Kenya or Tanzania, which country is better for a safari?

Kenya and Tanzania are popular safari destinations in Africa and deciding which country is best for a safari might prove difficult because each offers a unique experience to tourists. Both countries have a lot of tourist destinations but the iconic annual wildebeest migration is the main attraction of the two countries. Kenya and Tanzania are countries that are both located in East Africa and are part of the East African community.

Most Popular Safaris

10 Day Rwanda Akagera and Kenya Coast Safari

15 Day Uganda Gorillas & Kenya Beaches

14 Day Uganda Sese, Mombasa, Watamu tour

4 Day Masai Mara Safari

8 Day Masai Mara Gorilla & Chimp Safari

11 Days Tanzania Great Migration & Zanzibar

10 Days Tanzania & Zanzibar Beach

10 Days Uganda Gorillas & Zanzibar

10 Days Rwanda Primate & Zanzibar

15 Days Kenya Wildlife & Zanzibar

Traveling between the two countries is easy because of the good transport network and the availability of International Airports. One of the most frequently asked questions is what is the better safari destination between Kenya and Tanzania and in this article, we are going to be discussing the differences and similarities between the two countries and leave the decision to you to decide on which country best fits your budget and expected safari experience.

The cost: Kenya VS Tanzania

Kenya is a better option when it comes to cost as compared to Tanzania. If you are looking at having a budget-friendly safari, Kenya is the best because safaris in Tanzania are more expensive. As you already know, African safaris in general are not cheap but when you start comparing the different services used during an African safari like accommodation, transport, and meals, Kenya is more affordable.  

Kenya is more affordable and this is because there are a lot of accommodation options to choose from and a variety of international flights which leads to competitive pricing from the different service providers. Kenya is also smaller which makes it easy to travel between the different safari destinations making it cheaper to access all of them. Tanzania on the other hand is bigger which means that the safari destinations are spread out wide. This makes the safaris in Tanzania expensive and with the few lodges in the country, the cost of accommodation is higher.

The entrance fees to Kenya national parks are relatively lower than Tanzania national parks. The cost of renting a safari vehicle in Kenya is also low compared to the cost of renting one in Tanzania.

National Parks: Kenya VS Tanzania

Due to the large size of Tanzania, there are more national parks in Tanzania as compared to Kenya. The biggest competition is mainly between Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Masai Mara in Kenya because of the Great Wildebeest Migration. When it comes to population, Serengeti National Park has a total of about 1500 wildlife (animal) species whereas Masai Mara has about 450 animal species. If you are looking at having to see dense crowds of animal species covering a long distance and a few safari days, then Masai Mara is the best. Serengeti National Park on the other hand is best for longer days on a safari.

There are other national parks found in both Tanzania and Kenya and these include:

Kenya: Some of the national parks found in Kenya include Amboseli National Park which is home to over 1000 elephants, wild dogs and dik-diks among others, Nairobi National Park which is the only park in the world that is found in an urban Centre, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Lake Nakuru National park among others.

Tanzania: Other National Parks that are found in Tanzania apart from Serengeti National Park include Lake Manyara National Park, Nyerere National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Rubondo Island National Park and Kilimanjaro National Park.

The wildebeest migration: Kenya VS Tanzania

The annual wildebeest migration is an annual event that takes place every year and it involves over 2 million wildebeests, zebras and gazelles that take the journey from Serengeti in Tanzania to Masai Mara in Kenya. There are two river crossings, one at the Grumeti River and the second one at the Mara River. Getting to decide on the best destination depends on several factors most especially the tourists’ preferences. If you are looking to experience the wildebeest migration for a few safari days covering vast land, Masai Mara is the best destination for you. Masai Mara also has better and larger lodge options. Serengeti on the other hand is larger than Masai Mara and this makes it easy to spot the wildebeest migration. The entrance fees in Masai Mara are way less as compared to Serengeti National Park.              

The best time to watch the wildebeest migration in Kenya is from July to October and May to July in Tanzania. Note that both countries offer unique experiences to tourists who come to watch the annual wildebeest migration.

Infrastructure: Kenya VS Tanzania

A good transportation system is crucial when it comes to tourism in any country and although Kenya’s infrastructure includes both roads and airports, both safari destination countries are easy to get to for all tourists. Kenya has six well-equipped International Airports and these include Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Wilson Airport and Moi International Airport among others. Tanzania on the other hand has Julius Nyerere International Airport and Kilimanjaro International Airport which are commonly used by travelers.  The roads in Kenya are well-marked, better and safer whereas the roads in Tanzania need to be marked and some other parts of the country are inaccessible by road.

Accommodation/Lodging: Kenya VS Tanzania

As regards accommodation, Kenya has more and better hotels and tented camps as compared to Tanzania and these range from luxury accommodation facilities, and mid-range accommodation facilities to basic/budget accommodation facilities. Kenya has more private campsites and lodges making an excellent and wide choice when looking at a more traditional safari experience.

Tanzania on the other hand has very few hotels and resorts but the main accommodation attraction is the many affordable budget-friendly accommodation facilities in terms of lodges and camps. Tanzania has few safari camps and this usually means that it is more expensive however this also means that you will have a more exclusive safari experience in Tanzania as compared to Kenya.

Types of traveler: Kenya VS Tanzania

If you are traveling with your family including small children, Kenya is the best destination because most of the lodges are family-friendly and have a variety of activities and amenities to cater to the young ones as you enjoy the child-restricted safari activities.

Tourists traveling on a budget will want to consider Kenya as their safari destination because there is a wide range of lodges and international airports and this reduces the cost of a safari because of the competition among the different service providers.

When you start talking about private safaris, there is a close tie between Kenya and Tanzania with both countries offering private suites to tourists. However, Kenya still has an edge over Tanzania because of the high number of private conservations in the country.

Safety: Kenya VS Tanzania

Both countries are considered to be safe safari destinations to travel. And although they are considered to be safe, you still need to have travel insurance for your entire safari. You also need to be aware of your surroundings because even though you have travel insurance and the countries are safe, there are personal measures that you need to take to ensure that you have to be taken to be safe and these include:

• Avoid walking with all your valuables when leaving the lodges
• Always ensure that you travel in groups
• Never travel alone at night
• Seek advice from your tour guide about the dos and don’ts of the safari.

Pros/Advantages of Tanzanian safaris

We are going to look at the different ways in which Tanzania as a safari destination has an edge over Kenya and these include:

• Tanzania is a safer country overall as compared to Kenya
• Tanzania has more animals as compared to the Kenya National Parks. Tanzania has dedicated a larger part of its land to wildlife conservation than Kenya and it has a variety of wildlife including lions, zebras, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, antelopes, and many more others including chimpanzees which are not found in Kenya.
• Has a longer Great migration window, unlike the Masai Mara wildebeest migration which is a bit shorter. The great wildebeest migration officially starts from Tanzania and tourists get to spend more months in Tanzania watching the wildebeest migration unlike in Kenya.
• Tanzania has more National Parks as compared to Kenya. Tanzania is home to more natural landmarks that you can get to see while on a safari to Tanzania and among the stunners include Mount Kilimanjaro which is the tallest standing free mountain in the world, Ngorongoro crater where the wildebeest migration starts, Serengeti,  Zanzibar, and Lake Manyara National Park among others.
• There are fewer visitors in Tanzania.

Advantages/pros of Kenya safaris

Let’s start by looking at the different ways in which Kenya has a better edge as a safari destination as compared to Tanzania.

• Kenya has easier international access as compared to Tanzania.
• Kenya has a better tourism infrastructure.
• There is quicker or faster access to the game parks in Kenya and this is because Kenya is quite smaller as compared to Tanzania. Kenya also has a better road work system as discussed earlier making it easy to get to the different tourist attractions around the country.

Besides the differences that each country offers, there are so many similarities between the two countries. Both countries have the same climates, vegetation, seasons, wildlife, culture and wildlife. This does not mean that the two countries are the same but the unique differences make each worth visiting. Some of the major things that the two countries have in common include:

• They have a similar language which is Swahili.
• Similar Masai communities
• The Great wildebeest migration

When to go for a safari to Kenya and Tanzania

The best time to go for a safari in Kenya and Tanzania is during the dry season of June to September and December to January. When deciding on the best time to go, it mostly comes down to the reason why you are visiting any of the two countries and your travel budget.

If your safari activities include wildlife viewing and guided nature walks, the best time is during the dry season. The dry season in Kenya is experienced from June to October and in Tanzania from June to September. The dry season is a peak season and the most expensive time to travel in both Kenya and Tanzania.

For tourists traveling on a low budget to both Kenya and Tanzania, the best time is during the rainy season which is experienced from November to May. if your main aim is to see the wildebeest migration, the best time in Kenya is from July to October and May to July in Tanzania.

Frequently asked questions

Is the wildebeest migration worth it?

Yes, absolutely the wildebeest migration in both countries is worth it as you get to see millions of wildebeests moving from Serengeti to Masai Mara and then back to Serengeti. The cycle is endless and this is referred to as the largest wildebeest migration in the world. The animals cross the Grumeti and Mara Rivers due to a change in the climate in search of food and water and the sight is one that every tourist should experience.

Can I combine a Kenya and Tanzania safari?

Yes, it is very possible to have a combined Kenya and Tanzania safari depending on your interests. Both countries have a lot to offer when it comes to tourism and we are here to help you with organizing some of the best combined safaris on the African continent.

After discussing the two countries and comparing each to see what they have to offer, the decision comes down to personal preferences. Your budget also plays a huge role in the destination you plan to choose and we are here to help you make the right decision for your safe destination.

In conclusion, both Kenya and Tanzania are good safari destinations offering the best safari activities and to be able to enjoy your safari, get in touch with us to help you plan a budget-friendly, organized and fun-filled safari to both Kenya and Tanzania.