Self-Launched Kenya & Tanzania Safari: Nairobi to Arusha
6 days · Kenya & Tanzania
Africa Natural Tours charges £2,350
No-markup version: ~£660 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY rebuild of Africa Natural Tours' 6-day private Nairobi-to-Arusha safari, done independently. Instead of a private guided vehicle, join a shared Toyota Land Cruiser safari from Nairobi, then cross the Isebania border by shared matatu/boda and pick up a shared or budget-camp Serengeti safari in Tanzania. You'll hit the highlights of Maasai Mara, the northern and central Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater — but camping in public campsites and joining small group departures drops the price dramatically. Costs are approximate and exclude international flights and visas.
Day-by-day
Nairobi to Maasai Mara
Nairobi / Maasai Mara, Kenya
Meet your shared safari minibus/Land Cruiser in Nairobi around 07:30-08:30 (arrange your own cheap airport pickup or overnight hostel in Westlands). Drive northwest via the Rift Valley escarpment with stops at Narok and viewpoint lookouts for photos. Arrive late afternoon and head straight into Maasai Mara Reserve for an evening game drive as the light drops — prime cat activity time. Settle into Jambo Mara Safari Lodge or a budget tented camp just outside the gate.
🚌Shared 6-7 seat safari minibus from Nairobi (public-departure safari, ~£30-40 pp for the Mara segment including park fees split)
🛏Budget tented camp near Ololaimutiek/ Talek gate (Jambo Mara Safari Lodge budget room if shared booking is available), ~£20-25 pp sharing
- →Rift Valley escarpment scenic stops
- →Evening game drive Maasai Mara Reserve
Full day Maasai Mara game drive
Maasai Mara, Kenya
Full day out in the reserve with a picnic lunch packed by your camp. Focus on the Mara Triangle and the river crossing points if you're there in migration season (Jul-Oct), and use the middle of the day for predator viewing around the Musiara swamps and Keekorok. Your shared safari guide will run the day — you can request specific areas the night before.
🚌Safari 4x4 with your shared group (park day, included in your safari segment price)
🛏Same budget tented camp near Maasai Mara gate, ~£20-25 pp sharing
- →Full-day game drive in Maasai Mara Reserve
- →Big Five spotting
- →Picnic lunch in the park
- →Optional: Maasai village visit ~£15 (negotiate direct)
Mara to northern Serengeti (border crossing)
Isebania border / Northern Serengeti, Tanzania
Leave early and drive to the Isebania border post on the Kenya-Tanzania line (about 2.5-3 hrs from the Mara gate). Clear immigration on foot, then take a boda-boda or shared matatu to Tarime, and from Tarime onwards arrange a small-group Serengeti safari vehicle or pre-booked transfer into the park via the Ikoma/Ndabaka gate. Enter the Serengeti and do an afternoon game drive up towards the Mara River in the north, where wildebeest cross Jul-Oct. Note: this border transfer is the fiddliest part of the DIY version — pre-booking a Tanzanian operator's shared departure from Tarime or Musoma is much easier than winging it.
🚌Shared vehicle to Isebania (~£8), border crossing on foot, boda/matatu to Tarime (~£3-5), shared safari vehicle into northern Serengeti (~£20 pp split)
🛏Serengeti Heritage Camp (public campsite version) or similar low-cost camp in northern Serengeti, ~£25-35 pp sharing
- →Isebania border crossing
- →Afternoon game drive northern Serengeti
- →Mara River wildlife viewing
Northern Serengeti to Central Serengeti (Seronera)
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Full day of driving south with game drives en route to Seronera in the central Serengeti — the best region for leopard and lion sightings, especially around the Seronera River and the kopjes. If you can afford one splurge, this is the region for it. Stay at a public campsite at Seronera or Lobo, or upgrade to a mid-range camp if your shared safari includes it.
🚌Shared safari 4x4 (included in your booked Serengeti/Ngorongoro segment)
🛏Seronera public campsite or budget camp, ~£25-35 pp sharing
- →Game drive central Serengeti
- →Seronera valley and kopje wildlife viewing
- →Big cat spotting
Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater rim
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
Morning game drive as you exit the Serengeti plains via Naabi Hill gate, then transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Descend into the crater if your itinerary allows an afternoon drive (most group safaris do the crater the following morning instead). Overnight on the crater rim at a public campsite (Simba A) or a budget lodge in Karatu for a warmer, quieter night — Karatu is cheaper but adds about an hour's drive to the descent point.
🚌Shared safari 4x4 with crater conservation fees paid (~£60-70 pp incl. crater service fee, usually bundled in your safari price)
🛏Simba A public campsite on crater rim or budget lodge in Karatu, ~£20-35 pp sharing
- →Game drive exiting Serengeti via Naabi Hill
- →Ngorongoro Conservation Area viewpoints
- →Optional afternoon crater descent
Ngorongoro Crater descent to Arusha
Ngorongoro Crater / Arusha, Tanzania
Early descent into the crater (around 06:00-06:30 when gates open) for the best rhino and Big Five viewing on the crater floor — the Lerai Forest and Ngoitokitok Springs are reliable spots for black rhino and hippo. Picnic breakfast/lunch at Ngoitokitok. Climb back out and drive to Arusha, arriving late afternoon (~17:00-18:30). Book your own Arusha hostel or hotel for the night and onward transport (e.g. Kilimanjaro airport or shuttle to Moshi).
🚌Shared safari 4x4 to Arusha (~included); onward shuttle to Kilimanjaro airport ~£10-15 if needed
🛏Your own booking in Arusha, e.g. a hostel/budget guesthouse ~£15-20 pp sharing (not included in safari price)
- →Ngorongoro Crater descent and game drive
- →Black rhino viewing
- →Picnic lunch at Ngoitokitok Springs
Self-launched vs. Africa Natural Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Africa Natural Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£660 | £2,350 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,690 per person (72%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Africa Natural Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£660
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 Self-Launched Kenya & Tanzania Safari: Nairobi to Arusha cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £660 per person for 6 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 Africa Natural Tours?+
Yes — Africa Natural Tours charges around £2,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £660 — a saving of roughly £1,690 (72%) per person.
How long is the Kenya & Tanzania trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 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, backpacker 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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