4 Day Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Safari
Follow the wildebeest migration from Ndutu into the Serengeti plains, then descend into the Ngorongoro Crater on this four-day safari from Arusha.
- Duration
- 4 days
- Route
- Arusha – Ndutu – Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha
- Start / end
- Starts at Kilimanjaro International Airport with a transfer to Tulia Lodge; ends in Arusha at your preferred drop-off point around 6 pm.
- Best time
- Ndutu offers excellent game viewing especially between December and April, when the migration herds gather in the area.
- Trip style
- A guided safari in a custom-built 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, staying in tented camps with picnic lunches during game drives.
Tour overview
Approximately 1.5 million wildebeest and zebras migrate between Tanzania and Kenya every year. This great migration is one of nature's most dramatic wildlife spectacles, full of predator and prey action.
Serengeti Joy Tours offers wildlife travelers the chance to witness this extraordinary yearly event on a four-day, three-night safari. The trip combines the Ndutu area, a key part of the migration route, with the Serengeti plains and a morning on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater.
Highlights
- Half-day game drive in Ndutu, a key area of the annual wildebeest migration and home to six big cat species
- Full-day game drive across the Serengeti plains and granite kopjes
- Night at Serengeti Tortilis Tented Camp in the heart of the park
- Early-morning descent into the Ngorongoro Crater for a five-hour game drive
- Picnic lunch at the crater's Hippo Pool
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 0Arrival – Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha
On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you receive a warm welcome from your safari driver, who will help with your luggage. You then transfer to Tulia Lodge, about 40 km and 30 minutes away, for a restful evening, dinner and overnight stay before your migration safari begins the next morning.
Day 1Arusha to Ndutu
The migration safari begins at 8 am with a 5.5-hour drive from Arusha to Ndutu (260 km), passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On arrival, enjoy a half-day game drive with a picnic lunch. Ndutu is a key part of the annual wildebeest migration, attracting predators and offering excellent game viewing, especially between December and April. The region is home to six big cat species. After the game drive, head to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2Ndutu to Serengeti
After a hearty breakfast, you head toward Serengeti National Park, known for its vast, endless plains. The Serengeti covers 14,763 square kilometers and is home to the Big Five (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard) as well as the graceful impala. During a full-day game drive, you explore the Serengeti's diverse wildlife and its iconic granite kopjes, with a picnic lunch along the way. The day ends with a delicious dinner and a restful night in the park.
Day 3Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater Rim
After a good breakfast, you head out at 7 am for a game drive in the Serengeti. After a half-day game drive and a picnic lunch, we leave the park and head toward the Ngorongoro Crater rim. The 75 km drive takes about 2.5 hours, with some game viewing along the way. The crater is one of Africa's most impressive geological attractions and a true mecca of wilderness. The day ends with a hearty dinner and a good rest, so you are refreshed for the descent into the massive crater the following day.
Day 4Ngorongoro to Arusha
After a quick early breakfast, you descend to the crater floor at around 6:30 am. The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest inactive, intact and unflooded volcanic caldera, with a floor of about 260 square kilometers and a depth of over 2,000 feet. The five-hour game drive on the crater floor offers plenty of animal action, so keep your camera ready. African elephants, buffalo, black rhinos, hippos, hyenas, cheetahs and lions are all found here. After a picnic lunch at the beautiful Hippo Pool, you begin the steep ascent out of the crater for the final four-hour drive to Arusha, where you will be dropped at your preferred location by 6 pm.
What is included
- All park entrance fees for the Serengeti, the Ndutu area and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Transport in a custom-built 4x4 safari vehicle with roof hatches/pop-up roof
- English-speaking driver guide, familiar with the needs of photographers
- Unlimited game drives as per the itinerary
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
- Picnic lunch on the crater floor
- All airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Mineral water during game drives
Not included
- All beverages while on safari
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Evacuation fees
- Telephone, laundry and any items of a personal nature
- Tips for guides and camp/lodge staff
- Travel and medical insurance
- Hot air balloon safari in the Serengeti (USD 590 per person)
Good to know
- The drive from Arusha to Ndutu is about 260 km and takes around 5.5 hours, passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
- Day 4 starts early, with the descent into the Ngorongoro Crater at around 6:30 am.
- You will be dropped off at your preferred location in Arusha by about 6 pm on the final day.
- A hot air balloon safari in the Serengeti is available at extra cost.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time for this migration safari?
Ndutu offers excellent game viewing especially between December and April, when the migration herds and their predators gather in the area. The herds follow the rains, so their exact location varies each year.
How long are the drives?
The longest drives are from Arusha to Ndutu (about 260 km, 5.5 hours) and from the Ngorongoro Crater back to Arusha (about 4 hours). Game viewing along the way helps break up the journey.
What happens on the last day?
You descend into the Ngorongoro Crater at around 6:30 am for a five-hour game drive and a picnic lunch at the Hippo Pool. You then drive back to Arusha and are dropped off by about 6 pm.
Similar tours
14 days14 Day Tanzania Safari and Beach HolidayExplore Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti from luxury lodges and camps, then fly to Zanzibar for beach days and a Stone Town tour.From $3,428 ppView tour →
10 days10 Day Serengeti Safari and ZanzibarA romantic 10-day trip combining game drives in Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti with relaxing beach days and a spice tour in Zanzibar.From $2,940 ppView tour →
5 days5 Days Serengeti Wildebeest Migration TourA private five-day safari from Arusha to Tarangire or Lake Manyara, two nights in the Serengeti for the wildebeest migration, and the Ngorongoro Crater.From $1,494 ppView tour →