7-Day Kenya & Tanzania Self-Launched Safari: Maasai Mara to the Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater
7 days · Kenya & Tanzania (Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara)
Afrishare Trekking And Safaris charges £2,780
No-markup version: ~£1,480 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Afrishare's classic 7-day Kenya–Tanzania combo safari. Instead of a multi-country private van package, you build the same route yourself: a 3-day budget Maasai Mara group safari out of Nairobi, then cross the Isebania border by shared shuttle/matatu, then book a 4-day Serengeti–Ngorongoro–Lake Manyara camping or lodge safari directly with a well-reviewed Arusha operator. You'll see the same big-five parks, save roughly half the tour price, and gain flexibility over your itinerary and accommodation. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP; park fees, border logistics and safari vehicle costs dominate the budget.
Day-by-day
Nairobi to Maasai Mara — Rift Valley views and evening game drive
Nairobi → Maasai Mara, Kenya
Start early from Nairobi (pick-up from your hostel or the CBD around 07:00). Join a small-group 3-day budget Maasai Mara safari booked via GetYourGuide or directly with a Nairobi operator — most run shared 4x4 or van minibus trips guaranteed to depart with 2+ travellers. The drive is ~5–6 hours including a stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint at Mai Mahiu, and you arrive for a late lunch before a short evening game drive as the light drops. Look for lions, elephants and herds heading to water.
🚌Shared safari minibus/4x4 from Nairobi (~6 hrs incl. Rift Valley stop) — included in your group safari price
🛏Budget tented camp or safari lodge just outside the reserve gate (shared twin, en-suite basic)
- →Shared 3-day Maasai Mara group safari (book via GetYourGuide or a Nairobi operator)
- →Great Rift Valley viewpoint stop
- →Evening game drive in Maasai Mara National Reserve
Full day in the Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
A full day in the reserve with an early-morning drive, picnic lunch under an acacia and a late-afternoon drive back towards camp. July–October gives you a chance of wildebeest river crossings; otherwise expect excellent year-round predator sightings. Optional add-ons on the spot: a Maasai village visit (~£15–20) or a hot-air balloon flight at sunrise (book ahead, ~£350–450 — worth skipping if you're on a strict budget). Water, snacks and park entry are normally included in a budget Mara safari package.
🚌Safari vehicle for the day (included)
🛏Same budget tented camp outside the reserve gate
- →Full-day game drive with morning and afternoon sessions
- →Optional Maasai village visit (~£15–20)
- →Optional hot-air balloon flight at extra cost
Mara to the border — cross into Tanzania toward the Serengeti
Maasai Mara → Isebania border → Serengeti area, Tanzania
Long transfer day. Take a shared shuttle or matatu from the Mara back through Narok/Kilgoris to the Isebania–Sirari border (or, faster and cheaper in time, a Nairobi–Mara shuttle then a Nairobi–Arusha shuttle and re-enter north — but the direct crossing saves backtracking). Budget 9–11 hours total. At the border, get your Kenya exit stamp and Tanzania entry stamp; have your e-visa pre-approved and yellow fever certificate handy. Your Tanzanian safari operator (booked directly with an Arusha-based company via GetYourGuide, Klook or their own site) picks you up on the Tanzanian side and drives you to a camp near the Serengeti gate. Alternatively, catch a cheap local bus Kilgoris → Musoma and an overnight in Mwanza or Bunda to break the journey.
🚌Shared shuttle/Mara operator transfer to Isebania border, border crossing on foot, operator pick-up on Tanzania side (~10 hrs total, ~£60–90)
🛏Budget camp or basic guesthouse near the Serengeti gate (shared, en-suite)
- →Border crossing at Isebania–Sirari
- →Scenic drive through Mara villages and the Tanzanian highlands
- →Evening arrival and briefing with your Tanzanian safari crew
Serengeti National Park — introductory game drive
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Enter the Serengeti in the morning and spend the day driving the central Seronera region — the classic big-cat territory. Budget camping safaris out of Arusha include park fees, a cook and a guide/driver. Lunch is usually a packed box or hot lunch at a picnic site, and you finish with an evening game drive before returning to a public campsite inside or near the park (Seronera or Nyani). Expect basic shared ablutions and simple tents.
🚌Safari 4x4 with driver-guide for the day
🛏Public campsite inside/near Seronera, Serengeti (own or supplied tent, shared facilities)
- →Full-day game drive in Serengeti (Seronera region)
- →Picnic lunch at a park site
- →Evening game drive
Serengeti to Ngorongoro highlands
Serengeti National Park → Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Morning game drive in the Serengeti, then a drive south past Naabi Hill Gate and through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area toward the crater rim (4–5 hrs). Overnight at a basic lodge or campsite near the rim so you can be among the first into the crater tomorrow — this is the key advantage of joining a camping/lodge safari that includes the crater in its package. Cold nights up here: bring a fleece.
🚌Safari 4x4 (Serengeti → Ngorongoro, ~5 hrs)
🛏Budget lodge or public campsite on/near the Ngorongoro crater rim (shared)
- →Morning game drive in the Serengeti
- →Scenic drive through Naabi Hill Gate and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- →Optional Olduvai Gorge museum stop (~£8)
Ngorongoro Crater floor game drive
Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
Descend the 600m crater wall at first light — the crater floor is one of the most reliable places in Africa to spot black rhino, plus lions, flamingos at Lake Magadi and huge herds. Your group safari includes a picnic lunch on the floor and typically 5–6 hours inside. Ascend by mid-afternoon and drive to Karatu or Mto wa Mbu for the night. Crater permit fees are a big chunk of your Tanzania safari cost (~US$200–300 per vehicle/day plus per-person conservation fees), which is why a packaged group safari is better value than DIY car hire.
🚌Safari 4x4 (crater descent + drive to Karatu, ~4 hrs)
🛏Budget guesthouse or campsite near Karatu / Mto wa Mbu (shared)
- →Ngorongoro Crater floor game drive
- →Picnic lunch at Ngoitokitok Springs
- →Visit to Mto wa Mbu market or a banana plantation (optional, ~£10)
Lake Manyara National Park and on to Arusha
Lake Manyara → Arusha, Tanzania
Short early drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a 2–3 hour game drive through groundwater forest — famous for tree-climbing lions, baboons and flamingos along the lake shore. Afterwards head north to Arusha (~2 hrs) arriving late afternoon. From Arusha, take a cheap shuttle or local bus back to Nairobi (~£15–25, 6 hrs) if you're flying home from there, or stay a night and fly out of Kilimanjaro International (JRO). Alternatively extend to Zanzibar independently — make sure your safari operator provides the necessary incl. park-fee exemptions etc. (do not assume).
🚌Safari 4x4 to Lake Manyara then Arusha (~4 hrs total); optional Arusha–Nairobi shuttle ~£20
🛏Not included — Arusha hostel, e.g. a dorm/private room from ~£10–20
- →Lake Manyara National Park game drive
- →Optional night in Arusha or onward shuttle to Nairobi
Self-launched vs. Afrishare Trekking And Safaris
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Afrishare Trekking And Safaris | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,480 | £2,780 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,300 per person (47%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Afrishare Trekking And Safaris-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,480
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 7-Day Kenya & Tanzania Self-Launched Safari: Maasai Mara to the Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,480 per person for 7 days in Kenya & Tanzania (Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara). 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 Afrishare Trekking And Safaris?+
Yes — Afrishare Trekking And Safaris charges around £2,780 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,480 — a saving of roughly £1,300 (47%) per person.
How long is the Kenya & Tanzania (Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara) trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Kenya & Tanzania (Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara).
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 (Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara), 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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