Kruger, Serengeti and Masai Mara.
These are the names of three of Africa’s most adventure-packed safari and nature destinations.
The keywords are picturesque nature, diverse wildlife and magical experiences.
But why choose one over the other?
And does it even matter which one you choose?
We could go on and on about three of Africa’s most unique natural areas. And we have actually written about the Serengeti, the Masai Mara and the Kruger National Park before.
But if time is short, here’s a quick overview.
| Kruger National Park | Serengeti | Masai Mara | |
| Where is the park? | South Africa (northern) | Tanzania (northern) | Kenya |
| How large is the area? | Around 19,500 km2 | 14.750 km2 | 1.500 km2 |
| The nature | Varied nature with dense vegetation, forest, savannah and rivers | Open grasslands and woodlands | Open plains and hilly grasslands |
| Rainy season | November–February (April) | April–May: The big rainy season
November–December: the small rainy season |
April–May: The big rainy season
November–December: the small rainy season |
| Can you see the Big Five? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Why you should choose it: | Excellent safari and entry ticket to the whole of South Africa | Endless plains and a lot of animals | Classic safari destination offering a wide selection of lodges and many animals in a relatively small and doable area |
| Can be combined with: | • Cape Town • Mauritius • Victoria Falls • The Garden Route • Botswana • The Winelands |
• Kilimanjaro • Zanzibar • Masai adventure at Osiligilai Maasai Lodge • Gorilla tracking in Uganda |
• Kilimanjaro • Zanzibar • Diani Beach (Mombasa) • Masai adventure at Osiligilai Maasai Lodge |
You won’t get us to say that Kruger is better than Serengeti, Serengeti is better than Masai Mara or vice versa.
Why not?
Because it all depends on your expectations.
Dream of experiencing endless grassy plains or is varied scenery more of a priority?
Want to see a lot of animals? Or is it more important for you to see certain animals?
Do you want to be able to choose from a wider selection of lodges?
What would you like to experience – BESIDES safari?
So the best place to go on safari depends on your expectations of the experiences.
You should go on safari in Kruger National Park because you get excellent safaris AND an entry ticket to experiences throughout South Africa.
Kruger National Park is big – the largest of the three. And the landscape is varied, with dense vegetation, woodland and open plains.
The national park offers excellent safaris with a wide variety of wildlife: The Big Five, hippos, giraffes, kudus, antelopes (and many, many more), and if you’re lucky, some of Africa’s rarer species such as the black rhinoceros, leopards and wild dogs. And with its 500+ bird species, Kruger National Park is paradise for bird lovers.
But compared to Serengeti and Masai Mara, it is more difficult to spot the animals in Kruger because there are more places for them to hide. Especially during and just after the rainy season, when the vegetation is greener and denser than after a long period without rain.
On the other hand, a safari in Kruger National Park is an entry ticket to the whole of South Africa – A world in one country – and not “just” safari.
We’re thinking delicious red wine in the lush wine regions, unique culinary experiences (try “biltong”, “braai” or perhaps a kudu or ostrich steak, for example), the most scenic coastlines and, of course, Cape Town – one of the world’s most fascinating big cities.
Experience the exciting and rich animal life on a safari tour in South Africa’s renowned Kruger National Park. Join a bushwalk, see the Panorama Trail and finish your tour in beautiful Cape Town.
First you experience South Africa’s beautiful nature and animal life from your lodge, which is close to Kruger National Park. Finish your tour with one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls.
Explore South Africa’s nature and animal life on your safari tour from your pleasant lodge up close to Kruger National Park and relax on the exotic beaches of Mauritius.
Stay at a pleasant 4* star lodge close to Kruger National Park. Experience the fantastic animal life on a safari in the park and get a safari experience for life.
Three South African gems on one tour: breathtaking safari in Kruger National Park, days on your own in beautiful Cape Town and a guided tour on one of the world’s most scenic stretches of coastline, the Garden Route.
Is this your first trip to southern Africa? Enjoy a taste of safari life before heading on to Cape Town’s big city experiences. Rinse off the travel dust under Victoria Falls.
Safari? City? Beach? If you find it hard to choose, this is the perfect tour for you. It has something for every taste and for the whole family!
Does world-class safari, great food and excellent wines sound like a combination you’d like to experience? Then you should choose this tour, where these three experiences are in focus.
The well known meets the lesser known. Discover South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park before continuing to exotic Madagascar, where you will explore its history and go on the lookout for lemurs.
Experience the exciting and rich animal life on a safari tour in South Africa’s renowned Kruger National Park. Join a bushwalk, see the Panorama Trail and finish your tour in beautiful Cape Town.
First you experience South Africa’s beautiful nature and animal life from your lodge, which is close to Kruger National Park. Finish your tour with one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls.
Explore South Africa’s nature and animal life on your safari tour from your pleasant lodge up close to Kruger National Park and relax on the exotic beaches of Mauritius.
Stay at a pleasant 4* star lodge close to Kruger National Park. Experience the fantastic animal life on a safari in the park and get a safari experience for life.
Three South African gems on one tour: breathtaking safari in Kruger National Park, days on your own in beautiful Cape Town and a guided tour on one of the world’s most scenic stretches of coastline, the Garden Route.
Is this your first trip to southern Africa? Enjoy a taste of safari life before heading on to Cape Town’s big city experiences. Rinse off the travel dust under Victoria Falls.
Safari? City? Beach? If you find it hard to choose, this is the perfect tour for you. It has something for every taste and for the whole family!
Does world-class safari, great food and excellent wines sound like a combination you’d like to experience? Then you should choose this tour, where these three experiences are in focus.
The well known meets the lesser known. Discover South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park before continuing to exotic Madagascar, where you will explore its history and go on the lookout for lemurs.
You should go on safari in Serengeti National Park because you’ll be blown away by the endless expanses of grass as far as the eye can see and a sky bigger than you thought possible.
Serengeti National Park is perhaps the most popular of the three parks.
“Serengeti” means “endless plains”, and you certainly get that here. Endless, open grasslands, sporadic vegetation and a sky that goes on forever.
And animals, of course!
More animals than you ever imagined seeing at once.
Although fewer species of mammal live here than in Kruger, for example, in Serengeti, you’ll feel that you’re experiencing more animals, simply because the animals live here in greater numbers; large herds of hippos in hippo pools, one of Africa’s highest densities of lions, zebras, gazelles, giraffes and many, many more besides.
And you will see a LOT of animals!
But due to the vastness of Serengeti, it’s also possible to drive for a whole day without seeing what you really want to see. If the cheetahs are in the north and you’re in the south, well, you’ll likely return to your camp with unfinished business.
A Tanzanian safari, a must for your safari wish list. An amazing safari experience including Serengeti & Ngorongoro. A 4-star beach stay, on the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar a perfect ending.
Do you dream of a safari – but have limited time? Then this short safari tour is perfect. Experience Africa’s unique animal life and nature while staying at a tent camp in Serengeti.
Experience Africa’s iconic animals on a short safari tour. Get up close to nature and sleep in comfortable tents on the Serengeti. The tour concludes with a beach holiday in wonderful Zanzibar.
From baobab trees in Tarangire to the flat plains of Serengeti and the lush hills of Ngorongoro. Experience incredible nature and unique animal life in four of Tanzania’s national parks.
Fancy experiencing Serengeti’s animal life without compromising on comfort? Then this is your tour! Enjoy the view from your lodge in the middle of the Serengeti and conclude the tour in Zanzibar.
Serengeti & Masai Mara: Visit two of the world’s best safari destinations on one tour. You travel from Kenya to Tanzania – and back, from where you can choose to extend your tour with a beach holiday.
Fly to the Serengeti, where great animal experiences await. You drive through the landscape on a fantastic safari to the Ngorongoro crater before flying to Zanzibar on a beach holiday.
A Tanzanian safari, a must for your safari wish list. An amazing safari experience including Serengeti & Ngorongoro. A 4-star beach stay, on the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar a perfect ending.
Do you dream of a safari – but have limited time? Then this short safari tour is perfect. Experience Africa’s unique animal life and nature while staying at a tent camp in Serengeti.
Experience Africa’s iconic animals on a short safari tour. Get up close to nature and sleep in comfortable tents on the Serengeti. The tour concludes with a beach holiday in wonderful Zanzibar.
From baobab trees in Tarangire to the flat plains of Serengeti and the lush hills of Ngorongoro. Experience incredible nature and unique animal life in four of Tanzania’s national parks.
Fancy experiencing Serengeti’s animal life without compromising on comfort? Then this is your tour! Enjoy the view from your lodge in the middle of the Serengeti and conclude the tour in Zanzibar.
Serengeti & Masai Mara: Visit two of the world’s best safari destinations on one tour. You travel from Kenya to Tanzania – and back, from where you can choose to extend your tour with a beach holiday.
Fly to the Serengeti, where great animal experiences await. You drive through the landscape on a fantastic safari to the Ngorongoro crater before flying to Zanzibar on a beach holiday.
You should go on safari in Masai Mara if you want to experience one of Africa’s oldest safari destinations offering world-class safaris, good accommodation options and a more “compact” safari than in Serengeti.
Masai Mara is relatively small compared to both Kruger and Serengeti. Masai Mara is in many ways an extension of Serengeti, as the two parks share the same ecosystem.
The vegetation is more varied than in Serengeti but cannot be compared to the vegetation you can experience in Kruger National Park.
In Masai Mara, you get all the animals from Serengeti, but the park is of a more doable size, which means you’re in with a greater chance of finding the aforementioned cheetah, if it’s in the area.
One of the park’s highlights is the perilous crossing of the Mara River by zebras and wildebeests when the great migration takes place between July and October.
Kenya has the longest safari tradition of the three, which means they have the most experience in safari. So you get a high-class safari and a wide selection of lodges.
On this tour, you experience the biggest highlights of Kenya; Amboseli, Lake Naivasha and Masai Mara. The tour concludes with a relaxing holiday on the exotic island of Zanzibar.
Serengeti & Masai Mara: Visit two of the world’s best safari destinations on one tour. You travel from Kenya to Tanzania – and back, from where you can choose to extend your tour with a beach holiday.
Enjoy unforgettable safari experiences in Samburu, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara, before concluding your tour with a relaxing beach holiday on the white sandy beaches of Mombasa.
Adventure and relaxation ahead. First, five days of classic Kenya safari await you with the greatest highlights before the tour continues by train to a beach holiday at Mombasa with views of the Indian Ocean.
This is the classic Kenya tour with the biggest highlights. From the elephants of Amboseli, the tour takes you to the hippos of Lake Naivasha before concluding in Masai Mara.
This tour is for those who want a slightly more in-depth look at Kenya. You experience the fantastic animal life and wonderful nature in Kenya’s best and most varied national parks.
Enjoy the best of Kenya. You get up close to the nature and unique animal life in some of the country’s best national parks before digesting your experiences on white sandy beaches in Zanzibar.
On this tour, you experience the biggest highlights of Kenya; Amboseli, Lake Naivasha and Masai Mara. The tour concludes with a relaxing holiday on the exotic island of Zanzibar.
Serengeti & Masai Mara: Visit two of the world’s best safari destinations on one tour. You travel from Kenya to Tanzania – and back, from where you can choose to extend your tour with a beach holiday.
Enjoy unforgettable safari experiences in Samburu, Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara, before concluding your tour with a relaxing beach holiday on the white sandy beaches of Mombasa.
Adventure and relaxation ahead. First, five days of classic Kenya safari await you with the greatest highlights before the tour continues by train to a beach holiday at Mombasa with views of the Indian Ocean.
This is the classic Kenya tour with the biggest highlights. From the elephants of Amboseli, the tour takes you to the hippos of Lake Naivasha before concluding in Masai Mara.
This tour is for those who want a slightly more in-depth look at Kenya. You experience the fantastic animal life and wonderful nature in Kenya’s best and most varied national parks.
Enjoy the best of Kenya. You get up close to the nature and unique animal life in some of the country’s best national parks before digesting your experiences on white sandy beaches in Zanzibar.
TourCompass – From tourist to traveller
