Combining Maasai Mara and Serengeti in One Epic Safari

Combining Maasai Mara and Serengeti in One Epic Safari (With Everything You Must Know).

Thinking of an African safari? We all know how difficult it is to decide on which wildlife destination you should visit. This continent is home to premier wildlife sanctuaries. Imagine on your right hand, you have Serengeti, a spectacular Tanzanian park known for its wide, stretched plains. It hosts the Great Migration, and it’s a home of many predators.

And on the left hand, you have the Masai Mara, a wildlife-rich Kenyan destination. It also hosts the wildebeest migration. That’s so tempting, especially when you have to decide between the two. But there’s a better way to decide.

What if I told you that combining Serengeti and Masai Mara is possible? And you don’t need two weeks to do that. In this article, we discuss how you can plan a Serengeti-Mara combo safari stress-free.

Two world-class parks, one unforgettable journey—combining the Masai Mara and Serengeti is a memorable safari experience. These two reserves share one ecosystem and one migration despite being located in two different countries: Serengeti in Tanzania and Masai Mara in Kenya.

The wildebeest move between the two parks seamlessly with no complications because there’s no fence. Of course, the map is easy to navigate for animals, not humans.

If you check the map, you realize that Serengeti and Masai Mara are adjacent to each other. Yes, they are, but an international border between them makes it not easy to cross from one to the other. In this article, we discuss how you can combine these famous African parks. Let’s explore.

Can you cross from Serengeti to Masai Mara?

Yes, but it’s tricky, especially when driving. The drive route from Masai Mara to Serengeti is bumpy and long, with several hours of sorting out things at the border. But depending on your interests, there’s always a way out. And we will be there to help you. Here’s how you can cross from Masai Mara to Serengeti.

Flying from the Masai Mara to the Serengeti

A fly-in safari can seamlessly combine Masai Mara with Serengeti. After you have explored the Masai Mara, it’s time to fly to its sister park (yes) in northern Tanzania. There are no direct flights between the two parks, but indirect flight connections are available. We recommend these routes below:

1.    Masai Mara – Migori Airstrip – Tarime Airstrip – Serengeti

Well, you will start with a 30-minute flight from Masai Mara Airstrip to Migori Airstrip. Then transfer by car to the Isebania border, a journey that takes about 30 minutes. Here, we clear the customs with the immigration officers. The process is hassle-free but may be lengthy on some days due to a long queue. After clearance, we drive another 30 minutes from the Isebania border to Tarime Airstrip to catch another flight to airstrips in Serengeti.

Safarilink and Coastal Aviation operate seamlessly, thus connecting the two parks. The former operates between Masai Mara and Migori, while the latter operates between Tarime and Serengeti. Here are real examples of flights.

Masai Mara to Serengeti Flight Connection via Migori and Tarime

Leg	Airline	Departure	Arrival
Masai Mara – Migori	Safarilink	11:30	12:00
Road transfer across the Isebania border	–	12:00	13:15
Tarime – Seronera	Coastal Aviation	14:00	14:30
Tarime – Grumeti	Coastal Aviation	14:00	14:45

Please note that this route is open during high seasons: July to October and December to March. The immigration offices process entry faster, though sometimes traffic can cause some delays.

Insight: We have operated in both countries. Therefore, our drivers will make sure the border transfer is straightforward.

2.    Masai Mara – Nairobi Wilson – Kilimanjaro – Serengeti

You fly from Masai Mara to Nairobi Wilson, then to Kilimanjaro, and finally to Serengeti. Your destination in Serengeti depends on the lodge or camp you booked, because Coastal Aviation operates to various airstrips in Serengeti. These include Kogatende, Lamai, Lobo, Sasakwa, Grumeti, Fort Ikoma, Seronera, Serengeti South, Ndutu, and Mwiba.

Masai Mara to Serengeti Flight Connection via Nairobi and Kilimanjaro

Leg	Airline	Departure	Arrival
Masai Mara – Nairobi Wilson	Safarilink	11:00	12:20
Nairobi Wilson – Kilimanjaro	Safarilink	13:10	14:10
Kilimanjaro – Serengeti	Coastal Aviation	14:30	16:00

Insight: This route involves many flight hours. So, we rarely recommend it. The first option is the best.

Driving from Masai Mara to the Serengeti.

As we mentioned earlier, driving directly between these parks is tempting. You will have to navigate through a bumpy route to access the borders: Isebania or Namanga.

1.     Crossing from Masai Mara to the Serengeti via the Isebania border

Isebania, on the west of Serengeti, is more direct and closer to both parks. Hence, we recommend it over the Namanga border (on the east side), which is very far from both of them.

Here are some challenges that come with combining Masai Mara and Serengeti via the Isebania border.

• The drive is long, taking about two days. The first part of the route from Masai Mara to the Isebania border takes about 4 to 5 hours.
• It may take a long time (from one to several hours) to sort out things with the immigration officers at the border. The main cause of delays is traffic, especially during the high seasons.
• The second route from the Isebania border to central Serengeti may also take about 4 to 5 hours. That means you will spend a whole day on the transfer.
• Due to trade disputes, Kenyan-plated vehicles are denied entry into Serengeti and vice versa.

Despite all these challenges, we strive to ensure you make it to Serengeti. Here are our insights:

• We will swap your safari vehicle at the border. Our driver from Tanzania will pick you up with a Tanzanian-plated safari jeep to proceed with your safari.
• To reduce the hassle, we recommend you spend an overnight in Tarime (Tanzania) before heading to central Serengeti.

2.    Crossing the Masai Mara to Serengeti via the Namanga border.

The drive route from Masai Mara to Serengeti via the Namanga border is lengthy despite having better road conditions. On top of that, you have to buy a permit for the drive. But here are some options:

• You cross the border on foot and meet our driver on the Tanzanian side.
• Or we swap the safari vehicles.

Kindly note that the drive from Masai Mara to Serengeti via the Namanga border might take half a day, excluding time spent at the border.

3.    Shuttle Bus Transfer

To our budget travelers, this is the best alternative. You explore Masai Mara for as long as you want. Our guides will take you through the wide, stretched savannahs to seek wildlife until your Masai Mara itinerary ends. Then, we will take you to Nairobi to catch a shuttle bus to Arusha.

Shuttle buses operate daily between Nairobi and Arusha via the Namanga border. Our favorite companies are Riverside Shuttle, Ngurdoto Shuttle, Marangu Luxury Shuttle, and Impala Shuttle. The drive takes 5 to 6 hours. For example, a bus may depart from Nairobi at 08:00 and arrive in Arusha at 13:30.

Once you arrive in Arusha, we will continue our drive to Serengeti. But this depends on your arrival time. For the case of our example above, it may be difficult to reach the Serengeti, which is a 5-6-hour drive, with the gate closing at 18:00. So, you will spend an overnight in Arusha or Karatu, far close to the Serengeti, for the next day.

When is the best time to combine Masai Mara and Serengeti?

Serengeti and Mara are in the same ecosystem despite being in two different countries., Therefore, the optimal time for wildlife viewing runs from June to October. But as we know, these two reserves host the Great Migration. Different events worth watching happen. Here are some of them:

• January to March—calving season in Southern Serengeti.
• April to June—herds moving northwest Serengeti.
• July to October – river crossings in Northern Serengeti and Mara.

• 

  November to December—shorter rains, herd moves southwards.

The bottom line.

So, why book a Serengeti – Masai Mara combo safari with Focus East Africa Tours?

From our 10+ years of experience organizing safaris in Kenya and Tanzania, we have established a seamless coordination of border logistics and vehicle swaps. We are licensed to work in both countries and have cross-border legal experts who can handle the whole thing, from planning to getting around.

What we love about the Masai Mara – Serengeti combo is that you can watch the migration from any of these spectacular destinations. So, there’s no way you can miss the wildebeest migration or the African Big Five. Let’s start planning your next adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do I need to combine Masai Mara and Serengeti?

We recommend eight days for a fly-in, fly-out safari. That means you will spend about three days in each and two days of transfer, one to Serengeti and the other for departing.

If you want to combine them by driving or shuttle bus transfer, we recommend at least 14 days or more. That means you will spend 5 days in each and 4 days for transfers and other activities.

Do I need two visas?

Yes, you need two visas, one from Kenya for the Masai Mara and the other from Tanzania for the Serengeti.

Can I keep the same safari vehicle across the border?

No, vehicles are restricted by country registration. Best to swap or use fly transfers.