7-Day Mid-Range Northern Serengeti Wildebeest Migration

Overview

About this itinerary

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Moments on this route

Itinerary

7 Days / 6 Nights · day to day

Each day is paced for game drives, transfers, and a proper night in camp or lodge.

1. 

   Day 1

   Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport - Transfer to Arusha

   Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your safari representative and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. During the drive, enjoy views of the beautiful Tanzanian countryside, with its green landscapes, local villages and, weather permitting, distant views of Mount Meru.

   Arusha is the main gateway to Tanzania's famous Northern Safari Circuit and an ideal starting point for your wildlife adventure. After checking in, you will have time to relax and recover from your international journey. Depending on your arrival time, you may also receive a short safari briefing to prepare for the adventure ahead.

   Overnight: Arusha Planet Lodge

2. 

   Day 2

   Arusha - Tarangire National Park - Karatu

   After breakfast, depart Arusha and drive towards Tarangire National Park for your first wildlife experience. The journey takes you through the scenic landscapes of northern Tanzania before entering a park famous for its impressive elephant population, ancient baobab trees and diverse wildlife.

   Tarangire offers a distinctive safari atmosphere, with open savannah, seasonal swamps, acacia woodlands and the Tarangire River, which provides an important water source for wildlife, particularly during the dry season.

   During your game drive, look out for large elephant families moving through the park, sometimes gathering beneath the enormous baobab trees. Other wildlife commonly found here includes giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, impalas and warthogs. With some luck, you may also encounter predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs.

   Tarangire is also an excellent destination for bird enthusiasts, with a wide variety of colourful and fascinating bird species. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated site before continuing your afternoon game drive.

   In the late afternoon, exit the park and continue towards Karatu, a charming highland town surrounded by fertile farmland and beautiful green landscapes near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

   Overnight: Marera Valley Lodge

3. 

   Day 3

   Karatu - Central Serengeti National Park

   After breakfast, depart Karatu and travel towards the world-famous Serengeti National Park through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This journey offers beautiful scenery as you move from the cooler highlands towards the vast open plains of the Serengeti.

   The Serengeti is one of Africa's most celebrated wildlife destinations, famous for its endless grasslands, remarkable biodiversity and the Great Wildebeest Migration. Its diverse habitats support an impressive range of wildlife throughout the year.

   Upon entering the Central Serengeti, particularly the Seronera region, begin exploring one of the park's most rewarding wildlife areas. This region is known for its resident wildlife and strong predator population, making it an excellent place to search for lions, leopards and cheetahs.

   The Seronera River and its surrounding woodland provide important habitats for wildlife, while the nearby plains attract large numbers of grazing animals. You may also visit the famous Seronera Hippo Pool, where hippos can often be observed resting together in the water.

   Enjoy your game drive as you explore the Central Serengeti's diverse landscapes, looking for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest and many other species.

   Overnight: Friend Serengeti Camp

4. 

   Day 4

   Central Serengeti - Northern Serengeti National Park

   After breakfast, begin your journey towards the Northern Serengeti, enjoying a game drive along the way. This is an exciting day as you travel through different sections of the Serengeti ecosystem, following the seasonal movements of wildlife.

   The Northern Serengeti is particularly famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration, especially the areas surrounding the Mara River. During the migration season, enormous herds of wildebeest and zebras move through this region in search of fresh grazing and water.

   The landscape becomes increasingly varied as you travel north, with open grasslands, rolling hills, rocky outcrops and riverine vegetation. These habitats support resident wildlife as well as migratory herds, offering opportunities to encounter elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, leopards and other animals.

   As you approach your accommodation, your guide will continue searching for wildlife and assessing activity in the surrounding migration areas. The exact location of the herds changes throughout the season, so your guide will use local knowledge to identify the most promising areas to explore.

   Overnight: Safari Haven Migration Camp

5. 

   Day 5

   Full-Day Game Drive in Northern Serengeti - Mara River Migration Experience

   Today is dedicated to exploring the Northern Serengeti, with a special focus on the Mara River and the Great Wildebeest Migration.

   After an early breakfast, set out for a full-day game drive in search of the migrating herds. The Northern Serengeti is one of the most dramatic locations to experience the migration, particularly when large groups of wildebeest and zebras gather near the riverbanks.

   The Mara River is a significant obstacle along the migration route. Its steep banks and flowing water make crossing a challenging experience for the animals. When the herds decide to cross, thousands of wildebeest may move towards the river, creating an unforgettable wildlife spectacle. However, river crossings are natural events and cannot be guaranteed, as their timing depends on rainfall, grazing conditions and the movement of the herds.

   Beyond the migration, the Northern Serengeti is also home to resident predators. Lions may be seen resting in the grasslands or watching the herds, while crocodiles inhabit sections of the Mara River. Leopards and other wildlife may also be encountered around the riverine woodland.

   Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wilderness and continue exploring different areas of the Northern Serengeti throughout the day. Your guide will adjust the game-drive route according to wildlife activity and the latest information about the migrating herds.

   Overnight: Safari Haven Migration Camp

6. 

   Day 6

   Northern Serengeti - Central Serengeti - Ngorongoro Highlands

   After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive in the Northern Serengeti, providing another opportunity to explore the migration area and search for wildlife before beginning your journey south.

   You will travel through the Central Serengeti, enjoying a scenic game drive across the vast plains and wildlife-rich habitats. This route offers further opportunities to encounter the Serengeti's resident animals, including elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and various predators.

   The Central Serengeti is particularly recognised for its big-cat population. Its rocky kopjes, open grasslands and surrounding woodlands provide important habitats for lions, leopards and cheetahs. Keep your camera ready as your guide searches for interesting wildlife encounters along the way.

   Continue towards the Ngorongoro Highlands, where the scenery gradually changes from the open Serengeti plains to cooler highland landscapes. The region is characterised by rolling hills, lush vegetation, volcanic features and beautiful views of the surrounding conservation area.

   Arrive at your accommodation in the Ngorongoro Highlands in the evening, where you can relax and prepare for the following day's crater adventure.

   Overnight: Embalakai Ngorongoro Camp

7. 

   Day 7

   Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive

   After an early breakfast, descend into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater for an unforgettable game drive.

   The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the world's most remarkable natural wildlife environments.

   Formed by the collapse of a large volcanic mountain, the crater contains a variety of habitats, including open grasslands, freshwater areas, woodland and marshes. These habitats support a remarkable concentration of wildlife throughout the year.

   During your game drive, explore the crater floor in search of the famous Big Five: lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and the endangered black rhino. The crater is also home to zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas, jackals and numerous bird species.

   One of the most special experiences is the opportunity to search for the black rhino, a rare and protected species that makes the Ngorongoro Crater an important conservation destination.

   Enjoy a picnic lunch at a designated site within the crater before continuing your wildlife exploration. In the afternoon, ascend the crater walls and begin your return journey to Arusha or transfer to the airport for your onward departure, depending on your travel arrangements.

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