Top Tips On How to Combine A Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari Tour in a Single Vacation For First Timers
Combining a Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari tour in a single vacation trip offers you an ultimate East African safari experience in two of the most iconic game parks in Africa. These iconic safari destinations in Kenya and Tanzania form one of the greatest wildlife ecosystems on Earth offering you unmatched opportunities to witness the magic of the African wilderness. Starting from the famous Great Migration to encounters with the Big Five, a safari tour that combines Masai Mara game reserve and Serengeti National Park comes with breathtaking landscapes, thrilling game drives and cultural immersions.
In this guide, we will take you through the essentials of planning a seamless journey that seamlessly combines the Masai Mara and Serengeti. From the best times to visit to travel logistics and safari experiences as you prepare to embark on an unforgettable adventure across two of Africa’s most iconic safari destinations.
How to Combine Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari Tours in a Single Trip?
Travelers can combine a Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari tour in a single trip by either flying direct into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi-Kenya, transfer by road (5-6 hours) or by flight ( 45 Minutes-2 hours) to Masai Mara Game Reserve stay for 3-4 nights depending on the time available and style of travel and then transfer by road or flight to Serengeti National Park-Tanzania through the Isibania Border crossing ending their trip from Kilimanjaro International Airport-Tanzania or they can fly direct into Kilimanjaro International Airport, transfer by road ( if there are additions of Ngorongoro or Tarangire or Manyara National Paks to avoid long driving hours ) or flight (45 Minutes -2 Hours) to Serengeti stay 3-4 nights and then transfer by road or flight to Masai Mara through the Isibania border crossing ending their trip from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport-Nairobi Kenya.
Should I Drive or Fly from Masai Mara to Serengeti and Vis-Visa?
To decide on whether to drive or fly from Masai Mara to Serengeti or from Serengeti to Masai Mara, you need to understand that unlike Masai Mara, the Serengeti is very large with some parts of the park closer to the Masai Mara and others very far away from the Masai Mara. This therefore means that the mode of transferring while combining these two iconic parks will largely depend on which part of Serengeti you intend to stay between North, West, East, Central or South of Serengeti based on which wildlife experience you prefer between the great migration season and just big five animals viewing.
For example, it will take around 6 hours to connect by road from Masai Mara to Serengeti North (Kogatende Area) the home of great migration Mara River crossing but will take 9-12 hours to connect by road from Masai Mara to Southern (Ndutu Area) /Central (Seronera Area) /East (Lobo/Namiri Area) and Western Serengeti (Grumeti Area)
Please note that you have to swap safari vehicles at the border crossing since Tanzanian-plated safari cars are currently banned in Kenyan parks and the same applies the other way around.
What is the ultimate best way to Combine a Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari in a Single Trip?
From Experience, we think that the best way to combine a Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari tour in a single vacation trip is to take small aircraft domestic flight between the two parks. Flying makes the logistics of crossing the border between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara both quick and easy. You will take a short 30-minute flight from any Airstrip in Masai Mara depending on your lodge location to Migori Airstrip in Migori town near the Tanzanian border. From here you will be transferred by road for 25-30 Minutes by your pre-arranged driver to Isibania border crossing for immigration and customs processing and when finalized you will meet your Tanzania pre-arranged driver to transfer you on a 25-30 Minutes drive to Tarime Airstrip in Tanzania for your onward 1 hour- 2 Hours flight into your preferred Airstrip in Serengeti depending on your lodge location tonight and the process is the same if you choose to start with the Serengeti part of the trip before moving onto the Mara.
Why Should I Combine a Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari?
The Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania are two iconic safari locations in Africa and together they form one of the world’s most spectacular ecosystems that stretches across international borders and here is why we think that a combined Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari is a good idea:
- When you combine both the Masai Mara and Serengeti in a single trip, you unlock an extended safari experience that gives you access to diverse wildlife, landscapes and cultural experiences.
- Combining both the Masai Mara and Serengeti National Park in one single trip increases your chances of witnessing the dramatic great migration Mara river crossing. This awe-inspiring event is ranked among the “world’s greatest wildlife spectacle,” and it involves over 1.5 million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles moving between the Serengeti and Masai Mara in search of greener pastures.
- It guarantees Diverse Wildlife Viewing given the Serengeti endless plains with massive herds of grazers and Masai Mara’s dense predator population. When combined together, they offer some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa ranging from lions and leopards to elephants and cheetahs.
- The two parks offer different Safari Experiences which creates a balanced safari adventure. The Serengeti offers expansive open savannahs and remote wilderness camps while the Masai Mara provides a more compact and action-packed safari with rich cultural interactions with the Maasai people.
- Combining the two creates an extended safari Adventure by allowing for longer game drives, scenic flights and border-crossing adventures. It’s the best way for a traveler to make the most of their safari time in East Africa.
What is the Best Time to Do a Combined Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari?
The best time to do a combined Masai Mara and Serengeti safari is during the Months August to September. This is the peak of the Great Migration when millions of wildebeest and zebra cross the crocodile-infested Mara River providing the most dramatic wildlife viewing opportunities across both parks. However, tailored trips that combine Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari are organized throughout the year given that both Tanzania and Kenya enjoy a pleasant climate with average temperatures of 25°C and cool nights most of the times. The rainiest Months in Kenya and Tanzania are March, April and May with shorter rains in October and November.
You may decide to view the great migration Calving season in Southern Serengeti during the Months of February to March and still go to Masai Mara for an extended safari adventure especially predators or you can just visit Central/Eastern Serengeti which are visited all year around then do Masai Mara as an add-on. Therefore, combining the two parks does not entirely depend on the timing of the great migration Mara River Crossing in Northern Serengeti.
Below is the Monthly Wildebeest Migration Patterns -Routes For addition information on the Great Migration that goes on through the year in both Masai Mara Game Reserve and Serengeti National Park:
The Great Wildebeest Migration in January, February & March
In January, the migration starts to move into the Ndutu region of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area as the short grass plains here are rich in nutritious grasses providing the herds with the best conditions to raise their newborns and by Mid February calving season is in high gear with approximately 8,000 wildebeest being born every day for a period of approximately 3 weeks. Therefore, the area around Lake Ndutu itself is the place to be at this time of year.
The Great Wildebeest Migration in April & May
Usually April brings the first signs of migration with hundreds of thousands of wildebeest beginning their arduous journey across the western plains and finally north. The herds move through the Ndoha and Dutwa plains adjacent to the Mbalagweti River, they may begin to pile up near the Mbalagweti and Grumeti Rivers awaiting the crossing, a dangerous obstacle for animals. During these months there is too much wildlife viewing opportunities in both central Serengeti and Western Serengeti
The Great Wildebeest Migration June & July
Usually the rutting season starts in June and you expect to see fierce fighting between competitive males as they vie for the attention of females and it’s around this time that the dry season starts with large concentrations of wildebeest in the Western Serengeti and on the southern banks of the Grumeti River. Each migrating animal must face the challenge of crossing the crocodile-infested river and this dramatic river crossing is one of the most exciting events of the Great Migration
In early July, the hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra continue to head north along the western edge of the park toward an even riskier barrier, the Mara River in northern Serengeti and this river crossing is a memorable and exciting wildlife encounter on Earth. The Mara River Crossings usually start in late July but the precise timing depends on the rains. Therefore, if you want to see the Great Migration Grumeti River Crossing, June to early July is the best time to Combine Gorilla Trekking with a Tanzania Safari.
The Great Wildebeest Migration in Late July, August, September & October
At the start of August, the migration herds have encountered the challenge of crossing the Mara River and are spread across the Northern part the Masai Mara Reserve with many remaining in the northern part of the Serengeti National Park. One should note that there is no single crossing. At some spots, there are just a few individuals while others have a mass of animals moving without break for hours. Therefore, if you want to see the Great Migration Mara River Crossing, Late July to early October is the best time to Combine Gorilla Trekking with a Tanzania Safari.
The Great Wildebeest Migration in November & December Migration
At the end of October or early November, the wildebeest move down from Kenya into the eastern region of the Serengeti past Namiri Plains. By December, the wildebeest herds are spread across the eastern and southern regions and the cycle continues as the calving season starts once again. November and December are a good time to see the animals in Central and Eastern Serengeti
What else can you add on your Combined Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari Trip?
Before or after your combined Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari trip, you may add game drives in other national park for example on the Kenyan side you may visit Amboseli National park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Naivasha National Park, Tsavo East or West park, stay by the beach in Mombasa, Climb Mt.Kenya or conclude your trip by staying at the iconic giraffe manor in Karen-Nairobi. On the Tanzania side, you may add game drives in the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park and Tarangire National Park, climb Mountain Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru or stay by the white sand beaches of Zanzibar.
If you have more time at hand, you may also choose to combine your safari adventure in Masai Mara and Serengeti with Gorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda or Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale or Nyungwe Parks, Golden Monkey tracking, cultural experiences or even a boat excursion on Lake Bunyonyi or in Akagera National Park in Uganda or Rwanda.
Essential Planning and Booking Tips for Your Combined Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari Trip:
- Always book your trip very early at least one year in advance. This is because Lodges and camps fill up quickly during the high season of June-October.
- Always pack Light but Smart with key items like Neutral clothing, sunscreen, binoculars and cameras.
- Always ensure that your travel documents and health requirements are in order. These include your Vaccinations especially yellow fever, passport and Visa
- For a peace of mind during your trip, we recommend you get a travel Insurance for your vacation.
- Always try and stay Flexible during the trip itself because wildlife sightings are unpredictable and patience pays off abundantly.
Why Book your Combined Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari Tour with Engabi Tours and Travel?
At Engabi Tours and Travel, we focus on crafting personalized safari itineraries tailored to your preferences, budget, and travel style. We pride ourselves in having expert Local Guides with deep knowledge of wildlife and culture and a 24/7 Support from right from the planning to the end of your safari vacation. We are also highly rated and recommended on TripAdvisor when it comes to tours across East Africa.
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Whether you are looking to maximize your migration viewing or just want to experience the best wildlife possible within varied surrounds, combining a Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari tour is certainly a great option. Our Specialists would be delighted to help you put this option together and advise the best places to stay to meet your requirements.
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