7-day Northern Serengeti Migration Safari – Mara River Crossing

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport you will be met by your safari representative and transferred to Arusha, the gateway to Tanzanias Northern Safari Circuit. Located at the foot of Mount Meru, Arusha is surrounded by lush coffee plantations and scenic landscapes. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax and prepare for the safari adventure ahead. Accommodation for the night is at Arusha Planet Lodge with dinner and breakfast included.

After breakfast depart Arusha for Tarangire National Park, renowned for its giant baobab trees and large elephant populations. The Tarangire River attracts a wide variety of wildlife including lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, leopards and numerous antelope species, and the park supports over 500 recorded bird species. Enjoy a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch in the park, observing abundant wildlife and distinctive scenery, then continue to Karatu in the evening for dinner and overnight at Farm of Dreams Lodge.

After breakfast depart Karatu and travel via the scenic Ngorongoro Highlands into the Serengeti ecosystem. As the landscape opens up into endless plains enjoy game viewing en route toward Central Serengeti, also known as the Seronera region, famed for abundant resident wildlife and healthy predator populations. Expect excellent game viewing opportunities as you arrive in Central Serengeti with overnight accommodation at Into Wild Serengeti Camp and full board meals.

Following breakfast enjoy a game drive as you journey north through Serengeti National Park toward the Kogatende region in Northern Serengeti. During migration season vast herds of wildebeest and zebras move through this corridor in search of greener pastures. Along the way appreciate wildlife sightings and stunning scenery before arriving in Northern Serengeti where the Mara River crossings create some of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles on earth. Overnight at Heritage Mara Kogatende Camp with full board meals.

Spend a full day exploring Northern Serengeti and tracking the Great Migration herds around the Mara River. Between July and October thousands of wildebeest and zebras gather along the riverbanks before attempting the perilous crossing into Kenyas Maasai Mara ecosystem. Observe dramatic river crossings often involving Nile crocodiles and stalking predators, and encounter resident wildlife including elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs and diverse birdlife. Overnight at Heritage Mara Kogatende Camp with full board meals.

After breakfast enjoy a final game drive in Northern Serengeti before beginning the journey south through the Serengeti ecosystem. Continue wildlife viewing while taking in spectacular landscapes as you travel toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Arrive in the late afternoon to enjoy panoramic highland views and prepare for the crater safari the following day. Overnight accommodation is at Embalakai Ngorongoro Camp with full board meals.

After an early breakfast descend into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive on the crater floor, one of Africas most extraordinary wildlife sanctuaries and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The crater supports a high concentration of wildlife including lions, elephants, buffaloes, hippos, hyenas and the endangered black rhinoceros. Enjoy a game drive and picnic lunch surrounded by stunning scenery before ascending the crater walls and returning to Arusha in the afternoon where the safari concludes.