9-Day Great Migration Safari — Northern Serengeti & Mara River

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport where you are met by your safari guide and transferred to your lodge in Arusha. The rest of the day is at leisure to recover from your flight and prepare for the safari ahead.

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to your lodge in Arusha.

After breakfast, depart Arusha for Tarangire National Park. The park is known for its large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and strong predator presence, particularly during the dry season. Enjoy a full game drive with a picnic lunch inside the park before continuing to Karatu in the late afternoon.

Game drives in Tarangire, then continue to Karatu.

This morning, travel to Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive. The park offers a compact but diverse landscape, including groundwater forest, open plains, and the alkaline lake itself. Wildlife sightings may include elephants, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, and a wide variety of birdlife. After the game drive, return to Karatu for the evening.

Morning game drive in Lake Manyara, return to Karatu.

After breakfast, drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards the Serengeti Plains. As you descend into the Serengeti, the landscape opens into vast grasslands that support high densities of wildlife year-round. Enjoy game viewing en route as you travel to your camp in the central Serengeti.

Drive through Ngorongoro Conservation Area into the Serengeti with game viewing en route.

Spend the full day exploring the central Serengeti. This region is known for its resident lion prides, cheetah sightings, leopard activity along river systems, and large plains game populations. Game drives are planned based on current wildlife movement, with breaks at camp during the heat of the day if desired.

Full day exploring central Serengeti's predators and plains game.

After breakfast, begin the journey north towards the Mara River region. Game viewing continues en route as you move into the Northern Serengeti, where the Great Migration typically concentrates between July and October. Arrive at camp in the afternoon and enjoy a game drive near the river systems depending on wildlife activity.

Travel north towards the Mara River region with game viewing en route.

Spend the day in the Northern Serengeti focusing on migration movement near the Mara River. Herds of wildebeest and zebra often gather along the riverbanks, sometimes waiting days before attempting a crossing. Your guide will adjust game drives based on daily conditions and herd locations. River crossings are never guaranteed, but extended time in this area offers the strongest opportunity during the season.

Spend the day tracking herds near the Mara River during peak migration season.

After an early breakfast, enjoy a final game drive in the Northern Serengeti as you begin the journey south. Travel through the Serengeti ecosystem towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with wildlife viewing en route. On arrival, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. The crater is home to a dense concentration of wildlife, including lion, buffalo, elephant, hippo, and rhino, set within a unique volcanic landscape. In the late afternoon, ascend from the crater and continue to Karatu for the night.

Travel south and descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive, then continue to Karatu.

After breakfast, transfer to the nearest airstrip for a scheduled flight back to Arusha, or begin the overland return depending on your onward travel plans. On arrival, connect with your international or onward flight.

Transfer to the nearest airstrip for a scheduled flight back to Arusha or return overland.