Wildlife of Kenya & Tanzania: Self-Launched Nakuru to Serengeti

Fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and make your way into the city. Take the Airport Express shuttle or a pre-booked taxi to your hostel in the Westlands or Kilimani area (around £5–10 by shared shuttle). Spend the afternoon getting oriented — grab a Kenyan coffee at a local café, and if you arrive early enough, take a stroll through the city centre. Hit up the Nairobi nightlife scene in the evening; the city has a fantastic bar and club culture.

🚌Arrive by international flight. Airport to city centre by shared shuttle (~£5) or Uber (~£8).

🛏Urban Hostel Nairobi or similar budget guesthouse in Westlands (~£15–20/night)

• →Airport transfer by shared shuttle or taxi
• →Explore Westlands neighbourhood
• →Try Kenyan coffee at a local café
• →Evening bar-hopping in Nairobi

Spend a full day exploring Nairobi's highlights independently. Visit the National Museum of Kenya (entry ~£5) to see the famous Leakey family prehistoric finds. Head to the Giraffe Centre in the afternoon (entry ~£10) to hand-feed Rothschild giraffes. If budget allows, visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage in the morning (free to visit, donation encouraged). Round off the evening with dinner at a local nyama choma (grilled meat) joint.

🚌Matatu (minibus) or Uber around the city (~£3–8/day).

🛏Urban Hostel Nairobi or similar budget guesthouse (~£15–20/night)

• →National Museum of Kenya (self-entry, ~£5)
• →David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage (free/donation)
• →Giraffe Centre (self-entry, ~£10)
• →Nyama choma dinner at a local restaurant

Take an early morning shared shuttle or public bus from Nairobi to Nakuru town (roughly 2.5 hours, ~£5–8). From Nakuru town, negotiate a shared taxi or tuk-tuk to your lodge near Lake Nakuru National Park. Check in and spend the afternoon resting or exploring Nakuru town. Lake Nakuru is famous for its rhino population and prolific birdlife — look out for flamingos wading in the shallows from the park boundary.

🚌Nairobi to Nakuru by Easy Coach or Climax Bus (~£5–8, ~2.5 hrs). Nakuru town to lodge by shared taxi (~£3).

🛏Nakuru Backpackers or Carnelly's Camp (~£18–25/night)

• →Shared shuttle/bus from Nairobi to Nakuru town (~£5–8)
• →Check in at budget lodge near Lake Nakuru
• →Explore Nakuru town on foot
• →Evening game viewing from lodge if possible

Book a shared safari game drive into Lake Nakuru National Park directly through your lodge or a local operator in Nakuru town (~£40–60 per person including park fees). Nakuru is one of the best places in Kenya to spot both black and white rhinos, along with hippos, buffalos, lions, and hundreds of bird species. An afternoon drive gives you golden light for photography. Return to your lodge for dinner.

🚌Safari vehicle provided by local operator as part of the game drive booking.

🛏Nakuru Backpackers or Carnelly's Camp (~£18–25/night)

• →Full or half-day shared safari drive in Lake Nakuru National Park (~£40–60 incl. park fees)
• →Rhino, flamingo, and hippo spotting
• →Photography along the lake shoreline

Head to Kenya's most famous wildlife reserve — the Masai Mara. Take a shared shuttle from Nakuru to Narok (~£8), then a connecting shared vehicle or shuttle to the Mara gate (~£10–15). Book a budget tented camp just outside the reserve to keep costs down. Arrive by early afternoon and spend the remainder of the day soaking up the atmosphere at camp. The Mara is the staging ground for the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra — one of the world's greatest natural spectacles.

🚌Nakuru to Narok by shared matatu (~£8), Narok to Mara gate by shared vehicle (~£10–15).

🛏Mara Explorers Camp or Olumara Tented Camp (~£25–35/night)

• →Shared shuttle Nakuru to Narok to Mara gate (~£18–23 total)
• →Check in at budget tented camp
• →Afternoon relaxation and wildlife spotting from camp

Rise early for a full-day shared game drive through the Masai Mara. Book through your camp or directly with a local operator — shared 4x4 jeeps with other travellers keep costs manageable (~£50–70 per person including park fees). Look for lions, leopards, elephants, cheetahs, rhinos, and massive herds of wildebeest. If visiting between July and October, you may witness river crossings during the Great Migration. Pack a picnic lunch provided by your camp.

🚌Shared 4x4 safari vehicle arranged through camp or local operator.

🛏Mara Explorers Camp or Olumara Tented Camp (~£25–35/night)

• →Full-day shared 4x4 game drive, Masai Mara (~£50–70 incl. park fees)
• →Big Five wildlife spotting
• →Great Migration wildebeest herds (seasonal)
• →Packed picnic lunch on the savanna

Return from the Mara to Nairobi by shared shuttle (~£15–20, ~5–6 hrs). From Nairobi, take a connecting shuttle to Amboseli (~£15–20, ~4 hrs), or book a combined Nairobi–Amboseli transfer with a local operator. Arrive at your lodge near Amboseli in the evening, with the snow-capped silhouette of Mt Kilimanjaro as your backdrop if skies are clear. Settle in for dinner at the lodge.

🚌Masai Mara to Nairobi by shared shuttle (~£15–20, ~5–6 hrs). Nairobi to Amboseli by shared shuttle (~£15–20, ~4 hrs).

🛏Kibo Safari Camp or Sentrim Amboseli (budget tented camp, ~£25–35/night)

• →Shared shuttle Masai Mara to Nairobi (~£15–20)
• →Nairobi to Amboseli shared shuttle (~£15–20)
• →Sunset views of Mt Kilimanjaro from lodge

Amboseli is a photographer's paradise — iconic elephant herds roam beneath the towering snow-capped peak of Mt Kilimanjaro. Book a shared morning and afternoon game drive through your lodge or a local Amboseli operator (~£45–60 per person including park fees). Keep an eye out for lions, cheetahs, and over 400 species of birds. The early morning light with Kilimanjaro in the background is unmissable. Rest at camp during the midday heat.

🚌Shared 4x4 safari vehicle arranged through lodge.

🛏Kibo Safari Camp or Sentrim Amboseli (~£25–35/night)

• →Morning and afternoon shared game drive in Amboseli (~£45–60 incl. park fees)
• →Elephant herd and Mt Kilimanjaro photography
• →Birdwatching (400+ species)
• →Midday rest at camp

Cross into Tanzania at the Namanga border crossing. Take a shared shuttle from Amboseli to Namanga (~£10–15), handle your Tanzania visa on arrival (eVisa recommended, ~£40), and pick up a connecting shared shuttle or bus to Arusha (~£5–8). Arusha is the safari capital of Tanzania and a great base before heading into the northern circuit parks. Spend the afternoon exploring Arusha's markets and central area.

🚌Amboseli to Namanga by shared shuttle (~£10–15). Namanga to Arusha by shared bus (~£5–8).

🛏Arusha Backpackers or Arusha Tourist Inn (~£15–20/night)

• →Shared shuttle Amboseli to Namanga border (~£10–15)
• →Tanzania border crossing and visa on arrival (~£40 eVisa)
• →Shared bus/shuttle Namanga to Arusha (~£5–8)
• →Explore Arusha Central Market

Head out early from Arusha to Tarangire National Park (~2 hrs, ~£10–15 by shared safari vehicle). Tarangire is Tanzania's hidden gem — huge elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and far fewer tourists than the Serengeti. Book a shared day safari through one of Arusha's many budget operators (~£50–70 including park fees and transport). Return to a lodge or tented camp near the park gate for the night.

🚌Arusha to Tarangire by shared safari vehicle arranged via local Arusha operator (~£10–15 each way).

🛏Tarangire Safari Lodge budget rooms or Maramboi Tented Camp (~£25–35/night)

• →Shared safari day trip to Tarangire (~£50–70 incl. park fees and transport)
• →Elephant herds and baobab tree landscapes
• →Lion, leopard, and wildebeest spotting
• →Birdwatching along the Tarangire River

Set the alarm early — this is the crown jewel of the entire trip. Book a shared safari that combines the Ngorongoro Crater and enters the Serengeti in a single day through an Arusha-based budget operator (~£90–120 per person including all park and crater fees, which are significant). The Ngorongoro Crater is home to a self-contained ecosystem with lions, leopards, hippos, flamingos, and critically endangered black rhinos. Continue into the Serengeti for an afternoon game drive before settling into a tented camp inside or on the boundary of the park.

🚌Shared 4x4 safari vehicle with local operator covers all transfers this day.

🛏Serengeti Savanna Camps or Mbuzi Mawe budget tented camp (~£35–50/night)

• →Early morning Ngorongoro Crater game drive (~£90–120 total incl. fees)
• →Big Five wildlife spotting in the crater
• →Afternoon Serengeti National Park game drive
• →Overnight in Serengeti boundary tented camp

Dedicate a full day to the Serengeti — one of the world's greatest wildlife spectacles. Book an additional game drive with your camp or operator (~£40–60 including guide, vehicle, and park re-entry). The vast open plains host lions, buffalo, cheetahs, elephants, wildebeest, and zebras. For a truly unforgettable optional splurge, a hot-air balloon safari over the Serengeti at sunrise can be booked locally (~£350–450) — pricey but spectacular, with a champagne breakfast landing. Spend the evening around the campfire.

🚌Shared 4x4 safari vehicle arranged through camp.

🛏Serengeti Savanna Camps or Mbuzi Mawe budget tented camp (~£35–50/night)

• →Full-day shared game drive in Serengeti (~£40–60)
• →Big cat and elephant spotting on the open plains
• →Optional: Hot-air balloon safari at sunrise (~£350–450 extra)
• →Campfire evening at tented camp

After a final morning game drive or sunrise stroll around camp, begin the overland journey back to Arusha (~4–5 hrs by shared safari vehicle, ~£20–30). Arrive in Arusha by early afternoon — explore the Maasai market for souvenirs, reflect on the adventure over a celebratory meal, and transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) for your onward flight. Arusha is well-connected to Nairobi by shuttle (~£15) if you're flying home from there instead.

🚌Serengeti to Arusha by shared safari vehicle (~£20–30, ~4–5 hrs). Arusha to KIA by taxi (~£10–15) or shuttle to Nairobi (~£15).

🛏Arusha Backpackers or transit hotel near KIA if needed (~£15–20/night)

• →Final morning game drive or sunrise walk near camp
• →Shared safari vehicle back to Arusha (~£20–30)
• →Maasai market souvenir shopping in Arusha
• →Farewell dinner in Arusha before departure