7-Day Safari from Nairobi · Cross-Border Guide · TATO since 1991

The 7-Day Safari from Nairobi — Honest Cross-Border Logistics from a 35-Year Operator

NBO + NamangaBoth Routes Covered
From $2,890ppTier Range Starts
35 YrsArusha-Based, TATO

Nairobi sits in Kenya. The Northern Circuit parks sit in Tanzania. So every 7-day safari from Nairobi crosses an international border — by air or by road. The fly route is Precision Air, AirKenya Express or Kenya Airways from Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO) to Kilimanjaro International (JRO), 45 to 55 minutes, $200 to $280pp one-way. The road route is the Riverside or Impala shuttle through Namanga — 6 to 7 hours including the border crossing, around $40 to $60pp. Most clients fly. Tiers run from $2,890pp at our budget level through $7,500pp+ at Ultra. Same Toyota Land Cruiser, same driver-guide, same Northern Circuit. What changes is the camp tier and the first 24 hours. The pillar page covers the broader Northern Circuit context. Worth knowing up front: Don't confuse NBO with Wilson Airport (WIL) — Wilson is a separate domestic field 15 km away, used for Mara bush flights but not for the Tanzania connection. Riverside and Impala shuttles depart from Nairobi hotels in the city centre, not from the airport. So if your international flight lands NBO at 22:00, you sleep in Nairobi and shuttle the next morning.

Get a QuoteWhatsApp Geoffrey
Five Ways into the 7-Day Safari from Nairobi

Where Are You Starting From in Nairobi?

Most clients land NBO on a Gulf, European or American long-haul, then connect to Arusha by air. About a quarter take the Riverside or Impala shuttle through Namanga — the budget option, slow but functional. A steady share are combining a Maasai Mara extension with the Tanzania trip. Each path looks different on Day 1. From Day 2 onward, the safari is identical.

Geoffrey Komba on NBO connections: "Most international flights land NBO between 18:00 and 23:00. So same-day connection to Arusha is rare. I tell clients — sleep in Nairobi, fly NBO–JRO at 09:00 the next morning. The Eka Hotel and the Crowne Plaza are both 20 minutes from JKIA. Fresh on Day 1 beats tired on Day 1, every time. The Serengeti is still there in the morning."
Tanzania bird perched on safari tree branch — wildlife awaiting after the NBO direct flight to Arusha for the 7-day safari from Nairobi
Most common · ~60% of Nairobi clients

Flying NBO Direct to Arusha

Airport
NBO · T1A/T2
Onward fly
45–55 min to JRO
Cost
$200–280 ow

Jomo Kenyatta International handles the bulk of long-haul arrivals into East Africa — Kenya Airways, KLM, Qatar, Turkish, Emirates, Ethiopian, British Airways. So the connection is a normal part of arrival logistics, not a workaround. Most North American and European clients land here.

From NBO, clear immigration (Kenya eVisa is faster than visa-on-arrival), collect bags, and either connect same-morning (rare) or sleep in Nairobi and fly Arusha the next day. Precision Air, AirKenya Express and Kenya Airways all run NBO–JRO. We meet you at JRO arrivals with the Land Cruiser. Transfer to Arusha is 50 km on tar, around 60 minutes. See our Arusha starting-point page for what happens once you're north.

Plan from NBO Direct →
Lion cub on Tanzania safari — the wildlife waiting after the Riverside or Impala shuttle from Nairobi through Namanga to Arusha
Budget option · ~25% of Nairobi clients

Riverside or Impala Shuttle via Namanga

Total time
6–7 hr
Operators
Riverside · Impala
Cost
$40–60 ow

Riverside Shuttle and Impala Shuttle both run Nairobi to Arusha daily. Departure 08:00 from Nairobi city hotels, arrival Arusha around 14:00 to 15:00 in normal conditions. Air-conditioned coach, no toilet stops longer than 15 minutes, packed lunch pickup at the border. Functional, not luxurious — but safe and reliable.

The road is 270 km on Mombasa Road and the A104. The border at Namanga adds 45 to 90 minutes — Kenya exit, short walk between posts, Tanzania entry. Bring USD cash for the Tanzania visa ($50 single-entry on arrival). Our driver-guide meets you at the Impala Hotel in Arusha and drives you to your lodge. Private vehicle through Namanga is the upgrade ↓

Plan via Shuttle →
Baboon in Tanzania bushland — wildlife on the 7-day Northern Circuit safari after the private overland transfer from Nairobi through Namanga
Premium overland · Smoother border

Private Vehicle through Namanga

Total time
5–6 hr
Vehicle
Land Cruiser
Cost
$280–380 total

Same Namanga route, different ride. A Kenya-side driver collects you from your Nairobi hotel at 07:00. The handover at the border is what changes — your Tanzania driver-guide meets you at Namanga, takes over the paperwork and the wheel, and drives the second leg into Arusha. So you get one continuous service rather than the shuttle's group rhythm.

Border crossing is faster on private — the driver-guide knows the immigration officers, runs the visa-stamp shuttle between posts, and avoids the queue when group buses stack up. Most clients picking this option are families with kids, photographers with hard cases, or travellers who simply prefer not to be on a coach.

Plan a Private Transfer →
Wildebeest migration crossing — same ecosystem in Maasai Mara Kenya and Serengeti Tanzania, common Kenya combination pattern from Nairobi
Mara + Serengeti · One ecosystem

Kenya Safari + Tanzania Combination

Pattern
3–4 nights Mara
Total trip
10–14 days
Handover
Wilson · Namanga

The Mara and the Serengeti are the same ecosystem. The herds cross the Mara River both ways. So combining 3 to 4 nights in Kenya's Mara with the 7-day Tanzania safari from Nairobi is one of our most common patterns. Most clients pick Kenya first (long-haul into NBO, fly Wilson–Mara, then return to Nairobi and head to Tanzania) but Tanzania first works too.

For pure migration crossings July to October, the Mara has the river-crossing drama. For volume year-round (calving in Ndutu January to March, west corridor June to July), Tanzania wins. Cramming both into 7 days alone is rushed — extend the trip. We book the Tanzania portion and coordinate the handover at Wilson Airport or the Namanga border with your Kenya operator.

Plan a Kenya–Tanzania Combo →
Ngorongoro Crater wildlife from the rim — Tanzania Northern Circuit destination after the Nairobi connection
Not sure yet · Talk to us first

Still Deciding How to Get from Nairobi to Tanzania?

Best for most
Fly NBO–JRO
Budget pick
Riverside shuttle
Family pick
Private overland

Two questions usually decide it: how much of Day 1 are you willing to spend in transit, and is your trip safari-only or are you adding Kenya. Fly works for most. Shuttle works on a tight budget. Private vehicle works for families and photographers. Combo works if you want both countries.

So if you're not sure yet, message Geoffrey directly. Ten minutes on WhatsApp and we'll match the route to your trip — no sales script, no pressure. We'd rather you book the right route than the most expensive one.

WhatsApp Geoffrey to decide →
Fly-vs-Shuttle Matrix

Every Nairobi to Arusha Option You'll Need

Nairobi to the Northern Circuit is a fly-or-shuttle decision in practice. So the real question is which carrier or shuttle, which day, and how it lines up with your international arrival window. Below is the working matrix — honest ranges, current operators, no marketing prices. Costs vary 20–30% by season and how far ahead you book. Last-minute walk-ups run 40%+ more.

FromToTimeCost (one-way)Operator(s) / Notes
NBO (Jomo Kenyatta)JRO (Kilimanjaro Intl)45–55 min$200–280ppPrecision Air, Kenya Airways · several daily
NBOARK (Arusha Airport)1 hr$220–300ppAirKenya Express, Coastal Aviation
Wilson (WIL)ARK (Arusha Airport)1 hr$220–300ppAirKenya Express, Safarilink (from Mara)
Nairobi (city hotels)Arusha (via Namanga)6–7 hr$40–60ppRiverside Shuttle, Impala Shuttle · daily 08:00
Nairobi (private)Arusha (private vehicle)5–6 hr$280–380 totalPrivate driver, paperwork handled
Namanga borderArusha2.5 hrincludedTanzania-side pickup if you cross alone
JRO (Kilimanjaro)NBO (return)45–55 min$200–280ppPrecision Air, Kenya Airways
ARK (Arusha)NBO (return)1 hr$220–300ppAirKenya Express, Coastal Aviation
WilsonMaasai Mara45 min$220–320ppSafarilink, AirKenya · for Kenya combo
Bus / matatu (NOT advised)NBO → Arusha direct8–10 hr~$25ppModern Coast, Riverside cheap class
Peak-season warning: July to October and December to February push NBO–JRO prices to the top of the range, and walk-up seats can sell out the day before. The Riverside and Impala shuttles also fill on weekends. Book the connection when you book the safari, not after. We hold trade rates that are usually 10–15% below public pricing on the air side.
Specific Use Case

The Kenya–Tanzania Combination — Two Countries, One Ecosystem

The Mara and the Serengeti are the same place. Choose by what matters to you.

Around three in ten of our Nairobi-starting clients combine a Kenya safari with the Tanzania trip — most of them adding 3 to 4 nights in the Maasai Mara before or after. The herds cross the Mara River both ways. So you're not picking between two ecosystems, you're picking which side and which moment.

For migration river-crossing drama July to October, Kenya's Mara has the iconic shots. For volume year-round — calving in Ndutu January to March, the west corridor June to July, the open Seronera plains any time — Tanzania wins. We book the Tanzania side and coordinate handover at Wilson Airport or the Namanga border. One quote, one WhatsApp thread, one safari logic.

Nairobi clients adding Kenya
~30% per year
Typical Kenya add-on
3–4 nights in the Mara
Ideal total trip length
10–14 days end to end

What we tell every Mara-then-Serengeti client

  • 01
    Don't squeeze both into 7 days.Kenya 3–4 nights plus Tanzania 7 days is the realistic minimum. Less and you're transferring more than game-driving. So extend the trip — it's the difference between a memory and a blur.
  • 02
    Kenya first usually works better.Long-haul lands NBO, you fly Wilson–Mara on Day 1, do 3–4 nights in the Mara, return to Nairobi, then connect to Arusha. The reverse works too but adds a transit day on the back end.
  • 03
    Book the two sides as one trip.Splitting between a Kenya operator and a Tanzania operator usually creates handover problems. So pick one side as the lead — we lead the Tanzania side and coordinate with your Kenya operator, or recommend a Kenya partner if you don't have one.
  • 04
    East African Tourist Visa is worth checking.$100 for 90 days, valid in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda. Saves the second visa fee if you're combining Kenya and Tanzania, though Tanzania visa ($50) is still separate. Apply before travel, both eVisa portals are reliable.
William Mwasimba on Kenya–Tanzania pacing: "Clients arrive thinking the Mara and the Serengeti are different. They are not. Same wildebeest, same lions, same river. So I tell them — pick what you want to see. River crossings are Kenya in August. Calving is Tanzania in February. Big-cat density is honestly close. The country choice is logistics, not wildlife. Build the trip around the wildlife you want to see, then the route falls into place."
Plan a Kenya–Tanzania Combination
The Northern Circuit Loop

Your 7-Day Northern Circuit from Nairobi

The 7-day Northern Circuit geography is identical to every other Safari-TZ booking. So once you cross into Tanzania — by air or by road — the safari runs the same as any other start. Same Land Cruiser, same driver-guide, same parks. What changes from Nairobi is the Day 1 cross-border leg. See the pillar page on 7-day Tanzania safaris for the broader regional context.

Serengeti pride on the open plains — Day 4 of the 7-day safari from Nairobi after the cross-border leg
Central Serengeti — the Day 4 game-drive ground for every 7-day safari from Nairobi, regardless of how you crossed.
Cross-border route from Nairobi · Open full route in Google Maps →

7-Day Route

StartNairobi (Day 1 morning)
Day 1Cross to Arusha (fly OR shuttle)
Day 2Lake Manyara NP
Day 3Ngorongoro Crater
Day 4–5Central Serengeti
Day 6Tarangire NP
EndArusha → NBO OR JRO
Return options: round-trip back to Nairobi (JRO–NBO flight or shuttle on Day 7) or international depart from JRO direct. Round-trip adds one connection ($200–280pp by air, or the shuttle). One-way skips it. If your international departure is from NBO because you flew in there, round-trip is the call. If you can fly home from JRO, one-way saves cost and time. See the is-7-days-enough page for trip-length context.
Sample Day-by-Day

Your 7-Day Safari from Nairobi — Day by Day

Baseline pacing for an NBO-direct fly arrival. Shuttle arrivals add 2–3 hours to Day 1 — same content, different timing. Otherwise the run from Day 2 onward is identical — Manyara, the crater, Serengeti, Karatu, Tarangire, then back to Arusha. Day 1 is logistics, no matter how you crossed.

Serengeti lion close-up at golden hour — daily wildlife on the 7-day safari from Nairobi
Serengeti lion close-up — the kind of sighting Day 4 delivers on every 7-day safari from Nairobi, regardless of tier.
Day 1

Nairobi → Arusha — cross-border transit

Morning departure from Nairobi. Fly path: NBO to JRO on Precision Air or Kenya Airways (45–55 minutes), Tanzania immigration, 60-minute transfer to Arusha lodge. Shuttle path: 08:00 pickup from your Nairobi hotel, 2.5 hours to Namanga, 45–90 minute border crossing, 2.5 hours to Arusha. Evening safari briefing.

Fly arrivals reach Arusha by 13:00–14:00. Shuttle arrivals reach Arusha around 14:30–15:30. Either way, Day 1 ends with the briefing — no game drives. Fresh Day 2 beats a tight Day 1, every time.
Day 2

Arusha → Lake Manyara NP — first real safari day

08:30 pickup from your Arusha lodge. 2.5-hour drive west via Makuyuni road. Morning and afternoon game viewing — tree-climbing lions, groundwater forest elephants, flamingos depending on lake level. Picnic lunch in the park. Overnight Karatu area.

Manyara is the warm-up day. Shorter, gentler, good for settling into safari rhythm after the Nairobi transit. By the time you reach Karatu in the evening, the body has caught up.
Day 3

Ngorongoro Crater → Central Serengeti

06:30 descent into the crater via Lodoare Gate. 5 hours of game viewing — Big Five territory, resident black rhino. Picnic lunch on the rim. Then 3-hour drive west to Central Serengeti via Naabi Hill Gate. Overnight Serengeti.

Get there for descent at 06:30, not 09:00. The crater fills with vehicles by 10am. Being first on the floor changes the whole experience. Geoffrey calls this the most underused operator lever — most clients don't know to push for it.
Day 4

Full day Central Serengeti

Morning and afternoon game drives positioned for current migration location. Dec–Mar: south Ndutu. Apr–May: central Seronera. Jun–Jul: west corridor. Jul–Oct: north toward Mara River (same migration as Kenya's Mara, Tanzanian side). All meals in camp.

Clients who started with the Mara and crossed over often see the same herds from the Tanzania side. Geoffrey can read the difference between Kenyan and Tanzanian Mara River sections — animal behaviour shifts slightly with vehicle density.
Day 5

Serengeti → Karatu (afternoon coffee tour)

06:30 dawn game drive. Breakfast at camp. 10:00 depart east with two hours of game viewing and picnic lunch en route. Evening guided coffee tour in Karatu (1.5 hours). Dinner and overnight Karatu.

The coffee tour is a working small-hold farm. Not a staged show. You meet the farmer, see real production — washing, fermenting, drying, roasting — and taste cups in the old farmhouse. Quiet favourite of the trip.
Day 6

Tarangire National Park

08:00 drive to Tarangire (2 hours). Morning and afternoon game drives — baobabs, elephants, large buffalo herds. Picnic lunch in-park. Overnight in the Manyara area.

Tarangire elephant numbers peak July–October when herds gather at the river. March–May they disperse. Both are real Tarangire experiences — just different densities.
Day 7

Return to Arusha — NBO return OR JRO departure

09:00 drive back to Arusha (2 hours) with picnic lunch en route. Round-trip Nairobi clients: afternoon flight or shuttle back to Nairobi (or JRO–NBO connection). One-way clients: 45-minute transfer to JRO for direct international departure.

Most Nairobi-starting clients end up departing from JRO rather than returning to Nairobi. Once you're in Tanzania, adding a JRO–home flight is often cheaper than a round-trip Nairobi return.
First 24 Hours

What Happens Between NBO Landing and the Safari

The 12 to 18 hours between NBO landing and reaching Arusha has more friction points than most clients expect. The most common mistake we see is overnight European arrivals trying to push straight through to Tanzania the same morning. Possible — but exhausting. So we strongly recommend a Nairobi overnight whenever the schedule allows. The Eka Hotel and Crowne Plaza are both 20 minutes from JKIA.

Tanzania savanna landscape at golden hour — the country waiting after the NBO connection on the 7-day safari from Nairobi
Tanzania savanna — what waits beyond the NBO connection on every 7-day safari from Nairobi.
+0h

NBO landing

Terminal 1A or Terminal 2 for most international carriers. Immigration is 30 to 45 minutes in normal conditions, longer when several wide-bodies have stacked. Have your Kenya eVisa printed (apply at evisa.go.ke before travel) — eVisa moves faster than visa-on-arrival. ATMs and forex counters in arrivals hall.

+1h

Collect bags, clear customs

Baggage claim in the same hall as immigration. Customs is usually green-channel walk-through. Equity Bank ATMs in the arrivals hall dispense both KES and USD — useful if you need USD cash for the Tanzania visa. If carrying photography equipment over $2,000, declare it on arrival.

+2h

Decision: same-day or overnight Nairobi?

If you land before 12:00 with no baggage delay, the same-day NBO–JRO flight works. After that, sleep in Nairobi. The Eka Hotel, Crowne Plaza, and Tribe Village Market are all 20–30 minutes from JKIA. Don't try to push the 14:00–22:00 connection window — too much can go wrong.

+3–14h

Nairobi overnight or onward to Arusha

Overnight clients: airport transfer to your hotel, dinner, sleep, return to JKIA at 07:00 for the morning flight. Same-day connection clients (rare): proceed to domestic departures for the NBO–JRO flight.

+15h

NBO to JRO flight

Precision Air or Kenya Airways, 45 to 55 minutes block time. Right-side window seats give Kilimanjaro views on approach to JRO in clear weather. AirKenya Express runs the route too on smaller turboprops. No in-flight service for short hops.

+16h

JRO arrival, Land Cruiser pickup, Arusha lodge

Tanzania immigration — present your Tanzania eVisa (apply at eservices.immigration.go.tz) or pay $50 USD cash on arrival. Collect bags. Your Safari-TZ driver-guide (Geoffrey, William, or Isaac depending on booking) meets you at arrivals with the Land Cruiser. 60-minute transfer to Arusha. Lodge check-in, evening safari briefing, sleep early — Day 2 leaves at 08:30.

Local Intel

Six Nairobi-to-Tanzania Tips Other Sites Don't Share

Ground-operator intel specific to the Nairobi-to-Tanzania corridor. Most travel content is written either by Kenyan operators (who won't help you cross) or by generalist travel bloggers (who haven't actually run the route). The notes below come from running cross-border handoffs every week for 35 years.

Tip 01

Don't confuse NBO (JKIA) with Wilson Airport (WIL).

NBO/Jomo Kenyatta is the big international airport where your long-haul lands. Wilson is a smaller domestic-charter field 15 km away, used for Kenya bush flights to the Mara. AirKenya Express also runs Wilson–ARK to Arusha — useful if you're combining a Mara stay before Tanzania. So check your itinerary carefully — the airports are different.

Tip 02

Bring USD cash for the Tanzania visa at Namanga.

The Tanzania visa counter at Namanga accepts USD cash, not Kenyan Shillings. So if you're shuttling through, bring $50pp in crisp USD bills (or $100pp for US passport holders, $200 multi-entry). Worn or pre-2013 USD bills are sometimes rejected. The Tanzania eVisa applied online before travel is faster and removes the cash risk.

Tip 03

Book the Riverside or Impala shuttle direct, not through your hotel.

Riverside Shuttle and Impala Shuttle both have direct online booking. Hotel concierges add 15–25% markup for the same seat. So go direct — both operators run the route safely with experienced drivers. Riverside drops at the Impala Hotel junction in Arusha. Impala drops at the Impala Hotel itself. We pick up from either.

Tip 04

Kenya visa and Tanzania visa are separate — both needed if combining.

Kenya eVisa (evisa.go.ke) doesn't cover Tanzania. Tanzania eVisa (eservices.immigration.go.tz) doesn't cover Kenya. So if you're combining, apply for both before travel. The East African Tourist Visa ($100, 90 days) covers Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda — useful if your itinerary touches more than just Kenya, but Tanzania visa is still separate.

Tip 05

Overnight European arrivals — sleep in Nairobi, fly Arusha next morning.

Most KLM, Qatar, Turkish, and Emirates flights land NBO between 18:00 and 23:00. Pushing the same-evening connection is exhausting and the next NBO–JRO flight isn't until 07:00 anyway. So check into the Eka Hotel or Crowne Plaza, sleep, and fly fresh in the morning. Day 1 of the safari is logistics — no game drives are missed.

Tip 06

If you've already booked Kenya, book the Tanzania side direct.

Kenyan operators rarely have Tanzania park knowledge or vehicles. So sub-contracting marks up Tanzania rates 15–25%. Book your Tanzania extension directly with us (or another TATO-registered Tanzania operator). Your Kenya operator handles the Kenya portion — we handle from Wilson Airport, the Namanga border, or NBO onward, depending on your routing.

Adding the Maasai Mara to your Tanzania safari? We coordinate the Wilson Airport or Namanga border handover and pace Day 1 around your Kenya finish. Tell us at quote stage.

WhatsApp Geoffrey
Pricing

7-Day Safari from Nairobi — Three Tiers

Same Northern Circuit, three honest tier choices. Same Toyota Land Cruiser. Same driver-guide. Same itinerary from Day 2. What changes is the camp tier and how often you fly versus drive on the safari side. The Nairobi-to-Tanzania connection is quoted separately — fly NBO–JRO costs $200 to $280pp one-way, the Riverside or Impala shuttle costs $40 to $60pp. So plan on adding $80–560pp round-trip on top of the tier price depending on your route. Booking direct from the Tanzanian operator cuts the 15 to 25% platform commission. See the 2026 cost transparency page for the full breakdown and why direct booking matters.

Tarangire baobab landscape — Day 6 of every 7-day safari from Nairobi, regardless of tier
Tarangire baobabs — Day 6 of every 7-day safari from Nairobi, regardless of tier.
Budget Tier
From $2,890 per person

+$40–60pp shuttle · +$200–280pp fly NBO–JRO

Camping / Comfort sub-tiers

  • Full 7-day Northern Circuit after the Nairobi crossing
  • Public Seronera campsites or permanent tented camps
  • Same Toyota Land Cruiser pop-top, same driver-guide
  • Riverside/Impala shuttle recommended at this tier
  • Border crossing logistics handled end-to-end
View Budget Tier →
Most Popular
Mid-Range Tier
From $4,200 per person

+$200–280pp one-way · +$400–560pp round-trip NBO–JRO

Permanent tented camps, inside-park positioning

  • Full 7-day Northern Circuit from Arusha after fly-in
  • Proper tented camps with en-suite bathrooms
  • Inside-park positioning at Kati Kati or similar
  • Fly-direct connection booked at trade rates
  • Most popular tier for Nairobi-starting clients
Quote the Mid-Range Tier
Luxury Tier
From $7,500 per person

+$200–280pp one-way · Premium Precision Air available

Standard / Premium / Ultra sub-tiers

  • Full 7-day Northern Circuit from Arusha after fly-in
  • Premium properties (Singita, &Beyond, Four Seasons)
  • Fly-only connection (shuttle not offered at this tier)
  • Legendary Lodge as Day 1 Arusha base
  • Day 6 Seronera–Arusha charter flight option
View Luxury Tier →
Isaac Munuo on direct booking: "Nairobi clients ask me — is the platform price the same? It is not. The same itinerary on a platform runs 15 to 25% higher because of the booking commission. Same vehicle. Same camps. Same me at the wheel. So we say — call us first. If we can't beat the platform quote, book it. We almost always can."

Ready to plan your 7-day safari from Nairobi?

Tell us your entry path (NBO direct fly, Namanga shuttle, private vehicle, Kenya combination), dates, and tier preference. We send a custom proposal in 24 working hours from Arusha (UTC+3), with the NBO–JRO flight or shuttle included at trade rates. Direct from operator — no platform commission, no Kenyan reseller markup.

Faster: WhatsApp Geoffrey

Geoffrey runs most Arusha pickups for Nairobi-arriving clients. Direct line for itinerary questions, flight timing, and quotes.

WhatsApp Geoffrey

"Nairobi is not a difficult airport. It is just busy. Most clients picture chaos because Nairobi is a big African city. The truth is JKIA is modern, immigration moves steadily, and the Kenya eVisa line is fast. The real call is the same-evening connection. If you land at 22:00 from Europe — sleep at the Eka Hotel. Don't try to push it. Then fly Arusha at 07:00 fresh in the morning. The Serengeti is still there on Day 2."

Geoffrey Komba · Driver-Guide · Nairobi pickups since 2010
Common Questions

7-Day Safari from Nairobi — FAQs

How does a 7-day safari from Nairobi actually start?
It starts at Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO) when you land. From there you choose: fly to Arusha (45 to 55 minutes on Precision Air or AirKenya Express, $200 to $280 one-way) or take the Riverside or Impala shuttle through the Namanga border crossing (6 to 7 hours including the border, around $40 to $60 one-way). Most clients fly. Your driver-guide (Geoffrey, William, or Isaac) meets you at JRO, Arusha Airport, or the Namanga border depending on your route. Day 1 of the actual safari leaves Arusha around 08:30 the next morning.
Should I fly from Nairobi to Arusha or take the shuttle through Namanga?
Fly if you can. Precision Air, AirKenya Express, and Kenya Airways operate NBO to Kilimanjaro International (JRO) in 45 to 55 minutes for around $200 to $280 one-way. Same-day arrival into Arusha, on safari Day 2 morning. The Riverside or Impala shuttle through Namanga is 6 to 7 hours including the border crossing, costs around $40 to $60, and burns most of Day 1. The shuttle is functional and safe but tiring. So we default to the fly option for most clients and reserve the shuttle for budget-conscious travellers or those who specifically want the overland route. See the Arusha starting-point page for what happens once you land.
How long does the Namanga border crossing take?
Plan on 45 to 90 minutes at Namanga in normal conditions. The crossing has two posts — Kenya exit and Tanzania entry — separated by a short walk between buildings. Peak-season afternoons (July to October) have stacked up to two hours on the Tanzania side when several tour buses arrive together. Riverside and Impala shuttle drivers manage the paperwork shuttle between posts; on a private vehicle our driver-guide handles it. Bring your passport, your East African Tourist Visa or single-entry Tanzania visa ($50 on arrival, USD cash), and printed yellow fever certificate if you came from a high-risk country.
Can I combine a Kenya safari with the 7-day Tanzania safari from Nairobi?
Yes, and it is one of the most common Nairobi-start patterns. Most clients add 3 to 4 nights in Kenya — usually the Maasai Mara — before or after the Tanzania safari. The Mara and Serengeti are the same ecosystem, so the herds cross the Mara River both ways. For pure migration crossings July to October, Kenya has the river-crossing drama. For volume year-round (calving in Ndutu January to March, west corridor June to July), Tanzania wins. Doing Kenya and Tanzania inside a single 7 days is rushed — we recommend extending the trip if you want both countries. We book the Tanzania side and coordinate the handover at Wilson Airport or the Namanga border.
How much does a 7-day safari from Nairobi cost?
Tiers run from $2,890pp at the budget level to $7,500pp+ at luxury. Mid-range is around $4,200pp. The Nairobi to Arusha connection is quoted separately — fly NBO to JRO costs $200 to $280 per person one-way, the Riverside or Impala shuttle costs around $40 to $60 per person one-way. All safari tiers include park fees, the same Toyota Land Cruiser with pop-top, the same driver-guide, all meals, accommodation, and JRO or border transfers. International flights, the Tanzania visa, and tips are extra. We quote in USD by default and can invoice in EUR for European clients.
Should I fly into Nairobi or directly to JRO Kilimanjaro?
If you are doing safari only, fly direct to JRO. It is 50 km from Arusha and skips the cross-border step entirely. KLM, Qatar, Turkish, Ethiopian, and RwandAir all serve JRO. Fly into NBO if your home airline only routes through there (some American and European carriers), if you are combining the Tanzania safari with a Kenya safari extension in the Mara, or if your itinerary already includes Kenya. The NBO option adds the cross-border connection, but it is a normal route — Precision Air and AirKenya Express run NBO to JRO daily, and the Riverside and Impala shuttles run NBO to Arusha daily.
Why book the 7-day safari from Nairobi direct from a Tanzanian operator?
Booking direct from the Tanzanian operator cuts the 15 to 25 percent commission that platforms and Kenyan resellers add to the same itinerary. Same Toyota Land Cruiser, same driver-guide (Geoffrey, William, or Isaac — all 15+ years on the Northern Circuit), same camps, same park access. The savings either drop the price or upgrade your accommodation tier. Direct also means one phone number, one WhatsApp thread, no middlemen if your NBO connection is delayed and we need to rebuild Day 1 from scratch. We have been TATO-registered and Arusha-based since 1991. See why book direct.
What is Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO) like for first-time visitors?
NBO is East Africa's busiest hub and a modern facility. Terminal 1A and Terminal 2 handle most international arrivals — Kenya Airways, KLM, Qatar, Turkish, Emirates, Ethiopian, British Airways. Immigration takes 30 to 45 minutes in normal conditions, longer when several wide-bodies stack in the late evening. The Kenya eVisa (apply at evisa.go.ke) is faster than visa-on-arrival. Don't confuse NBO with Wilson Airport (WIL) — Wilson is a separate domestic field 15 km away, used for some Kenya bush flights but not for the Tanzania connection. ATMs and forex counters are in the arrivals hall. The practical concerns at NBO are airport-to-city traffic at peak hours and the rapid taxi negotiation outside arrivals — pre-booked transfers are simpler. See whether 7 days is enough for Serengeti for trip duration planning.

Your 7-Day Safari from Nairobi Starts With One Message

Five entry scenarios covered. Three tiers. NBO–JRO flight or Namanga shuttle handled at trade rates. Direct from a 35-year Arusha operator — no platform middlemen, named guides, real Land Cruiser, honest cross-border pacing.

Get a Nairobi-Start QuoteWhatsApp Geoffrey
Or email info@safari-tz.com · Call +255 743 100 673
Safari-TZ · Arusha-based since 1991 · TATO Registered · All quotes direct from operator · No platform commission · Named driver-guides · WhatsApp +255 743 100 673
WhatsApp
WhatsAppGet a Quote

© 2026 Safari-tz

WhatsApp