Safari Marathon - From Maasai Mara to the Serengeti Plains

We landed in Nairobi at 6am, bleary-eyed but buzzing with anticipation. After a quick briefing with our tour operator and a much-needed coffee, we were already on the way to the Maasai Mara - the starting point of our safari marathon through Kenya and Tanzania.

The first stretch was easy until the tarmac ended and the “African massage” began: hours of bumpy dirt tracks that made naps an extreme sport. The reward? Our first zebras, antelopes, and giraffes - and soon after, a herd of elephants. Just like that, the adventure had begun. 

By sunset, we’d already seen four of the Big Five - lions, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo, with only the leopard missing. Hyenas, ostriches, and gazelles filled the gaps, and we learned that “Mara” means “dotted” - referring to the spotted animals and the scattered acacia trees. Lions, we discovered, also enjoy shade from tourist jeeps.

After a long day of game drives, we rounded things off with a visit to a Maasai village - interesting, if a bit on the touristy side. The next morning, we drove toward Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru. It was Diana’s birthday, and the bumpy ride gave her plenty of time to read birthday messages.

A tranquil boat trip on Lake Naivasha brought us close to hippos, followed by a walk among giraffes and zebras - magical to see them at eye level. The next day at Lake Nakuru, flamingos, pelicans, rhinos, and baboons made for a lively morning before another long drive to Amboseli National Park.

At sunset, we reached our first proper campsite - #budgetsafari mode on. The next dawn saw us walking through the savannah with a Maasai guide, spotting giraffes, wildebeest, baboons - and a lion not too far away 😳. Later, a full-day game drive delivered the famous Amboseli elephants, hippos, and flamingos, capped off by a huge bull charging at a jeep right in front of us.

Another sunrise, another game drive - and soon after, we crossed the border into Tanzania. Arusha greeted us with chaotic traffic, colourful markets, colonial buildings, and good coffee - a refreshing change from dust and diesel.

The next day plans changed, as they tend to in Africa. We descended first into Ngorongoro Crater - a lush green amphitheatre packed with wildlife: lions, buffalo, flamingos, zebras, wildebeest, even a shy black rhino. Lunch by the lake came complete with a coffee truck before heading to Simba Campsite for our first night of real wild camping. Buffalo and wildebeest grazed right between the tents - a soundtrack like no other.

If Ngorongoro was spectacular, Serengeti was pure wonder. “Endless plains” indeed - wildlife in every direction. Within minutes we completed the Big Five with a leopard sighting. Later a cheetah climbed onto a jeep for shade, and another leopard hunted at sunset. Thousands of wildebeest and zebras moved across the plains, offering a glimpse of the Great Migration.

That night a leopard prowled around camp during dinner, and lions were heard nearby - the guides casually assured us they’d never enter tents 😉. Morning brought more wildlife overload: hippos, elephants, hyenas, and endless antelopes. Not a single 15-minute stretch without a “wow” moment. Tanzania had us completely hooked - wilder, more colourful, and full of surprises. Asante sana, Tanzania. 

Crossing back into Kenya, we drove the full day to Tsavo West - a volcanic landscape of red earth and acacia, though game was shy. A lucky double leopard sighting made up for it. The next day in Tsavo East we found the famous “red elephants,” rolling and bathing at waterholes, playful and majestic at once. Lions napped nearby, storks and eagles soared above, and we ended the day cooling off in a lodge pool overlooking the park.

After twelve days of safaris, it was time for the coast. A scenic train ride took us to Mombasa and on to Watamu - palm trees, white sand, and seafood heaven. Diving replaced driving: turtles, octopus, reef sharks, barracuda, lionfish - even a playful mantis shrimp. Visibility wasn’t perfect, but the underwater world made up for it.

Afternoons were lazy: crab shacks, beach walks, Italian ice cream. On our last day we explored Mombasa’s old town, joined a street food tour (sugarcane juice, spiced coffee, and all), and killed time with a movie - Dune 2, preceded by the Kenyan national anthem.

After three weeks of wildlife, dust, and saltwater, we boarded our 4am flight home - tired but grinning. Kenya and Tanzania delivered beyond every expectation: the rhythm of the wild, the warmth of the people, and the thrill of seeing nature up close.

Early mornings, endless roads, roaring lions, diving turtles - this was one for the books.