Two countries, four ecosystems, and the best bed in each one. Kitirua, Mara Plains, Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge and the Ngorongoro Crater rim.
The Ultra Luxury Kenya and Tanzania Safari is a 12 day, 11 night journey across four ecosystems in two countries. Guests stay at Hemingways Nairobi, Kitirua Plains Lodge in Amboseli, Mara Plains Camp in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge in the western Serengeti, and Lemala Osonjoi on the Ngorongoro Crater rim. Every flight is included, the border is crossed on a single through fare voucher with customs handled on both sides, and the journey begins and ends in Nairobi. Prices start at USD 19,550 per person sharing.
There is a version of this circuit at half the price, and we sell it. This is not that journey.
Every camp here is the strongest property in its region rather than a sensible choice within it. Kitirua on private conservancy land in Amboseli with Kilimanjaro from every suite. Mara Plains in Olare Motorogi, where the conservancy caps beds at one tent per 700 acres. Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge in the western corridor. Lemala Osonjoi on the crater rim itself, minutes from the descent road rather than an hour up from Karatu.
The border is crossed on a single through fare voucher. You fly from the Mara to Migori, our team walks you through Kenyan customs, a short road transfer takes you to Tarime for Tanzanian entry, and you fly on into the Serengeti. It costs a morning, and the whole thing sits on one ticket.
The journey begins and ends in Nairobi rather than leaving you in Arusha, which matters if you are connecting onward or adding the Kenyan coast.
Why we love this journey: it removes every compromise. Private conservancy land in Amboseli and the Mara, the quietest corner of the Serengeti, and a bed on the crater rim itself. Nothing here is a concession to budget.
One tent per 700 acres · Olare Motorogi caps its beds harder than any other Maasai Mara conservancy. You will rarely see another vehicle.
Kilimanjaro from the bed · Kitirua sits on private land on Amboseli's quiet western edge, with the mountain framed from every suite.
The western corridor · Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge sits in the least visited stretch of the Serengeti, on the migration's May to July route.
A bed on the crater rim · Lemala Osonjoi is minutes from the descent road, so you are on the crater floor at first light, ahead of the vehicles from Karatu.
One voucher across the border · Migori to Tarime, both customs stops, and the flight on to the Serengeti, all on a single through fare.
Begins and ends in Nairobi · You fly back into Wilson on the final day rather than being left in Arusha.
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International, where you are met on the airbridge and walked through immigration before being driven to Hemingways Nairobi. Set in Karen on the southern edge of the city, the hotel looks across open ground to the Ngong Hills, and every room is a suite with full butler service. The afternoon is yours to reset after the flight. Your Safari Advisor will call by in the evening to confirm flight times and walk you through the days ahead, including the border formalities on day seven.
Transfer to Wilson Airport and fly south to Amboseli, about forty minutes across the Athi plains. Your guide meets the aircraft and game viewing begins on the drive in to the Kitirua concession, private land on the park's quiet western boundary. Kilimanjaro rises directly ahead, the highest freestanding mountain in the world. Settle into your suite over lunch, then head out on an afternoon drive that ends with sundowners as the mountain turns from white to rose to grey.
Leave before first light, when Kilimanjaro is clearest and the cloud has not yet built over the summit. Amboseli's draw is elephant. Fed by snowmelt from the mountain, the swamps hold water year round and pull enormous breeding herds onto the open pan. This is the most studied elephant population on earth and it protects several of the last great tuskers in Africa. Back for a long lunch, then the afternoon on the concession, where your guide may leave the track, walk you out with an armed Maasai guide, or take a night drive after dinner. None of those are permitted inside the national park.
Fly north west across the floor of the Great Rift Valley to the Olare Motorogi airstrip. Mara Plains is raised on decking above the Ntiakitiak River with only seven suites, a Relais and Chateaux member, and the conservancy around it caps beds at one tent per 700 acres, the lowest density in the greater Mara. Your guide meets the plane and the first drive begins on the way in. Every park and conservancy fee, and all your drinks, are already inside the rate.
A dawn drive while the cats are still moving, back for a late breakfast, then out again in the afternoon. Because this is conservancy land your guide can leave the track to follow a sighting and take a night drive after dinner, neither of which the national reserve allows. Every suite carries professional camera bodies, lenses and binoculars for you to use at no charge, and the guides know how to position a vehicle for the shot.
A full day inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, included in your rate. Between July and October this is where the river crossings happen and the camp positions itself for them. Outside those months it is where the largest resident lion prides hold territory along the Talek and the Mara. Picnic lunch under a tree, and back to the conservancy for a last evening drive. A hot air balloon at first light can be arranged for the following morning.
The crossing day, and it costs a morning rather than a day. Fly from the conservancy to Migori, where our team walks you through Kenyan customs, then a short road transfer to Tarime for Tanzanian entry, and a second flight on into the Grumeti Reserve. The whole leg sits on one through fare voucher. Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge is in the western corridor, the least visited stretch of the Serengeti, and you are in camp for a late afternoon drive.
A full day out with a picnic lunch. The western corridor follows the Grumeti River between the central plains and Lake Victoria, and it holds resident game year round: large crocodile in the river, colobus in the riverine forest, and the resident lion and leopard that never leave. Between May and July the migration passes through here on its way north, on the quietest stretch of the whole route.
A balloon over the plains at dawn, a full day chasing the herds if they are close, or a slower day with two drives and a long lunch by the pool. andBeyond run behind the scenes visits with their conservation team, which are worth the early start, and guided walks are available where the reserve permits them.
Fly south east and climb through the forest to the Ngorongoro Crater rim. Lemala Osonjoi sits in forest on the quiet eastern rim, fifteen minutes from the crater floor, screened from the road and facing out over the caldera. That proximity is the point, because it puts you on the floor at first light, well ahead of the vehicles coming up from Karatu. The altitude is 7,500 feet and the evenings are cold, so the fires in the rooms earn their place.
An early descent to be on the floor as the light comes up. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world and holds around 25,000 large animals year round, including black rhino and the highest recorded lion density anywhere in Africa. Picnic lunch beside the hippo pool, then the climb back out on the western road. The afternoon is at leisure, or a guided walk along the forest edge of the rim.
A final morning on the rim, then the drive down to the Lake Manyara airstrip and a flight via Kilimanjaro back into Nairobi. We transfer you across to Jomo Kenyatta International in good time for your onward connection, with a dayroom held if it is a late one. Guests continuing to the Kenyan coast or on to Zanzibar connect from Wilson, and we will have arranged that leg before you leave the crater.
With sweeping views of the Ngong Hills and interiors that reflect the grace of Kenya's heritage, Hemingways Nairobi blends timeless hospitality with thoughtful design.
Set between Nairobi National Park and the foot of the Ngong Hills, Hemingways Nairobi is an exclusive boutique hotel far from the bustle of central Nairobi. An all suite property providing full butler service, a brasserie and a bar, it is perfectly placed for trips to Nairobi National Park and the capital.
Hemingways Nairobi has a sophisticated and tranquil ambiance. Each of the 45 suites is a generous size, all with walk in dressing rooms and a terrace with magnificent views of the Ngong Hills.
Hemingways' 45 loftily ceilinged rooms are bright, open and fresh, decorated with soothing, muted colours and canopied beds, with touches of brass and mahogany. Large Italian marbled bathrooms, a personalised bar, in room dining and the attentive service of your butler are testimony to Hemingways' dedication to surpassing the very highest expectations.
The Dining Room serves delectable cuisine from the hotel's Michelin starred chef. Top notch culinary creations have placed Hemingways on Africa's gourmet food map, with contemporary European styled dishes and a variety of international flavours to suit every palate.
The utterly unique Nairobi National Park, offering authentic big game viewing with a city skyline, lies just a few minutes away, while the Karen Blixen Museum, Giraffe Centre and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage are also nearby.
A new and intimate lodge on private conservancy land along the quiet western edge of Amboseli, where Kilimanjaro is framed from every suite and the rules of the concession allow what the national park does not.
Kitirua Plains Lodge sits within the Kitirua Conservancy, privately held land bordering Amboseli National Park on its western boundary. Away from the busier eastern side of the ecosystem, the setting is quiet, open and framed by Africa's highest mountain rising across the Tanzanian border to the south.
Because the land is privately held, guiding here is unrestricted. Vehicles may leave the track to follow a sighting, guests may walk with an armed Maasai guide, and night drives with a spotlight are permitted. Game drives run into the national park daily regardless.
Generously sized suites built low into the landscape, each oriented so that Kilimanjaro is visible from the bed and from the terrace. Interiors are calm and uncluttered, in earth tones drawn from the surrounding plains, with large bathrooms, indoor and outdoor showers and a private deck facing the mountain.
Meals move with the day rather than the clock. Breakfast is often taken out on the plains after the first drive, lunch under the trees at camp, and dinner either in the dining room or laid out under the stars. Menus lean on fresh, locally sourced produce with a Kenyan accent.
Game drives into Amboseli National Park for the swamps, the breeding herds and the great tuskers, and drives on the concession where off road access, guided walking and night drives are permitted. Cultural visits to Maasai homesteads and bush breakfasts can be arranged at any time.
Where the rhythm of the Mara meets the refinement of safari living, Mara Plains Camp is a small and private luxury tented camp in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, on the northern border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
An intimate safari retreat hidden beneath the canopy of riverine forest on the banks of the Ntiakitiak River, Mara Plains offers a rare sense of seclusion in the heart of the Maasai Mara. With only a handful of luxury tents, the camp blends understated elegance with authentic safari character: canvas walls, deep wooden decks, and interiors adorned with handcrafted furnishings and Swahili antiques.
Designed to merge seamlessly with nature, the camp opens to unbroken views across the savannah. The conservancy caps beds at one tent per 700 acres, the lowest density in the greater Mara ecosystem.
Seven spacious and uniquely designed canvas rooms built on a raised platform, each with its own private veranda and views of the Mara plains or the river. Every room has a private dressing area and an en suite bathroom with a double vanity, flush toilet, bathtub and shower.
Brunch and dinner are enjoyed around a grand wooden table in the canvas dining room or on the outdoor deck overlooking the river. Meal times are flexible, so you will not find yourself constrained to return to camp if you come across a great sighting.
Game drives across the Mara and the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, photographic safaris, and guided walks that bring the ecosystem to life. Cultural experiences with the Maasai community reveal the connection between land and heritage. Night drives are permitted on conservancy land.
Contemporary suites on the banks of the Grumeti River in the western corridor, the least visited stretch of the Serengeti and the migration's route north between May and July.
The western corridor follows the Grumeti River between the central plains and Lake Victoria. It carries a fraction of the traffic of the Seronera valley, and the lodge is one of very few properties in it. The result is a Serengeti that feels considerably emptier than the one most visitors see.
The design is contemporary rather than colonial, glass and pale timber built low along the riverbank, with the water and the resident hippo directly below the deck. andBeyond's guiding is among the most consistent in Africa, and the team here know the corridor intimately.
Ten glass fronted suites raised along the riverbank, each with a private plunge pool, a wide deck over the water, indoor and outdoor showers and a separate lounge. A two bedroom family suite sits apart from the main camp with its own pool and dining area.
Meals move with the day, from the main deck above the river to a table set out in the bush or a private dinner on your own terrace. andBeyond's kitchens are strong and the wine list is properly kept, which is not a given this far into the Serengeti.
Twice daily and full day game drives through the corridor, guided walks where the park permits them, hot air ballooning at dawn, and behind the scenes visits with the conservation team. Between May and July the migration passes through on its way north.
Forest suites on the quiet eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, fifteen minutes from the crater floor.
Osonjoi sits in forest on the quiet eastern rim, screened from the road and facing out over the caldera. Being fifteen minutes from the floor is the point: you descend for first light, well ahead of the vehicles coming up from Karatu.
The highland setting is cool and often misty, and the lodge is built for it, with fires in the rooms and a warm, low lit main area.
Spacious suites with wood burning fireplaces, freestanding baths, large windows facing the crater or the forest, and private decks. Underfloor heating and hot water bottles at turndown are welcome at 7,500 feet.
The dining room and lounge both look out towards the caldera. Picnic lunches are packed for the descent, and dinner is unhurried, served beside the fire after a long day below.
The crater descent with a picnic on the floor, guided forest walks along the rim, visits to Maasai communities within the conservation area, and Olduvai Gorge within reach as a half day excursion.
This journey runs on request rather than on fixed departure dates. You choose the dates, we hold the camps. What changes is the season you travel in, and each band below is priced from our contracted rates for that window.
| Travel Window | Season & Availability | From | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
1 – 30 September 2026 Peak, Migration |
Very limited | USD 30,950per person sharing | Get a Quote |
1 – 31 October 2026 Peak |
Limited | USD 29,250per person sharing | Get a Quote |
1 November – 19 December 2026 Green |
Wide open | USD 19,550per person sharing | Get a Quote |
20 December 2026 – 4 January 2027 Festive |
Very limited | USD 30,950per person sharing | Get a Quote |
| Travel Window | Season & Availability | From | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
11 January – 28 February 2027 Shoulder |
Good availability | USD 24,100per person sharing | Get a Quote |
1 – 31 March 2027 Standard |
Good availability | USD 21,550per person sharing | Get a Quote |
1 April – 31 May 2027 Green |
Wide open Best Value | USD 19,400per person sharing | Get a Quote |
1 – 14 June 2027 Shoulder |
Good availability | USD 24,500per person sharing | Get a Quote |
15 – 30 June 2027 Peak |
Limited | USD 32,900per person sharing | Get a Quote |
1 July – 30 September 2027 Peak, Migration |
Limited, book early | USD 32,900per person sharing | Get a Quote |
1 – 31 October 2027 Peak |
Limited | USD 31,050per person sharing | Get a Quote |
1 November – 19 December 2027 Green |
Wide open | USD 20,500per person sharing | Get a Quote |
20 December 2027 – 4 January 2028 Festive |
Very limited | USD 32,900per person sharing | Get a Quote |
Rates are per person sharing in United States dollars, based on two adults travelling together, and cover every flight including the cross border crossing and the return to Nairobi. Note the step between 14 and 15 June. Four of the five camps move into high season within a day of each other, so a departure on the 14th costs USD 24,500 and one on the 16th costs USD 32,900. A single supplement applies in Peak and Festive seasons. Prices are held for 14 days from the date of quotation and confirmed on receipt of a 30 percent deposit, with the balance due 60 days before departure. Every travel date from September 2026 to 4 January 2028 is priced above.
This twelve day journey starts at USD 19,550 per person sharing in the green season and runs to USD 32,900 through the migration months and the festive window. That figure covers every flight, the border crossing, all park and conservancy fees, and all meals and drinks on safari.
Not in the low season, and we would rather say so. From 1 November to 19 December the herds are not in either country, so those departures are about resident game, green landscapes and value. If you want the migration, travel between July and October for the Mara crossings, or between January and March for the calving on the southern Serengeti plains.
Four of the five camps move into high season within a day or two of each other. A departure on 14 June costs USD 24,500 and one on the 16th costs USD 32,900. If your dates are flexible, the first half of June is the best value of the whole year on this journey.
You fly from the Maasai Mara to Migori, where our team walks you through Kenyan customs, then take a short road transfer to Tarime for Tanzanian entry, and fly on into the Serengeti. The whole leg is booked as a single through fare voucher, so it is one ticket rather than three bookings. It costs a morning.
The camps. Icons of the Wild covers the same four regions at around half the price with excellent but more conventional properties. This journey puts you on private conservancy land in Amboseli and the Mara, in the quietest corner of the Serengeti, and on the crater rim itself rather than an hour away in Karatu.
Kenya. You fly from the crater via Kilimanjaro back into Nairobi Wilson on the final day, and we transfer you across to Jomo Kenyatta International. That suits anyone connecting onward or adding a few days on the Kenyan coast.
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