8 Day Wildebeest Migration Safari
An eight-day migration safari through Tarangire, the central and northern Serengeti, the Mara River area and Ngorongoro Crater, staying in lodges and tented camps.
- Duration
- 8 days
- Route
- Arusha – Tarangire – Serengeti – Kogatende / North Mara – Olduvai Gorge – Ngorongoro Crater – Karatu – Arusha
- Start / end
- Starts and ends at Kilimanjaro International Airport, with the first night in Arusha.
- Best time
- Migration sightings depend on where the herds are; Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti are typically associated with the dry months of roughly July to October, so please check your dates with us.
- Trip style
- A guided lodge and tented camp safari in a custom-built 4x4 safari vehicle with roof hatches or pop-up roof and an English-speaking driver-guide familiar with the needs of photographers.
Tour overview
This 8 day wildebeest migration safari offers the ultimate trip through Tanzania's most popular northern parks, built around the Great Migration, the annual movement of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles across the Serengeti ecosystem.
After a first game drive in Tarangire National Park, you follow the migration trails into the Serengeti and on to Kogatende and the North Mara area, where the herds may cross the Mara River. The return journey takes in Olduvai Gorge and a game drive inside the Ngorongoro Crater.
The migration is a year-round cycle: calving takes place around Ndutu in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area from January to the end of March, while the Mara River in the north is where the herds may cross back and forth later in the year. Your guide will share the story of this event, which makes Tanzania a top safari destination in Africa.
Highlights
- Baobab trees and large elephant herds in Tarangire National Park
- Full-day game drives following the Great Migration trails in the Serengeti
- Two days in Kogatende and North Mara, with a chance of Mara River crossings
- Optional hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti (USD 546 per person)
- Visit to the Olduvai Gorge museum, one of East Africa's famous archaeological sites
- Early morning game drive inside the Ngorongoro Crater
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arrival Day – Welcome to East Africa!
You are met on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to Tulia Lodge in Arusha for dinner and overnight on a full-board basis. The transfer is about 40 km and takes around 30 minutes (total distance for the day: about 50 km). Settle in and rest after your flight, ready for the start of your safari in the morning.
Day 2Tarangire National Park
Early in the morning you have breakfast at the hotel and then drive to Tarangire National Park. Tanzania's third-largest national park is known for its remarkably large herds of elephants. Its big baobab trees are another highlight, and the Tarangire River, which flows all year round, is the lifeblood of the park. Predators and prey alike gather around the river, offering excellent game viewing throughout the day.
Day 3Serengeti National Park
After breakfast you set off on a full-day game drive in the wilderness, following the trails of the Great Migration. Your experienced driver-guide will share interesting facts about this world-renowned event. The Serengeti, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to around 200,000 zebras and 300,000 Thomson's gazelles, which join the wildebeest on their trek for fresh grazing. Listen to the sound of millions of hooves pounding the open plains. This is Africa just as you imagined it.
Day 4Serengeti National Park (Kogatende)
Today is a full-day game drive watching the Great Migration in the Mara area. Resident wildlife numbers are exceptionally high in the Wagakuria area. The key feature is the Mara River, and there is a good chance of seeing the herds cross the river to the north one day and back south a few days later. Please note that witnessing a crossing can be very difficult and is sometimes a matter of luck: a herd may wait beside the river for days before deciding to cross. This stunning region of kopjes, woodland, riverine vegetation and open plains is similar to Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve.
Day 5Serengeti National Park (North Mara)
After breakfast you drive into the northern Serengeti for another day watching the Great Migration in the Mara area. With a second day by the Mara River, you have more time to wait for the herds, which may cross north one day and back south a few days later. Finding a crossing remains challenging and depends on luck, but the landscape of kopjes, woodland and open plains is spectacular in its own right. An optional hot air balloon safari can be added for USD 546 per person, payable separately from the tour price.
Day 6Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
In the morning you enjoy a final game drive in Serengeti National Park. In the afternoon you continue into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and visit the Olduvai Gorge museum, a famous archaeological site in East Africa. At Laetoli, 45 km south of Olduvai Gorge, hominin footprints preserved in volcanic rock date back 3.6 million years and represent some of the earliest signs of humankind in the world.
Day 7Ngorongoro Crater tour
The day starts with an early morning game drive inside the Ngorongoro Crater. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is an extensive highland area along the eastern arm of the Rift Valley, with the world-renowned crater as its focal point. It was established to conserve wildlife and other natural resources, while also safeguarding the interests of the Indigenous people and promoting tourism. After the crater tour you drive to your lodge for the night.
Day 8Karatu – Arusha – Kilimanjaro Airport
After breakfast you can go shopping in town or relax at the lodge, time permitting. You will then be transferred via Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight, bringing your 8 day wildebeest migration safari to an end. Additional nights before your flight can be arranged at extra cost if you would like more time.
What is included
- Park entrance fees as per the itinerary, including the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Transport in a custom-built 4x4 Nissan Patrol safari vehicle with roof hatches or pop-up roof
- English-speaking driver-guide familiar with the needs of photographers
- Unlimited game drives as per the itinerary
- Picnic lunch on the crater floor
- All airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Mineral water during game drives
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- All beverages while on safari
- Evacuation fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips for guides and camp or lodge staff
- Telephone, laundry and any items of a personal nature
Good to know
- River crossings are never guaranteed; herds may wait by the Mara River for days before crossing.
- The hot air balloon safari is optional and costs USD 546 per person on top of the tour price.
- Serengeti Joy Tours can help you choose international flights, but you will need to book them yourself; fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- Additional accommodation before or after the safari can be arranged at extra cost.
Frequently asked questions
Am I guaranteed to see a Mara River crossing?
No. Crossings are hard to predict, and a herd can wait beside the river for days before crossing. This safari spends two days in the Kogatende and North Mara area to improve your chances.
Which vehicle will we use?
You travel in a custom-built 4x4 Nissan Patrol safari vehicle with roof hatches or a pop-up roof. Your English-speaking driver-guide is familiar with the needs of photographers.
Are airport transfers included?
Yes. All airport transfers on arrival and departure are included. International flights, visas and travel insurance are not.
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