14 Days Kenya Tanzania Safari: The Honest 2026 Guide
A 14 Days Kenya Tanzania Safari is the full East Africa circuit: Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Naivasha, the Masai Mara, the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire. For the 2026/2027 season, all-inclusive rates for two people sharing range from KES 1,485,000 ($11,425) to KES 3,250,000 ($25,000) per person. This covers private 4×4 Land Cruisers in both countries, Masai Mara park fee charges ($200 in peak), Tanzanian TANAPA and NCAA fees, AMREF Flying Doctors evacuation, and internal flights. Build in at least 2 rest days. Without them, most guests lose interest in game drives by Day 10.
14 Days Kenya Tanzania Safari Costs (2026/2027)
This is the longest version of our cross-border safari. For shorter options, see the 10-day or the Kenya Tanzania Safari main page.
This trip visits parks managed by multiple authorities across two countries. The pricing includes all fees, two separate 4×4 vehicles with guides, border logistics, AMREF evacuation insurance, and internal flights. These are all-inclusive prices for two people traveling together.
14-Day All-Inclusive Rates (Per Person Sharing)
Package Tier | Suggested Hotels | Regular (KES) | Peak (KES) |
Budget | Talek Bush Camp + Tukaone Camp + Rhino Lodge | KES 1,485,000 | KES 1,980,000 |
Mid-Range | Ashnil Mara + Kubu Kubu + Ngorongoro Serena | KES 2,150,000 | KES 2,480,000 |
Luxury | Mara Serena + Serengeti Serena + Ngorongoro Crater Lodge | KES 2,850,000 | KES 3,100,000 |
Luxury Plus | Angama Mara + Sasakwa Lodge + Lemala Ngorongoro | KES 3,150,000 | KES 3,250,000 |
Book Now | Current Rates |
Note: Peak season is July–October for the wildebeest migration. Solo travellers pay a single supplement of 30–50%. For a luxury safari upgrade, request a custom quote.
What’s Covered in the Price?
- Vehicles. Private 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser in Kenya and a separate 4×4 in Tanzania.
- Flights. Internal flights via Masai Mara flying packages.
- Guides. TRA-licensed guides for both countries.
- Park Fees. Kenya fees via eCitizen. Tanzania fees via TANAPA and NCAA.
- Evacuation. AMREF Flying Doctors emergency air evacuation insurance.
- Accommodation. Full board throughout, 13 nights.
- Water. Bottled water during all game drives.
Excluded. Kenya eTA ($30–$50), Tanzania eVisa ($50–$100), tips ($25/day Kenya, $20–$30/day Tanzania), hot air balloon ($450–$600 depending on which park), Masai village visit (KES 4,500), international flights.
I’ve been guiding for ten years. A 14 Days Kenya Tanzania Safari is the trip where you see everything both countries offer. You start in Samburu with species that don’t exist in the south. You stop at Ol Pejeta for the last two northern white rhinos on Earth. You cycle through Hell’s Gate among giraffes. You spend 3 nights in the Mara with conservancy night drives and walking safaris. You cross into Tanzania for 3 Serengeti nights reaching zones that shorter trips can’t. You descend into Ngorongoro Crater. And you finish under the baobabs of Tarangire. The catch is that 14 consecutive days of game drives will exhaust you if you don’t pace yourself.
The 14-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi Arrival
Stay in the Karen area. Visit the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage at 11 AM and the Giraffe Centre in the afternoon. If you want one night at Giraffe Manor (breakfast with giraffes through the windows), book 3–6 months in advance.
Day 2–3: Samburu
Drive north to Samburu National Reserve. Two days tracking the Special Five: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk, and beisa oryx. None of these exist in Tanzania. Cross the Equator line near Nanyuki on the way — a 10-minute photo stop.
Day 4: Ol Pejeta Conservancy
See the last two northern white rhinos under armed guard. Visit the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, the only place in Kenya to see chimps. Views of Mount Kenya from the conservancy.
Day 5: Lake Naivasha (Rest Day)
This is the first rest day. No 5:30 AM alarm. Morning boat ride on Lake Naivasha past hippos and pelicans. Afternoon cycling through Hell’s Gate National Park among zebras and giraffes. Or walk on Crescent Island among wildlife with no predators. This day exists to break up the driving and reset your energy for the Mara.
Day 6–8: Masai Mara
Three nights. Morning and afternoon game drives tracking lions, leopards, and the migration if it’s in the Mara (July–October). Do your night drive and walking safari during the Mara leg. The Serengeti and Ngorongoro don’t allow either. Your Mara park ticket runs on a strict 12-hour calendar day (6 AM – 6 PM), so if you arrive mid-afternoon on Day 6, do a Masai village visit or a conservancy drive outside the reserve instead.
Day 9: Mara to Tanzania
Morning game drive. Then the Isebania border crossing. Your Kenyan guide drops you off, you cross on foot, and your Tanzanian guide meets you with a different vehicle. See the Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari page for full border details. While paperwork is processed, walk to the Kuria stalls for Kitenge textiles at local prices. Overnight at Speke Bay Lodge on Lake Victoria if driving.
Day 10–12: Serengeti
Three full days. See the Serengeti section below for which zone to visit based on your dates. Day 11 or 12 can double as a second rest day if you feel the fatigue — spend a morning at camp instead of a game drive.
Day 13: Ngorongoro Crater
Drive from the Serengeti to the crater rim. Stop at Olduvai Gorge for 30 minutes. Descend 600 metres for a half-day game drive. Vehicles are limited to 6 hours on the floor. See the Masai Mara Serengeti Ngorongoro Safari page for detailed crater advice. Overnight on the rim.
Day 14: Departure
Morning game drive at Tarangire for elephant herds and baobab trees. Stop at Mto wa Mbu village for a walking tour and the red bananas (they have a raspberry-like flavour). Fly out of Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO), not Dar es Salaam.
Why You Need Rest Days
Circuit Reset Point | Non-Vehicle Activity | Expected Energy Outcome |
Day 5: Lake Naivasha | Boat cruise, crater walking, or park bicycling | Breaks up long overland transits; restores stamina for the Mara |
Day 11 or 12: Serengeti | Camp reading, lodge swimming, or pool relaxation | Halts early alarm fatigue; freshens focus for Ngorongoro |
Arusha Extension | Exploring town markets and regional cafes | Softens final highway transit pressures prior to flight departures |
After 10 consecutive days of early mornings and game drives, most guests hit a wall. The excitement of seeing a lion gives way to indifference. Multiple travellers describe this. On a 14-day trip, I schedule at least 2 days where you don’t sit in a game drive vehicle.
Day 5 at Lake Naivasha is the first. Cycling, boating, and walking replace the vehicle. Day 11 or 12 in the Serengeti is the second — a morning at camp reading, doing laundry, or swimming in the lodge pool instead of another 6 AM drive. These breaks mean your last few days in Ngorongoro and Tarangire feel fresh instead of obligatory.
If you want a third rest day, add a night in Arusha between Ngorongoro and your departure. The town has good restaurants, a Maasai market, and views of Mount Meru.
The Serengeti Zones
With 3 Serengeti nights on a 14-day trip, your operator should position you in the zone that matches your travel dates.
Central Seronera. Year-round resident wildlife. The Hippo Pool, the Simba Kopjes, and the densest big cat concentration outside the Mara.
Northern Kogatende. August to October. The Mara River crossings on the Tanzania side. Fly into Kogatende airstrip, not Seronera.
Gol Kopjes (eastern Serengeti). Granite formations on flat plains with one of the highest cheetah concentrations in Africa. Best in the green season.
Namiri Plains. Closed for 20 years for lion research, recently reopened. Less habituated prides. Few other vehicles.
Western Grumeti. June to July. The Grumeti River crossings with far fewer vehicles than the Mara.
Southern Ndutu. January to March. Calving grounds, roughly 8,000 wildebeest born daily.
Empakaai Crater. If you have 2 nights on the Ngorongoro rim, use the second day for Empakaai. You hike down on foot with an armed ranger. Flamingos on a soda lake and usually zero other tourists.
What to Know Before You Go
Critical Safari Factor | Vetted Guide Rule & Mitigation |
Emergency Evacuation | Ensure AMREF Flying Doctors insurance is activated for remote bush tracking. |
Malaria Prophylaxis | Budget for Malarone to avoid sun-sensitivity rashes common with Doxycycline. |
Itinerary Cost-Balancing | Weight nights toward cheaper Kenyan parks to save $500–$1,000 per person. |
Transit Flight Limits | Cap personal gear at 15 kg; plan to use camp laundry services every 3 days. |
Transaction Security | Authenticate all company bank routing through official KATO and TATO directories. |
- AMREF Flying Doctors evacuation insurance is included in our price. If booking independently, buy it at flydoc.org. On a 14-day trip through remote areas in two countries, it’s the insurance that matters most.
- Take malaria pills. Malarone has fewer side effects. Doxycycline is cheaper but causes sun sensitivity, which is a problem in open-roof vehicles. Take either with dinner.
- Visit a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before departure. They have the vaccines on site and know which prophylaxis fits your medical history.
- Kenya is noticeably cheaper per day than Tanzania. Parks like Hell’s Gate ($30), Lake Naivasha (free entry), and Nakuru ($60) cost a fraction of the Serengeti ($169+). On a budget 14-day trip, weighting the itinerary toward Kenya saves $500–$1,000 per person.
- The drive from Amboseli to the Mara takes 6–8 hours. If your itinerary includes Amboseli, break it with an overnight at Lake Naivasha or Lake Nakuru. Don’t try it in one day, especially with children.
- Verify your operator thoroughly. A 14-day cross-border package costs $11,000–$25,000 per person. Check KATO (Kenya) and TATO (Tanzania). Ask for references from guests who completed the exact same itinerary. Pay by credit card where possible.
- Giraffe Manor books out 3–6 months in advance. Reserve the same week you book your flights.
- Pack 3 safari outfits and use lodge laundry every 3 days at $1–$3 per item. It’s the only way to stay under the 15 kg flight limit on a 14-day trip.
- Your Mara park ticket runs from 6 AM to 6 PM. On departure day, exit by 10 AM or pay another full day.
- Masai Mara booking operator check: verify your Kenya operator on KATO and your Tanzania operator on TATO before paying any deposit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 14 days too long for a safari?
Not if you build in rest days. Ten consecutive days of game drives is the limit for most people. Lake Naivasha on Day 5 and a camp morning in the Serengeti on Day 11 or 12 keep the trip feeling fresh.
Do I need two visas?
Yes. Kenya eTA ($30–$50) and Tanzania eVisa ($50–$100). The East Africa Tourist Visa does not cover Tanzania. Apply at least 3 weeks before travel.
What is the best month?
August to September for Mara crossings and northern Serengeti crossings. January to March for Ndutu calving and Samburu dry season. The crater works in any month. Check our best time to visit Masai Mara guide and the Masai Mara vs Serengeti comparison.
Is a 4×4 mandatory?
Yes, in both countries. Every private safari we run uses a 4×4.
Is this trip safe?
Yes. All parks have rangers and your guides carry radios. AMREF provides emergency evacuation. More in our Masai Mara safety guide.
What the Full Circuit Feels Like
Samburu and its five species that don’t exist anywhere else on the circuit. Ol Pejeta and the last northern white rhinos. Hell’s Gate on a bicycle instead of in a vehicle. A rest day that resets your energy before the Mara. And enough time on the Tanzania side to reach the Serengeti zones that shorter trips skip. Guests who’ve done this full circuit say it stopped feeling like a holiday somewhere around Day 8 and started feeling like they were living in East Africa rather than visiting it.
If a shorter trip suits you better, see our 10 days Kenya Tanzania safari or the 7 days Masai Mara Serengeti safari. Want a Kenya-only trip? See the 5 days Masai Mara safari or 4 days Masai Mara safari. Want a different Kenya circuit? See the Masai Mara Amboseli Nakuru Safari or the 6 days Masai Mara Amboseli safari. Want to add a beach? See the Masai Mara and Diani Beach Safari or the Masai Mara and Zanzibar Safari. Browse everything on our Masai Mara packages page.
Ready to start? Fill out our booking form at Masaimara.co.ke below here and I’ll get both vehicles and the border logistics ready.
Related Reading:
- Kenya Tanzania Safari
- 10 Days Kenya Tanzania Safari
- Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari
- Masai Mara Serengeti Ngorongoro Safari
- 7 Days Masai Mara Serengeti Safari
- Masai Mara vs Serengeti
- Masai Mara and Zanzibar Safari
- Masai Mara and Diani Beach Safari
- Masai Mara and Mombasa Safari
- Masai Mara Amboseli Nakuru Safari
- 6 Days Masai Mara Amboseli Safari
- 5 Days Masai Mara Safari
- 4 Days Masai Mara Safari
- Masai Mara Packages
- Luxury Safari Masai Mara
- Masai Mara Flying Packages
- Masai Mara Migration
- Masai Mara Booking
- Wildebeest Migration Kenya
- Masai Mara Entrance Gates
- Official KWS Park Fee Portal
- Kenya Wildlife Service
This guide was authored by David Njunge, a TRA-licensed safari guide with over 10 years of experience, and edited by Cecilia Wambui, a travel consultant with a degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management.
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