~£8). Then continue up through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area rim and onto the Serengeti plains. If you're joining a shared camping safari, this is typically Day 1 of a 3-4 day Serengeti/Ngorongoro package (~£450-600 per person all-in for park fees, camp and vehicle). Otherwise pay your own Ngorongoro transit fee (~£55 for a 24-hr transit) and arrange a Serengeti camp pickup.
🚌Shared safari 4x4; Karatu–Serengeti ~4-5 hrs including stops and conservation-area fees
🛏Public campsite or budget tented camp in the Serengeti (e.g. Nyani/Simba public campsites ~£15-25 pp plus park fees)
- →Mto Wa Mbu market and village walk
- →Drive through Ngorongoro Conservation Area rim
- →Serengeti sunset
Full day in the Serengeti
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Dawn-to-dusk game drive across the Seronera Valley — the highest-density big-cat area in Africa. Leopard in the riverine trees, lion prides on the kopjes, and from June to October the migration herds north of Seronera. Packed lunch under an acacia. Optional splurge: a Serengeti hot-air balloon flight (~£450-550) — book via GetYourGuide or direct with the balloon companies well in advance.
🚌Shared 4x4 with driver-guide
🛏Public campsite or budget tented camp, Serengeti
- →Full-day Serengeti game drive
- →Optional Serengeti hot-air balloon safari
Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater / Karatu, Tanzania
Early morning game drive out of the Serengeti, then descend into the Ngorongoro Crater — a 600m-deep caldera with black rhino, huge-tusker elephants and flamingo lakes. Descent requires a licensed guide and vehicle; joined as part of a shared safari (~£90-110 per person for the crater day including the ~£60 crater service fee). Picnic lunch by the hippo pool. Late afternoon climb out to a guesthouse near Karatu.
🚌Shared safari 4x4; Serengeti–Ngorongoro ~3 hrs plus crater descent
🛏Budget guesthouse or tree-inn style lodging near Karatu (~£25-35 twin share)
- →Morning game drive in Serengeti
- →Ngorongoro Crater descent and game drive
Karatu to Arusha via Lake Manyara
Arusha, Tanzania
Optional morning game drive in Lake Manyara National Park (~£60-80 shared, famous for tree-climbing lions and pink flamingo shorelines), then a dalla-dalla or shared shuttle from Karatu/Mto Wa Mbu down to Arusha (~£4-8, 2 hrs). Finish with a coffee tour in Arusha if time allows (~£10) and plan your onward flight or Kilimanjaro/beach extension from here.
🚌Dalla-dalla/shared shuttle Karatu–Arusha ~£6
🛏Not included — budget Arusha hostel ~£15-25 if staying on
- →Optional Lake Manyara game drive
- →Arusha coffee tour (optional)
Self-launched vs. Contiki
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Contiki | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,045 | £3,205 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,160 per person (67%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Contiki-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,045
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Kenya & Tanzania Safari — Self-Launched Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,045 per person for 11 days in Kenya & Tanzania. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Contiki?+
Yes — Contiki charges around £3,205 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,045 — a saving of roughly £2,160 (67%) per person.
How long is the Kenya & Tanzania trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Kenya & Tanzania.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, wildlife, budget trip through Kenya & Tanzania, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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