10-days wildebeest migration safari Maasai Mara and Serengeti

Your odyssey begins with a scenic drive south from Nairobi into the Maasai Mara, pausing along the way to take in the sweeping views of the Great Rift Valley. After a delicious lunch, you head straight into your first game drive in one of Africa's most celebrated reserves, home to both the Big Five and, in season, the leading edge of the Wildebeest Migration — a genuinely strong start to a ten-day trip.
 

You rise early for a sunrise game drive, prime time for catching predators still active from the night before, or opt instead for a hot air balloon safari drifting silently over the Mara at dawn, finished off with a champagne breakfast served out on the plains. After a later breakfast back at the lodge, the rest of the day is a full exploration of the Mara, tracking the Wildebeest Migration across the open grassland whenever it's in the area.
 

After breakfast, you fly directly into Serengeti National Park, trading the Mara's grasslands for the equally wild Kogatende region in the park's north. Your driver-guide meets you on arrival for an afternoon game drive through an area known for large populations of wildebeest and zebra, along with a strong predator presence — lion, leopard and cheetah are all regularly spotted here.
 

Your full day is spent around the Mara River in Kogatende, hoping to catch one of the natural world's most dramatic sights — wildebeest and zebra plunging through the current, braving Nile crocodiles on their way toward fresh grazing. Whether or not a crossing happens while you're there, the area rewards patience with excellent general game viewing before you head back to your lodge in the heart of the Serengeti for the night.
 

You drive through the iconic Togoro plains and the striking Mbuzi Mawe kopjes on your way to the Seronera region, widely known as "Big Cat Country." It's a full day of game driving built around that reputation, with real chances at lion, cheetah and leopard alongside elephant and plenty more along the way. Dinner and overnight are at your accommodation in Central Serengeti.
 

After breakfast, you depart for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with the drive itself delivering plenty of wildlife sightings along the way — wildebeest, zebra, giraffe and antelope are all regular company on this route. You overnight either on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater or in nearby Karatu town, both setting you up well for tomorrow's descent.
 

Today is dedicated entirely to the Ngorongoro Crater's remarkable, self-contained ecosystem — more than 120 mammal species call the crater floor home, from the endangered black rhino to a dense population of resident predators. A picnic lunch by the hippo pool breaks up the day nicely before you head back up to your accommodation nearby for the night.
 

You drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a day that's as much about birdlife as big game — tree-climbing lions, flocks of flamingos and a genuinely wide range of bird species make this park a real favorite among photographers. In the evening, you continue on to Arusha for the night, your last stop before crossing back into Kenya.
 

You cross the Tanzania-Kenya border today and continue on to Amboseli National Park, trading the northern safari circuit's landscape for Kenya's own iconic scenery. The afternoon's game drive brings herds of elephant, wildebeest and zebra into view, all set against the unmistakable backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro — one of the most photographed wildlife scenes in Africa.

You wake early for one last chance to see Kilimanjaro in the clear morning light, before breakfast and the final drive back to Nairobi. On arrival, you're dropped off at your hotel or the airport, bringing a ten-day, two-country safari to a close.