Travel between Tanzania and Kenya
Travel between Tanzania and Kenya is an exciting experience which many tourists look forward to as they visit East Africa. Kenya and Tanzania offer some of the best wildlife viewing experiences with destinations such as the Masai Mara national reserve in the south western part of Kenya and Serengeti national park in the northern part of Tanzania as the popular safari destinations.
When traveling between Kenya and Tanzania during a safari, the travel documents you will need include a valid visa and a passport. Tourists can cross between these two countries by driving across the border or by flight.
Tourists visiting both Kenya and Tanzania during their safaris will need visas to enter both countries during a safari. The visa requirements for these countries are also almost similar and a single entry visa in Kenya costs 51 USD and is valid for 3 months while in Tanzania a single entry visa costs 50 USD.
To cross from Kenya to Tanzania by road during a safari, travelers can use the Isebania border or the Namanga border. The Isebania border can be used by those tourists going on a safari to Serengeti national park and Masai Mara national reserve.
Flights between Kenya and Tanzania during safaris can be through domestic airlines and international airlines. The flights take a shorter time compared to drives when crossing between the two countries during a safari although the flight option is a bit costly.
Kenya and Tanzania have a number of similarities for example they are both in the same time zone and both East African countries. Swahili is also a language that is used in both countries by the locals and safaris in both countries can be done all year round.
The wildebeest migration is another attraction which can be seen during a safari in Kenya and Tanzania. This migration takes place annually between Serengeti national park in Tanzania and the Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya. This migration involves movement of over 2 million wildebeests following a clock wise movement and the wildebeest herds can be seen as they graze around the savannah plains.
Some of the highlights during the wildebeest migration include the river crossings along the Mara river and Grumeti river and also the calving season when the wildebeests give birth to their young ones in the grass plains around December to early March.
The big five are among the sought after wildlife attractions during safaris can also be seen both in Kenya and Tanzania. The big five Animals include elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos and rhinos. Many other wildlife species can be seen during tours to both countries and they include giraffes, waterbucks, elands, impalas, impalas, zebras, wildebeests, hippos among others which can be seen during game drives around the safari parks and reserves. Kenya and Tanzania are often compared when deciding the travel destination for the safari.
The Maasai can also be seen both in Kenya and Tanzania during cultural tours which involve interactions between tourists and the locals, getting to know about the culture and way of life, seeing local arts and crafts like beaded jewelry, visiting the Maasai bomas, enjoying traditional dance performances among others. Many other tribes are found in Kenya and Tanzania with unique cultures and traditions.
Lake Victoria is another attraction which is shared by Kenya and Tanzania and also Uganda. Boat rides can be done on this lake during safaris on this lake which is also the largest lake in Africa. Both Kenya and Tanzania are crossed by the rift valley and attractions like Lake Nakuru, Lake Manyara are also visited during safaris and flamingos can also be spotted during safaris to Lake Nakuru national park and Lake Manyara national park.
Safaris starting from Kenya can be combined with safaris to safari destinations in the northern part of Tanzania such as Serengeti national park, Lake Manyara national park, Tarangire national park, Arusha national park, the Ngorongoro crater and also hikes on Mount Kilimanjaro which is the highest mountain in Africa at 4895 meters. These combined safaris can take about 5 days or more depending on the destinations to be visited during the trip. Tanzania National Park’s Authority (TANAPA) manages the national parks around Tanzania.
Destinations which can be visited during safaris in Kenya include Masai Mara national reserve, Amboseli national park, Lake Nakuru national park, Tsavo East and Tsavo West national park, Samburu game reserve, Nairobi national park, Aberdare national park among others. Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) manages the national parks around Kenya.
During a combined trip between Kenya and Tanzania, some tour operators use two different guides in both destinations while others use the same guide to visit the safari parks in both countries. Safaris to these countries can be done at any time of the year and the dry season is recommended for travel to Kenya and Tanzania and is said to be the best time for safari. These safaris can also be added to tours to other East African countries like Uganda for gorilla trekking or Rwanda.
In terms of transactions during safaris, the currency used in Tanzania is Tanzania shillings (TSHS) and in Kenya the currency used is Kenya shillings (KES). Dollars (USD) can also be used by tourists as they visit both countries.
Visit Kenya and Tanzania and book a tour across the different safari destinations and for unforgettable wildlife viewing adventures and so much more.
