17 Days Best of Tanzania, Kenya and Madagascar
17 Days / 16 Nights Days
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), Tanzania → Antananarivo, Madagascar (international departure on Day 17)
Adventure Tour
Easy
Why Choose This Safari?
This 17-day journey joins three of Africa’s most rewarding wildlife destinations in one trip. It begins in Tanzania, with the Serengeti National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering about 14,763 square kilometres, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where the crater floor covers about 260 square kilometres and is enclosed by cliffs about 600 metres high. In Kenya, the Maasai Mara National Reserve, covering about 1,510 square kilometres, is the northernmost part of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, where the wildebeest herds usually arrive around July and most leave around October. The trip then crosses to Madagascar, where the rainforests of Andasibe offer wildlife found nowhere else in the world, including lemurs, chameleons and frogs. The Big Five is on the Tanzanian and Kenyan parts of the trip and is not guaranteed, but the route gives you a rich mix of plains, craters, river lands and forest.
Safari Highlights
- Minimum 2 Pax
- Mid-Range Accommodation Safari
We may have to re-route the itinerary or accommodation in similar Lodges/Tented Camps in case of non – availability
Upgrades is available for Mid – Range Luxury Accommodation Safari
Tour above can be customized based on your needs or requirements
Destinations to Travel
Arusha · Tarangire National Park · Lake Manyara National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Conservation Area · Olduvai Gorge · Nairobi · Maasai Mara National Reserve · Lake Elementaita · Lake Nakuru National Park · Andasibe · Antananarivo
Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha
You arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where your safari guide meets you and transfers you to your hotel in Arusha. You spend the night with bed and breakfast.
Day 2 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast you depart for Tarangire National Park, renowned for its large elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. The park covers about 2,850 square kilometres, and you enjoy a full game drive with a picnic lunch. You return to your safari camp or lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3 — Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast you drive to Lake Manyara National Park, famous for tree-climbing lions, flamingos and lush groundwater forests. You enjoy an afternoon game drive, then head to camp for dinner and an overnight stay. Sightings can’t be guaranteed.
Day 4 — Lake Manyara to the Serengeti National Park
You journey through the scenic Ngorongoro Conservation Area on the way to the endless plains of the Serengeti National Park. In the afternoon you take a game drive around Seronera Valley or the migration areas, and you spend the night in the Serengeti.
Day 5 — Central Serengeti Game Drives
You spend the full day exploring the wildlife-rich central Serengeti, home to lions, cheetahs, leopards and vast herds of plains game. The wider ecosystem holds more than 3,000 lions, and you return to camp for dinner and an overnight stay in the Serengeti.
Day 6 — Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater Rim, via Olduvai Gorge
You take a morning game drive, then travel towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a stop at Olduvai Gorge, where fossils and stone tools have shaped scientists’ understanding of early human evolution. An optional visit to a Maasai boma is available at extra cost. You spend the night at a crater rim lodge or camp.
Day 7 — Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha
You descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a spectacular wildlife experience, with lions, hippos and flamingos on the crater floor. Rhinos are rare, so a sighting can’t be guaranteed. In the afternoon you return to Arusha, where you spend the night.
Day 8 — Arusha to Nairobi
You take a morning shuttle transfer from Arusha to Nairobi, which crosses the border into Kenya. A flight is available as an option. You arrive at your hotel in Nairobi and spend the night with bed and breakfast.
Day 9 — Nairobi to the Maasai Mara National Reserve
You drive to the legendary Maasai Mara National Reserve, a game reserve in Narok County established in 1961. The afternoon is for a game drive across the predator-rich savannahs. You spend the night at a Mara lodge or camp.
Day 10 — Maasai Mara Full-Day Safari
You choose between morning and afternoon game drives, or a full-day safari with a picnic lunch, tracking the Big Five and, depending on the season, the Great Migration. The herds usually arrive around July and most leave around October. You spend the night at your Mara lodge or camp.
Day 11 — Maasai Mara to Lake Elementaita
You take a morning game drive, then travel towards the Great Rift Valley and arrive at a lodge in the Elementaita area.
Day 12 — Lake Nakuru National Park to Nairobi
You take an early game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, known for its rhinos and birdlife. Rhinos are rare, so sightings can’t be guaranteed. You return to Nairobi in the afternoon for the night.
Day 13 — Nairobi to Madagascar
You are transferred to the airport for a flight to Madagascar. You arrive in Antananarivo, where you spend the night.
Day 14 — Antananarivo to Andasibe
You drive to Andasibe, with a stop at the Peyrieras Reptile Reserve. In the evening you take a nocturnal walk to spot lemurs, chameleons and frogs. You spend the night at Analamazaotra or Vakona Forest Lodge.
Day 15 — Andasibe National Park and Vakona Private Reserve
In the morning you take a guided walk in Andasibe to hear the iconic indri calls. In the afternoon you visit the Vakona private reserve, home to lemurs, crocodiles and endemic species. You spend the night in Andasibe.
Day 16 — Andasibe to Antananarivo
You return to the capital and have the afternoon at leisure. You spend the night at an Antananarivo hotel.
Day 17 — City Tour, Artisan Market and Departure
You take a city tour and visit an artisan market, then transfer to the airport for your international departure.
What's Included
Rate Includes
- All parks entrance fees.
- Lodge fees
- Transport on 4WD vehicle with a pop-up roof.
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary above.
- Crater fees
- Mineral water 1.5lt per person per day on safari.
- Salary for the Professional English Drive Guide.
- Bed and Breakfast during the trip while in Madagascar
- Car with English speaking driver including fuel during the trip
- Transfers airports/hotels/airports
- Entrance fees for the parks et reserves according to the program.
- English speaking Local guides for the parks et reserves according to the program for a walking of 1 – 3 hours
- Accommodation on bed & breakfast basis in Madagascar
- Transport with driver and fuel during excursions.
- Transfers as mentioned in the program.
- English speaking guide during the tour
- Entrance fees and local guide fees in the parks/reserves.
- Mineral water during excursions.
- Bed local taxes.
Rate Excludes
- International flights
- Hot and cold drinks
- Flights from Nairobi to Madagascar (price from US$ 750 - 850 Current Price)
- Tips to the driver/guide and all items of personal nature/use.
- And all not mentioned on the plan
- Meals not specified.
- Personal expenses (tips, phone calls, etc.)
- Visa fees
- Travel Insurance
Best Time to Go
No travel period was given for this safari, so the guidance below is based on general seasonality. In Tanzania, June to October is the usual dry season for game viewing in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire. In Kenya, the Maasai Mara herds usually arrive around July and most leave around October, so July to October is the best window for the Great Migration. Lake Nakuru is good for birdlife in most months. In Madagascar, the drier months from roughly April to November are generally easiest for walking in the forests of Andasibe, while the wetter months from December to March bring more rain and heavier trails. Because the three countries follow different seasons, our team can advise on the best dates for your trip. You can read more on the Tanzania National Parks Authority and Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority sites.
Pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this safari start and end, and how long does it last?
It starts at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania and ends with an international departure from Antananarivo on Day 17. The trip runs for 17 days and 16 nights, with stops in Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, the Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Andasibe.
Can we do only part of the trip?
Yes. The trip can also be booked as Tanzania and Madagascar, or Kenya and Madagascar. These shorter combinations have their own itineraries and pricing, so please ask our team to tailor one for you.
Do we need visas for all three countries?
Yes, you will need visas for Tanzania, Kenya and Madagascar, and the Arusha to Nairobi crossing has its own border procedures. Visa fees and border fees are not included, so please ask our team to confirm the requirements for your nationality.
Will we see the Big Five on this trip?
The Big Five is a feature of the Tanzanian and Kenyan parts of the trip, where lions, elephants, buffaloes and leopards are on the list. Rhinos are rare in both countries, so sightings can’t be guaranteed, and Madagascar has no Big Five. The Madagascar section is about lemurs, chameleons, frogs and endemic birds instead.
When is the best time for the Great Migration?
The herds usually reach the Maasai Mara around July and most leave around October, which is why July to October is the best window for the migration. Timing changes from year to year with the rains, so our team can advise on your dates.
Are the flights between countries included?
No. The flight from Nairobi to Madagascar and the departure flight on Day 17 are international and not included. The Arusha to Nairobi shuttle is a road transfer, and the optional flight is not included.