Should I Go On a Tanzania or Kenya Safari?
Kenya vs Tanzania safari usually depends on your safari budget, style of travel (budget or luxury), and your safari interests. After travelling 10 times in Kenya and Tanzania, this is what I have found out when it comes to comparing these two safari countries. First of all, Kenya is easily accessible for international travellers, to some extent cheaper and good for first time travelers whereas Tanzania offers abundance when it comes to remote wilderness parks and reserves.
With these two countries dominating a bucket list African safari, you will quickly find out that a safari in Kenya is totally different from a Tanzania safari. Do this – if its your first safari, choose Kenya, and if you want a deeper sense of safari, choose Tanzania. If you are unsure of which one to choose, combine both Kenya and Tanzania safari in one whole trip.
Family Safari
Head 2 Head Kenya Vs Tanzania Safaris
Features | Kenya | Tanzania |
Accessibility | Very Excellent | Good |
Big Five Safaris | Excellent | Excellent |
Wildebeest Migration | July – October | All Year |
Safari Beach Holiday | Diani Beach, Watamu & Lamu Island | Zanzibar |
Safari Costs | From USD$250 Per Person Per Day | From USD$450 Per Person Per Day |
Big Cats Safaris | Excellent | Excellent |
Busy Destination | Very Busy During Peak Seasons | Busy (In Serengeti) |
Safari Safety | Excellent | Excellent |
Infrastructure | Very Excellent | Good |
Cultural Safaris | Excellent Masai’s & Samburu Culture | Excellent Hadzabe Tribe & Datoga |
Hiking Adventures | Climbing Mount Kenya | Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro |
Kenya or Tanzania In Terms Of Wildlife
You will quickly find out that Kenya offers more reliable and up-close wildlife safaris as compared to Tanzania.
For Tanzania the good thing is that you can witnesses the start of the great wildebeest migration safaris, but again the best time to see the migration at its peak is at Masai Mara in Kenya.
Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy is the largest rhino sanctuary in East Africa, and home to the last two Northern White rhinos on Earth, making Kenya the best choice when it comes to wildlife safaris, alongside Solio Conservancy which equally boasts plenty of rhino populations than any Tanzania Parks combined.
Kenya or Tanzania Big Five Safaris
The fact that you can see all of the Big five safari animals in both Kenya and Tanzania, keep in mind that it is in Masai Mara in Kenya where most wildlife TV shows have been filmed – this includes top wildlife series such as BBC Earth’s ‘Dynasties’ and Animal Planet’s ‘Big Cat Tales’ are filmed in Kenya. Let’s not forget, the popular movie by the name Lion King was filmed in Masai Mara, this tells you how rated safaris in Kenya are, offering excellent big five sightings.
That said, let’s not rule out the great big five safaris in Tanzania, which equally offers what Kenya has in terms of wildlife – even though the wildlife sightings in Tanzania tend to be more distant and are not guaranteed.
Kenya or Tanzania Wildebeest Migration Safaris
Tanzania is considered the home to the Great Migration, given the fact that the migration here. Tanzania offers year-round highlights of the great migration featuring stages like the calving season in Ndutu, the mating season and the crossings in Grumeti River.
That said, the main and the best place to watch the Wildebeest crossing is in Masai Mara in Kenya as from the month of July through to October, this is where the best river crossings take place as the herds desperately attempt to cross the crocodile-infested Mara River from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara.
Kenya or Tanzania Best for Big Cats Safaris?
Kenya is the best destination when it comes to big cats’ safaris – boasting a high number of predator sightings as compared to Tanzania.
The Masai Mara National Reserve & bordering private conservancies offer the best sightings for big cat’s safaris.
Noticeably, there are good numbers of lions and cheetahs in Tanzania, but Kenya outnumbers Tanzania when it comes to lion density.
Kenya or Tanzania Best for Elephant Sightings?
Kenya vs Tanzania, which is the best country to visit? Both Kenya and Tanzania have a good number of Elephant sightings,
Kenya is number one, when it comes to the best place to watch and photograph elephants. In Kenya, you will see hundreds of elephants at Amboseli National Park, Samburu National Reserve, Tsavo National Parks, Sheldrick Elephant orphanage, and Reteti Elephant Sanctuary while in Tanzania, the best place to see elephants in many numbers is in Tarangire National Park, Ruaha National Park, and Katavi National Park.
Photo Tour
Which Is Best for International Flights?
Kenya is best connected and easy to access when it comes to international flights, serving direct flights from London, Amsterdam and other major cities. Most travellers visiting on a combined Kenya and Tanzania safaris usually prefer to fly into Kenya, do their safari and fly out back home from Kenya.
Kenya Vs Tanzania, Which One Has the Best Infrastructure?
When it comes to safari infrastructure, Kenya has the best- and well-connected safari infrastructure from road safaris to flying safaris, delivering an ideal bush to beach trips whereas Tanzania is not far behind but will need to catch-up fast to reach Kenya’s level.
Kenya Vs Tanzania Luxury Safari Lodges and Hotels
Both Kenya and Tanzania have an interestingly good number of luxury safari accommodations to suit all budgets from budget hotels to high-end luxury lodges and everything in between. When it comes down to family friendly accommodations, Kenya surpasses Tanzania.
Kenya Vs Tanzania Best Private Reserves
Kenya is the top choice when it comes to private conservancies, boasting the Masai Mara Private Conservancies, Laikipia Private Conservancies, Samburu Private Conservancies, and Amboseli Private Conservancy all offering high end luxury Kenya safaris as compared to Tanzania’s Singita Grumeti, a concession within the Ikorongo-Grumeti Game Reserve on the Serengeti’s western border that sits directly on the Great Migration’s route through the western corridor, where you can witness wildebeest crossing the Grumeti River between June and July.
Kenya Vs Tanzania Safari Costs Comparison
Kenya is cheaper to visit, best for travellers on a budget and by far more favourable for first-time safari goers as compared to Tanzania in almost every aspect, from food to tours to safari and spending money in the coastal beach areas. A standard Kenya safari costs US$250 and US$1,000 per person per day, depending on what sort of safari you want and can afford – whether you choose budget, mid-range, luxury, or fly-in safari options while Tanzania safaris cost a starting price of US$500 per person per day to US$2,310 per person per day, and it is difficult to put a specific figure on a trip, as a lot of variables need to be taken into account. For example, camping safaris are generally cheaper than lodge safaris in Tanzania.
Kenya Vs Tanzania Balloon Safaris
With both offering ballon safari trips, Kenya has a better safety record with balloon safaris than Tanzania because Kenya has been doing it for long as compared to Tanzania.
Best Destination for Honeymoons, Kenya or Tanzania?
When it comes to honeymoon trips, both Kenya and Tanzania are great destinations for honeymooners. Both offer a range of luxury & romantic safari lodges spread across a series of national parks and reserves, offering evening sundowners, candle lit bush dinners to walking safaris. Interestingly both have excellent beaches where couples can visit after safaris. Though when it comes to picking the best combination, Tanzania has the upper hand for bush and beach honeymoon holiday packages.
Kenya Or Tanzania Family Safaris?
Kenya is the winner when it comes to family safari trips, featuring the best family friendly accommodations and an endless list of activities for kids on safari. From cycling safaris in Hell’s Gate National Park, horse riding safaris in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, boat trips on Lake Naivasha, walking safaris in Samburu and Quad biking in Laikipia, Kenya has it all as compared to Tanzania’s cycling in Mto Wa Mbu, canoeing on Lake Manyara and horse riding across the Kilimanjaro conservancies & Manyara Ranch combined.
Combined Kenya & Tanzania Safari Packages
Both Kenya and Tanzania combine well on a single itinerary, delivering world class safaris from wildlife to beach safari holidays. If you have more than a week of safari, I suggest combining Kenya & Tanzania as the journey between the two countries have a lot to offer visitors.
Best Kenya Safari & Beach Tours
Browse our favorite Kenyan beach holiday packages or simply get in touch with one of our Africa safari experts to help custom-make a Kenyan beach holiday that matches your travel wishes. You can enjoy safaris in Kenya national parks on the mainland, then follow it up with a relaxed beach holiday at Malindi or Diani. Get to know the coastal Kenya, and what’s possible on your trip to these Indian Ocean beaches, discover some of the best-loved experiences and safari routes that we’ve found working particularly well with our travelers.
