Safari from the Masai Mara to the Serengeti

Nairobi hides many an interesting pastime under it’s not-so-shiny reputation and, if you find yourself in the city, you may even wish you had a few more nights to spare.

Most of the action happens in the luxurious garden suburb of Karen. A typical day might include a morning with the orphaned elephants at the David Sheldrick Trust, time at the Karen Blixen museum (and a coffee and a slice of cake), and end with a giraffe ‘kiss’ at the centre at Giraffe Manor. We recommend hiring a driver to take you around the sights, and perhaps adding a dinner stop at one of the up-and-coming restaurants.

If you’re missing your daily wildlife fix - or desperate to get started – Nairobi is one of the only cities in the world to have a national park on the doorstep. It’s home to four of the Big Five (no elephant), game viewing is good, and there’s even a short walk at the entrance. A half- or full-day trip from the city is easy to arrange and your driver will stay with you for the duration.

The King of the Kenyan safari, the Masai Mara is bucket-list travel down to a tee. The iconic wildlife (think big cats, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, zebra and the famous river crossings of the Great Migration from July to September) is matched by some of the most beautiful scenery in Africa – and there’s a lengthy list of activities to help you discover it all.

Morning and afternoon game drives are the bread and butter of a Masai Mara safari, and all-day expeditions are common especially during the Great Migration. There’s usually a bush breakfast under a shady tree or a mobile sundowner bar to complete the experience too. Specific to the private Mara Conservancies are walking safaris and night drives, both allowing you to get to grips with the landscape in different ways. In specific locations, early-morning hot air balloon flights are possible – definitely worth booking in advance – as are horseback safaris for varying capabilities. Finally, many camps have partnerships with local Maasai communities for a chance to join them in their daily life.

Famous for the mighty Great Migration, wildebeest-watching is high on the list of most who visit the Serengeti. The location of the herds differs by month but as a rough guide, you’ll catch the famous river crossings in the north from July to October and the calving and birthing season in the south from December to March. Visit at other times and the herds will be in the Western Corridor (April to June) or travelling back through the central areas.

Game drives are available from almost every lodge in the Serengeti. All offer camera-snapping sightings of four out of the Big Five (sadly rhino sightings are rare), as well as cheetah, zebra, giraffe and all the smaller game, whether you choose a morning or afternoon drive or an all-day expedition with a picnic. Night drives and walking safaris are less common but can be done from some camps, and other location-specific activities include hot air ballooning (usually the north), horseback safaris (west), cultural visits and community projects. If this list of activities doesn’t make you swoon…

Essentially a giant bowl filled to the brim with Africa’s most iconic wildlife, visiting Ngorongoro is a highlight. Game drives are a given and in most cases, you’ll rise with the sparrows to ensure you’re on the crater floor in time to catch all the action. Usually you will return in the mid-morning before heading out again in the afternoon, but some lodges have private picnic spots, allowing you to spend a whole day exploring with time for drinks and snacks. Wildlife-wise, expect to see the Big Five, including good numbers of black rhino (this is the best place in Tanzania to spot the Jurassic creatures) and plenty of plains game - but interestingly no giraffe.

Unless it’s a very short stroll, walking safaris aren’t possible in the crater itself. Instead, many lodges offer walks along the rim (spectacular views) and forest hikes in the wild and wonderful highlands, often with visits to local communities and the chance to explore the lesser-visited parts of the volcanic landscape.