Kenya or Tanzania Wildlife
Wild and Wonderful Kenya
Kenya offers a treasure trove of scenery and wildlife experiences once you leave Nairobi’s urban jungle. Giants have roamed the swampy marshes, golden grasslands, and bush sceneries mixed with moringas and acacias for millennia.
A Kenyan safari offers an incredible concentration of large and small species across comparatively smaller, magnificent national parks, thanks to some of the world’s most well-known national parks. When it comes to buffalo sightings, think of the acacia grasslands beneath Mount Kenya, the lush green meadows of Amboseli for elephants, and the dry Savannahs of Tsavo East for lions and cheetahs. And don’t forget about Kenya’s crown treasure, the Masai Mara, which provides some of the best chances to observe the African big five in action.
Typically, Kenya safari vacations begin in the beautiful dry deserts of the north, where the Adamsons raised Elsa the Lioness, whose story was chronicled in the book and film “Born Free.” The Masai Mara — Africa of documentaries, this huge, awe-inspiring Savannah is where you may witness a wildebeest river crossing during the Great Migration – stands in stark contrast to this heartland of native African wildlife.
Discover pink flamingos provide an eerie glow to the waters of Lake Bogoria as zebras and wildebeest warily skirt the coastline in the shadows of the Great Rift Valley. Go off the beaten road in Laikipia, a rough, hilly region interrupted by dense acacia forest that provides a variety of experiences for the adventurous, including horseback riding, camel excursions, and bush hikes.
Alternatively, venture off the main path to Laikipia’s private animal sanctuaries, where you may ride a horse (or a camel!) across the mountainous terrain. On your game drives in Laikipia, one of Kenya’s best-kept secrets, marvel at endangered rhinos, elephants, giraffes, and a variety of other species with no other people around!
Kenya’s national parks and community reserves ensure unique moments, whether you drive through, fly in on a chartered plane, or soar through the heavens in a hot air balloon.
Tanzania’s Delightful Safari Experiences
Tanzania vacations immerse you in the African wilderness. Some of Africa’s largest national parks are just outside the busy port city of Dar Es Salaam. Arusha, the wilderness safari center of Northern Tanzania, is the ideal entrance to the country’s best-known national parks, nestled in the shadows of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro and Meru.
The giant baobabs of Tarangire, right next door, provide welcome shade from the searing sun to huge herds (the largest in East Africa) of ambling pachyderms that congregate along the park’s central river. Many smaller animals, including wildebeest, eland, gazelles, and zebra, roam the grasslands, which are less well-known but no less lovely.
Apart from the African big five, Lake Manyara National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, which are nestled in the Great Rift Valley, offer a unique ecology that shelters the biggest number of predators in Africa. Ngorongoro is the cradle of life, with evidence of life stretching back three million years. Lake Manyara is also known for its daring tree-climbing lions and over 400 different types of birds.
Here, you can immerse yourself in the lush, undulating landscape, which stretches from escarpment to grass-laden escarpment, marveling at gentle pink flamingos, sipping glorious sundowners by the lake, and watching giraffe squat by the water and wildebeest flee in terror as baboons signal the arrival of large predators.
Observe vast groups of lions following an incredible amount of grazers—zebra, wildebeest, and gazelle—across 10,000 square miles of apparently endless plain studded by occasional rocky outcrops at the Serengeti.
While millions of animals might be seen on any given day, the Great Migration is the most well-known event, when nearly two million animals, pursued by predators, migrate en masse in search of grass and water.
To the south, Ruaha, Tanzania’s largest national park, offers rare, private wilderness safaris free of other vehicles. Then there’s the Selous, where about 10% of the world’s wild lions, as well as countless leopards, cheetahs, and wild dog packs, roam huge grasslands sprinkled with occasional baobabs and palms typical of Central Tanzania.
Many of your wilderness safari experiences in Tanzania may seem identical to those in Kenya because they are both parts of the same ecosystem. While there are numerous animals roaming this vast region, tourists are few and far between in some parts of both countries, such as Laikipia, Ruaha, and Selous. This is your own African safari, with remote camps in pristine reserves that only a few people see.
Meet the big five in the Serengeti, walk along the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, watch hippos bubble underwater, or embark on a Kilimanjaro trek with only a few other people — our destination experts would be pleased to assist you in finding the ideal safari camp for you.
Kenya or Tanzania Safari Accommodation
It’s just as vital to pick the perfect wilderness safari spot as it is to pick the right lodging. While both Kenya and Tanzania provide something for everyone’s budget, the locations and experiences available at each differ significantly.
Unique Things to do in Kenya and Tanzania
What factors can determine whether or not a safari is successful? Of course, the opportunity to play out your safari fantasies! Safari experiences in Kenyan and Tanzanian game parks can be unexpectedly diverse, despite their close proximity. While observing river crossings during the wildebeest migration in Kenya might be thrilling, the calving season at the end of the migration in Tanzania is unique.
So, before you choose which wilderness safari is right for you, think about what kinds of experiences you want to have.
Great Migration in Kenya and Tanzania
From December through March, the southern Serengeti is home to a large number of newborn wildebeests.
The herd separates up between May and June. While one party travels west to cross the Grumeti River, the other travels to the Serengeti’s heartland.
July: The herd reconvenes in the Serengeti’s northern reaches.
Between July and October: The wildebeest herd, which numbers over 1.5 million people, is making its way to the Masai Mara.
This amazing trek can be seen in the northern Serengeti or the Masai Mara Game Reserve.
Travel tip: Visit the Mara Under Canvas Camp to see the Great Migration up close. This camp moves around the country several times a year, following the wildebeest herd. No matter when you travel, you’ll have a front-row ticket to the migration!
Cost of Kenya – Tanzania Safari
Kenya and Tanzania are two of Africa’s most economical safari locations, with safari experiences to suit all budgets. In theory, Kenya may be less expensive than Tanzania, given to Tanzania’s larger national parks. In terms of accommodations and activities, there is little to no difference between the two countries, with the same standards and rates.
