8 Days Northern Serengeti Wildebeest Migration

July to October each year

Overview

The Mara River connects the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara in southern Kenya. The crossing is best seen between late July and October each year. During this time of year, over 2 million wildebeest, accompanied by zebras and gazelles, cross the Mara River back and forth. Because of climate change, which we have no control over, seeing the crossing is not guaranteed; however, when planning your safari itinerary, our experts will advise you on the best times to see the crossing.

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Full Itinerary

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport

When you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), our representative will greet you and introduce himself/herself before accompanying you to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. Relax in the hotel while you wait for your safari the following day.

Day 1
Arusha to Tarangire National Park

What a lovely morning! After a hearty breakfast at your hotel, your guide will drive you to Tarangire National Park, where you will explore the vast wilderness with the highest concentration of elephants in northern Tanzania. Tarangire is famous for its enormous baobab trees and large elephant herds. When you arrive in Tarangire, you will begin your game drive, which will be followed by a picnic lunch in one of the park’s permitted areas while admiring the park’s breathtaking views.

After lunch, you’ll continue your afternoon game drive in search of the species you didn’t see in the morning. Lions, zebras, warthogs, wildebeest, and buffalo are all potential sightings. During the dry season, wildlife and bird life congregate around the Tarangire River, which serves as a permanent source of water. Tarangire is Tanzania’s only place where oryx and gerenuk can be seen on a regular basis. After the activities of the day, your guide will drive you to Karatu for a delicious meal and an overnight stay in preparation for the next day’s safari.

Day 2
Karatu to Serengeti National Park (Central)

A fantastic day starts with a delicious breakfast in the morning! After breakfast, you will be driven to the Serengeti National Park by your guide. We’ll be driving through the mist-shrouded rainforests of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you might see baboons, leopards, or elephants. On your way to the Serengeti National Park, you will be able to see the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater while passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

The term “Serengeti” is derived from the Maasai word siringit, which means “endless plains”. You’ll understand why when you see its ocean of grassland savannas stretching as far as the eye can see. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the world’s oldest and best preserved. Climate, vegetation, fauna, and flora have remained largely unchanged over the last million years. Life, death, adaptation, and migration patterns are as old as the hills themselves. Keep an eye out for the spectacular views and landscape as you enter Serengeti National Park.

You will almost certainly arrive at the Serengeti National Park’s gate after the morning hours or by lunchtime, equipped with a picnic-packed lunch box. Following lunch and check-in, you’ll go on an afternoon game drive, learning about the animals and the scenery until late afternoon, when your guide will drive you to your central Serengeti lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 3
Serengeti Central (following the migration crossing the Mara River)

After a delicious breakfast in your lodge, today will be an exciting day as you drive through the northern Serengeti. As you leave the Serengeti’s middle region, also known as Seronera, keep your eyes open and take in as much as you can. You will then drive until you reach the Lobo region in the Serengeti’s northern Serengeti.

The great migration frequently passes through the Lobo region twice a year: once in late October and early November and again in July and August (when it travels to Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve for the gestation period) (going to the southern plains of Serengeti for calving season).

After arriving, you will have lunch while admiring the breathtaking scenery. This section of the park is ideal for wildlife because the Seronera River runs through it. Your guide will transfer you to a lodge where you will dine and spend the night after your adventures in the Serengeti’s core region.

Day 4
Northern Serengeti (Kogatende)

What a beautiful day in the boundless plains! Following a hearty breakfast at your lodge, you will depart for a full-day wildlife drive in the Mara area, with packed lunch boxes, to witness the great migration. The Wagakuria area is teeming with wildlife. The Mara River is the main attraction, and the herds are likely to cross it to the north one day and back south the next.

Following the morning wildlife drive, we will stop in one of the designated areas for a picnic lunch while taking in the breathtaking scenery. After lunch, we’ll continue our afternoon game drive. Please keep in mind that spotting a crossing can be difficult and is sometimes dependent on luck. A herd may be spotted near a river and then decide to cross a few days later.

This is a stunning setting, with kopjes, woodland, riverine vegetation, and vast plains reminiscent of Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve. Following the activities of the day, your guide will transport you to your lodge for a hot dinner and a restful night.

Day 5
North Serengeti to Central Serengeti

It’s a beautiful day to be awakened by the sounds of birds! After an early morning breakfast in your northern Serengeti lodge, you will drive directly to the central Serengeti. You’ll see gazelles, zebras, giraffes, hippos, and other animals along the way. You might catch a glimpse of a predator on the prowl.

Along the way, you can see big cats and over 400 different bird species. After a few hours, you’ll arrive in central Serengeti and have the option of having a picnic lunch or driving straight to your lodge for a delicious lunch. After lunch, you’ll go on an afternoon game drive until late afternoon, when you’ll return to your lodge for a delectable treat and an overnight stay.

Day 6
Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro crater

What a wonderful day! After a delicious breakfast at your lodge, your guide will drive you directly to Ngorongoro Crater for game viewing. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the world’s largest intact calderas, with many wild animals and the highest concentration of pride.

The Ngorongoro Crater is a breathtakingly beautiful location and the best place in Africa to see the Big Five (lions, leopards, black rhinos, elephants, and buffalo). It is one of the world’s most amazing structures and one of the eight wonders of the world. In the late afternoon, we’ll stop for a picnic lunch and take in the breathtaking scenery surrounding the crater. After lunch, we’ll continue our game drive. A black rhino can be seen in the crater.

Consider where else in the world you can see such a unique setting with diverse scenery, abundant wildlife and birdlife, and an ecosystem unlike any other. After your adventures, your guide will drive you up the crater to your Karatu lodge for a delicious dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 7
Karatu to Arusha

The last day is always thought to be the best safari experience! You will return to Arusha after a delicious breakfast at your lodge. You will be passing through various villages with many attractions to explore along the way, so you may want to stop at some of the best points for a few hours and interact with the locals. When you arrive in Arusha, have lunch before proceeding to the airport, depending on your departure flight.

Day 8