Self-Launched 13-Day East Africa Safari: Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Amboseli
13 days · Kenya & Tanzania
Exciting Africa Holidays charges £6,580
No-markup version: ~£1,105 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Exciting Africa Holidays' 13-day Kenya–Tanzania Big Five safari loop. Instead of a single fully guided private tour, this splits the trip into two locally bookable halves — Kenyan parks (Nakuru, Maasai Mara, Amboseli) with Nairobi-based operators, and Tanzanian parks (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire) with Arusha-based operators — booked independently via GetYourGuide, SafariBookings or direct with local outfitters. You arrange your own Nairobi–Arusha border transfer and shared 4x4 safari seats rather than a private vehicle. Accommodation is budget tented camps/public campsites and simple guesthouses rather than mid-range lodges. Costs are approximate and per person, based on joining shared group safari departures (the cheapest realistic way to do this route).
Day-by-day
Arrive Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya
Land at JKIA and take an airport taxi or shuttle to a central Nairobi hostel/guesthouse (Kibera/Westlands area has cheap beds). Pick up a local SIM (Safaricom, ~£1) and get cash — safari operators and park gates prefer cash or M-Pesa. Evening: join a free Nairobi city walk or eat at a local nyama choma joint. If you want a warm-up, book an optional Nairobi National Park half-day drive.
🚌Airport taxi/shuttle ~£10-12
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel, Westlands or city centre (~£15)
- →Nairobi National Park half-day game drive (optional, ~£55 shared)
- →Safaricom SIM pickup
- →Nairobi city walk
Nairobi to Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru, Kenya
Book a shared 2-day Lake Nakuru add-on with a Nairobi operator (direct or via SafariBookings). Depart early in a shared safari minivan (usually 6-7 seats). Drive ~3 hours to Nakuru, check into a budget lodge/campsite just outside the park. Afternoon game drive looking for white rhino, Rothschild's giraffe and flamingos on the lake.
🚌Shared safari minivan from Nairobi, ~3 hrs (~£35 pp as part of tour)
🛏Budget lodge/campsite near Lake Nakuru (~£25, often bundled into 2-day tour)
- →Afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park (shared vehicle)
- →Rhino and flamingo viewing
Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara, Kenya
Early morning game drive in Nakuru, then a long shared transfer (~6-7 hrs on rough roads) west to the Maasai Mara. Most budget travellers stay at a tented camp near Talek or Sekenani gate. Afternoon short game drive if time allows, otherwise settle in and arrange your next days' drives. Confirm with your camp whether game drives are included or charged separately.
🚌Shared safari vehicle, ~6-7 hrs (~£40 pp)
🛏Budget tented camp near Talek/Sekenani (~£30)
- →Morning game drive Lake Nakuru
- →Transfer to Maasai Mara
- →Optional afternoon game drive
Maasai Mara — full-day game drive
Maasai Mara, Kenya
Full-day shared game drive with picnic lunch in the reserve. Prime chance for lion, cheetah, elephant and (Jul-Oct) the wildebeest migration river crossings. Optional add-ons bookable locally: hot air balloon flight with bush breakfast (~£400, book direct with a balloon company) and a Maasai village visit (~£15-20).
🚌Included in camp's game-drive package
🛏Budget tented camp near Talek/Sekenani (~£30)
- →Full-day game drive Maasai Mara
- →Optional hot air balloon (~£400)
- →Optional Maasai village visit (~£18)
Maasai Mara — migration watch
Maasai Mara, Kenya
Flexible day: another game drive, or position yourself at the Mara River for migration crossings (best Jul-Oct). Budget travellers often negotiate a shared full-day drive with their camp or join fellow travellers to split vehicle costs. Keep park entry fee in mind (Mara is ~£65-70/day for non-residents).
🚌Shared 4x4 from camp
🛏Budget tented camp near Talek/Sekenani (~£30)
- →Mara River migration watch
- →Shared game drive
- →Wildlife photography
Maasai Mara — morning & afternoon game drives
Maasai Mara, Kenya
Two more shared game drives with your camp guide. Use the middle of the day to rest, do laundry and prep for the border crossing the next day. Buy your Kenyan exit / Tanzanian entry paperwork in advance and pack a picnic.
🚌Shared 4x4
🛏Budget tented camp near Talek/Sekenani (~£30)
- →Morning game drive
- →Afternoon game drive
Maasai Mara to Serengeti (via Isbania/Serengeti border)
Serengeti, Tanzania
This is the trickiest solo leg. Options: (a) join a cross-border safari transfer from the Mara to Serengeti via the Isbania border post (some Kenyan/Tanzanian operators run these, ~£90-130 pp), or (b) backtrack to Nairobi and take a flight/bus to Arusha then start the Tanzania half. Cross-border game drives through the western corridor are common. Overnight at a budget camp inside or just outside the Serengeti.
🚌Cross-border shared safari transfer (~£110 pp)
🛏Budget tented camp, Serengeti area (~£35)
- →Cross-border transfer to Serengeti
- →Game viewing en route
- →Border formalities (e-visa/border visa)
Serengeti National Park — full-day game drive
Serengeti, Tanzania
Full day of shared game drives in the Serengeti (booked with your camp or an Arusha operator). Peak for big cats, elephants, and the migration herds. Park fee ~£60-70 pp/day non-resident. Carry cash — card machines are rare at gates.
🚌Shared 4x4 safari vehicle
🛏Budget tented camp, Serengeti area (~£35)
- →Morning game drive Serengeti
- →Afternoon game drive Serengeti
- →Big cat spotting
Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro, Tanzania
Game drive while exiting the Serengeti, then transfer to the Ngorongoro highlands. Overnight at a budget lodge/guesthouse near Karatu or on the crater rim (rim camping is an affordable option). Rest and prepare for the crater descent.
🚌Shared safari vehicle, ~4-5 hrs
🛏Budget guesthouse/tented camp, Karatu area (~£30)
- →Game drive departing Serengeti
- →Ngorongoro highlands viewpoints
Ngorongoro Crater floor & Tarangire
Ngorongoro / Tarangire, Tanzania
Early descent to the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a ~5-6 hour game drive (best chance of black rhino, plus dense lion and elephant). Ngorongoro entry is steep (~£60-70 pp plus ~£200+ per vehicle crater fee — sharing a vehicle is essential). Afternoon transfer toward Tarangire and an evening game drive there. Budget camping near Tarangire.
🚌Shared safari vehicle, ~4-5 hrs transfers
🛏Budget campsite, Tarangire area (~£25)
- →Full crater floor game drive
- →Afternoon game drive Tarangire
Tarangire to Amboseli (via Arusha & Namanga border)
Amboseli, Kenya
Morning transfer to Arusha, then a public shuttle/bus across the Namanga border to Nairobi-side Amboseli. Independent shuttles Arusha–Namanga–Amboseli run daily (~£25-40 pp). Don't overpay for a private transfer. Afternoon arrival at your Amboseli-side camp/guesthouse (Kimana gate area is budget-friendly). Views of Kilimanjaro on clear evenings.
🚌Public shuttle Arusha–Amboseli via Namanga (~£30 pp)
🛏Budget tented camp/guesthouse near Kimana gate (~£28)
- →Arusha to Namanga public shuttle
- →Border formalities (Kenya re-entry)
- →Kilimanjaro viewpoints
Amboseli National Park — full-day game drive
Amboseli, Kenya
Full-day shared game drive in Amboseli — famous for huge elephant herds against a Kilimanjaro backdrop, plus buffalo, hippo and birdlife. Book the drive directly with your camp or a Kimana-based operator. Park fee ~£55-60 pp/day.
🚌Shared 4x4 safari vehicle
🛏Budget tented camp/guesthouse near Kimana gate (~£28)
- →Morning game drive Amboseli
- →Afternoon game drive Amboseli
- →Elephant viewing with Mt Kilimanjaro backdrop
Amboseli to Nairobi — depart
Nairobi, Kenya
Morning transfer back to Nairobi by public shuttle/bus (~4 hrs, ~£12-18 pp). Arrive Nairobi early-afternoon with time for onward flights. If your flight is late, drop bags at a hostel and visit the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage or Giraffe Centre.
🚌Public shuttle Amboseli–Nairobi (~£15 pp)
🛏Not included (onward departure)
- →Amboseli to Nairobi shuttle
- →Optional Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage / Giraffe Centre
Self-launched vs. Exciting Africa Holidays
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exciting Africa Holidays | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,105 | £6,580 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £5,475 per person (83%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exciting Africa Holidays-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,105
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 13-Day East Africa Safari: Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Amboseli cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,105 per person for 13 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 Exciting Africa Holidays?+
Yes — Exciting Africa Holidays charges around £6,580 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,105 — a saving of roughly £5,475 (83%) per person.
How long is the Kenya & Tanzania trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 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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