Kenya & Tanzania Migration Safari — Self-Launched

Catch the 07:30–08:00 shared shuttle from Nairobi's city centre/River Road pickup points to Narok and on to Sekenani Gate (roughly 5–6 hours including the rough final stretch; book via your camp or a Nairobi-based shuttle operator like Easy Coach/Nairobi-Mara shuttles, ~£22–28pp one way). Base yourself at a budget tented camp just outside Talek or Sekenani Gate — these run £18–30pp per night in a twin safari tent with hot showers. After checking in around 15:00, join a shared afternoon game drive in the reserve (your camp or the gate-side operators sell seats in a 4x4 or minivan for ~£45–60pp for a 3-hour drive). Watch for lion, elephant and cheetah on the Talek plains. Dinner at camp.

🚌Shared shuttle Nairobi–Masai Mara ~£25; shared afternoon game drive ~£50

🛏Budget safari tented camp near Talek/Sekenani Gate (~£22pp per night, twin share)

• →Shared shuttle to Masai Mara
• →Afternoon game drive in Masai Mara National Reserve
• →Optional: Masai village visit (~£16)

Do the full-day Mara drive with a picnic lunch — the standard route heads toward the Mara River crossing points in July–October for the wildebeest migration. Book the day through your camp (most camps have their own 4x4 Land Cruisers and charge ~£70–90pp for a full day with driver-guide, fuel and packed lunch included). Park entry is paid separately at the gate: ~$100 USD international non-resident fee per 24 hours (about £80) plus vehicle fee. Bring cash/card for the gate, plenty of water, binoculars and a dust buff. Alternative for early risers: a shared hot-air balloon flight from ~£380–420pp (book direct with Governors' Balloon Safaris or Mara Balloon Safaris, 3–4 months ahead) — skip it if budget is tight.

🚌Full-day shared 4x4 with driver-guide ~£80; Masai Mara park fee ~£80

🛏Same budget safari tented camp (~£22pp)

• →Full-day game drive with picnic lunch
• →Mara River migration crossing viewpoints (seasonal)
• →Optional: hot-air balloon safari ~£380–420

This is the fiddly day: there is no straight tourist route from the Mara to the Serengeti, which is why the operator re-routed it. The realistic independent version: take a shared shuttle or boda/matatu from Talek to Narok, then a bus or shared shuttle onward to Migori/Sirare on the Kenya side of the Mara River border, cross on foot to Tarime (Tanzania), then take a shared taxi or bus to Musoma and on toward the Serengeti's Ikoma/Ndabaka gate area — long (10–12 hours) but doable. Simpler, slightly pricier option: book a Nairobi operator's 2-day overland transfer seat or a private transfer Narok–Tarime–Serengeti gate for ~£90–120pp if you can team up with other travellers from your camp. Overnight at a budget tented camp near Ikoma or Ndabaka Gate (~£20–28pp). Late-afternoon game drive into the western Serengeti corridor if you arrive by 16:00.

🚌Shared shuttles/buses Talek–Narok–Tarime–Serengeti ~£35–45; or shared private transfer ~£90–120

🛏Budget tented camp near Ikoma / Ndabaka Gate (~£24pp)

• →Cross Kenya–Tanzania border at Sirare/Tarime
• →Evening game drive in western Serengeti corridor
• →Optional: Olduvai/Naabi orientation stops en route

Full day on the central Serengeti plains (Seronera area is the classic base — big cat territory, leopard in the riverine trees, and huge herds in migration season). Book the day's drive through your camp's vehicle or a Seronera-based operator: ~£85–110pp for a full day with driver-guide. Serengeti park fees are steep — roughly $70–82 USD per adult per 24 hours (approx £60–65) plus vehicle and camping fees; pay at the gate or via your camp. Take a picnic lunch and eat at a designated picnic site (Seronera or Naabi). If you want the balloon: Serengeti balloon flights run from ~£400–470pp, booked direct 2–3 months ahead.

🚌Full-day shared 4x4 with driver-guide ~£95; Serengeti park fee ~£65

🛏Same tented camp near Seronera / Ikoma (~£24pp)

• →Full-day game drive in Serengeti National Park
• →Picnic lunch at Seronera picnic site
• →Optional: Serengeti hot-air balloon ~£400–470

Extended morning game drive out of the Serengeti via Naabi Hill Gate, then continue south through the short-grass plains. Stop at Olduvai Gorge museum if it interests you (~$42/£34 entry, paid on site) — the gorge viewpoint and small museum are worth 45 minutes. Climb to the Ngorongoro Crater rim for sunset views over the caldera. Stay at a budget camp on the rim (Simba campsite A/B public sites ~£15–18pp, or a budget rim lodge ~£30–40pp). Rim altitude is ~2,300 m — it gets cold at night, pack a fleece. Shared vehicle/driver for the transfer day: ~£60–80pp if sharing, or hop in a seat-in-vehicle transfer with your camp.

🚌Full-day shared 4x4 transfer Serengeti–Ngorongoro ~£70

🛏Ngorongoro rim public campsite (Simba A/B) ~£17pp, or budget rim lodge ~£35pp

• →Extended morning Serengeti game drive
• →Naabi Hill Gate transit
• →Optional: Olduvai Gorge museum ~£34
• →Crater rim sunset viewpoint

Descend into the crater at first light (gate opens ~06:00) for a 5–6 hour drive on the crater floor: black rhino, lions, flamingos at Lake Magadi, huge buffalo herds. Ngorongoro entry is ~$70–82 USD per person per 24 hours plus a steep vehicle fee (~$295 per vehicle/day) and crater service fee — this is why sharing a vehicle matters; join a shared crater-day 4x4 from your camp (~£85–110pp including the vehicle share) and sort your own park fee at the gate. Picnic lunch on the floor. Climb out by mid-afternoon, then take the 16:00–17:00 shared bus/shuttle from Ngorongoro/Lodoare junction to Arusha (~£8–12pp, ~3 hours), arriving Arusha by evening. Fly home from Kilimanjaro (JRO) or continue to Zanzibar by ferry/flight.

🚌Shared 4x4 crater day ~£95; Ngorongoro park + crater fee ~£90; shared bus to Arusha ~£10

🛏Not included — budget guesthouse in Arusha ~£15–20pp if you stay the night

• →Six-hour game drive on Ngorongoro Crater floor
• →Picnic lunch on the crater floor
• →Transfer to Arusha