Kenya or Tanzania: Which Safari Is Right for You?

Kenya and Tanzania share the same great ecosystem, and the Great Migration crosses between them every year. You cannot make a bad choice, but each country suits a different kind of trip.

Choose Kenya if...

• You have limited time. The Masai Mara is a 45-minute flight or a five-to-six-hour drive from Nairobi, so a three-day safari is easy.
• You want variety in a short trip. Elephants beneath Kilimanjaro in Amboseli, rhinos at Lake Nakuru and Ol Pejeta, and the northern specials of Samburu.
• You are on a budget. Kenya's short safaris and group joining safaris are usually cheaper.
• You want the migration river crossings between July and October.

Choose Tanzania if...

• You want vast, wild spaces. The Serengeti covers about 14,750 square kilometres.
• You want the Ngorongoro Crater, a huge volcanic caldera with dense wildlife, including black rhino.
• You want to see calving season in the southern Serengeti from January to March.
• You want to climb Kilimanjaro or relax on Zanzibar after your safari.

Cost

Tanzania is usually more expensive per day. Its park fees, concession fees and the Ngorongoro Crater vehicle fee are higher, and distances between parks are longer. Kenya offers more budget options and shorter trips.

Beach add-ons

• Kenya: Diani Beach on the south coast, or the Swahili island of Lamu.
• Tanzania: Zanzibar, with Stone Town and white-sand beaches.

Why not both?

A combined safari lets you see the Masai Mara and the Serengeti, or the Mara and the Ngorongoro Crater, in one trip. Our team plans and guides both countries, so the border crossing is simple.

Compare our Kenya safaris, Tanzania safaris and Kenya and Tanzania combined safaris.

Frequently asked questions