10 Days Great Migration Safari – Serengeti Mara River Crossing

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK), our representative will greet you and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha. Take time to relax and recover from your trip. In the evening, you'll meet your safari guide for a pre-safari briefing about the upcoming migration tracking adventure. Enjoy dinner and overnight at your comfortable hotel.

After breakfast at your hotel, depart from Arusha for Tarangire National Park. Known for its massive baobab trees and large elephant populations, Tarangire offers fantastic year-round game viewing. Spend the day on game drives, searching for lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and numerous bird species. The Tarangire River is a key attraction, drawing thirsty animals during the dry season. In the late afternoon, exit the park and drive to your comfortable lodge located nearby for dinner and overnight.

Enjoy an early breakfast before embarking on the trip to the legendary Serengeti. The drive passes through the scenic Ngorongoro Conservation Area, offering stunning views of the crater from a distance. Arrive in the central Seronera region by midday. This area is rich in wildlife due to its permanent rivers and serves as a transition zone for the migrating herds. After lunch at your lodge, head out for an afternoon game drive across the iconic Serengeti plains. Look for predators like lions and cheetahs, and begin tracking signs of the migration. Return to your comfortable lodge for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, begin your trip north towards the Mara River region. The drive itself is a game viewing experience as you traverse through the heart of the Serengeti. Arrive in the Northern Serengeti (Kogatende area) by late afternoon. This region is the stage for one of nature's most dramatic events—the Mara River crossings. Check into your mobile tented camp, perfectly positioned to track the migration. Enjoy dinner and overnight at your camp, listening to the sounds of the African wilderness.

Rise early for a sunrise game drive focused on tracking the migration. Today you'll explore the northern Serengeti, concentrating on the Mara River areas where wildebeest and zebra gather before attempting crossings. Your expert guide will position you strategically to witness river crossing attempts. Watch for crocodiles lying in wait and predators like lions and leopards following the herds. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush near the river, maximizing your time in this wildlife-rich area. Return to your camp as the sun sets, followed by dinner and stories around the campfire.

Another full day dedicated to tracking the Great Migration. Today you might explore different sections of the Mara River or venture into the rolling hills where the herds graze. The northern Serengeti offers spectacular scenery with its hilly terrain and dense riverine forests. Your guide will use knowledge of animal behavior and radio communications to locate the best wildlife concentrations. Watch for dramatic river crossings, predator-prey interactions, and the endless columns of migrating wildebeest. Return to camp for a well-deserved dinner and overnight.

Your third full day in the northern Serengeti. By now you'll have a deep appreciation for the scale and drama of the Great Migration. Today's exploration might focus on a different stretch of the Mara River or the surrounding plains where the herds spread out to graze. The northern Serengeti is also excellent for predators including lions, leopards, and cheetahs that follow the migration. Enjoy the flexibility to spend time at sightings that captivate you, whether it's a river crossing, a predator hunt, or simply watching the endless columns of wildebeest stretching to the horizon.

After a final morning game drive in the northern Serengeti, begin your trip south back to the central Seronera region. The drive offers continued game viewing as you pass through different habitats and vegetation zones. Arrive in central Serengeti by late afternoon and check into your lodge. This region offers excellent year-round wildlife concentrations and serves as a perfect transition from the migration-focused north. Enjoy dinner and overnight at your comfortable lodge.

Enjoy an early morning game drive in the central Serengeti to catch predators at their most active. After breakfast, begin your transfer towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. En route, you may choose to visit a Maasai village for a cultural experience (optional extra cost). Arrive at the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater in the afternoon and check into your camp. The views from the crater rim are absolutely spectacular, overlooking the 260-square-kilometer caldera below. Enjoy dinner and spend the night at your comfortable camp, perched on the edge of this natural wonder.

Descend 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a full day of incredible wildlife viewing in what is often called "Africa's Eden." The crater is home to a high density of animals, including the Big Five, and offers excellent chances to see the rare black rhino. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the hippo pool surrounded by stunning scenery. After an extensive game drive exploring the crater floor, ascend the crater walls in the late afternoon and return to your camp for dinner and overnight on the rim.

After breakfast with stunning views of the crater, begin your trip back to Arusha. The drive takes you through the beautiful highlands with opportunities to see traditional Maasai villages and their cattle herds along the way. Arrive in Arusha in the early afternoon. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for last-minute souvenir shopping or lunch in town. You will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport for your departure flight, marking the end of your unforgettable Great Migration safari.