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Where should you go on safari — Tanzania or Kenya? Which country has more national parks and richer wildlife? Where will you find more convenient services and more comfortable lodges? And which trip will cost less, or offer more ways to save? Let’s take a closer look at these two neighboring East African countries to help you choose the best safari destination.
Wildlife: National Parks and Animals
In both Tanzania and Kenya, wildlife conservation is a national priority. Each country has numerous parks and reserves that attract travelers from all over the world who come to see animals in their natural habitats.
Overall, Tanzania allocates more land to parks and reserves. This means larger intact ecosystems receive protected status. In this regard, Tanzania is well ahead of Kenya, with a significantly greater share of its territory safeguarded.
One advantage of Kenya is the compact layout of its parks in the southern part of the country. If your safari itinerary includes several protected areas, travel time between them will generally be shorter than in Tanzania. This often means that within a single park you may spot more wildlife in a shorter amount of time.
For example, in Tanzania’s Serengeti, you might need more time to find the complete , while in Kenya’s , it usually takes less. At the same time, Serengeti has a major advantage — the Great Migration can be seen there year-round, whereas in the Masai Mara it is visible mainly from August to October.
Learn more about safari in Tanzania and Kenya:
- Compare Serengeti and Masai Mara
- Learn more about the Big Five
- Discover more about what the Great Migration is
Key national parks of Tanzania and Kenya
Tanzania. Here, Tarangire and Mikumi National Parks are among the most popular, along with the iconic Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Serengeti hosts some of the largest concentrations of big mammals anywhere in Africa. These are mainly hoofed species: wildebeest, zebras, and Thomson’s gazelles. Moving together across the Serengeti–Masai Mara ecosystem, they form the world’s largest land-based animal migration. Nyerere National Park is home to the largest population of African wild dogs in East Africa.
Kenya. This East African country is home to several well-known and widely visited national parks, including Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Nairobi National Park, and the Masai Mara Reserve, which supports one of the densest lion populations in Africa. Amboseli is famous for its large elephant herds, including many tuskers — males with exceptionally long tusks.
The lakes in both countries attract huge numbers of nesting flamingos. The largest flamingo gatherings can be witnessed at Tanzania’s Lake Natron.
Here’s what two Reddit users say:
“I’ve been to both — Tanzania all the way. The Serengeti is the best of the best, and the Ngorongoro Crater is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.”
“Tanzania and Kenya have almost identical wildlife; the Masai Mara and the Serengeti are essentially the same park, just split by the border. If you’re only visiting one country, I’d recommend Tanzania — the Serengeti is much larger and less crowded. And when I was there, the entrance wasn’t packed with locals aggressively selling souvenirs!”
So, what conclusion can we draw?
Both Tanzania and Kenya offer exceptional opportunities to see Africa’s wildlife.
Kenya vs Tanzania: Hotels, Airports, Roads
Let’s compare the infrastructure of Tanzania and Kenya, since it directly affects your comfort while traveling.
Hotels
Both countries offer a wide range of accommodation: from simple inside the parks and small B&Bs in towns to five-star lodges with excellent service.
In both Tanzania and Kenya, you can stay in luxury safari camps with private pools, terraces, fireplaces, and even gyms.
Tanzania and Kenya have roughly the same number of hotels and safari camps. This means that during the high season, accommodation availability and prices remain similar. In both countries, you can choose between large, well-established lodges and smaller, authentic properties with a cozy atmosphere and fewer guests.
For an idea of what accommodation in East Africa looks like, explore our selection of the best hotels in Tanzania.
Airports
Both countries have direct flights from Europe and Asia.
Key international airports in Kenya:
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi
- Moi International Airport in Mombasa
The most convenient is the Nairobi airport, with easy access to the country’s major parks and tourist attractions in the south and central regions.
Tanzania has three international airports:
- Kilimanjaro International Airport near the mountain
- Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam
- Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar
The most convenient airport is Kilimanjaro. It is located near Arusha, often called Tanzania’s safari capital. This is where most safari routes start, including visits to Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and other protected areas.
By the way, Nairobi and Kilimanjaro airports are only about an hour’s flight apart, which makes it easy to combine Kenya and Tanzania in one safari trip.
Many national parks in both countries also have airstrips for small aircraft operating domestic flights.
Roads and transport
Both countries have significantly improved their road networks in recent years, especially for transfers between parks and cities. Inside the national parks, however, roads in both Kenya and Tanzania remain unpaved.
On safari in Tanzania, operators mainly use closed-body Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles. In Kenya, alongside Land Cruisers, safari vans such as Toyota Hiace and large overland trucks for group tours are also common.
Tanzania vs Kenya: Safety
There are various international safety rankings, and in most of them, the two East African countries rank fairly close to each other, though Tanzania usually scores higher than Kenya. Here are a few examples.
The Travel Safe analyzes publicly available data from police reports and surveys, assigning countries scores from 0 to 100, with 100 representing the highest safety. In this ranking, both Tanzania and Kenya fall into the upper segment of the “partially safe” group. This category also includes France, Georgia, Portugal, Indonesia, Morocco, Brazil, South Africa, Thailand, the Maldives, and Egypt.
Neither Tanzania nor Kenya quite reaches the 66 points required to enter the safest category. Tanzania scores 59 points, while Kenya scores 45.
The main risks when visiting Tanzania include pickpocketing in crowded places and occasional scams. In Kenya, these risks also include robberies and the possibility of encountering terrorism, although this mainly applies to remote areas far from popular safari routes.
For travelers visiting Kenya and Tanzania with a reliable safari company, there is generally no need to worry about safety. It is enough to follow basic rules: exchange money only at banks and official exchange points, avoid showing large sums of cash and expensive accessories in public places, use recommended taxis, and avoid walking around cities after dark. You can read more about safety in Tanzania on our website.
According to the well-known , in 2025, Tanzania is ranked among countries with a medium level of societal peace (73rd place), while Kenya is ranked among countries with a low level of societal peace (127th place). Interestingly, Tanzania is one place ahead of France (74th), while Kenya ranks just behind the United States (128th).
So, where is it safer?
Tanzania clearly leads here. Although both countries are considered reasonably safe for safari travelers, visitors generally feel more at ease in Tanzania than in Kenya.
Cost of a safari trip in Tanzania vs Kenya in 2025
Let’s compare approximate costs per traveler in Tanzania and Kenya. We will divide the comfort level into three segments: budget, standard, and premium.
A budget safari tour usually involves group travel and accommodation in affordable lodges or tented camps located outside the parks. This means you will spend more time each day driving to and from the protected areas.
Standard tours include more comfortable accommodation within the national parks and often include domestic flights if the parks are far apart.
Premium tours are shown as approximate values because the options vary widely. These tours may include luxury safari camps, private charter flights between parks, personal guides, and many other premium services. All of this naturally increases the overall cost.
Both countries also offer single-day safari trips. These are group excursions to the closest national park, such as Arusha or Tarangire in Tanzania, and Nairobi National Park in Kenya. Small local companies often organize these short safaris and do not include accommodation. Such trips usually cost 300–400 USD, and we did not include them in our comparison.
So, which country is cheaper for a safari?
The prices in Kenya and Tanzania are broadly comparable. In previous years, Kenya was considered more budget-friendly. However, in 2024–25, Kenya significantly increased park fees, which has almost eliminated the price gap. At the same time, Tanzania is seeing growth in the number of tour operators and new lodges, which increases competition and helps keep prices stable.
Examples of safari itineraries
Let’s look at a few of the most popular safari programs in Tanzania and Kenya.
Tanzania. Northern Circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro)
In Tanzania, the most popular option is a journey through the and protected areas. This route includes the country’s most iconic locations and often offers a chance to witness the Great Migration.
Many travelers also combine this itinerary with climbing Kilimanjaro, since Africa’s highest mountain is located in northern Tanzania.
A safari journey usually begins in Arusha. The closest major park is Tarangire, known for its giant baobabs and large elephant populations. The park is rich in wildlife and birdlife, and it often leaves a strong first impression.
On the way east, many travelers stop at Lake Manyara National Park. From there, the route continues to Serengeti, where visitors spend several days exploring its endless plains. This is the best place to witness the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras, as well as predator activity such as lion hunts.
The tour usually ends at the Ngorongoro Crater — a unique ecosystem where tens of thousands of large wild animals live within a relatively small area. Surrounded by the crater’s natural walls, it is often described as a “natural zoo.”
Kenya. Classic Safari (Amboseli, Masai Mara)
In Kenya, most safari trips begin in the capital, Nairobi. Some itineraries include a visit to Nairobi National Park. Located right on the edge of the city, the park creates a striking contrast — zebras grazing and giraffes browsing with skyscrapers rising in the background.
One of Kenya’s key protected areas is the Masai Mara Reserve, part of the same ecosystem as Tanzania’s Serengeti. Here, travelers often have a chance to see leopards hunting, especially in August and September when the migrating herds arrive from across the Mara River.
Next usually comes a visit to Lake Naivasha, famous for its large hippo population and many species of waterbirds. Zebras, wildebeest, African wild dogs, and other animals often come to drink here. Water safaris and walking safaris are common additions. Some itineraries also include Lake Nakuru, known worldwide for its enormous flocks of flamingos.
The safari trip usually concludes in Amboseli National Park. Located close to Mount Kilimanjaro, the park offers spectacular views of elephants walking across the plains with the snow-capped African peak behind them. Some extended programs also include visits to Tsavo East, Tsavo West, or one of Kenya’s many private reserves.
Conclusion: Is Kenya or Tanzania better for safari?
Both countries offer rich wildlife viewing opportunities, with plenty of chances to see all members of the Big Five. Even the number of national parks in Kenya and Tanzania is almost identical.
Their safari prices are also nearly on par — Tanzania and Kenya both offer options for every type of traveler. In both destinations, you can explore the parks on a budget, staying in affordable remote lodges and joining group safaris, or you can opt for ultra-luxury lodges that cost several thousand dollars per night, fly between parks on private charters, and enjoy premium services throughout your trip.
Finally, when it comes to safety, Tanzania clearly leads. The country is calm, friendly, and politically stable. Crime levels are low, and the social atmosphere has remained steady for many years. Yes, Tanzania is more rural and traditional, but this is precisely what many travelers seek when going on safari — an escape from busy cities and crowded resorts.
Final verdict:
Safaris in Tanzania and Kenya are very similar. Both countries offer almost the same range of experiences, and there is no definite winner.
Do we really need to frame Tanzania and Kenya as competitors? They share far more than what separates them:
- a similar history
- a common language — Swahili
- the unified Serengeti–Masai Mara ecosystem
- The Maasai people, who are allowed to freely cross the border between the two countries
- a shared reputation as East Africa’s finest wildlife destinations
If you have the opportunity to visit both countries, you should absolutely do so. Tanzania and Kenya are both remarkable in their own ways.
When you decide to travel to Tanzania for a safari, feel free to get in touch with us. At Altezza Travel, we have lived and worked in this country for many years, know it inside out, and are ready to create the perfect safari program for you.
All content on Altezza Travel is created with expert insights and thorough research, in line with our Editorial Policy.
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