--- title: "Down the Valley Safari" description: "Starting and ending in Nairobi, this action-packed Kenya and Tanzania safari will take you to the wonderful parks and reserves that span East Africa’s Great Rift Valley. Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve, Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater are considered some of Africa’s top wildlife destinations, and we visit them all in just 8 days. In Kenya, we visit Lake Nakuru National Park for superb bird-watching and to spot black and white rhino, while the savannahs of the Masai Mara are home to all the animals people expect to see on safari. In Tanzania, the Serengeti National Park is well-known for large prides of lion and undulating grasslands, and our final safari experience is an excursion into the geographic wonder of the Ngorongoro Crater. And, among many other species, you have an excellent chance of spotting the Big Five on this varied safari tour: Buffalo Elephant Leopard Lion Rhino Depending on the season you might witness the incredible and world-famous annual wildebeest migration in either the Mara or the Serengeti. 1 night Lake Nakuru | 3 nights Masai Mara | 2 nights Serengeti | 1 night Ngorongoro" canonical_url: "https://flashmctours.com/tour/8-days-lake-nakuru-masai-mara-serengeti-and-ngorongoro-safari/" md_url: "https://flashmctours.com/tour/8-days-lake-nakuru-masai-mara-serengeti-and-ngorongoro-safari.md" last_updated: "2026-04-15T14:16:04+00:00" --- # Down the Valley Safari Starting and ending in Nairobi, this action-packed Kenya and Tanzania safari will take you to the wonderful parks and reserves that span East Africa’s Great Rift Valley. Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve, Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater are considered some of Africa’s top wildlife destinations, and we visit them all in just 8 days. In Kenya, we visit Lake Nakuru National Park for superb bird-watching and to spot black and white rhino, while the savannahs of the Masai Mara are home to all the animals people expect to see on safari. In Tanzania, the Serengeti National Park is well-known for large prides of lion and undulating grasslands, and our final safari experience is an excursion into the geographic wonder of the Ngorongoro Crater. And, among many other species, you have an excellent chance of spotting the Big Five on this varied safari tour: Buffalo Elephant Leopard Lion Rhino Depending on the season you might witness the incredible and world-famous annual wildebeest migration in either the Mara or the Serengeti. 1 night Lake Nakuru | 3 nights Masai Mara | 2 nights Serengeti | 1 night Ngorongoro ## Tour facts - Duration: 8 days - Nights: 7 - From: USD 2,650 ## Itinerary ### 1. Nairobi – Lake Nakuru National Park After breakfast, we will collect you from your hotel in Nairobi and depart for a scenic drive to Lake Nakuru National Park, located on the floor of the Great Rift Valley.Arrive in time for check-in and lunch, and the rest of the afternoon will be spent game-driving in this scenic park where the wildlife is concentrated around the magnificent lake. The birdlife is world-renowned with more than 450 species, and you may see stunning flocks of lesser and greater flamingos, which literally turn the lakeshore a brilliant pink. Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the very few places in Africa to see both the white and black rhino, as well as the rare Rothschild giraffe, and lion and leopard are frequently seen. Numerous antelope include gazelle, waterbuck and impala, and at the scenic lookout points on the cliffs overlooking the lake, you’ll spot playful baboons and vervet monkeys. You stay at a comfortable safari camp/lodge, from where you’ll hear the night-time sounds of the animals in the park. Overnight in Lake Nakuru National Park Accommodation at your camp or lodge Breakfast, lunch and dinner included Drinking water is provided. All other drinks are extra ### 2. Lake Nakuru National Park – Masai Mara National Reserve After breakfast, depart for the Masai Mara National Reserve, an enormous wildlife haven that is Kenya’s leading safari destination. It is home to numerous interesting species of animals and birds, and your expert Kenyan guide will help you find them. And it is geographically part of the vast Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, and combined, they stage the spectacular annual wildebeest migration as the massive herds cross back and forwards over the Mara River to follow the new rains and fresh pastures. Arrive in time for lunch, then explore the Mara on an afternoon game drive, and in the evening, relax around the fire at our camp/lodge before dinner. Overnight in Masai Mara National Reserve Accommodation at your camp or lodge Breakfast, lunch and dinner included Drinking water, all other drinks are extra ### 3. Full Day in Masai Mara National Reserve The next two days will be spent game-viewing in the expansive Masai Mara, and after an early breakfast and with packed lunches, a full day is spent exploring the reserve. On the grassy plains and rocky kopjes look for the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino—and other animals to spot include cheetah, giraffe, hyena, warthog, jackal and various species of antelope like Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, waterbuck and hartebeest. In the many watercourses you may spot pods of hippos, and the Mara River is home to some of the biggest crocodiles in Africa. An optional hot air balloon safari can be arranged for US$425 per person, and it’s a wonderful experience to float over the plains and rivers in the first light of dawn and watch the wildlife below. Overnight in Masai Mara National Reserve Accommodation at your camp or lodge Breakfast, lunch and dinner included Drinking water, all other drinks are extra ### 4. Full Day in Masai Mara National Reserve As well as early morning and late afternoon game drives, this is a day to relax and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Masai Mara from the comfort of your camp/lodge. Spa treatments are available at most accommodation options for an extra cost, and visiting a Maasai village is another optional extra for US$20 per person. The national reserve is named after the Maasai people, the ancient tribe that inhabits the region, and this excursion is a wonderful introduction to the culture of the semi-nomadic Maasai warriors who have a deep and symbolic relationship with the lands and animals of the Mara. You’ll be greeted with exuberant singing and dancing and invited to explore a Maasai home to further learn about their traditional way of life. Overnight in Masai Mara National Reserve Accommodation at your camp or lodge Breakfast, lunch and dinner included Drinking water, all other drinks are extra ### 5. Masai Mara National Reserve – Serengeti National Park Our morning drive goes from the Masai Mara to the Isebania border with Tanzania where we swap from Kenyan to Tanzanian guides and vehicles and begin your Tanzanian safari. Continue to the western gate of the Serengeti National Park—meaning ‘endless plains’ in the Maasai language, it is one of Africa’s largest and most celebrated wilderness areas. You will spend the next two nights at a comfortable safari lodge or tented camp, which is located in the south-central region of the park known as the Seronera Valley. It’s a very scenic area with acacia-studded open plains lined with low hills and abundant wildlife including large numbers of big cats. Overnight in Serengeti National Park Accommodation at your camp or lodge Breakfast, lunch and dinner included Drinking water, all other drinks are extra ### 6. Full Day in Serengeti National Park Today is a full-day safari in the Serengeti to look for the numerous animals and birds, all expertly identified by your Tanzanian safari guide. Grazing herbivores include giraffe, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelle, waterbuck, hartebeest, eland and topi, and you’ll see hippos wallowing in the pools and large crocodiles sunning themselves on the riverbanks. The Serengeti is famous for its large prides of lion, cheetah that are seen hunting in family groups, and other predators like jackal, hyena and bat-eared fox are often seen on the prowl in the early morning. Depending on the season, you may witness the annual wildebeest migration, when an estimated two million hooved animals move between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. There is another opportunity to take the memorable, out-of-the-ordinary experience by starting the day with an optional hot air balloon safari; US$599 per person. Overnight in Serengeti National Park Accommodation at your camp or lodge Breakfast, lunch and dinner included Drinking water, all other drinks are extra ### 7. Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Conservation Area Departing the Serengeti, we drive into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This highland region of plains, woodlands and forests protects the 600-metre-deep Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest caldera and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was formed when a volcano erupted and collapsed on itself approximately two and a half million years ago, and the well-fertilised volcanic soils create rich grazing for the animals and it is often referred to as ‘the Garden of Eden’. On the way, and for an extra fee, you can stop at the museum at Olduvai Gorge to learn about the archaeological excavations that escalated the studies of early man. We drive down to the crater floor with a picnic lunch, and your expert guide will show you every corner of the dramatic landscape to see some of the 20,000 or so large mammals that live there. These include a number of black rhino, and it’s also well-known for high densities of carnivores including leopard, lion, hyena and jackal. When we ascend back to the crater rim, you may catch a glimpse of a magnificent sunset before heading to our camp/lodge. Overnight in Ngorongoro Conservation Area Accommodation at your camp or lodge Breakfast, lunch and dinner included Drinking water, all other drinks are extra ### 8. Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Arusha - Nairobi After breakfast, we depart the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and drive to Arusha. After stopping off at Arusha Coffee Lodge for our final lunch, we proceed to the Namanga border with Kenya and drive back to the capital Nairobi where this exciting 8-day safari ends on arrival in the early evening. No accommodation; this is the last day Breakfast & lunch (dinner not included) Drinking water, all other drinks are extra --- Full details and booking: https://flashmctours.com/tour/8-days-lake-nakuru-masai-mara-serengeti-and-ngorongoro-safari/