Tanzania Serengeti Great Migration
About this Tour
- 9 Days
- 8 Nights - Lodge
On this 9-day safari, you set off on an adventure, probably to witness one of nature’s most extraordinary wildlife spectacle – The Wildebeest Great Migration. This is the annual river crossing of thousands of wildebeests and zebras together in northern Serengeti, which only occurs from late July to early October. Meanwhile, predators patiently await their opportunity to strike.
The itinerary also includes a visit to Tarangire National Park, known for its large elephant herds, and the Ngorongoro Crater, where the chance of spotting all of the Big Five in a single game drive is remarkably high. With a mix of game-viewing opportunities, this safari is ideal for travelers who want to experience both the drama of predator-prey display and the calm beauty of Tanzania’s protected areas.
Area to Visit/Destinations to go
Full Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive at Kilimanjaro Int’l Airport – Transfer to Arusha
As you walk out of Kilimanjaro International Airport, one of our guides will meet and greet you with a big smile. Our guide will then take you straight to your hotel in Arusha, where you can relax and take in the fascinating African atmosphere.
Arriving and checking in at the hotel, he will take the time to brief you on your upcoming safari adventure, and this can be you great opportunity to ask questions as well. Enjoy the luxury of your hotel while looking forward to an incredible safari adventure ahead!
Meals: Half Board
- Day 2: Arusha – Tarangire National Park
Depart from Arusha this morning and drive to Tarangire National Park, where herds of African elephant and ancient baobab trees await your exploration. This park is also renowned for its picturesque scenery, and diverse birdlife. Tarangire has an enticing range of wildlife that includes lions, giraffes, warthogs, ostriches, impalas, cheetahs, mongooses, buffaloes, and baboons, just to name a few.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in the afternoon and resume your game drive around the park. When the sun begins to descend on the horizon, we proceed to Mto wa Mbu for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Day 3 : Tarangire – Serengeti National Park via Ngorongoro Conservation Area
On this day, we leave very early in the morning so we can see the variety of wildlife that are only active during the morning hours. At around 6:00 am, we depart for Serengeti National Park, expecting to be around Central Serengeti – Seronera – in a couple of hours. Seronera’s sheer vastness of these endless plains will overwhelm you, as will the countless herds of wildlife crossing the landscape on their daily walk. Seronera is a huge space, brimming with wildlife.
It is impossible to view it all in one day; today, your guide will show you various places and interesting animals, so you can get a full perspective of Serengeti’s Seronera. It is here that some of the rarest African animals reside: leopards, rhinos, serval cats, and caracals. This area enhances your chances of seeing these rare animals in the wild.At the end of your game-drive, you will be transferred to your lodge for relaxation and your evening meal.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Day 4-6: Northern Serengeti
Following breakfast, you will leave for the Northern Serengeti at around 8 a.m. Between mid-June and October, the wildebeest migration typically reaches this region. These months offer a chance to witness one of the most dramatic events of the migration: the river crossings. The fierce, deep, and rain-fed river claims a heavy toll on the herds. Watching wildebeest push through the rushing water – some drowning, others falling prey to waiting crocodiles – is an incredible and unforgettable experience.
If luck is on your side, you may witness this raw display of nature unfolding in real time.Tracing the great migration, you might even venture toward the Lobo Valley, which scatters with woodlands, open plains, rolling hills, and well-known granite kopjes. This area offers an impressive concentration of big cats, with lions, leopards, and cheetahs commonly seen.
During the dry season, the valley’s permanent water sources draw both resident and migratory wildlife, making for excellent game viewing. At some point during the full-day game drive, you will stop to enjoy a picnic lunch. The day ends with a satisfying dinner and a well-earned rest at your lodge.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Day 7: North Serengeti – Central Serengeti
Right after an early morning breakfast, you head south towards the central Serengeti. A four-hour drive to the centre of Serengeti offers mild en route game viewing. The journey from the Mara River valley takes you through hill country, the Lobo area, woodlands, and eventually into the Seronera terrain. The central portion of the Serengeti, known as Seronera, is one of the park’s richest wildlife habitats.
It features the Seronera River, which provides a vital water source and attracts a wide range of wildlife representative of the Serengeti’s species. This region is home to some of Africa’s rarer animals, including leopards, rhinos, serval cats, and caracals. Your chances of seeing these elusive species in their natural environment are particularly strong here.
Keep an eye out for the many lion prides that flourish in this part of the park. Observing their interactions and survival strategies adds to the quality of game viewing throughout the year. A picnic lunch will be served during afternoon game drive.After a day-long game viewing around the park, head to your lodge where you will be spending the night.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Day 8: Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, you will head out for another game drive in Serengeti National Park, with the chance to spot animals you may not have seen over the past couple of days. The Serengeti is also home to the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard – and today you might be able to see all five.
After lunch at a picnic site, you will begin the drive toward the Ngorongoro Crater. Once you reach the crater’s edge, the caldera opens up before you. This roughly 20-kilometre-wide crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to more than 25,000 animals. You will continue to the lodge, where you can watch the sun set over the crater.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
- Day 9: Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast at daybreak, we will head towards Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. The crater has a large population of lion, with well-defined territories; gnu, zebra, hyenas, and endangered black rhinos. Many gnu and other herd animals are permanent residents, benefiting from the many sources of year-round waters and are boosted by some migrators in season.
Buffalo, Serval, Jackal, Thomson’s gazelle and eland are also present in numbers. Hippos can be found in pools and swampland and highland birdlife is colourful and plentiful around the waters. Flamingos can often be spotted in Lake Magadi, which occupies part of the crater floor. In the early afternoon, we will drive back to Arusha, and transfer you to the airport for your homeward flight or onward destinations.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Price Includes
Price Excludes
- Transport (4×4 Land Cruiser) with pop-up roof
- All Park fees
- Ngorongoro Crater fees
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- Accommodation & Dining
- Purified Drinking water
- International flight
- Regional flight
- Tanzanian visa
- Travel insurance
- Drinks at the lodge / hotel
- Gratuity for the safari guide
- Single supplement
- Personal items
- Laundry service at the hotel / lodge
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