Wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River in the Serengeti

Duration

12 Days / 11 Nights

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Parks

Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire

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Best Season

Jan–Mar, Jun–Oct

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From

$5,400 per person

Follow Two Million Animals Across the Serengeti

Twelve days. Seven nights in the Serengeti. From the calving grounds of the south to the crocodile-infested river crossings of the north, this safari follows the greatest wildlife movement on Earth. Your guide has tracked the migration for over a decade — he reads the herds, anticipates the crossings, and positions you where the drama unfolds.

Witness the Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth

Wildebeest herd stretching across the Serengeti plains during the Great Migration
The endless Serengeti plains — two million animals on the move
Wildebeest migrating across the Serengeti during the Great Migration season
Wildebeest on the move — following the rains and the fresh grass across the Serengeti

Your Journey

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Arusha

Your guide meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Drive to your lodge in Arusha for a welcome dinner and detailed safari briefing. We'll confirm migration positioning based on the latest field reports from our Serengeti scouts.

Stay: Arusha Coffee Lodge or similarMeals: Dinner
Day 2

Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Morning departure for Tarangire — northern Tanzania's elephant stronghold. Hundreds of elephants wade through the Tarangire River while tree-climbing lions lounge in the branches above. Full-day game drive with picnic lunch among 1,000-year-old baobab trees.

Stay: Tarangire Safari LodgeMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3

Tarangire to Ngorongoro Crater

Drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Descend into the crater — a 100-square-mile amphitheater holding 25,000 animals. Black rhinos graze in the open here, a rarity anywhere else in East Africa. Flamingos paint the soda lake pink. Lions stalk the crater floor in prides of twenty.

Stay: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (crater rim)Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4

Ngorongoro to Serengeti — Southern Plains

Cross the Ngorongoro Highlands and descend into the endless Serengeti plains. During calving season (January to March), two million wildebeest gather on the southern short-grass plains — 8,000 calves are born every day. Your guide positions you where the action unfolds.

Stay: Serengeti Serena Lodge or mobile campMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Days 5–6

Southern Serengeti — Calving Grounds

Two full days on the southern plains. Watch newborn calves take their first steps while predators circle — cheetahs sprint across the open grassland, hyena clans patrol the edges, and lions wait in ambush. This is nature at its most raw and unforgettable. Your guide reads the herds like a map.

Stay: Mobile tented camp (follows the migration)Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Days 7–8

Central Serengeti — Seronera Valley

Move to the central Serengeti and the Seronera River valley — the park's wildlife crossroads. Leopards drape themselves in sausage trees along the river. Lion prides control the rocky kopjes. Hippo pools teem with life. This area delivers year-round, regardless of migration timing.

Stay: Serengeti Serena LodgeMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Days 9–10

Northern Serengeti — River Crossings

Drive north to the Mara River region. During June to October, massive herds of wildebeest and zebra gather on the riverbanks before plunging into crocodile-infested waters. The crossings are chaotic, dramatic, and utterly unpredictable. Your guide knows the crossing points and the patterns — patience is the strategy.

Stay: Lamai Serengeti or mobile campMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11

Serengeti — Final Game Drive

A last, unhurried morning on the Serengeti plains. Sunrise game drive to catch predators at their most active. This is your chance to revisit a favorite spot or track a sighting your guide has been monitoring. Afternoon at leisure in camp — sundowners overlooking the plains.

Stay: Serengeti Serena Lodge or mobile campMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12

Serengeti to Arusha — Departure

Morning bush flight from the Serengeti airstrip back to Arusha. Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight. Or extend to Zanzibar for white sand beaches and spice island culture.

Stay: End of safariMeals: Breakfast, Lunch
Lions resting on a kopje in the Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti kopjes — ancient rocky outcrops where lions survey their kingdom
Cheetah scanning the Serengeti plains from a termite mound during a migration safari
The cheetah — fastest land animal on earth, spotted regularly on the Serengeti plains

Pricing

$5,400per person

Based on 2 travelers, double occupancy. Lodge and mobile camp.

Solo traveler$6,400
Group of 4+$4,800
Luxury lodge upgrade+$1,200
Add Zanzibar (4 days)+$1,200
Balloon safari+$599
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What’s Included

  • Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
  • Expert English-speaking guide (10+ years experience)
  • All national park entry fees
  • Ngorongoro Crater service fee
  • All accommodation (lodge and mobile tented camp)
  • All meals as listed in itinerary
  • Bush flight Serengeti to Arusha
  • Airport transfers (Kilimanjaro International)
  • Unlimited drinking water in vehicle
  • Flying Doctor emergency evacuation insurance
  • Government taxes and levies

Not Included

  • International flights
  • Visa fees ($50 USD at arrival)
  • Travel insurance (required)
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Tips for guide and lodge staff
  • Personal expenses and souvenirs
  • Optional balloon safari ($599 per person)

What Guests Say About This Safari

We watched a river crossing for three hours straight — thousands of wildebeest leaping into the water while crocodiles waited below. Our guide had positioned us at the perfect vantage point before any other vehicle arrived.

Michael & Laura S.

Berlin, Germany

The calving season was beyond anything I imagined. Watching a baby wildebeest stand for the first time, then seeing a cheetah hunt minutes later — 12 days in the Serengeti changes how you see the world.

Catherine W.

San Francisco, USA

Common Questions

Migration Safari FAQ

When is the best time for migration viewing?
It depends on what you want to see. January to March: calving season on the southern plains — 8,000 babies born daily, predators everywhere. June to October: river crossings in the northern Serengeti — dramatic, chaotic, unforgettable. We adjust the itinerary to match the herds' position.
Is the migration guaranteed?
The migration never stops — two million animals are always moving. But specific events like river crossings depend on rainfall patterns. Our Serengeti scouts report daily positions so your guide places you in the right area at the right time. In 45+ years of operating, we've never had a guest miss the herds.
What are the mobile tented camps like?
Think luxury camping, not roughing it. Full-size beds, en-suite flush toilets, hot showers, and a private veranda. The camps move with the migration so you're always positioned where the action is. Many guests prefer them to fixed lodges.
Can I customize this itinerary?
Absolutely. Want to add a hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti? Spend more time in the north? Swap a lodge for a luxury tented camp? Just tell us and we'll redesign it — free, no obligation.
Is this safari suitable for photographers?
This is one of our top photography safaris. Extended time in the Serengeti means golden-hour positioning, patient stalking of predator hunts, and unrushed encounters. We can arrange a vehicle with a photography-specific setup (beanbag mounts, extra charging ports) on request.
Can I extend to Zanzibar after the safari?
Yes — and we highly recommend it after 12 days in the bush. We'll add 3-5 days on Zanzibar's white sand beaches. The flight from the Serengeti to Zanzibar takes about 2 hours.
Peak season groups fill 6–8 weeks ahead — availability is limited

Start Planning Your Migration Safari

Personal itinerary, zero obligation — just ask Don.