Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi for your 7 Days ultimate Budget Kenya Tanzania safari holiday vacation, you will be met by a tour representative and transferred to your hotel. The short transfer allows you to quickly settle into your accommodation. The rest of the day is for resting and acclimatizing to the local time and environment. This initial day in Kenya's capital is a necessary pause before the early mornings and extensive driving that constitute the main part of the safari. You can relax at the hotel and prepare for the adventure ahead. Depending on your arrival time, optional activities within Nairobi can be arranged at an additional cost.

The day starts with an early departure from Nairobi. The drive to the Masai Mara National Reserve takes approximately 5.5 to 6.5 hours by road, depending on the specific gate and road conditions. The journey is a core part of the adventure, passing through the scenic Great Rift Valley, with a stop at a viewpoint for photos. The final section of the road to the reserve can be rough and dusty. You will arrive in time for lunch at your camp or lodge. In the afternoon, you will head out for your first game drive. This area is famous for its large number of big cats and other plains animals. From July to October, you may see aspects of the great wildebeest migration, a major wildlife movement.

A full day is dedicated to exploring the vast Masai Mara Game Reserve. You can choose a full-day game drive with a packed lunch at a picnic spot or opt for early morning and afternoon drives with a break at the camp. The reserve is contiguous with Tanzania's Serengeti National Park and is known for its high concentration of wildlife, including the Big Five. You have excellent chances of seeing lions, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, and potentially the elusive leopard and rhino. The open plains offer superb visibility for animal spotting. An optional hot air balloon safari at sunrise is also available for an extra charge, offering an aerial perspective of the plains and the Mara River.

After an early breakfast, you will leave the Masai Mara and drive to Lake Nakuru National Park. The drive usually takes around 5 to 6 hours. The route goes through Narok town, a commercial center for the Maasai region, and then climbs toward the Mau escarpment before descending into Nakuru town. The park is famous for its large population of flamingos, which can create a pink hue on the lake's surface, though numbers fluctuate. Lake Nakuru is also a sanctuary for black and white rhinos, making it one of the best places to see these endangered animals. An afternoon game drive will focus on spotting the rhinos, as well as Rothschild giraffes, waterbucks, and a variety of bird life.

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This is a long travel day involving an international border crossing. You will depart Lake Nakuru early and head towards the Isebania border post to cross into Tanzania. The entire drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is approximately 9.5 to 10.5 hours. The journey takes you through varying scenery, from the Kenyan countryside to Tanzanian farmlands and highlands. Your driver-guides will assist with the border formalities. Once in Tanzania, you will continue your drive to the vicinity of the Ngorongoro Crater, arriving at your accommodation in the late afternoon or early evening to rest after the extensive travel.

Today you will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a natural wonder. The crater floor is a self-contained environment with a high density of animals, including the Big Five. A full or half-day game drive here offers unparalleled wildlife viewing opportunities within a relatively small area (260 sq km). You will have a picnic lunch on the crater floor. Common sightings include lions, hyenas, elephants, zebras, wildebeest, and the rare black rhino. The unique geological formation makes for a dramatic backdrop to the wildlife. In the late afternoon, you will ascend the crater rim and return to your accommodation.

After breakfast, your 7 Days ultimate Budget Kenya Tanzania safari holiday vacation will conclude with a transfer to Arusha town or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your departure. The drive from the Ngorongoro area to Arusha takes about 3 to 4 hours, while the drive to JRO is slightly longer, around 4 to 5 hours. This final leg of the trip takes you through more rural areas of Tanzania. The timing allows for potential morning activities, depending on your flight schedule. You will be dropped off at the airport in time for your onward travel, concluding your 7-day budget safari holiday through Kenya and Tanzania.